Sunshine State TESOL of Florida Tman's Answers to  Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the mission of Sunshine State TESOL of Florida?

The mission of the Sunshine State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is to provide educators access to professional development,  resources, and interaction and to provide leadership and advocacy in language policy issues.

2.  Who can join?

Membership is open to anyone interested in teaching English to speakers of other languages. For a list of the membership benefits, refer to the membership application form.

3.  Florida is such a big state. How can joining a state organization help me in the school where I teach?

That is an interesting question. In some parts of the state ESOL in the public schools is the paramount. In other parts it is intensive language programs associated with universities and community colleges. In others the focus is on adult education or on a combination of all these programs. To meet the differing needs of ESOL and ESL programs throughout the state, Sunshine State TESOL has local chapters. Check the chapter listings for the contact person of the chapter closest to you, then get involved with your local chapter.

4.   Why should I go to the Sunshine State TESOL annual conference?

Let me give you some tips that will make going to the convention something you look forward to every year.

• Publisher's displays--Do you like books? Do you wish you had better teaching materials? Have you ever ordered a book only to be dissatisfied with what you received? Sunshine State TESOL has one of the biggest and best displays of materials put out by large and small publishers. It is worth the price of the convention to browse through the materials. You'll feel like you died and went to ESL book heaven.
• Presentations--Are you running out of ideas to keep your teaching fresh? Do you have something you have tried out in the classroom that you would like to share? The convention is filled with presentations and workshops by teachers like yourself--every thing from how to use computers to teach pronunciation to how to use video making to teach composition to how to turn a canoe trip into an ESL activity adventure. I guarantee that you'll go home with some new ideas or at least better ways to do what you do already. I challenge you to share one of your ideas at the upcoming convention. Just the process of filling out the proposal form will make you a better teacher as you reflect on what you do that could help other teachers be more successful.
• Meet the famous--Every convention brings in people who are well known either as textbook writers, as teacher trainers, or as "thinkers" about our profession. This is a chance to meet these people and interact with them.
• Networking--Sometimes ESOL can be a lonely profession. You may be the only one in your school with the assignment. At the convention there will be hundreds of others. You can meet with them, share your concerns, exchange your ideas, and feel a part of a larger statewide, nationwide, even worldwide profession. It is also a place to prospect for jobs. As you give presentations and meet with others over the years, your reputation as a professional will grow. Then when some school needs a special person to come help out, your name might come to mind. You will be surprised by the opportunities that will come your way through the contacts you make at the annual convention
• Luxurious pampering--I saved what some consider the best reason for last. When you check into the hotel, check the normal price of the room. It's usually posted on the back of the door. Wow! Did you get a bargain! (Especially if you shared the room with some colleagues or your family). When else can someone as poorly paid as a teacher enjoy such luxury? You might think you've joined the lifestyles of the rich and famous. We teachers need a nice fringe benefit now and then. Sunshine State TESOL tries to move the convention site around the state so that every other year or so it is close to where you live. They also try to choose a location that has interesting things you can see and do--those things you never get around to seeing and doing because you "live here."

If you have questions about TESOL in Florida that you would like to ask Tman, send them to rthompso@english.ufl.edu

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