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April 14, 2020
 

To TTP Managers and Directors, 

After much consultation and discussion, TESL Canada would like to present to you the results of the three motions that were passed at the recent emergent TESL Canada Board meeting. In order to address concerns of TTPs and their current students during this current health crisis, the following decisions have been made to facilitate TTP completion:

  1. Until on-site ESL classes/programs reopen, in order to qualify for TESL program certification, the minimum number of f2f classroom observation and practice teaching hours for Standards 1, 2, and 3 will be: 

Face-to-face/in-class teaching     40% 

Online synchronous                        20% 

The maximum number of online asynchronous hours will be 40% of the total number of observation and teaching hours (see asynchronous options in point #3). The total observation and teaching hours remains the same: 10 + 10 for Standard 1 and 30 + 20 for Standards 2 and 3.   

 *This would facilitate certification for students whose practicum was interrupted by the health crisis.  

  1. Create a TESL Canada provisional certificate that would be awarded based on coursework completion only (no practicum requirement). This certificate will be valid for 1 year from the time of issue and be exchanged for a full certificate once a candidate submits proof of their practicum completion. 

*This would facilitate certification for students who were not able to complete their practicum because of the health crisis. This provisional certification may allow people to secure interim employment or supply teaching.  

  1. The following are acceptable online asynchronous practicum activities: 
  • Classroom observation: watching recorded classes with reflection. 
  • Practice teaching: delivery of content (e.g., moderated online discussions related to readings, videos or podcasts, submission of work with feedback loop, prepared voice-over PowerPoint presentations) via online learning management systems such as Moodle, Brightspace, Blackboard, or Canvas; and evaluated micro-teaching demonstrations. 

Thank you for responding to the survey and taking part in the zoom consultation sessions. We appreciate your insights and input. All the best to you at this challenging time.
 

Paula Kristmanson, TESL Canada President

Dmitri Priven, TESL Canada Standards Committee Chair

 

 

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Dear TESL Canada Members,

 

It’s incredible that another summer is beginning to draw to a close and the new academic year is upon us! I know for many of you July and August have been busy months work-wise, but I hope you had a few moments to catch your breath and soak up some sunshine.

 

We are pleased to be able to offer another TESL Connects newsletter featuring an article by Brian Lorraine entitled Online Digital Literacy and Computer Skills Training. We thank Celia for her leadership on this project and for the contributions of many members throughout the last year. All of the newsletters are on our website under Publications.

 

Additionally, as per August 27th email, we are accepting applications for another round of TCEF conference participation grants. Please submit the form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (subject heading- PD Bursaries) and all applications will be vetted by the TCEF and PD committees and will be awarded prior to the event in question. In the newsletter, you will find a listing of some of the conferences available in the coming months. 

 

Finally, we are hoping to deliver more webinars this coming academic year and are extending a Call for webinar proposals (see attached guidelines). If you have expertise that you would like to share with your colleagues on topics pertinent to the TESL field, we invite you to submit your ideas to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (subject heading Webinar Proposal). These proposals will be reviewed by the PD committee using the attached rubric.   We value this type of collegial service to the profession and can certainly offer our assistance with respect to on-line delivery. 

 

In closing, a note regarding the TESL Canada AGM which will be held on October 19, 2020 in Calgary AB. If you are interested in serving on the board, please complete the nomination form 

and send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before October 7th. A slate of nominees and information about voting will be sent to members later in the fall. 

 

Wishing you a productive and positive fall 2019!

Paula Kristmanson, TESL Canada President

 

 

 

 

March 23, 2020

Hello TESL Canada Members,

 

We realize that this is a very busy and unsettling time for everyone right now. TESL Canada certainly recognizes this reality and will strive to continue regular communications with our membership. Additionally, we will do our utmost to keep our services running smoothly. To this end, before sending any documentation via Canada Post, could you please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for instructions. 

At this time and as spring approaches, we are pleased to be able to offer you another issue of TESL Canada Connects newsletter. Sadly, many provincial partners have had to make the tough decision to postpone or cancel their spring professional learning events. We hope to be able to fill the gap in face-to-face meetings and conferences by offering additional webinars. We were very fortunate to have had two webinars already this winter- one by Scott Douglas on vocabulary and another by Amea Wilbur related to trauma-informed teaching. We are so grateful to both of them for these excellent sessions and for this amazing service to colleagues in TESL Canada. We are hoping to have another webinar for April which will be announced shortly— stay tuned! If you would like to share your expertise with your TESL Canada colleagues via webinar, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Again, our thoughts are with all of our members as worries about health abound. It is not an easy time for teachers and students- we are being called to be both resilient in disposition and innovative in teaching and learning. We are hopeful that better health news is on the horizon. 

Wishing you all the very best. Please take care and stay well. 

Paula Kristmanson, TESL Canada President

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

President's Message

September 23, 2021

I hope all of you are coming into this Fall season happy and healthy. The last couple years have been such a unique time, and we have had to take care of ourselves and each other all the more.

 We are overjoyed to announce that we now offer extended health and dental benefits to members through Blue Cross. We have open enrollment until September 30th, after which existing members will not be able to sign up for these benefits.

I have been humbled by you putting your support in me as President and I am grateful to both Paula Kristmanson and Judy Sillito for helping me in my adjustment to this new role and for their continued membership on our Board. All of our Board positions are filled and our committees are strong, although we are always looking for TESL Canada community members to sit on our committees, so please contact me if you are drawn to service This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provincial affiliates have a number of opportunities to connect with the TESL community in Canada, so please watch out for these events.

In these times we need each other more than ever. 

Donald Moen
TESL Canada President

 

More Articles ...

  1. Letter to Members - February 17, 2019
  2. Letter to Members - September 17, 2018
  3. Letter to Members - November 21, 2019
  4. Letter to Members - December 14, 2018

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