Customizing Your MIDTESOL Experience via Interest Sections

What are Interest Sections? To better meet the needs of a diverse membership, MIDTESOL offers five different Interest Sections focused on professional areas within English language teaching (ELT):

• Community College / Adult Education
• Educational Technology (#EdTech)
• Higher Education / Teacher Training
• Intensive English Program (IEP)
• K12

Each Interest Section (IS) elects its own chair to lead the group and represent them and their interests on the board. There are also IS meetings for each group during the conference (see below for details of when each IS meets during #MIDTESOL16). In addition, several of our IS groups communicate electronically during the year. A person can be a part of more than one IS as many MIDTESOL members have overlapping interests.

Why should I be a part of an IS? Interest sections were created in recognition of the unique needs of ELT groups. In addition to raising issues and suggesting topics where professional learning is needed, interest sections are a great way to network with colleagues from the four-state MIDTESOL region (and beyond) who have similar jobs and professional interests. Interest sections were designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the membership (see Article IV of MIDTESOL’s By-Laws). As MIDTESOL membership continues to grow, being a part of an IS connects you with information specific to your needs.

How do I join an IS? Interest sections are open to any and all MIDTESOL members as a membership benefit. Your online membership profile includes a section called “Your Lists.” This is the section that displays which Interest Section(s) you have selected, and it is also one of the ways IS Chairs can communicate with the group. You can edit your information to easily add Interest Sections. Detailed directions on how to add Interest Sections by editing your membership profile is available here.

You can also attend the IS meetings during our annual conference.

There may be opportunities to get involved with projects specific to your IS or in a leadership role. At this year’s conference, the K12 IS and Higher Ed / Teacher Training IS will be voting on new leadership. Besides volunteering at the conference, members of interest sections are occasionally asked to review awards applications, presentation proposals for the conference, or article submissions for the MIDTESOL Conference Proceedings journal.

Join the conversation! Attend the interest section meetings at this year’s conference so your voice can be heard. If you are unable to attend the conference, make sure your IS preferences are updated in your online membership profile or reach out to the IS chair via the contact information posted online. It is through the involvement of members like you that interest sections will continue to be viable and meaningful.