MIDTESOL is pleased to invite teachers to submit student essays for the Best High School ESL Student Essay Award and Best ESL Student Award.
Eligibility
Best High School Essay Award – The student must be a high school student (grades 9-12) in good standing who is enrolled—or was enrolled formerly—in an ESOL/ELL program in a K-12 school in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, or Nebraska.
Best ESL Student Essay Award – The student must be an adult ESL learner enrolled in a higher education ESL/EAP program, intensive English program, or adult education program.
Essay Topic: The Future is Now: Building New Traditions in TESOL
Write an essay on one of these topics:
- How do you think learning English has changed compared to the past? How are teaching methods different in the U.S. from those in your home country? What teaching activities have you found to be most effective?
- Describe a tradition that you valued from your home culture. Explain its importance and the reasons why you cherish it. How will you build on this tradition in your future?
- Why is learning English important to you? Which reason motivates you most to learn and practice it? How will English help you to reach your goals in the future?
Rules and Format
Each student may submit only one essay and must be an ELL/ESL student in good academic standing who is enrolled in an ESOL/ELL/ESL program in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, or Missouri.
The essay must be submitted with a cover page, including the following
- student name and contact information (phone number, address, email)
- school (name, address, phone number)
- grade level, for high school essay award
- sponsoring teacher
The essay must be solely the work of the student with limited guidance from others.
The essay must be 500 to 700 words in length; typed (12-point Times New Roman font) and double-spaced.
There should be no identifying information listed on any pages of the essay, just the cover page. This includes any mention of name or school.
Failure to abide by any of the above conditions will result in immediate disqualification.
Judging
Essays undergo blind peer review.
Scoring Criteria
Essays are scored on ideas/content, organization, conventions, voice, sentence fluency, and word choice/voice. In short, judges look for writing that is clear, creative, articulate, and logically organized.
Awards
The selected recipient of each contest will be awarded $100. His/her name, photo, and school affiliation will be published in the ensuing issue of MIDTESOL Matters, the organization’s electronic newsletter. Additional awards include one (1) second place award of $50 and one (1) third place award of $25.
How to Apply
To apply, submit essay, including cover page, to Denise Mussman (denise@umsl.edu), MIDTESOL Awards Chair, by May 1, 2015. The subject line of the email should read “MIDTESOL 2015: Best Student Essay.” You will receive confirmation from the Awards Chair that your submission has been received and a notification if you are an award recipient by May 25, 2015. All applicant information will be kept confidential. Decisions made by reviewers are final.
Updated: Deadline has been extended.
