NYS TESOL Special Interest Groups (SIG)

Mission Statement

Statement of Purpose

The NYS TESOL Teacher Education SIG provides a forum for ESL teacher educators to raise, discuss, and address issues relevant to the education, preparation, and continuing professional development of teachers who work with ESL learners in New York State. It creates opportunities for ESL teacher educators to learn, interact, collaborate, and share with one another.


Statement of Goals

The NYS TESOL Teacher Education SIG is dedicated to fostering the improvement of programs for the education of pre- and in-service ESL teachers provided by institutions of higher education, educational agencies, or professional associations:

• improving our understanding of the processes involved in second/foreign language teacher education;
• helping teachers of ESL develop the capacity for professional self-development;
• promoting application of pertinent theory and research findings in second language teacher education to curricula and practices in ESOL teacher education programs;
• encouraging innovation in ESL teacher education programs;
• providing assistance to those who wish to identify and promote high standards for the education of ESL teachers;
• formulating policies that will improve the conditions of employment and ongoing learning for ESL teachers and teacher educators.