Job Discussion Forums

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

I joined the National union of Teachers (NUT) in 1993, The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) in 1997 and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education NATFHE around three years ago.
There are many benefits from belonging to the union and IATEFL provides a forum for the communication and dissemination of ideas of which I have an interest as a teacher. These organisations help me develop as a professional .
My membership demonstrates my commitment to my profession and my development within to any of my future employers. It is advertising my professionalism if you like.
Ther are many others in which I also maintain an interest. Websites, resources, library facilities and, courses, seminars and professional development conferences.
Are you a member of an organisation for teachers of English
If not, Why not?

Kurochan · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 944 Location: China

That's a good question. I never heard of these organizations, and they weren't mentioned in TELF classes I had.

I used to be a member of the American Society of Cinema Studies, but I let that slide, because I'm not in the US any more. Maybe I should rejoin, because it'll look more profession on a resume.

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

Here in the U.S. I am a member of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and the National Education Association (NEA). I enjoy their publications, I get some insurance discounts, and it is a way to stay current as a professional.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Formerly TESOL, until I got flaky and let my membership expire... Oooops! I will renew it one of these days.

Embarassed

d

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I'm a member of JALT in Japan. I don't think belonging to a professional organization makes one a professional or shows you are more serious about your job.

I'd mention it on my resume, but I don't think it makes much difference to employers.
I find the greatest benefit to being a member is the networking it provides at conferences and that it keeps you updated in what's going on. To be honest, I get very little out of the conferences I've attended over the years, Japan or elsewhere. What gets me upset is listening to someone read out their master thesis and call it a seminar. Rolling Eyes

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

Thanks for the input everyone,
It is refreshing to see so many posters dedicated to their professional bodies.
My main reason for posting was to see the different types of organisations represented and how they compared to the ones over here. There seems to be a lot on offfer

Capergirl · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 12:23 am Post subject:

I'm a member of TESL Canada (via TESL NS). I was actually hoping to make it to the TESL conference in New Brunswick this month where I could see Dave Sperling deliver a speech but it was in Bathurst (read: middle of nowhere Wink

). Perhaps Dave will make it to a conference in Halifax one of these days.

It's nice to be a part of an organization like TESL Canada. There is a lot of information sharing that takes place through conferences, newsletters, and emails - a real bonus for those of us (ESL instructors, coordinators, etc.) who are looking to constantly improve ourselves in our chosen field.