Letter from the Chair
Sidury Christiansen, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
Dear SLW-IS Members,
As we enter the final stretch of 2023, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable progress we have made as a community in the Second Language Writing Interest Section. It is through the dedication and hard work of each and every one of you that we have been able to achieve our goals and push the boundaries of what our interest section can offer to our members.
First, I would like to highlight the significant strides we have made in restructuring our newsletter. Our aim was to make it a platform that not only disseminates important research information but also fosters options for pedagogically oriented discussions and provides valuable insights to our readership. I am pleased to report that we have successfully transitioned into this new format, thanks to the great efforts of our editorial team. The feedback we have received from our members has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are committed to maintaining and improving upon this approach in the coming years.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who attended the webinar on AI in L2 writing, presented by the esteemed Dr. Svetlana Suchkova, the Director of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) Writing Center. The event was very well-attended and sparked engaging conversations that are already shaping the academic sessions for the upcoming TESOL 2024 conference. Look out for the recording and the handouts given in the myTESOL platform in the upcoming weeks. Our intersection session with CALL on AI and writing promises to be an exciting opportunity to delve deeper into this evolving field, and I encourage all of you to participate and contribute your insights.
In our ongoing efforts to increase the visibility of L2 researchers who are also practitioners in various underrepresented settings, both within and outside the United States, we have taken meaningful steps forward. By amplifying their voices and experiences, we hope to create a more inclusive and diverse space for discussions and collaborations.
Looking ahead to the spring semester, I am thrilled to announce our upcoming book club session, featuring the recently published book, "EFL Writing Teacher Education and Professional Development," co-edited by Estela Ene, Betsy Gilliland, Sarah Henderson Lee, Tanita Saenkhum, and Lisya Seloni. This promises to be an enriching experience for all of us, and I encourage you to join us as we explore the invaluable insights the co-editors have to offer. Save the date for January 11, 2024 at 12pm CT/1pm ET. Registration will open in the following weeks.
I would like to express my immense gratitude to our fabulous team, including our Chair-Elect, co-editors of the newsletter, and our dedicated steering committee members. Together, we will continue to innovate and make our content relevant and engaging for all members of our interest section.
I am excited about the journey ahead and the opportunities that await us. Let us continue to collaborate, learn, and grow as we work together to advance the field of second language writing.
Sincerely,
Sidury Christiansen, Ph.D. - SLWIS Chair
Associate Professor of TESL/Applied Linguistics
University of Texas at San Antonio
Sidury Christiansen is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a Fulbright Scholar and English Language Specialist. Her research centers around issues of digital literacies, sociolinguistics, and transnationality in online spaces. Her publications have appeared in the journals such as Written Communication and TESOL Quarterly. She promotes technology for the enhancement of teaching and learning, especially of second language writing.