TESOL Kuwait - 'Job-Alike' and Toastmasters!

Since their launch in December, 2012, TESOL Kuwait, the local association of teachers of English to speakers of other languages, has become very popular, with approximately 500 members. On Saturday, October 5, 2013, they held another highly successful open meeting, this time at the American University of Kuwait (AUK).

Educators had the chance to participate in a free event called "Network Connecting: Common Challenges and Sharing Successes." The many teachers who attended this session had the chance to find out how professional development can be more than just workshops and presentations. The purpose of this 'Job-Alike' session was to provide an opportunity for teachers and administrators with similar job responsibilities to join together in a facilitated, highly interactive way. Participants in similar jobs gained the chance to network and develop connections with other professionals focusing on common challenges and successes.

TESOL Kuwait has a number of special interest groups, and one of them is unique in that it is the first in the world to combine the goals of TESOL and the international association for public speaking, leadership, and communication: Toastmasters. At the Saturday event, TESOL Toastmasters hosted an organizational meeting of Toastmasters. Distinguished Toastmasters provided highly entertaining demonstration speeches, and teachers had the opportunity to improve their public speaking skills.

Members who attended TESOL Kuwait's open meeting at AUK included educators of all academic levels ranging from pre-school teachers to university instructors. TESOL President, Yvonne Johnson, led the event with detailed information on their upcoming conference, which promises to be an event not to be missed! International key note speakers are flying in from the USA, and other experienced TESOL specialists will be offering workshops, presentations, and poster sessions at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) over a two day period from November 15 - 16, 2013. There is also a pre-conference at Australian College of Kuwait on 14 November, as well as a conference dinner with the keynote speaker at the newly refurbished Radisson Blu Hotel (formerly the Radisson SAS) on November 15.

For further information about on how to become a TESOL Kuwait member or to attend their conference please go the following website: tesolkuwait.org.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 9th October 2013