Letter from the Chair
Polina Vinogradova, American University, Washington, D.C. USA
Dear Members of the TEIS Community,
First of all, I’d like to wish you all a happy, healthy, and productive 2025. This is not going to be an easy year for many of us, but I believe that our dedication, care, compassion, and belief in the importance of our teaching profession will get us through. These qualities will also be instrumental in offering support to our pre-service and in-service teachers and colleagues. I encourage you to collaborate, be creative, and support each other in these challenging times. And the line-up of articles in this issue supports these ideas and practices - navigating challenges, balancing growth and boundaries, supporting novice teachers, and building empathy while engaging in various forms of mentorship. I congratulate the authors on their excellent and timely contributions!
This newsletter issue comes out during the last months of my service as TEIS chair. At the TESOL International Convention, I will pass the baton to Grazzia Maria Mendoza Chirinos. I am thrilled to know that our interest section will be in such excellent and experienced hands! And I thank you for electing me to serve as your leader this past year. We devoted this year to the theme of mentorship, which is so instrumental to our profession. Thank you to all who joined us for our webinars on this topic, and special thanks to our webinar presenters. You can find webinar recordings in our community library. And we still have two more webinars to enjoy:
- “TESOL Partnerships: Enhancing Teacher Development through Meaningful Field Experiences” by Rai Farrelly on Monday, March 10, at 2pm EST
- “Introducing a Multilayered Coaching and Mentorship Model” by Debra Suarez and Doaa Rashed on Friday, March 7, at 12pm EST
Please join us for insightful conversations on these days!
I also look forward to seeing many of you at the TESOL International Convention in March. Please mark your calendars for the following TEIS events:
1. TEIS Open Meeting on Thursday, March 20, 9am-10am, location TBA
2. TEIS dinner on Thursday, March 20, 6:30pm, location TBA
3. Academic Session “Exploring the Critical Role of Mentorship in TESOL”
Presenters: Anna Krulatz, Kristen Lindahl, Tamrika Khvtisiashvilli, Zuzana Tomaš, and Rai Farrelly
Moderator: Grazzia Maria Mendoza Chirinos
Wednesday, March 19, 12:00pm-1:15pm, Convention Center, Grand Ballroom A
4. Intersection Sessions
- TEIS & RVIS: “The Art and Science of Reading Instruction”
Presenters: Katherine Lobo, Natalia Benjamin, Michelle Benegas, and Khanh-Duc Kuttig
Friday, March 21, 10:00 - 11:15am, Hyatt, Seaview Ballroom C
- HEIS & TEIS: “Issues at the Intersection of Higher Education and Teacher Training”
Presenters: Matthew Allen, Khanh-Duc Kuttig, Charles Brown, and Rodrigo Armando Rodriguez Fuentes
Thursday, March 20, 11:00am - 12:12pm, Convention Center, Grand Ballroom A
With warm wishes,
Polina Vinogradova
Polina Vinogradova is Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and TESOL Program Director at American University in Washington, DC, USA. She holds a PhD in Language, Literacy and Culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research interests include advocacy for language learners and teachers, pedagogical uses of digital storytelling, and postmethod in teacher education. Dr. Vinogradova’s most recent book is Digital Storytelling as Translanguaging: A Practical Guide for Language Educators (with Heather Linville). She is a member of the Board of Trustees of TIRF.