Dear CALL-ISers,

The 2018 TESOL convention is around the corner! It’s been almost a year since Seattle and for CALL-IS it has been a year of changes. At the end of January, CALL-IS submitted to TESOL its transition form, the last step to become a new interest section under the new TESOL Community of Practice policy. Also, the CALL-IS Steering Committee has voted to acknowledge and strengthen the importance of the Electronic Village Online (EVO) and its connection to CALL-IS. The EVO has also approved a new leadership transition model, with three leaders/chairs over 3 years, promoting a chain of mentorship that will ensure the continuity for EVO and provide vision and guidance for the EVO Coordination Team.

CALL-IS has also partnered up with the Applied Linguistics Interest Section to offer a preconference webinar on “Technology in Language Acquisition Research and Pedagogy.” If you haven’t done so yet, fill out this form to register for this 7 March webinar. Join the discussion about the applications of current technology in effective language teaching and in conducting language acquisition research across the world.

If you are coming to Chicago, you might want to set some time aside to visit the Electronic Village, which will be located in the exhibit hall this year. You can already access the program and choose sessions. Also in the exhibition hall, at the Tech Showcase, we have the CALL-IS academic session and InterSections. The CALL-IS academic session on blended learning will showcase suggestions on blended learning components that create or promote effective tech-supported teaching/learning spaces.

The CALL-IS primary InterSection with the Teacher Education IS will focus on Education Standard 2e and on what teachers need to know about uses of technology to assist them in their teaching activities. CALL-IS will also participate in two other InterSections: one with the Video and Digital Media IS, whose focus will be on “Videos in the World of MALL [mobile-assisted language learning],” and another with the Intercultural Communication IS and the Globetrotters Forum, which will address technology, culture, and language communication in global contexts through experience sharing. And the Hot Topics on OER (open educational resources) is one not to miss.

However, if you are not coming to Chicago, remember to check the sessions that will be webcast. And also check the CALL-IS YouTube channel for recordings of past sessions. The CALL-IS wants to thank all volunteers that work throughout the year, and at the annual convention, to bring you, CALL-ISers, quality sessions and support.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Chicago.

All the best,

Claudio Fleury

2018 CALL-IS Chair

Claudio Fleury is an EFL teacher and the advanced adult and ESP courses coordinator at Casa Thomas Jefferson, a binational center in Brazil.