Deadline for submission of proposals: Monday, July 31, 2022
Click the button below to submit NOW!
Deadline for submission of proposals: Monday, July 31, 2022
Click the button below to submit NOW!
Help AZTESOL save Arizona from the bad budget! The budget laws (a tax cut, a tax shelter, and a tax cap) were signed by the Governor in June. Together, they will result in a permanent $2.689 billion-dollar loss of state revenue each year. If allowed to stand, these laws will result in catastrophic cuts to vital state services and functions including roads and infrastructure, AHCCCS, universities, DES, child safety, and education. These cuts will directly impact us, our institutions, and our students.
AZTESOL is challenging its members to do the following:
Happy Holidays, everyone! The Fall 2020 AZTESOL Newsletter has just come out. Read all about the 2020 State Conference, TESOL 2021, the latest advocacy report along with ways to get involved, the impacts of AZTESOL on college students, an upcoming book study opportunity, and more! Read the newsletter here.
Thank you to everyone who joined us this weekend for another successful AZTESOL State Conference. Earlier this past spring, and for the safety of our members and communities, we made the difficult decision to switch our 2020 state conference from a face-to-face conference to be held in Yuma to a fully online conference and together we exceeded all expectations! We had record breaking attendance with over 330 participants for a full weekend of presentations, workshops, sessions, fairs, and networking! We welcomed participants from all across Arizona and the US, as well as Sonora, Mexico. We will continue to post conference materials and recordings of sessions on the Canvas site for all participants as well.
Thank you to our Keynote speaker, Dr. Kate Seltzer, and our featured speakers, Dr. Melissa Castillo and Eileen Nguyen, for their poignant and insightful contributions. Thank you to the AZTESOL conference planning committee and Board members for their hard work in planning and putting together the conference. And finally, an extra special thank you to all of our new and continuing members for being involved with AZTESOL and sharing their love of learning and teaching, and dedication to furthering the field of English language learning for students in Arizona and the whole world.
Vote YES on Prop 208!
AZTESOL encourages its members to vote YES on Proposition 208, the Invest in Education Act. A YES vote on Proposition 208 restores hundreds of millions of dollars annually in K-12 education funding to solve Arizona’s teacher-shortage crisis, lower class sizes, hire aides and counselors, and expand career and technical education. Learn more about Proposition 208 here.
Why is AZTESOL endorsing Proposition 208?
Arizona is facing a devastating teacher shortage. This teacher shortage and resulting large class sizes directly impact Arizona’s English learners whose unique needs are best met by highly trained and experienced teachers of English. Proposition 208 addresses these issues by raising teacher salaries, hiring more teachers, and funding mentoring and retention programs for new teachers.
Arizona ranks 49th in the nation in median teacher salary. AZTESOL celebrates the professionalism of its many members who work in Arizona’s K-12 public schools, and believes that the state must raise its teacher salaries to be in line with the national average. Proposition 208 moves the state’s teacher salaries in this direction.
How can you help?
Volunteer: There are a variety of safe, flexible, and fun volunteer opportunities occurring every day until the election. Help voters learn about why a YES vote on Proposition 208 is good for Arizona’s future.
TESOL International Association recently issued a joint statement along with EnglishUSA and UCIEP in strong opposition to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement guidance that will bar many international students from studying in the United States in the fall. The United States has long been a global leader in international education and cultural exchange by providing opportunities for students from the U.S. and around the world to learn about cultures and languages, to exchange ideas, and to build a sense of identity and cultural awareness. Unfortunately, this new guidance, along with previous restrictive travel policies, will further weaken the United States’ ability to offer a space for cross-cultural communication and understanding.
Institutions of higher education and Intensive English Programs not only enable international students to develop their English language proficiency, but they also provide numerous social and cultural benefits such as enabling students to collaborate with their peers from around the world, thereby fostering the respect for diversity and multiculturalism that are fundamental to an interconnected world. While studying English, international students not only learn about U.S. culture through their interactions with peers and community members, but also enrich the communities in which they stay by sharing their unique perspectives with local residents and students. This reciprocal exchange of ideas is essential to promoting a sense of global community and mutual respect.
TESOL, along with its colleagues at EnglishUSA and UCIEP, are urging the White House and ICE to rescind this guidance that will certainly result in even more harm to the well-being of institutions of higher education, IEPs, international students, and local communities.
Download a copy of the joint statement here
Take action by sending messages to the White House and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security here
The AZTESOL Board of Directors recently voted to amend the AZTESOL Constitution and By-Laws to reflect our recent decision to make membership in AZTESOL free. You can read the full text of the updated constitution here.
In accordance with regulations, members have 30 days to vote to approve or disapprove any changes to the constitution. Please click here to see the specific changes and cast your vote.
Voting will end on August 8, 2020. Thank you for being a part of AZTESOL!
Deadline: August 31, 2020
The Arizona affiliate of TESOL International Association (AZTESOL) invites you to submit a proposal to present at the 2020 State Conference, themed,
THE POWER OF TRANSLANGUAGING: LIVING IN TWO LANGUAGES AS ONE
English language educators are invited to participate in this state-wide conference, to be held at the joint campus of Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma on October 23-25.
The AZTESOL state conference offers professional development to English language educators at all levels. In lively interactive sessions, educators develop a cultural and global perspective through the exchange of ideas and practices. Participants integrate knowledge of current trends in the field while developing a professional network.
All proposals must be submitted online. For detailed instructions and submission information, please visit https://aztesol.org/attend/upcoming-conferences/
We look forward to receiving your proposal—and to seeing you at the conference!
TESOL International Association has issued a statement on the recent incidents of violence, racial injustice and inequality. As the official Arizona state affiliate of TESOL International, we also stand by this statement and stand against racial and social injustice. You can read the full statement here.
Students from Gadson School District created artwork for the upcoming AZTESOL state conference. The art represents each student’s interpretation of the conference theme Translanguaging: Living in Two Languages as One.
Camila Fragoso, 8th Grader, Southwest Junior High School
Chloe Zhen, 4th Grader, Ed Pastor Elementary School
Leociry Mora, 8th Grader, Southwest Junior High School
Rodrigo Mendivil, 3rd Grader, Desert View Elementary School