Letters from the Past Chairs

Gigi Taylor, 2008-2009 Chair, Second Language Writing IS, vgtaylor<AT>unc.edu.

Welcome to the new year of the Second Language Writing Interest Section! I'd like to open this newsletter by thanking our members for such enthusiastic participation over the past year, with special thanks to our Past Chair Deborah Crusan for her energetic leadership and to our officers and steering committee members for their tireless efforts.

As we move into our fourth year, we have a great deal of success to look back on. Although the New York City convention format was a day shorter than usual, the SLWIS was impressively represented on the program, hosting 35 sessions, including papers, workshops, poster sessions, reports, colloquia, demonstrations, and Discussion Groups on such topics as assessment, error correction, assignment design, teacher preparation, research, effective feedback, coherence, voice, verb tense, literacy development, world Englishes, publishing, and more. We also hosted an InterSection with the Teacher Education IS entitled "Nurturing Prospective Second Language Writing Teachers." We collaborated with the CALLIS on an InterSection entitled "Paradigms of Plagiarism" and with the Applied Linguistics IS on the "Textual Coherence and Learning Writing" InterSection. In addition, we hosted an Academic Session on "Writing Centers, Language Acquisition, and Global Contexts" with scholars from the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and once again we hosted a standing-room-only Evening With the Experts.

As I reflect on our success, I must say that perhaps the most gratifying aspect, for me, of the SLWIS is the lively and genuine sense of community we have. Our membership spans the globe, spans the educational spectrum, and spans a tremendous range of research and teaching interests. But we show up and we talk to each other. We ask questions, we listen carefully, we respond thoughtfully, and although we may not always agree with each other, we respect the value of each contribution and we make a concerted effort to be counted among the contributors. I have attended conferences of other professional organizations where the superstars give their presentations and then cloister themselves away with their famous colleagues, rarely engaging with other participants. I have seen rank-and-file participants at other professional conferences stand back in awe-struck silence when their professional idols pass by and have heard them doubt their own ability to contribute anything of value because they are not famous themselves.

We are different.

Once again this year, our leading scholars generously shared their time by staffing the exhibition booth to promote interest in the SLWIS and by attending another enormously successful social event for the IS membership. Once again, our scholars, teachers, administrators, graduate students, and community members generously shared their professional insight through conference presentations, through engaging conversations at our social, and through very energetic participation in the SLWIS business and planning meeting. And once again, the SLWIS has submitted a record number of proposals for TESOL's 2009 convention in Denver.

Thanks to all of you, the vitality of the Second Language Writing Interest Section continues to increase. I hope that over the next year, each of you will feel welcome and encouraged to keep the conference energy alive through thoughtful posts to the electronic discussion list, through submissions to the SLWIS newsletter, and through interesting projects with your colleagues. We look forward to hearing all about it!

With best wishes for the coming year,

Gigi




Deborah Crusan, 2007-2008 Chair, Second Language Writing IS, deborah.crusan<AT>wright.edu.

Dear SLWIS Members,

I write this in the hope that you are refreshed and ready to head back to the second language writing classroom armed with ideas and innovations gleaned from your reading this summer.

We have a great deal of news. First, in our second year as an interest section, the Second Language Writing Interest Section (SLWIS) successfully exemplified second language writing at the 41st Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit in Seattle. The IS presented a full schedule including our very well-attended two-part Academic Session: "Shifting Boundaries in ESL/EFL Writing Instruction," with Dana Ferris and John Hedgcock and "Responding to Students When Teaching with Technology" with Maggie Sokolik and Paige Ware and our equally well-attended InterSection: "Second Language Writing/Materials Writers: Using Corpus Findings to Develop Writing Materials" facilitated by Kelly Sippell and Margi Wald. Panelists included Gena Bennett, Pat Byrd, Jan Frodesen, and Diane and Norbert Schmitt.

We also presented three colloquia, four demonstrations, three posters, one report, one video theater, four workshops, twenty-one papers, and eleven Discussion Groups. And, we cohosted an InterSection with the Higher Education IS on writing support for graduate students. See Convention Updates in this issue of SLW News.

These numbers are amazing as we are such a young IS; however, they can be even better. Some of you might not be aware of the procedure used for deciding how many presentation slots will be allotted to each IS. Generally, each IS is awarded presentation slots based on the number of proposals received by that IS. These slots are used for colloquia, demonstrations, reports, workshops, and papers. Each of these formats represents a different amount of time, so we have to carefully choose the best proposals and strike a balance between different types of presentations. Please remember this procedure when you next submit a proposal (for TESOL 2009), taking care to send your proposal to the Second Language Writing Interest Section. The more proposals we receive, the more slots we'll be awarded at the convention. Let's work together to make our presence at the convention as great as it can be.
 
While I'm mentioning proposals, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to those who volunteered to adjudicate proposals for TESOL 2008.

Denise Alvarez
Kyung-Hee Bae
Subarna Banerjee
Barbara Dobson
Donna Evans
Norman Evans
Katya Fairbanks
Dan Fichtner
Tatjana Glusac
Anam Govardhan		 Jennifer Greer
Alan Hirvela
Jim Hu
Mark Labinski
Ditlev Larsen
Ilona Leki
Hedy McGarrell
Jessie Moore
Lucie Moussu
Herbert Pierson		 Margaret Redus
Gigi Taylor
Stephanie Vandrick
Don Weasenforth
Sara Weigle
Jennifer Shade Wilson
Mark Wolfersberger
Hongmei Wu
Youngjoo Yi
Sandra Zappa-Hollman

Thanks again to all of our proposal readers. They provide an incredibly valuable service to the IS.

