Interest Sections

Interest Sections (ISs) are special interest groups within Georgia TESOL that connect members based on professional areas of interest. Interest sections meet annually at the Georgia TESOL conference, publish periodic updates in the Georgia TESOL Newsletters, and host electronic discussion lists (e-lists or listservs).

Every TESOL member is encouraged to join at least one Interest Section. There is no fee for joining a Georgia TESOL Interest Section. If you have any questions related to Interested Sections, please contact the Georgia TESOL Interest Section Liaison, Mae Wlazlinski.

Take a moment to explore the Interest Sections and find one or two that fit your needs.

Adult Education (AE)-- brings together the knowledge, precepts, and skills of two distinct but compatible areas: adult education and English as a Second Language.
Contact Person: Lisa McKinney

Applied Linguistics (AL)-- applies research and theory to real-world contexts and explores implications for enhancement of language learning and communication.
Contact Person: Sarah Irani

Bilingual Education (BE)-- supports and promotes primary (native) language literacy as fundamental to acquisition of English as a second or foreign language.
Contact Person: Dell Perry
Join listserv (This is a Yahoo Groups listserv, but you do not have to have a Yahoo e-mail account to join. Just click the link to send a message and you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to join.)

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL)-- defines issues and standards in computer-mediated language instruction, promotes research, and disseminates information about CALL to ESL/EFL educators.
Contact Person: Annette Ingram

Elementary Education (EE)-- fosters recognition of ESOL as an academic discipline in elementary education, advocates for elementary ESOL and teacher training, and encourages development of useful materials.
Contact Person: Ayanna Cooper

English as a Foreign Language (EFL)-- facilitates exchanges on global and specific EFL/ESL issues and brings together professionals who have had or intend to have EFL/ESL experiences in different countries.
Contact Person: Melinda Knowles
Join listserv (This is a Yahoo Groups listserv, but you do not have to have a Yahoo e-mail account to join. Just click the link to send a message and you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to join.)

English for Specific Purposes (ESP)-- offers support for professionals interested in design and delivery of courses for students in specific graduate and undergraduate disciplines, or for people working or preparing to work in science, medicine, business, industry, government, or other areas.
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Intensive English Programs (IEP)-- focuses on language issues of primary nonnative speakers who need or want to acquire English in a relatively brief but intensive period.
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Intercultural Communication (IC)-- promotes intercultural awareness and respect for all cultures and provides a clearly defined forum to bring together educators and scholars whose interests lie in intercultural communication, particularly in the context of English-language classes.
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International Teaching Assistants (ITA)-- addresses research, teaching, and administrative issues related to preparing international assistants for instructional duties in university classrooms.
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ESL in Higher Education (HE)-- promotes recognition of ESL as an established academic discipline, professional standards and practices, and professional employment conditions and provides a forum to exchange views and research as well as expertise to TESOL and other associations, institutions, and agencies.
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Material Writers (MW)-- facilitates materials writers' access to resources, information, writers, and publishers and encourages networking to promote development of high-quality materials.
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Program Administration (PA)-- addresses special needs of ESL program administrators at all levels and provides a forum for strengthening managerial and leadership skills.
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Refugee Concerns (RC)-- addresses the specific language and cultural needs of the entire refugee family group.
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Research (RS)-- emphasizes the importance of research in ESOL by promoting and disseminating research findings, integrating research and classroom practice, and promoting awareness of ethical issues involved in research.
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Second Language Writing (SLW)-- provides a forum for researchers and educators to discuss and exchange information in the area of second language writing.
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Secondary Schools (SS)-- facilitates exchange of information and expertise among secondary teachers and administrators.
Contact Person: Joelle Vecsey

SocioPolitical Concerns (SPC)-- provides a forum for researchers and educators to discuss and disseminate information on matters socially and/or politically related to TESOL.
Contact Person: Tonna Harris-Bosselmann

Speech/Pronunciation/Listening (SPL)-- provides exchange of information and ideas on instructional techniques, research findings, publications, and other areas related to pronunciation.
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Teacher Education (TE)--provides a forum for those interested in ESOL teacher education and fosters policies to improve employment and learning conditions for teachers and students.
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Video and Digital Media (VDM)-- serves as a forum to exchange professional, noncommercial issues and concerns unique to the production and use of video and audio materials, both traditional and digital, in English language classrooms.
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