Ukrainian ESL Teachers at TESOL 2026
International Convention & Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
(24-27 March, 2026)
Oksana Chugai
PhD, Associate Professor, Department of English for Engineering №2,
National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”
TESOL International Association unites English language teaching professionals worldwide, providing a safe space for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration across every area of the field. This year, the TESOL International Association celebrates 60 years of advancing English Language Teaching (www.tesol.org#TESOL2026). More than 3000 ESL teachers from different countries came to Salt Lake City in the state of Utah to present the results of their research, attend Keynotes and Invited Speakers sessions, and take part in TESOL meetings, networking, volunteering, and exploring TESOL Expo, Exhibits, Hubs, Poster Sessions, Receptions, and optional activities.
The presentation session, “Social and Emotional Learning for EFL University Students During Wartime,” was delivered by Oksana Chugai and Olga Yashenkova.This session demonstrated the significance of combining Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) with participation in intercultural projects during military conflicts. The importance of the SEL framework and of university students’ experiences in developing effective strategies to improve students’ well-being was emphasised. By the end of the session, the participants, teachers of English from all over the world, developed actionable plans for incorporating SEL into their curricula.
Poster sessions provide additional opportunities for the participants to disseminate their ideas and share experiences. A poster is a visual summary of a project, study, or practice that communicates key ideas quickly and clearly. A Poster session is dynamic and multifaceted, allowing for various degrees of participants’ immersion, ranging from a quick glance at a poster to deep discussions. In her poster session “Effective Approaches to First Language Usage by EFL University Teachers”, Oksana Chugaidemonstrated the results of the research on Ukrainian university EFL teachers’ beliefs and practices regarding first language use. ESL teachers who explored this poster and asked questions were mostly interested in using the first language, as many multilingual classes worldwide use it. However, some were eager to learn more about Ukrainian educators and students, particularly how they manage to survive during wartime, and showed their support.
Volunteering at TESOL 2026 was well-organised and involved ESL teachers and students from all over the world. One had to register in advance, choosing a slot and a role as a Registration, Hospitality, Session, or “Ask me” volunteer. General tasks included assisting attendees, providing directions, distributing materials, and helping with event setup and cleanup. The most important thing was to maintain a positive, welcoming attitude while interacting with attendees, ensuring a pleasant, engaging experience for all. It was important to ensure timely communication to make necessary adjustments. It was done via email and SignUpGenius. One could also check the TESOL 2026 app for updates.
TESOL 2026 was the most important event this year, inspiring and connecting hundreds of ESL teachers from all over the world.
