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TESL London: Affiliate of TESL Ontario

TESL Ontario has twelve affiliates throughout the province that host such events as workshops, conferences, swap shops, publishers' displays and expert panel discussions from September through June. In this way, the particular needs of a region can be addressed, but also shared with other TESL affiliates. TESL members participate in professional development through their local affiliates as well as through attending the annual conference.

TESL London: History

TESL London has been an affiliate of TESL Ontario since 1976 when there were 43 members in the group, and an intrepid Executive of only 4 members. TESL London has grown to over 200 members with an Executive of approximately 15 members, including representatives for adult and LINC ESL as well as the elementary, secondary, tertiary and for-profit sectors.

The earliest records we have of activity in the London Affiliate, is the programme of a Conference held on Oct. 2nd, 1976. Even at that early date, the Conference was quite an ambitious affair which included three workshop sessions with a choice of three or four workshops for each session, a keynote speaker, Lillian Butovshky from the Citizenship Bureau in Toronto, a lunch and a book display.

Since that time, we have held annual AGM’s which include a social (Spring Fling), a book fair in the fall and a bi-annual one-day Conference. PD activities during the non-conference years include workshops and keynote speakers. These activities provide teachers and instructors a venue for networking and keeping in touch with each other, sharing teaching/learning strategies, viewing new materials from the publishers, and rejuvenating their commitment to professional development.

In 1999 TESL London established annual awards to acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions of ESL learners at the elementary, secondary and adult levels and the contributions of agencies that support ESL learners. These awards are given at the Spring Fling. We also maintain bursaries that members can access: up to $400 to assist in the costs of presenting at a conference and $100 for attending a conference.

TESL Ontario: Mission Statement
TESL Ontario provides support and direction to professionals, government bodies and learners involved in English as a Second Language in Ontario.
For more information about TESL Ontario Visit: http://www.teslontario.org/new/general/aboutus.htm