An introduction to TESOL - a global education association

Incorporated in 1966, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL), is a global association for English language teaching professionals headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. TESOL encompasses a network of approximately 60,000 educators worldwide, consisting of more than 14,000 individual members and an additional 45,000 educators within the 100 plus TESOL affiliate associations. TESOL’s mission is to ensure excellence in English language teaching to speakers of other languages.

To engage its members and colleagues in ongoing discussion of current issues, ideas, and opportunities in the field of English language teaching, TESOL publishes two serials: TESOL Quarterly, a scholarly, refereed journal; and Essential Teacher, a magazine offering articles of interest to teachers across the profession. Books, professional papers, and other resources on a wide range of theoretical and practical topics sustain sound professional development. TESOL's electronic resources include an extensive Web site, a survey of employment opportunities (Placement E-Bulletin), a newsletter with timely links related to the field (TESOL Connections) and the TESOL Resource Center, an online platform where members can access and share teaching resources.

TESOL's annual convention and exhibit, held in March or April in North America, is regarded as the foremost professional development opportunity for practitioners and other English language teaching professionals. Each year, more than 6,500 participants gather for this 3-day event, which offers full-length papers, workshops, poster sessions, colloquia, demonstrations, plenary speakers, product exhibitions, and networking opportunities. In addition to the convention and exhibit, TESOL conducts professional development symposia, workshops, virtual seminars and online sessions throughout the year for participants around the world.

The field of TESOL is a multifaceted academic discipline and profession with a distinct pedagogy that requires specialized training. That someone speaks English does not by itself qualify that person to teach it, especially to those who are learning English as an additional language. TESOL focuses on how to use English as a world language and how to understand and become acquainted with the various cultural practices of English-speaking people.

English language educators work all over the world in various contexts in the public and private sectors. English as a second language (ESL) teachers work with nonnative English speakers in countries where English is the dominant language, as in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States; English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers work with English learners in countries where English is spoken as an additional or foreign language, such as Japan and Saudi Arabia.

ESL and EFL teachers work with nonnative English speakers at all levels of the education system: primary, secondary, higher, and adult education in community colleges and community-based programs. There has also been an increased interest in the specialized area of English for specific purposes (ESP), which focuses on language skills required for certain academic fields as well as business and vocational settings (e.g., engineering, medicine, philosophy).