Letter from the Chair
Nichole McVeigh, PhD, University of Richmond, VA, USA
Dear Intercultural Communication Members and Friends,
Welcome to the November InterCom Newsletter!
The Intercultural Communication Interest Section has been very busy since our last newsletter.
In June, we welcomed Dr. Jepri Ali Saiful who presented a webinar on “Eco-Critical Awareness and Intercultural Communication”. This informative webinar explored how eco-critical awareness in language teaching can foster environmental responsibility through intercultural communication. By understanding diverse cultural perspectives on nature and sustainability, learners are able to develop empathy and global awareness. By supporting environmental action across local, national, and global contexts, eco-critical approaches in language education promote ethical engagement. In August, our ICIS leadership team led an engaging coffee hour on Artificial Intelligence and Intercultural Communication.
Framed by three guiding questions developed by the facilitators, this session invited participants to share experiences and insights at the intersection of education and computing. Together, the participants examined how AI tools were shaping teaching and learning practices across cultures, and discussed thoughtful, ethical approaches to their use. The recording of this discussion will be available through the TESOL International Association YouTube channel.
Looking forward, we will be hosting a Lightning Talks event in October highlighting emerging researchers in the field of intercultural communication. This is a great time to hear new and innovative research being led by graduate students around the world. In November, we will host a webinar by Dr. M. Faruq Ubaidillah on identity and intercultural communication in language education. Registration is required. This talk will explore the dynamic interplay between identity construction and intercultural communication within the context of language education. Focusing on both teachers and learners, it will examine how individuals negotiate, perform, and transform their identities in diverse intercultural settings. We will then close the year with our annual tradition of a Solstice Celebration led by one of our leaders. Keep an eye for registration details.
We have also started organizing our three sessions for the 2026 International Convention and Expo. Details will be revealed in our pre-convention newsletter in the Spring, but we have teamed up with Supporting Students with Disabilities, Higher Education, and Program Administration Interest Sections. We are also planning a walk down memory lane for our academic session to celebrate TESOL’s 60th anniversary. These collaborative sessions demonstrate the ICIS's commitment to address crucial topics in intercultural communication and English language teaching. By partnering with other interest sections and exploring diverse perspectives, these sessions advance critical intercultural awareness and global learning in ELT.
We encourage our members to actively participate in the planning, conceptualization, and suggestion of events, including taking leadership roles. We are keen to understand your specific interests regarding intercultural communication. So please, do not hesitate to contact the chair with your suggestions or ideas at [email protected]. We also encourage you to contribute to the ICIS newsletter. Check out the author guidelines here. The next deadline is January 29, 2026. Please email your submissions to [email protected]. We look forward to continued interactions with you and hope to see you participate in upcoming ICIS events!
Kind regards,
Nichole McVeigh
TESOL ICIS Chair
Nichole McVeigh is the current chair of ICIS. She serves as adjunct faculty at University of Richmond (USA) and as Executive Director of the Richmond Peace Education Center. She holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University for Peace (Costa Rica) and a MATL from the University of Southern Mississippi (USA). Her areas of interest are intercultural communication, education for sustainable development and the intersections of language and peace education.