Running head: TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

Professional Organization (TESOL) and Publications Review

Krista M. Boddy
Colorado State University

TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

Abstract
This professional review consist of two parts: Part 1 is a summary of professional organization
(TESOL) related to my field, and Part 2 compares three professional publications in the field of
teaching and learning English. In this review, I discuss the TESOL organization as a whole,
including the local branch, current topics, conferences, membership benefits and costs, as well
as, conference presentation requirements. In part two, I evaluate three professional journals in a
chart: TESOL Quarterly, Applied Linguistics, and ELT Journal. Each chart lists journal
subscription rates, how to submit articles for publication, current topics, how the journal is
disseminated, and how the journal is of value to me in the field of TESL/TEFL.
Keywords: TESOL, TESOL Quarterly, Applied Linguistics, ELT Journal

TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

Professional Organization (TESOL) and Publications Review
Part 1: Professional Organization Reviewed (TESOL)
The professional organization that I investigated is TESOL, which stands for Teaching
English to Speakers of Other Languages. The mission and values of TESOL state it is an
international association of professionals advancing the quality of English language teaching
through professional development, research, standards, and advocacy (TESOL Website).
Current topics discussed by TESOL include their recent celebration of the organizations 50th
year in 2016, New standards for short-term certificate programs, and events in Singapore,
Mexico and Vietnam.
The Colorado branch of TESOL, CoTESOL, had a conference on November 6-7, 2015 in
Aurora, Colorado. I attended this conference, as I attended it in 2014, and learned some valuable
teaching methods and techniques that I use in my current ELL classes. The International TESOL
Convention and Language Expo will be held April 5-8, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. This will
be the 50th Anniversary celebration.
Conferences provide many professional development opportunities, but TESOL also
offers many online courses, trainings, seminars, and certification programs in language teaching.
One training of interest to me is called, Separating Difference from Disability with Students
Learning English as an Additional Language. The topic of teaching adults with learning
disabilities has been a recent topic of interest in many of my courses. I would like to know how
to distinguish a disability from challenges in learning a second language. TESOL certification
programs include: ELT Leadership Management, Leadership Development, Principles and
Practices of Online Teaching and many others. It is helpful knowing that TESOL offers so many
professional development opportunities from the ease of a computer.
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TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

Some guidelines for TESOL conference presentations include: currency of topic (is it
current?), the objectives of presentation are clearly stated, theory and research support topic,
there is support for practice and recommendations, the range of topics are within the ELT
profession, there is relevancy to TESOL conferees and to the convention theme, content-area
coverage, presenters have apparent level of expertise, and professional and geographic
distribution of presenters is vast.
TESOL offers publications and journals, including two refereed publications devoted to
improving English language teaching and learning (TESOL Website). The annual cost of
TESOL membership ranges from $35 for students to $98 for professionals (and less for New
Professionals, Retired Professionals, International Professionals, and Low-Income
Professionals). TESOL membership benefits include: TESOL Community networking groups,
professional development opportunities (conferences, online trainings, workshops, certification
programs, etc.), career center with current job postings around the world, scholarships, awards
and grants, TESOL publications (books, journals, bulletins), and leadership opportunities.
TESOL has personal relevancy in my life as an ESL instructor. Once I complete my
Masters Degree in TEFL/TESL I will need to continue to stay on top of new methods,
techniques, best practices, jobs, and other issues in the field of teachers and learners of English.
Joining this organization will be a helpful way to stay connected to current topics, relevant
issues, and opportunities to learn more through professional development. TESOL also offers a
vast international community of teachers I can learn and grow from. I would like to join TESOL
for all of these reasons and the many benefits it offers.

TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

Part 2: Professional Journals Related to TESL/TEFL
TESOL Quarterly
Overall
focus/purpose:

This referred journal is meant to provide a forum for sharing research in the
TESOL field. It is also a place to discover new ideas and create relationships
with other English language teachers. Readers of this journal include: ESOL
educators, English language learners, researchers, and applied linguists.

Current
topics/citations:

1. Multimodality:
Early, M., Kendrick, M., & Potts, D. (2015). Multimodality: Out from the
margins of English language teaching. TESOL Quarterly, 49(3), 447-460, doi:
10.1002/tesq.246
2. Multimodality:
van Leeuwen, T. (2015). Multimodality in education: Some directions and
some questions. TESOL Quarterly, 49(3), 582589. doi: 10.1002/tesq.242
3. Culture in digital multimodal compositions:
Hafner, C. (2015). Remix culture and English language teaching: The
expression of learner voice in digital multimodal compositions. TESOL
Quarterly, 49(3), 486-509, doi: 10.1002/tesq.238
You must be a TESOL member to write for this journal. Manuscripts must be
sent in electronic format only to the ScholarOne Manuscript Submission
System. First time users must register a new account with ScholarOne. If there
are multiple authors, please identify the other author(s) by using the Add
Author function. The Managing Editor, Meaghan McDonnell, should be
contacted for further questions.
Go to http://ordering.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/subs and select what type of
subscription you want. Complete the order form with credit card information.

