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Dear SPLISers,
I am honored and excited to write this letter as your SPLIS
chair-elect. Working with the SPLIS leadership board has been an
invigorating opportunity, both personally and professionally. Of the
many TESOL interest sections, SPLIS is among the most vibrant. That’s
because SPLIS is fueled by the energy and passion needed to improve the
lives of language learners through speaking, pronunciation, and
listening.
It was truly a pleasure to meet so many fellow SPLISers in
Chicago and, now in Atlanta, I hope to meet even more colleagues who are
dedicated to speaking, pronunciation, and listening. Whenever you are
able to come to a TESOL convention, I strongly encourage you to attend
SPLIS events. Our SPLIS business meeting is an inviting venue for
getting to know one another and sharing common interests, challenges,
and successes. Our SPLIS-sponsored sessions provide updates on research
and innovative teaching techniques. And, for SPLIS educators who cannot
attend the TESOL conventions and also for those who attend the
conventions, our semi-annual SPLIS newsletter offers ongoing
professional development.
For the 2019 TESOL convention, I was charged with organizing
one of the SPLIS intersection sessions. I collaborated with the
Elementary Education Interest Section to bring to the convention a
featured intersection session entitled Helping Young Learners
Overcome English Pronunciation Challenges. In this long-awaited session, Tamara Jones, Susan Spezzini,
and Kelly Hill will explore why elementary teachers
should be aware of their ELs' pronunciation difficulties, describe how communication breakdowns can negatively affect
ELs' academic development, and highlight what can be
done to help young ELs improve their pronunciation. You certainly do not
want to miss it!
The current issue of our SPLIS newsletter provides invigorating
ideas and innovative teaching tips. To help ensure meaningful articles
in future newsletter issues, please consider sharing what works for you.
And, to have a truly rewarding experience, please also consider
participating on our SPLIS board. Only by receiving support from a wide
range of SPLISers will our interest section be able to maintain its
vibrant outreach to all.
Susan Spezzini
SPLIS Chair-Elect, 2018-19 |
