Professional Development

CALICO: Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium

 

The Computer-assisted language instruction consortium (CALICO)   is an international professional development organization that is   devoted to research and development in the use of technology in   second language learning. It started with a restricted number of   people who shared the same interest in integrating technology and   producing tech-oriented materials to reinforce pedagogy for second   and foreign language learning. With more than twenty-five years of   experience, and a wide range of expertise through its members including researchers, practitioners, web designers, Call experts, the organization has now extended its agenda to the CALICO journal, a thrice-yearly publication that aims to disseminate and share research that has been conducted for the reinforcement of technology in second language learning.

CALICO organizes conferences every year in affiliation to EuroCALL, which include pre-conference hands-on workshops, discovery of new resources, panels, papers, and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). SIG members benefit from active involvements in discussions while meeting other practitioners and CALL experts who share similar interests. The SIGs include computer mediated communication (CMC), Gaming, Language teaching and learning technologies (LTLT), second language acquisition and technology (SLAT), teacher education, and immersive realities. CALICO also holds bi-annual online workshops that enable members to immerse themselves into hands-on practice. The next conference will be held in Seattle, Washington at the Renaissance Hotel from May 31 to June 4, 2022. The event will be face-to-face but registrations are also open for an online component. As a member, you can use your credentials to access CALICO resources, including previous conferences, papers, and other materials.

For more information about CALICO membership Click Here

To learn more about CALICO member benefits Click Here

 

IATEFL:  The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language 

The International Association of teachers of English as a foreign language (IATEFL) is a UK-based association that started as a forum for English language teachers and other members in 1967, but has now become one of the most globally representative association. IATEFL has been operating for more than fifty years now and aims to support English language teachers’ growth all around the globe, to offer platforms where ELT practitioners can voice their minds, and to create professional development opportunities for in-service practicing teachers. Apart from attending the annual conference which features pre-conference workshops, plenary sessions, presentations, online resources, and fairs, members can also attend webinars organized by the different interest groups. Click here to view a list of events . The IATEFL website is a repository for useful resources that are meant to guide new members, and these can be accessed here. The association also offers sixteen Special interest groups including, English for specific purposes, young learners, and teenagers, ESOL, pronunciation, testing, evaluation and assessment, research, teacher development, learning technologies, materials writing and so on. On the IATEFL website, under the Jobs tab, you can browse through jobs market and apply for a position abroad in different fields related to TESOL.

I recommend IATEFL as a dynamic and inclusive association that offers regular professional development opportunities to its members. As a Hornby Scholar, I had the chance to become a member of IATEFL, to attend and co-present at the 2017 conference in Glasgow, Scotland. It was a great platform for exchanging, learning, presenting, and meeting professionals from diverse contexts. Our Hornby Scholars' presentation was on factors influencing teacher motivation in different contexts and is still available on the British Council/BBC webpage on a video format. I also volunteered as an online roving reporter, which consisted in attending as many presentations as possible and reporting on the IATEFL online platform for virtual attendees. It was an enriching and life-changing experience as it enabled us to join international communities of practice such as the teacher education SIG. Here is the link to the IATEFL online Glasgow 2017, featuring plenary talks and other presentations. 

The TESOL international association is a community of practice that gathers teachers of English around the globe. Although its primary purpose was Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, the association offers professional development opportunities to all English language practitioners who wish to enhance their professional growth. The TESOL webpage is a rich repository for resources that aim at advancing excellence in English language teaching while offering various possibilities to connect with other teachers, to attend online continuing professional development events, and to access a wide range of materials such as journals, video conferences, and more. To become a member, please visit the website and create an account or click here for more information.