Dear TESL Ontario Member,

I would like to report on a number of updates and new initiatives.

CONTACT

The Spring 2011 Issue of CONTACT is now posted on our website at http://www.teslontario.org/publications/contact-a-tesl-ontario-magazine/  

Our new CONTACT Editor, Tania Pattison would appreciate feedback and suggestions from you, please don't hesitate to contact her at editor@teslontario.org.

TESL ONTARIO ACCREDITATION

Registry of TESL Trainers and TESL Trainer Accreditation Guide

The "Registry of TESL Ontario Accredited TESL Trainers" is now up and running on our website and you may access it at http://www.teslontario.org/accredited-members-registries/

Also, our new "TESL Trainer Accreditation Application Guide" is now posted on the TESL Ontario website.  This guide provides information on TESL Trainer accreditation application, TESL Trainer accreditation renewal, and TESL Trainer accreditation reinstatement, appeals. For more details, please visit our website at http://www.teslontario.org/accreditation/

Webcasting reports sent directly to members

As per TESL Ontario's request, the Streaming Network, our webcasting service provider, has started sending webcasting reports directly to the service users/our members via email as of Feb. 1, 2011.  In addition, it emails reports on webcasting hours completed prior to Feb. 1  upon receiving requests from individual members. Requests should be sent to support@thestreamingnetwork.com.

Certificates of Accreditation

TESL Ontario is now offering professionally designed and harmonized certificates of accreditation to its Accredited Language Instructors, TESL Trainers, and TESL training programs.  The first two, which are available online through the Registries, carry the certificate holder's accredited membership number as an additional security feature.  Also, the TESL Trainer certificate indicates the TESL area/s (Theory, Methodology, and/or Practicum Supervisor/Academic Coordinator) the certificate holder has been approved for.

TESL Ontario's P.D. Audit Process

We would like to remind you that TESL Ontario requires the Accredited Language Instructors to engage in 5 PD hours per accreditation year and retain the supporting documentation on file.  Please submit your proof of PD to TESL Ontario only if  you are requested to do so.

TESL Ontario monitors its members' PD through a random auditing process on a monthly basis.  Every month, a number of  accredited members are selected randomly and a PD submission request letter is mailed out to them, along with the renewal reminder letter, about a month before the renewal due date . The members receiving the submission request will be required to submit their proof of PD by their renewal expiry date to be eligible for accredited membership renewal.  A one-month grace period will be granted if the required PD is not submitted by the renewal due date. At the end of the grace period, accredited membership will lapse if PD is still outstanding.

If you receive only the renewal reminder letter, it means you are not being audited for PD. You may proceed with submitting your accredited membership renewal application and fee at any time before the renewal due date.

To learn more about PD options, free webcasting service, and proof of PD, please review "Activities Recognized as Professional Development (PD)" at http://www.teslontario.ca/accreditation/language-instructor-accreditation/

TESL ONTARIO MEMBERSHIP

We are happy to announce further Member Benefits:

• Corporate discount at Canada's Wonderland
• 50% off admission tickets to Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls
• 20% off tickets to plays at the Grand Theater in London
• $10 off tickets at the Herongate Barn Theatre in Pickering

Please check details on our Member Benefits page at http://www.teslontario.org/membership/membership-benefits/

TESL ONTARIO CIC PROJECT UPDATE

This has been a busy and stressful time for many of us who have had to undergo budget cuts, and TESL Ontario did not escape unscathed in that two of our projects were directly affected.  Our SNAP (Settlement News Across the Province) project, which has been in effect for many years, was cancelled outright.   

Our CIC LINC and ELT Conference Assistance project suffered a considerable cut in funding, and we have tried very hard to muster all internal resources at our disposal to minimize the effect of the budget cuts on the quality of our Conference and on the number of seats available.  While we were compelled to reduce the conference assistance seats for LINC and ELT to 750 (last year CIC allowed us to register 900) we are happy to report that the Conference once again will feature our usual array of wonderful presentations, plenary speakers, Research Symposia, Friday night dinner and entertainment,  as well as the Thursday President's Reception.  We have also once again applied for ESL conference assistance funded through the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.  It goes without saying that there will be no increase in conference fees. 

Regards,

Renate Tilson

Executive Director

TESL Ontario (Teachers of English as a Second Language)