Ilka Kostka, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

I recently attended the annual TESOL Convention in Portland, Oregon, which was held March 21-24, 2023. Although the Convention takes place once per year, preparation begins many months before. For instance, last summer I reviewed proposals for the “Digital Learning and Technology” strand, which gave me a sneak peek into what might be presented at the Convention. In the months after receiving my email of acceptance for my own proposals, I started developing my slide deck and rehearsing my talks. At the Convention, I delivered a practice-oriented presentation and a teaching tip, attended full days of workshops and presentations, and spoke to several publishers and sponsors in the Expo Hall. At the moment, I am working on a proposal for the 2024 TESOL Convention in Tampa, Florida and plan to review proposals again this summer. With these different activities throughout the year which relate to the Convention, I can engage in both professional development and service within the field of English language teaching. In this article, I reflect on the 2023 TESOL Convention and discuss three main reasons why I attend the Convention each year.

One reason I go to the TESOL Convention is to gain a birds-eye view of teaching and research in the field.. Spending time in various sessions and talking with other attendees allows me to easily learn about what English language teachers are both excited and concerned about. For instance, one topic that many teachers I spoke to in Portland discussed was the rapid development of artificial intelligence (e.g., ChatGPT) and how it impacts teaching and learning. Other teachers I spoke to discussed burnout and the lingering challenges they face in returning to in-person teaching after the pandemic. Whenever I return home from the Convention, I always feel that I have a better understanding of what is happening in English language education more broadly after gleaning information from sessions, plenaries, and social gatherings.

The second reason why I attend the TESOL Convention is to see colleagues and friends and to network with other English language teachers. I have found that meeting new people is easy to do at TESOL, and whenever I attend the Convention, I am reminded of how small the field of English language teaching seems to be. For example, I have met so many people from universities where I either studied or worked who in turn know colleagues and friends of friends. In the elevator or standing in line for coffee, I can easily strike up a conversation with other attendees and become acquainted with TESOL members. One example of this discussion occurred in the Expo Hall, where I met representatives from a pathways program similar to mine on the other side of the U.S. We talked about the impact of the pandemic on our programs and efforts to increase international student enrollment. I was also able to introduce myself in person to colleagues with whom I had only corresponded online over the past few years, such as members of TESOL staff and members of the TESOL Membership Professional Council on which I served. Building these kinds of connections by attendingTESOL has led to numerous collaborations on projects, articles, presentations, and service..

The final reason why I attend the TESOL Convention is for my students. I attend so I can become a better educator and improve my practice. Whenever I come back from TESOL, I return with fresh ideas for teaching that I can use right away. I also feel inspired and reenergized by the incredible work other teachers are doing in their classrooms. For instance, I learned some new techniques for engaging students in synchronous online sessions, which I still sometimes need to do when my on-ground classes meet temporarily online due to illness or inclement weather. I enjoy playing games with students, and at TESOL I learned how to involve students in games which encourage them to get up from their desks and move. I learn from my own presentations as well, as I can answer questions from audience members and receive immediate feedback on my work. Preparing slides also allows me to synthesize the latest scholarship and gain a good grasp of my particular topic. All of these experiences develop my teaching skills and expand my expertise.

Professional development is critically important; nevertheless, I fully realize that attending the TESOL Convention is not always feasible due to travel time, costs, time away from family and work, and concerns about health and safety, among other reasons. For instance, when I go to the Convention, I have to arrange for another instructor to teach several courses in my absence, which requires additional planning and coordination. With this in mind, I would encourage others to consider attending the Virtual Convention, which is held online two weeks after the in-person Convention. Attendees can access materials after the virtual Convention as well to review sessions missed, rewatch presentations, or engage with participants. There are also free webinars for members which cover a wide range of topics; they can be found on TESOL’s official YouTube channel. TESOL International Association also offers professional development scholarships to defray the cost of attending, one of which I received many years ago when I was a graduate student. Group registration rates are available for members, so attendees can register with colleagues and receive a discount. Finally, many local TESOL affiliate conferences are still held online, which provides increased access for a global audience and reduced travel time.

While writing this article, I appreciated the opportunity to reflect on what attending the Convention provides for me personally as an educator, scholar, and TESOL member. Wherever one is situated, I hope this article will encourage readers to attend the TESOL Convention either in person or virtually to engage in valuable professional learning and networking.