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General

Free Virtual Workshop: Friday, September 29, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm (Arizona MST)

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9/29 Webinar:

Academic Writing Anxiety: A Deep Dive into Experience, Research, and Praxis

REGISTER HERE!

Session description:
In this interactive workshop, we will explore the profound link between emotions and academic writing, specifically diving deep into Academic Writing Anxiety (AWA). I’ll begin by helping participants understand contemporary research on AWA, then present key research findings from a study I conducted in collaboration with Dr. Susan Miller-Cochran. Practical exercises aimed at understanding and addressing AWA in classroom settings will be introduced, providing educators with tools and strategies. Throughout the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on the implications of AWA in their teaching spaces and engage in meaningful conversations about its practical implications. By attending this workshop, participants will grasp the importance of acknowledging AWA in academic writing, understand the findings from our study, and have actionable strategies to address AWA in their respective contexts.

Speaker’s bio:

Anuj Gupta is a PhD candidate who embodies multiple roles at the University of Arizona – a UX researcher, a technical writing educator, and Data Science and Digital Scholarship Fellow. His research and teaching agenda focus on designing, analyzing, testing, and deploying language technologies to create transformative learning experiences that promote social justice, inclusion, and empowerment for diverse audiences. He is currently working on his dissertation research where he is analysing the impact of AI technologies like large language models (LLM) on human communication, literacy, and emotions. He was recently awarded the Kairos Graduate Student Research Award and the CCCC Scholars for the Dream Award. His research can be found in journals including Composition Studies, ALRA, JSLAT, and the CWPA journal. Previously, Anuj helped build one of India’s pioneering college-level writing programs at Ashoka University. You can learn more about his research by visiting his website: https://bit.ly/40LONpt.

General, Professional Development, Webinar

Free Virtual Workshop September 13 @ 12:00-1:00PM

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9/13 Webinar: Moving forward with social-emotional learning: Practical strategies and reflections for English teachers

Session Description: In this presentation, we introduce social-emotional learning (SEL) in the context of English language teaching (ELT), explain our position for embracing and promoting SEL as a vital practice and pedagogy in ELT, and share practical examples of SEL that English language educators can use in their learning spaces to support learners. Throughout the webinar, we will offer spaces and opportunities for reflections and conversations about how to successfully incorporate SEL, and how to envision ELT through an SEL lens. By the end of this webinar, participants will have an understanding of what SEL is, why include it in our practice and pedagogies, and approaches to including SEL in ELT.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Speaker Bios:

Luis Javier Pentón Herrera, Ph.D. is Full Professor at Akademia Ekonomiczno-Humanistyczna w Warszawie, Poland, the Coordinator of the Graduate TESOL Certificate at The George Washington University, United States, and Co-Editor of Tapestry: A Multimedia Journal for Teachers and English Learners. To learn more about Dr. Pentón Herrera, please visit his website https://luispenton.com/

 

 

Gilda Martínez-Alba, Ed.D. is the Assistant Dean in the College of Education at Towson University and Co-Editor of Tapestry: A Multimedia Journal for Teachers and English Learners.  Her books include, Social-Emotional Learning in the English Language Classroom, with Luis Javier Pentón Herrera (a best seller). and Co-Editor of Tapestry: A Multimedia Journal for Teachers and English Learners. To learn more about Dr. Martínez-Alba, please visit: https://www.towson.edu/coe/departments/learning-technologies/faculty/gmartinezalba.html.

Drawing Contest
Conferences, General

AZTESOL Annual State Conference 2023 Drawing Contest

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CALLING ALL ELL STUDENTS! AZTESOL is inviting students and adult English learners across Arizona to submit drawings and short, written explanations of their drawings based on the theme: Layered Learning, Layered Learners. The due date for submissions is end of day Friday, September 15, 2023.
Winners will be determined based on the following 5 categories:

  • Grades K-5
  • Grades 6-8
  • Grades 9-12
  • Higher Education
  • ESL adult learners (community college and other programs)

Winning submissions will be displayed at the AZTESOL Conference in Phoenix October 20-21, 2023 and will be highlighted on the AZTESOL website.

General

Advocacy Training

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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:

  • Watch this training video
  • Complete this form to indicate how you will help with the campaign
  • Sign the 3 petitions at a convenient signing location
  • Check out a set of petitions to circulate (look for a location that says “Pick up petitions).  Staff will train you in signature collection.
  • Spread the word!  Most voters have no idea these laws were passed.  Use this messaging toolkit to post on social media and email or text friends and family.

 

Canvas Screenshot
Board, Conferences, General

Thank you!

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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.

Yes on 208 Image
General, Sociopolitical Concerns

Vote YES on Prop 208!

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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?

  • Vote: Find your polling place, check your registration, and watch progress of your early ballot here.
  • Spread the word: Tell three people about your support for Proposition 208.  Ask them to vote YES and to spread the word to their families and friends.

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.

Teachers
General, Sociopolitical Concerns, TESOL

TESOL, EnglishUSA, and UCIEP Oppose ICE Guidance on International English Language Program Students for Fall 2020

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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