TESOL Convention

TESOL /'tee-sawl/ stands for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. We took part in their annual convention which lasted a few days. What was it like? Hundreds of people walking in all directions, scores of presentations going on simultaneously in dozens of rooms of 2 big hotels - the Hilton and the Sharaton Manhattan - and on a few floors of the educational exhibition. It all looked like a huge anthill. I felt like an ant, an English-speaking ant. I had never seen so many English teachers in one place before! It must have been scary for those students who hate English!! Nightmares for weeks on end are guaranteed!!!

My loyal readers, I wouldn't like you to yawn thru my lengthy descriptions of those eventful days. Here are just a few conclusions that I made:

1. Americans finally realized that teaching English is a good business and they are coming!

(The Britons had realized it a few years before that and had already occupied many markets, Russia including. In fact, I sometimes think that Russia is the last stronghold of the British empire.)

2. Contrary to my expectations, paper dictionaries are still being published and promoted.

3. Today both students and teachers are looking for interaction in the classroom.

4. Online and proactive teaching/learning have a great future.

I wish I could live long enough to see a similar global convention of teachers of Russian!