Letter from the Past Chair

Rashad Ahmed, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, USA

Dear Colleagues and Fellow ALIS Members,

As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming TESOL 2024 convention, I am filled with gratitude and excitement. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the ALIS leadership team and all our dedicated members for their unwavering support. Your commitment has fueled our collective achievements throughout my tenure as chair, highlighted by our impactful Academic Session at TESOL 2023 and our numerous enriching initiatives over the past year.

At our previous convention, our academic session, “Re-Envisioning ELT in the Metaverse Era,” explored the dynamic realm of ELT, enriched by the forefront of technological innovation. Dr. Tait Bergstrom captivated us with his insights into how networked technologies transform literacy practices in ELT classrooms, discussing the reshaping of social interactions and teaching strategies. Dr. Ammar Al-Sharafi built on this by illustrating the potential of virtual environments with "Solving the Language Practicing Problem through Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence," showcasing how immersive technologies can enrich language learning with engaging and diverse applications. Yasmeen Coaxum concluded by demonstrating the power of AI in creating collaborative learning communities, specifically through podcasting, to enhance English proficiency and foster an integrative educational experience. Together, these sessions painted a vivid picture of the future of language education, underscored by innovation and interactivity.

As we look forward to TESOL 2024, we expect a convention ripe with pioneering thoughts and practices that will shape the future of language teaching and assessment. This upcoming convention will undoubtedly leverage the successes of our past gatherings, serving as a hub of innovation and a reaffirmation of our dedication to applied linguistics. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr. Muhammad Alasmari as the incoming chair, whose leadership promises to infuse the convention with fresh perspectives, especially in the realm of artificial intelligence in language education. His direction of the academic session at TESOL 2024 is keenly anticipated, as it is certain to contribute richly to our ongoing conversation and pursuit of excellence in our field.

I also extend a warm welcome to our new newsletter editors, Andy Jiahao Liu and Raj Khatri. Their first undertaking in this role has been the diligent preparation of this newsletter, and we are all grateful for their hard work and dedication. Additionally, I extend my sincere thanks to Miriam Moore, who adeptly coordinates our social media presence; to Mimi Li, who serves as an invaluable member-at-large; and to Shima Farhesh, who serves as our community manager. Their collective efforts and leadership continue to propel us forward.

I'm excited about our reunion at TESOL 2024 and hope to see a record number of ALIS members there. The convention is an invaluable opportunity to foster professional connections, encounter new ideas, and ignite passions for ELT. Should you wish to engage more deeply with ALIS, please consider this an open invitation to get in touch and contribute to our vibrant community.

Warm regards,

Dr. Rashad Ahmed

Jacksonville State University

Rashad Ahmed is an Assistant Professor of TESOL and Linguistics at Jacksonville State University, AL. He has a wide range of research interests that involve Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), Language Assessment, Digital Literacy, TESOL Methods, and Sociolinguistics.