The Center for Applied Linguistics Suggests Workshops at TESOL

How do you choose which of the many tempting ESL workshops at an international convention of ESL teachers and researchers?

Naturally, I chat with friends and co-workers picking up a few leads. I also exchanged emails. Finally, I consult and explore the internet.

First stop is the outstanding Center for Applied Linguistics website, featuring many resources for ESL teachers, program administrators, and university researchers. Their goal, which I share, is to bridge the huge gap between academic theory and classroom practice, finding effective ways to help adult English language learner gain fluency in our confusing tongue. Adult educators will find a plethora of valuable materials here. Yet ESL teachers working with children will also discover practical information such as an introduction to Student Oral Proficiency Assessment .

As part of my preparation for the TESOL convention, I checked the CAL website for
a list of recommended workshops by CAL researchers. As ever, the Center for Applied Linguistics website provides some practical suggestions.

“World of TESOL, Worlds of Refugees”, “Strategies for Serving High Advanced Adult ESL Students”, and “Building Academic Language Through Scaffolded Instructional Conversations”, and “Analyzing Oral Proficiency to Guide Instruction” sound like sensible, smart choices. “Applying Teacher Input to Improve Assessment” also sounds like an excellent idea. Two other workshops that caught my eye, “Interested in Working as as ESOL Consultant” and “Connecting Culture and Language in ELL Instruction”, but I’m not going to any workshops that start at 7:30 AM or 7:30 PM while visiting New York City.

English teachers, teacher trainers, program administrators should consider bookmarking the site to stay current on research to help ESL, ELL, or EFL students.

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