Message from the President

Greetings from Long Beach, California! I am very excited to begin my 18-month tenure as President of CATESOL. All CATESOL Board of Directors members will serve for 18 months because our Annual Conference is moving from April to October. We are up for the challenge!

Let me tell you about my journey through the world of professional development and the mentoring I have received. My undergraduate major was Spanish, but when I went to live in Spain (over 30 years ago), I had to teach EFL to make a living. Near the end of my 8-year stay in Madrid, at the suggestion of the Academic Coordinator at the school where I was teaching, I gave a few presentations at TESOL Spain. Later, as a graduate student in the MATESL program at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), to please the Practicum instructor, I submitted a proposal for TESOL ‘93, never expecting it to be accepted (but it was!). Finally, upon arriving in California, through the mentoring of the Assistant Director at the ALI—CSULB, I gave my first presentation at a CATESOL Los Angeles Regional Conference in 1996. I am so grateful to the colleagues and professors who encouraged me to get involved in our professional organizations, and I now try to mentor anyone who will listen to me! I ask all of you to reach out (as mentors) to those who may not know about CATESOL and all it has to offer.

Even though we will not have an annual conference until October 24th – 27th, 2013, there are many interim events (Regional Conferences, Chapter Events, Webinars, and Local Talks) in the works. Members—Keep an eye out for your CATESOL Monthly Newsletter (e-mail), which contains a list of all upcoming events. If you are not getting regular e-mails from CATESOL, please contact General Manager Don Sillings at catesol@catesol.org and he will make sure that you get the monthly Newsletter, and links to the electronic CATESOL News, and the electronic CATESOL Journal. Non-members should check for event information here on the CATESOL website...or better yet, become a member to get direct access to all the news!!

Best Regards,
Nina Ito
Academic Coordinator, American Language Institute, CSU—Long Beach

Of Special Interest

One of the TESOL Academies: Continuing Education Workshops for ESOL Professionals is taking place July 13-14, 2012, at California State University Fullerton. The event is co-hosted by CATESOL. The Academy features six 10-hour workshops focused on key issues and areas of practice in the profession, from teaching a multilevel class and literacy development in content areas to reading comprehension and writing instruction for ELLs. Find out more.

Your charitable contribution to the 2013 CATESOL Angel Fund is used directly by the CATESOL Education Foundation to support the CATESOL Annual Conference. For more information, follow this link to the CATESOL Education Foundation.

Members get access to digital versions of The CATESOL News and The CATESOL Journal as a part of their membership. Members can elect to receive print copies of CATESOL publications.

Congratulations to Lia Kamhi-Stein, founder of the Non-Native Language Educators Issues Interest Group and past CATESOL President, who has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 TESOL Award for Excellence in Teaching. Please join all of us in congratulating her on receiving this prestigious and much-deserved award!

CATESOL Marketplace - Support CATESOL:

• CATESOL Journal (past issues and articles) (a searchable list of the Articles since 1997 is provided)
• CATESOL Travel website (commission to CATESOL)
• Chapter Workshop and Conference registration, and
• CATESOL Merchandise – NEW this week: Thermo Tote Bag

CATESOL Local Talks
Informal Discussions hosted by CATESOL Members
Do you have an idea to share with colleagues from the surrounding area? Consider hosting a two-hour informal discussion at your school. Email president@catesol.org with your idea.