Ukrainian university teachers of English present at TESOL International Convention in Portland, Oregon
Oksana Chugai
Associate Professor, Department of English for Engineering No.2
National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”
Kyiv, Ukraine
TESOL International Association held its 2023 International Convention & English Language Expo at the Oregon Convention Center, in Portland, Oregon, USA on 21 – 24 March 2023. The TESOL International Convention is the largest annual meeting of professionals in the field of teaching English as a second or foreign language. Over 3,000 educators from across the world shared their knowledge, learned about successful practices and research, and discussed future trends in the field. The program included poster presentations, practical demonstrations and workshops, preconvention institutes. Expo Hall featured up-to-date books, materials, audiovisuals, and computer-assisted learning aids. Participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues from different backgrounds.
However, a trip to the USA would hardly be possible without financial support. Regional English Language Office, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, sponsored twelve Ukrainian teachers who attended TESOL International Convention in Portland, Oregon. Three Ukrainian university teachers, Oksana Chugai, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Serhii Petrenko, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and Iryna Zuyenok, Dnipro University of Technology, conducted a workshop “Emergency ESL Teaching and Learning: Ukrainian Perspective” in the Oregon Convention Center. During the session, participants from different countries became aware of Ukrainian universities experience of transforming ESL teaching from face-to-face to distance learning by building open digital spaces and using IT to provide sustainability of the national higher education in the emergency caused by pandemics, military conflicts, and other challenges. The presenters shared their individual experiences, survival strategies and grassroots initiatives of their universities related to COVID-19 quarantine and wartime adversities. The participants provided positive feedback at the end of the workshop expressing their support of Ukraine, desire to help “in the middle of despair”, acknowledging dedication and resilience of teachers and students “carrying on as best as they can”.
Without any doubt, participation of Ukrainian educators in the events like TESOL International Convention allows them to be included in diverse and inclusive community of global professionals, opens opportunity to share their expertise and experience related to ensuring quality of education during the wartime.