The U.S.-based and non-U.S. based affiliates make up one of the two main axes of TESOL International Association. It is vital to strengthen interaffiliate contacts and promote cooperation and collaboration among affiliates, and what better way to do this than through both the official affiliate activities at the annual TESOL convention as well as through electronic communication sharing and work throughout the other 51 weeks of the year?

I look forward to meeting you, as well as other members of your affiliate, at the TESOL convention in Seattle, especially during the affiliate-organized activities, but, hopefully, not only limited to those. Notwithstanding the advantages of electronic communication, direct face-to-face communication establishes and builds personal ties. Communication needs to work both ways; from the Affiliate Leadership Council (ALC)/TESOL to the affiliates and from the affiliates to the ALC/TESOL.

In my geographical-cultural context, my affiliate has been able to successfully network with affiliates in the Central American and Caribbean Basin TESOL Regional Affiliates Group and other English language teacher associations in the region, which are welcome to participate. Building regional cooperation among affiliates is one of the most enriching experiences of TESOL.

Uli is currently retired from active classroom teaching but enjoys learning from and speaking with teachers at ELT conferences. He has been involved in MEXTESOL’s governance and administration for about 25 years. He has a master’s degree in German Language and Literature from the University of Colorado, USA and an MA in TESOL from the University of the Americas in Mexico City, Mexico.