Suzan Stamper, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, Tin Wan, Hong Kong

I hope you enjoy this space to compare experiences, share advice, find inspiration, and make connections within our community. Since 2005, more than 50 Computer-Assisted Language Learning Interest Section (CALL-IS) members have answered these questions:

● What is your favorite platform?

● What is the one indispensable tool/webpage?

● What is your most unexpected source of information about CALL?

● What was your favorite CALL creation?

● What are you working on now?

● What area would you like to see developed/researched?

● What advice would you give to a newbie starting out in CALL?

● What is your funniest CALL-related incident?

I have been using this same set of questions, then, for 14 years. Do you have any suggestions for new questions? What would you like to know about our members?

Let's celebrate CALL in this issue of the "Making Connections" column with two new steering committee members:

● Mary Allegra

● Kim Andrus

Please e-mail me at suzan.stamper@yccece.edu.hk if you have suggestions or contributions to "Making Connections."

Mary Allegra

Professor Allegra is an associate professor of English phonetics and phonology of the Modern Languages Department of the School of Education at the University of Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela, and is currently VenTESOL past president. She has been presenting at the TESOL Convention on CALL and other topics for the last 5 years. She is also a member of the TESOL CALL-IS Steering Committee and part of its 2019 webinar team.

Affiliation: University of Carabobo, Venezuela

Years in the CALL-IS: approximately 5 years

Q: What is your favorite platform?
A: Instagram

Q: For you, what is the one indispensable tool/web page?
A: Google Suite

Q: What is your most unexpected source of information about CALL?
A: Twitter

Q: What was your favorite CALL creation?
A: Google Drive

Q: What are you working on now?
A: I teach English phonetics and phonology at the University of Carabobo in Venezuela.

Q: What area would you like to see developed/researched?
A: English phonetics and phonology/pronunciation. It is the Cinderella of language learning and teaching.

Q: In a sentence, what advice would you give to a newbie starting out in CALL?
A: Not to fear technology when implementing it for teaching/learning. There are different types of technological tools and even newbies can use them with the appropriate training. It is just a matter of practice. Technology is your friend, not your enemy.

Kim Andrus

For more than 20 years, Kim has been an intensive English program instructor, teaching at universities in Ohio, Illinois, Alabama, Utah, and Japan. A general CALL enthusiast, over the years he has been a language lab coordinator and program webmaster.

Affiliation: Utah State University Intensive English Language Institute

Years in the CALL-IS: 23

Q: What is your favorite platform?
A: Canvas LCMS

A: For you, what is the one indispensable tool/web page?
A: Word and Phrase by Mark Davies at www.wordandphrase.info

Q: What is your most unexpected source of information about CALL?
A: Colleagues who know a lot more than they let on about CALL.

Q: What was your favorite CALL creation?
A: An intercultural communication podcast produced by Korean and Saudi students.

Q: What are you working on now?
A: Ways to enhance class activities with BYOD [bring-your-own-device] audience response systems like Poll Everywhere.

Q: What area would you like to see developed/researched?
A: The effects of personal technology usage in different classroom sizes, environments, and situations.

Q: In a sentence, what advice would you give to a newbie starting out in CALL?
A: Try creatively applying your own favorite technology to the classroom.