CALL is relevant as an IS and as a collaborator for all strands – concept based – TESOL has introduced and will implement for the coming 2019 Convention. Technology remains central to many teaching/learning spaces.

Our CALL-IS members remain collaborative wherever technology becomes integrated to enhance the learning or the learning space. We function as a family, flavored and unique, and we speak one language! Engaged in our own CALL world, we come together from all parts of the world to share a passion -– a way of life. Most of us make a physical appearance at the TESOL convention; reunited for CALL: we meet, we brainstorm, we decide, we socialize, we network…

We remain grateful that the CALL-IS is able to attract the large numbers of presenters and attendees to the Electronic Village and Technology Showcase; wherever the TESOL organizing committee tends to situate us; we set up base and make the most out of it – drawing in the avid followers and curious newcomers. The 2018 Convention Electronic Village & Technology Showcase had its fair share nuances, but the positives outweighed the negatives, especially when it came to loading docks, acoustics, loud speakers, bandwidth, and wanderers in and out of the non-defined open space of the tech-showcase. For me, the positive stance I kept conscious during the whole Convention was this year’s floor plan and how it enabled me – due to my continued yo-yo-ing between the sessions, the keynotes, our CALL-IS sessions, our activities, and the EV and tech-showcase areas -- to maintain an average of a 10,000 step work-out daily. Chicago pizza calories did not affect the waistline!

Not only are our CALL-IS physical experiences and ventures memorable, but the CALL-IS members and friends are actively present – virtually -- year round through the TESOL and CALL-IS My TESOL Community Lounges, the Electronic Village Online, our webinars and various wiki groups. We usually webcast most of the technology showcase sessions, keeping them accessible on YouTube to TESOLers

Tentatively, the plans for 2018-2019 include at least three webinars, gaming, Electronic Village Online.

Our first webinar of 2018, The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in English Language Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Friend or Foe?, will be a collaboration with IATEFL and the CALL-IS members." The date is set for 9 November 2018. Check our Facebook and Twitter pages for further information.

The collaborative IS panels are underway in the planning stages as are the two Hot Topic panels. The Hot Topics that will be addressed this year are “Digital Identify & Badges: Relevance or Need?” and the “Role of Technology & the Six Principles”.

As an IS, the CALL-IS looks forward to relating to TESOL’s new vision, accommodating and integrating new roles, mission and projects to make our IS community more viable and outreach effective.

I look forward to our endeavors and welcome ideas, projects, research with CALL-ISers!

Regards,

Christine

Dr. Christine Sabieh

CALL-IS Chair 2018-2019

Dr. Christine Sabieh, Full Professor at Notre Dame University, is an American who lives in Lebanon. She is a Rotarian (PP 2014) and a Paul Harris Fellow. Her memberships include ASIACALL (a Past President for 5 years, Lebanese Psychological Association (Founding member & a Past President for 3 years), TESOLArabia (Testing SIG Member at large), AACE, WACRA, & TESOL (CALL-IS: serving SC & EV). Currently, she is the CALL-IS Chair-elect.