InterCom, June 2025
Upcoming Events:
- June 11, 9 am (EST), Webinar, Eco-Critical Awareness & Intercultural Communication, Dr. Jepri Ali Saiful
- September and November, Coffee Hour, TBA
- October, Lightning Talks, TBA
We are on social media: Facebook, X, MyTESOL, LinkedIn, YouTube
Letter from the Chair
Nichole McVeigh, PhD, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA
Letter from the Editors
Patricia Moon, English Language Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Irene Purushottam, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
A Reflection Of The TESOL Convention 2025 In Long Beach, CA
Leslie Bohon, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA
The Culture and Intercultural Communication strand of the 2025 TESOL Conference has a robust list of sessions and posters, forty-six in all. We reviewed the adjudicated sessions and posters, and solicited brief contributions from presenters. This information gives us a picture of what to expect from this year’s program.
Applied Cognitive Linguistics to an Intercultural World
Rodolfo Mattiello, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Campinas, SP, Brazil
In a multicultural world, embracing our students’ background is not only respectful, but also essential for language teaching. This article gives examples on how students’ previous knowledge influences how they learn a language.
Insights from Pakistan
Mian Salahuddin, Subject Specialist, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
In the heart of Pakistan, bilingual strategies bridge cultural divides in the English language classroom. Discover how valuing students' native languages unlocks deeper understanding and empowers global citizenship.
Intercultural Online Conversation Partners
Jorge Torres Almazan, The American School of Tampico, Tampico, Mexico
Real-life free interaction in EFL is possible, students form a meaningful connection with the language and native speakers, enhancing their learning experience. They learn not only the language but culture, traditions, food, politics and more.
Teaching Beyond Borders: Using AI to Promote Environmental Awareness in ELT Classrooms
Berfin Tamay Pamukçu, Özel Çakabey Okulları, Izmir, Turkey
In today’s classrooms, English language teaching is no longer confined to teaching grammar or vocabulary. As educators, we are also responsible for helping learners understand the world around them—and their place in it. One way I’ve found to do this meaningfully is through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to raise awareness of global environmental issues.
The Unexpected Lesson of the Listening Silence
Mian Salahuddin, Subject Specialist, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
A seemingly quiet classroom moment in Pakistan reveals the profound power of truly listening beyond words, bridging cultural nuances and fostering deeper understanding.