Welcome to the May issue of TESOL Video News and, sad to say, the very last issue of our official interest section (IS) newsletter. As many of you may know, TESOL has been restructuring itself for quite some time, and TESOL has decided that the Video and Digital Media IS (VDMIS) will not continue as an IS, but as a the Video Professional Learning Network.

Looking back on almost 30 years, I have to say the VDMIS has always been a small but professional and proud group. With so many pioneers and specialist of using movies and films in English language teaching, this group and the topic it represents have shone like a rising star, echoing the Golden Age of Hollywood. Susan Stempleski, grandmother of using movies in English language teaching and my teacher at Teachers College, Columbia University, inspired the field with her mesmerizing teaching skills. Johanna Katchen, later incorporating digital media into the IS, brought me into this group and guided me all the way. I also learned so much from Diane Ogden, Barbara Morris, and Susan Steinbach. (Just last year, before we learned of the IS’s dissolution, Diane brought me the old hard copy issues of our newsletter and talked about trying to bring them back to our members). To Scott Duarte, Julie Lopez, Elke Stappert, and Suzi Lee, it’s really my honor to work with you. Finally, I have to give special thanks to my true and faithful long-term partner Joyce Cunningham, who has coedited TESOL Video News with me for many years.

In this issue, we have two interesting articles. First, we have “Modeling and Encouraging Autonomy With Personal Learning Networks,” by Kurtis Foster. Then, Suzanne Bardasz shares her new learning tools in her article, “Digital Infographics: Teaching and Learning Tools for the 21st Century.”

I guess this is the time to say goodbye, but I hope this is not a farewell. We will be trying hard to continue in a different form, be it a Learning Network or an IS comeback. If you are interested in using movies or creating digital media lessons, you are more than welcome to share your experience with us. You can find me at kennethchyi@gmail.com or contact anyone in our leadership list.

Kenneth Chyi has been teaching English for almost 20 years. He loves to incorporate movies and digital media into language lessons, making grammar and vocabulary come alive for students. His other interests include language assessment and materials development. He received his TESOL certification at Teachers College, Columbia University and his MA from New York University and is currently teaching at Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.