MEDIA RELEASE 

“Ideas that Work for the ESOL Student, Teacher, and Program” is the theme of the 2009 Hawaii TESOL Spring Conference, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14 on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus.  

The conference, aimed at teachers of English to speakers of other languages (or TESOL), is sponsored by the UH-Hilo English Language Institute and features Joy Reid, who will give a speech entitled, “Who are the L2 students in our Classes?”

Reid, a retired professor of the English department at the University of Wyoming and a part-time research writing instructor at Maui Community College, has written numerous ESL textbooks, including her most recent work, “Writing Myths:  Applying ESL Research to Classroom Teaching.”

In addition to her many publications, she has conducted teacher training within and outside the U.S., including seminars in Hungary, Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Lebanon, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.  Her research interests include student learning styles, the change process, discourse analysis, and the need for curriculum change in MATESL/TEFL programs.

“Throughout the day, attendees can attend the two dozen or so conference presentations by ESL professionals throughout the state and from abroad,” said Laura Kimoto, Hawaii TESOL conference chairwoman.  “They can talk to publisher representatives and peruse exhibits of current ESL teaching materials on display, and may also get free examination copies of materials they are interested in.”  

A raffle will close the conference. Post-conference activities have also been arranged.      

The conference registration fee ranges from $15 to $40 depending on the status of registrants. Deadline for early registration (which includes lunch) is Friday, Jan. 30. Onsite registration (with no guarantee of lunch) will also be available.  Conference hotel rooms are provided at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. 

Hawaii TESOL is a volunteer-based professional organization for teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and traditionally has held its annual conference on Oahu.       

“In an effort to spread its membership base and to become a truly statewide professional organization, the board members of Hawaii TESOL decided to hold its annual conference on the Big Island to serve a population that would usually not be able to fly to Oahu to attend the annual event,” Kimoto said.

— Find out more:
Hawaii TESOL: 756-6186, laura.kimoto@hawaii.edu, www.HawaiiTESOL.org