1. Professional Organizations

2. Introduction Teaching can often feel very overwhelming and isolating. Teaching can often feel very overwhelming and isolating. Becoming a member of a professional organization can provide you with the support, networking, and training you might need. Becoming a member of a professional organization can provide you with the support, networking, and training you might need.

3. Introduction A professional organization is a non-profit organization for advancing a specific profession and for defending the public interest and the interest of professionals. A professional organization is a non-profit organization for advancing a specific profession and for defending the public interest and the interest of professionals. Most academic areas have professional organizations at the state, regional, and Most academic areas have professional organizations at the state, regional, and national/international levels. national/international levels. The members of these organizations are people who have a shared interests in the offerings of that organization. The members of these organizations are people who have a shared interests in the offerings of that organization.

4. Examples of professional organizations State Level: – –Sunshine State TESOL – –Membership: Second language educators (mainly TESOL) in Florida – –Website: http://www.sunshine-tesol.org/ – –Newsletter: The Messenger – –Journal: The Sunshine State TESOL Journal – –Conference: Annually, usually in May National Level: – –Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) – –Membership: TESOL educators nationally and internationally – –Website: http://www.tesol.org/http://www.tesol.org/ – –Newsletter: Essential Teacher – –Journal: TESOL Quarterly – –Conference: Annually, usually in March

5. By becoming a member of a professional organization, you can… Develop relationships with peers Develop relationships with peers Engage in life-long learning Engage in life-long learning Keep up with current research, strategies, and trends in your field Keep up with current research, strategies, and trends in your field Engage in networking – find out about employment, grant, travel, and resource opportunities Engage in networking – find out about employment, grant, travel, and resource opportunities Learn from colleagues/collaborate with colleagues Learn from colleagues/collaborate with colleagues Serve the profession by assisting at conferences, serving on committees, etc. Serve the profession by assisting at conferences, serving on committees, etc.

6. Other benefits… You will receive newsletters and professional journals on a regular basis. These publications provide you with: You will receive newsletters and professional journals on a regular basis. These publications provide you with: –News –Announcements –Articles written by K-12 and university educators about strategies that have worked for them, research they have strategies that have worked for them, research they have conducted, etc. conducted, etc. –Wealth of resources You will receive information about their annual conferences. As a student, you will probably be able to pay a discounted conference registration fee. You will receive information about their annual conferences. As a student, you will probably be able to pay a discounted conference registration fee.

7. How to join… Go to the professional organization’s website. Go to the professional organization’s website. Look for “Membership” link. Look for “Membership” link. Complete and submit the form online or in hard copy form. Complete and submit the form online or in hard copy form. Join while you are a student. You will receive a HUGE discount as a student! Join while you are a student. You will receive a HUGE discount as a student! If required to provide a letter verifying your status as a student, ask your advisor or another faculty member if they might write you a letter. If required to provide a letter verifying your status as a student, ask your advisor or another faculty member if they might write you a letter.

8. Conferences Most professional organizations have annual conferences. Most professional organizations have annual conferences. Conferences are usually multi-day events that include keynote speakers, vendors, and numerous presentations/sessions. Conferences are usually multi-day events that include keynote speakers, vendors, and numerous presentations/sessions. You may attend a conference as a participant and/or presenter. You may attend a conference as a participant and/or presenter.

9. What to do if you would like to present… In order to present, you have to write and submit a presentation proposal. In order to present, you have to write and submit a presentation proposal. Go to the website of the conference at which you are interested in presenting. Go to the website of the conference at which you are interested in presenting. Look for a link for “Professional Development,” “Conference,” “Events,” “Annual Meeting,” etc. Look for a link for “Professional Development,” “Conference,” “Events,” “Annual Meeting,” etc. Look for “Call for Proposals/Papers.” Look for “Call for Proposals/Papers.” CAREFULLY follow the directions specified. Not carefully following the directions can result in your proposal being rejected. CAREFULLY follow the directions specified. Not carefully following the directions can result in your proposal being rejected.

10. What to do… If a template is provided on the website, you may be able to fill it out and submit it online. Or, you may have to print it out, fill it in, and mail it by snail mail. If a template is provided on the website, you may be able to fill it out and submit it online. Or, you may have to print it out, fill it in, and mail it by snail mail. If there is a theme, try to modify your presentation title and description to fit the theme. If you are unable to do this, don’t let that deter you from submitting a proposal. If there is a theme, try to modify your presentation title and description to fit the theme. If you are unable to do this, don’t let that deter you from submitting a proposal.

11. What to do… Provide ALL of the required information. Provide ALL of the required information. Make sure that, if asked, you indicate your A/V and room configuration needs. Make sure that, if asked, you indicate your A/V and room configuration needs. If you neglect to do this, you may end up lacking the equipment you need or having a room that does not meet your needs. If you neglect to do this, you may end up lacking the equipment you need or having a room that does not meet your needs.

12. Final steps… Review your proposal for accuracy and clarity. Review your proposal for accuracy and clarity. Make a copy for your own files. Make a copy for your own files. Following the submission procedures CAREFULLY, submit your proposal to the indicated recipient. Following the submission procedures CAREFULLY, submit your proposal to the indicated recipient. Submit your proposal by the deadline. Submit your proposal by the deadline.

13. Your proposal acceptance You will be notified of your proposal acceptance/rejection after all of the proposals have been reviewed by a proposal review committee. You will be notified of your proposal acceptance/rejection after all of the proposals have been reviewed by a proposal review committee. It is not guaranteed that your proposal will be accepted. The bigger the conference, the greater the number of people who will want to present at the conference. Your chances of proposal acceptance at a state conference (vs. a regional or national conference) are greater. It is not guaranteed that your proposal will be accepted. The bigger the conference, the greater the number of people who will want to present at the conference. Your chances of proposal acceptance at a state conference (vs. a regional or national conference) are greater. You want to make sure your proposal is as professional, unique, and enticing as possible. You want to make sure your proposal is as professional, unique, and enticing as possible.

14. Some things to know… Regional and national/international conferences tend to ask for more information than state conferences. However, don’t be intimidated; simply respond to the questions they ask. Regional and national/international conferences tend to ask for more information than state conferences. However, don’t be intimidated; simply respond to the questions they ask. You will be expected to pay the registration fee; the fee tends to be lower for students. If you don’t see a discounted fee, ask if there is one. You will be expected to pay the registration fee; the fee tends to be lower for students. If you don’t see a discounted fee, ask if there is one.

15. Writing a Proposal for the SSTESOL Conference Although it is too late to submit a proposal for this year’s Sunshine State TESOL Conference, which is May 7-9, 2015, the purpose of our final course assignment – writing a SSTESOL conference presentation proposal - is to give you practice writing a presentation proposal that you could conceivably submit for next year’s SSTESOL Conference or some other conference. Although it is too late to submit a proposal for this year’s Sunshine State TESOL Conference, which is May 7-9, 2015, the purpose of our final course assignment – writing a SSTESOL conference presentation proposal - is to give you practice writing a presentation proposal that you could conceivably submit for next year’s SSTESOL Conference or some other conference. You are now ready to complete this assignment! You are now ready to complete this assignment!