How to submit
articles for
publication:

How and where to

subscribe:
Subscription rates:
Availability of
journal via CSU
Library system:
How journal is
disseminated:
Relevancy/personal
interest to me:

Annual subscriptions are offered only for institutions: Print only: $468
Combined with TESOL Journal: $562 (print and online)/Online only: $468
JSTOR has this journal available from 1967: volume 1, issue 1
Wiley Online Library has it available from 1997: volume 31, issue 1
Print and online
This journal is extremely relevant to my profession as an ESL instructor. All
the latest research and news on teaching English is of value to my professional
development. I would like my organization to consider subscribing to this
beneficial journal so I can keep abreast of the latest news and research coming
out of the field.

TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

Applied Linguistics
Overall
focus/purpose:
Current
topics/citations:

How to submit
articles for
publication:

How and where to

subscribe:

Subscription rates:

Availability of
journal via CSU
Library system:
How journal is
disseminated:
Relevancy/personal
interest to me:

This journal publishes research related to real world language use and highlights
multidisciplinary approaches to research on language related issues in applied
linguistics.
1. Cognition effects on writing in a second language:
Wang, C. & Wang, M. (2014). Effect of alignment on L2 written production.
Applied Linguistics, 51(3), doi: 10.1093/applin/amt051
2. Challenges that come with language teaching:
Hiver, P. & Drnyei, Z. (2015). Language teacher immunity: A double-edged
sword. Applied Linguistics, 34(1), doi: 10.1093/applin/amv034
3. Text-based computer communication for language learners:
Hsu, H. (2015). The effect of task planning on L2 performance and L2
development in text-based synchronous computer-mediated communication.
Applied Linguistics, 32, doi: 10.1093/applin/amv032
You first must log in to the online submission website or create an account by
selecting that button on the login screen. To submit a new manuscript, select
Author Centre and click on Click here to submit a New Manuscript and
follow the instructions. There are 7 steps to follow. You must save and continue
after each step to insure your information is not lost. To upload files in the Author
Centre, select file upload and use the Browse buttons to select your file.
Always include a Main Document designation for your manuscript text.
To subscribe, go to
http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/applij/access_purchase/price_list.html
or search for Subscriptions on main webpage heading. You can subscribe with a
credit card.
Personal Subscribers: Print only = $217
Student and Senior Citizen rate = $122
Available from 1996 Volume 17, issue 1

Print and online

This journal is also very relevant to my profession as an ESL instructor. I like that
the articles feature a multidisciplinary approach and real-world language
usage to research, as many other fields crossover with applied linguistics. It would
be beneficial to have access to the latest research and news with regard to applied
linguistics, especially for my endeavor to continue self-educating after I obtain my
masters degree.

TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

ELT Journal
Overall
focus/purpose:
Current
topics/citations:

How to submit
articles for
publication:
How and where to
subscribe:

Subscription rates:

Availability of
journal via CSU
Library system:
How journal is
disseminated:

This is a publication for English Language Teachers (ELT) which supports

practitioners with everyday concerns and insights from academic disciplines
like applied linguistics, education, psychology, and sociology.
1. Teacher language awareness in giving feedback:
Lindahl, K. & Baecher, L. (2015). Teacher language awareness in supervisory
feedback cycles. ELT Journal, 47(1), doi: 10.1093/elt/ccv047
2. Teacher feedback:
Kurtoglu-Hooton, N. (2015). From Plodder to Creative: feedback in teacher
education. ELT Journal, 50, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccv050
3. Teaching writing through extensive reading:
Park, J. (2015). Integrating reading and writing through extensive reading. ELT
Journal, 49, doi: 10.1093/elt/ccv049
Before submitting articles, new authors must create an account at
http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/eltj and familiarize themselves with the
Journal and the type of articles it publishes. Complete the online form with all
submitter information.
To subscribe, go to
http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/eltj/access_purchase/price_list.html
or search for Subscriptions on main webpage heading. You can subscribe
with a credit card.
Personal subscribers: $47 for online access only
$125 for print
$67 for student rate print
Articles available from 1996: Volume 50, issue 1

Print and online

Relevancy/personal I found this journal to be valuable to my profession as an ESL instructor. I like

how it is more specific to practical everyday concerns of English language
interest to me:
teachers. It also connects research from a multidisciplinary approach, including
academic disciplines like applied linguistics, education, psychology, and
sociology. This journal would definitely contribute to my professional
development in this field.

TESOL AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS REVIEW

References
Applied Linguistics. (2015). Retrieved from http://applij.oxfordjournals.org/
ELT Journal. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/eltj/about.html
TESOL Webpage. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.tesol.org/about-tesol
TESOL Quarterly. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.tesol.org/read-and-publish/journals/tesolquarterly