MEMBERSHIP IN TESOL …

What’s in it for You?

What is TESOL?

• A professional association• A profession• A specialized field of study

History and Mission

• Founded in 1966, TESOL is a global education association with nearly 14,000 members worldwide.

• TESOL's mission is to develop and maintain professional expertise in English language teaching and learning for speakers of other languages worldwide.

TESOL Values

• professionalism in language education• individual language rights • accessible, high-quality education • collaboration in a global community • interaction of research and reflective

practice for educational improvement • respect for diversity and multiculturalism

• Keep up with the field? • TESOL publications?• Networking?• Professional development? • What other reasons?

Here is how TESOL helps members do that…

Why Did You Join TESOL? Was it for any of these reasons?

Your TESOL Membership Benefits• Annual Convention and Exposition• Serial Publications• TESOL Publications• Education Programs & Professional Development• TESOL Resource Center• Leadership Training and Opportunities• Free Access to all Interest Sections • Affiliates• Career Services• Awards and Grants• Advocacy and Standards• Full-Time Professional Staff• Member Discounts• Web Site

Annual Convention

The largest of its kind, the TESOL convention provides you with several days of educational experiences, access to the latest publications and software, and the opportunity to meet and become part of the global TESOL community.

Annual Convention

• Expect an abundance of choices • Expect to meet many new friends• Expect to have questions• Expect to be tired but happy at the end of

each day• Expect to take home many experiences to

share with colleagues

Serial Publications Essential TeacherEssential Teacher offers a full array of thoughts on which English language teachers may reflect and instructional strategies that enable English language learners to make gains in learning through reading, technology, and classroom interaction.

Serial Publications TESOL QuarterlyTESOL Quarterly, an optionalmember benefit available throughsubscription, provides a forum for TESOL professionals to share theirresearch findings and explore ideas inEnglish language teaching andlearning.

TESOL PublicationsTESOL currently offers nearly 90 books for ESL and EFL educators. Written by experts in the field (including many TESOL members), these books provide current information on standards, technology, research, classroom practice, pedagogy, teacher education, assessment and professional development. Member discounts average 30% per title.

Education Programs & Professional Development

You can participate in• Online Education Programs Virtual Seminars Webcasts Principles and Practices of Online Teaching Certificate

Program

• Academies Intensive workshops that cover the latest trends in

teaching and technology

Education Programs & Professional Development

• SymposiaOne day regional programs focused on a single

topic offering forums for sharing insights about work and research on a given topic

• Pre- and Postconvention Institutes in-depth, hands-on professional development

TESOL Resource Center

• Free online resource available to all members, that means YOU!

• An online platform to find and share a variety of resources with peers in the profession

• Contribute resources through a review process

Leadership Training and Opportunities

TESOL offers many opportunities for you to develop your leadership skills, including the Leadership Development Certificate Program. Leadership opportunities serve a dual purpose of involving members in the association and securing recognition in the field as a whole.

TESOL Member Communities Interest Sections and Affiliates

TESOL’s member communities are the perfect venues for you to network and share information and ideas with your colleagues.

Interest Sections• Applied Linguistics• Computer-Assisted Language

Learning• English as a Foreign Language• English for Specific Purposes• ESL in Bilingual Education• ESL in Higher Education• ESL in Secondary Schools• ESOL in Adult Education• ESOL in Elementary Education• Intensive English Programs• Intercultural Communications

• International Teaching Assistants

• Materials Writers• Nonnative English Speakers

in TESOL• Program Administration• Refugee Concerns• Social Responsibility• Speech, Pronunciation, and

Listening• Second Language Writing• Teacher Education• Video and Digital Media

Interest Sections

Why Should You Participate in an Interest Section (IS)?

• Connect with members who do what you do• Learn from your peers through active participation in e-

lists• Share your knowledge and experiences with others• Write for your interest section’s newsletter• Help provide content to the IS’s web site• Take a leadership role

STUDENTS…TESOL’s Future!

• Why should students belong to a professional association?

• So you are not alone• So you don’t have to reinvent

the wheel• For leadership and professional

development opportunities• For validation as professionals• For a voice to advocate for you

and the field as a whole

Visit the Students area on the Web Site

Find information on presentation opportunities at the convention, like the Graduate Student Forum and Doctoral Forum .

TESOL AffiliatesTESOL has approximately 100 affiliates

worldwide.

What are Affiliates?

Affiliates are geographically based, autonomous organizations that support the mission of TESOL. TESOL and its affiliates enjoy a partnership that encourages members of one to join the other. But membership in one does not confer membership in the other, a point often confused by many.

Career Services

TESOL Career Services assists you in seeking employment opportunities around the world via the online JobFinder job board, the Placement E-Bulletin newsletter, and the annual Job MarketPlace career fair.

Career Services

• Post your resume, search for jobs, or just keep track of what is happening in the profession

• Sign up for the Placement E-Bulletin which comes directly to your e-mail twice a month

• The Job MarketPlace is an online job bank held in conjunction with the TESOL convention.

• Free with your membership

Awards and Grants Program

TESOL’s Awards and Grants program promotes the high standards vital to the development of the profession by providing financial support to graduate students, ESL/EFL professionals, materials writers, researchers, and others.

Awards and Grants ProgramTYPES OF AWARDS

• Travel Grants• Research• Professional Development Scholarships

FOR • Graduate Students• Researchers• Teachers and Trainers• EFL Professionals• All TESOL members

Advocacy and Standards

TESOL’s advocacy efforts include the development of position statements on issues from the field, U.S. government relations, a standing committee on global issues and trends, the creation of content and program standards, and an online U.S. Advocacy Action Center.

Advocacy and Standards

How does TESOL’s advocacy efforts help you?

• Provides input into education policies and initiatives that impact ESL teaching at all levels

• Represents the needs and concerns of the TESOL field to policy and decision makers

• Issues position papers on hot topics like changes to student visa rules, language policy, professional equity and employment issues, and global issues like immigration reform

A Full-Time Professional Staffis headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, USA and is available to answer your questions as well as assist you in accessing additional resources and information.

Discount$!

As a member of TESOL, you are entitled to substantial discounts on a variety of services and products. For example, members paid $295 for early registration while a non member had to pay $510; a $215 savings! Do the math…the member discount on the convention registration fee alone more than paid for your TESOL membership.

TESOL’s Web Site http://www.tesol.org/

TESOL’s Web site contains up-to-date information on the association’s products, services, and activities.

TESOL members have access to a searchable Member Directory and manage their own membership profile online.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING TESOL!

For more information, please contact:TESOL Member Services1925 Ballenger Ave., Suite 550Alexandria, VA 22314-6820 USATel. +1 703-836-0774, 888-547-3369Fax +1 703-836-6447 or -7864E-mail members@tesol.orgWeb site http://www.tesol.org/