December 14, 2018

Dear Members,

As 2018 draws to a close, I want to wish you all a positive and productive end to your fall term. Autumn 2018 was a busy one at TESL Canada. We have had many positive communications with stakeholders, partners and others who share common interests in supporting TESL Educators across the country. We also continued to provide certification and accreditation services and, despite the interruptions in mail service, we have been able to do our best to keep things moving. Additionally, we launched our first Zoom webinar in November. We thank those who took part and ask that you contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish to have a professional learning (PL) letter for your portfolio. Appreciation to Yalda Ahmadvand, TC board member and PD chair, for putting on this first session on the CELPIP test. We will be putting on another Zoom webinar in January and will send out details on this next PL soon.

We are pleased to publish our second newsletter and will continue these on a bi-monthly basis in the new year. We thank Celia Logan, our ATESL rep and TC outreach committee chair, for taking the lead on the second TESL Canada Connects publication. The TESL Canada Board remains busy, committed and active and has been engaged in much work related to Standards, Finances, PR, PL and outreach this fall. I want to recognize their work and commitment at this time.

In the new year, we will be launching a survey related to professional standards with the support of a IRCC grant. Please look for this email in early February and take a few moments to give us your valuable feedback. There will be a short survey for TESL Educators as well as one for TESL Training Program managers and directors.

I am pleased to announce that we successfully transitioned TCEF to the new BC charities act and this will now allow us to provide some PL bursaries or awards for 2019. The TCEF committee will have more information on this matter very soon. Finally, we will be sending information concerning the VP nominations which closed in November and we hope to have that role filled in the new year.

Finally, please accept my best wishes for a rejuvenating holiday break.

Paula Kristmanson

President TESL Canada