You are being invited to participate in a study conducted by Dr. Shelley Taylor, Principal Investigator, and Shaden Attia, co-investigator, about the Hiring Criteria and Employability of ESL/EFL Instructors in the TESOL Job Market in Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Your participation in this study will help us to better understand the main hiring criteria expected from ESL/EFL teachers, the employability of teachers in today’s global market, and the effect of globalization on the TESOL field.

We are recruiting participants from three different groups:

• ESL/EFL instructors who speak English as a second or additional language, with experience in a higher education institute (university or college) in Canada and/or the UAE.
• Recruiters with experience hiring ESL/EFL instructors in a higher education institute in Canada and/or the UAE
• Program administrators with experience managing an ESL/EFL program in a higher education institute in Canada and/or the UAE

For instructors, if you volunteer to participate in the study, you will first fill out a questionnaire, which takes approximately 10 minutes. Then, you will complete a journal reflection, which should take approximately 15-20 minutes, and finally you will be invited to attend an online interview session. The interview will be one-on-one, approximately 30 minutes, and conducted via Zoom.

For Recruiters, if you volunteer to participate in the study, you will first fill out a questionnaire, which takes approximately 10 minutes. Then, you will be invited to attend an online interview session. The interview will be one-on-one, approximately 30 minutes, and conducted via Zoom.

For program administrators, if you volunteer to participate in the study, you will be invited to attend an online interview session. The interview will be one-on-one, approximately 30 minutes, and conducted via Zoom.

Compensation: If you participate in the questionnaire, you will be offered the opportunity to enter a draw to win a 15-dollar e-gift card (Amazon or Tim Hortons). Also, each interview and journal reflection participant will receive a 15-dollar e-gift card each (Amazon or Tim Hortons).

Study Details for ESL/EFL instructor participants: ESLEFL Instructor Participants' Invitation.pdf
Study Details for Recruiter participants: Recruiter Participants' Invitation.pdf
Study Details for Program Administrator participants: Program Administrators' Invitation.pdf

If you would like more information on this study and if you are interested in participating, please contact the co-investigator, Shaden Attia, at sattia2@uwo.ca, or the principal investigator, Shelley Taylor, at taylor@uwo.ca.

Today, TESL Ontario joins with friends, partners and individuals across Turtle Island to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day.

This is a day for all of us to recognize and celebrate the heritage, diversity and valuable contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples throughout history.

We honour the resilience and strength of the Indigenous peoples who have lived in harmony with this land for thousands of years and, at the same time, we reflect on the systemic racism and discrimination that have caused generations of trauma. We recognize that this trauma continues to this day and we recommit ourselves to education and action to stand as supportive allies.

Together with organizations and educators across the country, TESL Ontario will continue to work and strive to create a more equal, equitable and inclusive community for this and future generations.

This is an invitation to participate in a study about ESOL instructors’ beliefs, assumptions, and practices in the synchronous online classroom. The study is intended for English instructors that have been teaching ESOL for adult novice learners in synchronous (fully online and/or blended/hybrid) mode before and/or during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Canada. I am seeking ESOL instructors who would like to share their experiences and expertise and engage in reflections to inform their practice, contribute to the ELT research and online pedagogy and benefit colleagues around the globe. Please visit the research page for more information and to participate.

TESL Toronto is now accepting proposals for their annual spring conference, TOSCON22: Expanding Language Education.

For more information or to submit your proposal for a presentation or workshop, click here:

https://forms.gle/eM9AcgxwHzrA6YuDA

TESL Ontario welcomes the arrival of February and the important observance of Black History Month.

This month serves as an opportunity to recognize the contributions, past and present, of members of the Black community across Canada and around the world in all facets of our society.

We commemorate and we celebrate the achievements of the Black community and we recommit to continue to work with partner organizations and individuals to do our part as allies to eradicate anti-Black racism and help create a culture of inclusion and advancement.