Possibly the most exciting event at TESOL 2007 was our Special Event. The Second Language Writing IS hosted "An Evening With the Second Language Writing Interest Section: Answering the Needs of Second Language Writers and Their Teachers" on Thursday, March 22, 2007.  

The Second Language Writing Interest Section used this event to introduce itself to TESOL and introduce what the SLWIS sees as vital concerns for all TESOL professionals involved in second language writing teaching and research. Our fundamental goals for this event were

  • To introduce the newest IS to TESOL
  • To create a friendly and informal environment in which those concerned with second language writing can network, explore, and share

The evening brought together scholars, teachers, administrators, and publishers interested in second language writing in a relaxed, social atmosphere so that those in attendance could mingle and discuss pressing second language writing issues. See the TESOL 07 photos on the SLWIS web page at http://condor.depaul.edu/~ctardy/SLWIS/TESOL.htm.

The session provided participants with the opportunity to discuss second language writing and writers from the multiple and diverse perspectives of a group of scholars whose collective experience of researching and teaching second language writing  spans a wide spectrum of interests.

The forum also initiated discussion about institutional policies concerning second language writers and how participants might effect change at their institutions if change is needed; it is our hope that the event facilitated ongoing discussions centered on these issues.

Because the event was such a success, many IS members have asked for a repeat session at TESOL 2008 in New York City. Please watch the newsletter and the e-list for details as they become available and as we gear up for New York City.

All the best,

Deborah




Jessie Moore Kapper, 2006-2007 Chair, Second Language Writing IS, jkapper<AT>elon.edu.

In the last year, our interest section has reached many milestones. After our official recognition in June 2005, C hr istina Ortmeier-Hooper spearheaded our efforts to have an identifiable presence at TESOL 2006. At the convention, the Second Language Writing IS hosted an outstanding academic session (“Broadening Perspectives on Second Language Writing”), an intersection with SPL-IS, and eight discussion groups. We also had a constant presence at our IS table in the exhibitors hall, with several new members volunteering an hour or two of their time. Equally significant, by the convention, our membership had surpassed that of a few older interest sections, speaking volumes about the need for this IS.

This year, we are witnessing the continued growth of the SLW-IS, and I invite you to participate in its development.

In Seattle in 2007, we will add 35 slots for papers, demonstrations, colloquia, and workshops, as well as an additional InterSection, to our already strong presence. If you missed the deadline for these events, watch for information from past chair, C hr istina Ortmeier-Hooper , on how you can participate in one of twelve discussion groups. You'll hear more exciting news about our activities at TESOL 2007 in the coming months, but for now, I encourage you to make plans to attend the convention in Seattle , March 21-24, 2007.

Of course, members have many additional opportunities to participate in the SLW-IS. I hope you will:

  • Contribute to the SLW-IS Newsletter,
  • Participate in SLW-IS e-list discussions,
  • Run for a SLW-IS leadership position, and
  • Seek other members to collaborate on teaching, research, or scholarship projects.

Watch the SLW-IS e-list for calls to contribute to future issues of this newsletter. Our esteemed editor, Margi Wald, invites submissions on second language writing theory, research, and pedagogy in all settings. She also frequently solic its book reviews for upcoming issues.

If you are missing these and other announcements on the SLW-IS e-list, check your subscription options on the TESOL website. Log into the site, using your Member ID and password, and click My Profile. Choose Edit Profile at the bottom of your profile window and click “Join Your IS E-List(s)” to receive all SLW-IS messages. For more details, click here .

Later this year, e-list subscribers will receive information about the upcoming elections for 2007-2008 leadership positions. Open positions will include the Discussion Electronic-List Manager and the 2007-2008 Chair-Elect. Watch for details and consider nominating yourself or other members who you think would make a positive contribution to the SLW-IS.

Finally, I invite you to network and collaborate with other members. One goal of the SLW-IS is to provide forums for partnerships among SLW scholars, teachers, and researchers. Our interest section received over 150 proposals for TESOL 2007. While we will see only a fraction of these papers and colloquia in Seattle , I encourage you to partner with other members to build on these exciting projects and to consider submitting short articles about your work to this newsletter.

Thank you for your support of TESOL's newest interest section! Please contact me if you would like to be more actively involved in the interest section, or if you have suggestions for its development, as we continue to grow.

Best wishes,

Jessie




Christina Ortmeier-Hooper, 2005-2006 Chair, Second Language Writing IS, ortmeier<AT>unh.edu.

From my desk, I can see the snowy branches testifying to yet another New Hampshire winter, and this year's TESOL convention in Tampa looks all the more inviting. It is hard to believe that this will be the inaugural year for the new Second Language Writing Interest Section (SWLIS) at TESOL. The past year has brought together a great many wonderful colleagues and supporters from throughout the L2 writing world, and I would like to thank all of you who supported the creation of this Interest Section through petitions, letters of encouragement, and a great deal of hard work. The establishment of a formal L2 writing group at TESOL is an important step as the field continues to grow and flourish.

In July 2005, the TESOL board approved the addition of a new Interest Section (IS) on writing. As Jessie Moore Kapper, our incoming chair, has eloquently noted, “The Second Language Writing IS provides a space to build bridges in our discussions on writing—between academic levels, across settings, and over oceans.” As we look forward to the TESOL convention in March, the presence of the SLWIS is beginning to take shape. In Tampa , discussion groups sponsored by the SLWIS will cover topics including “Alternative Placement Methods for Second Language Writers,” “Issues in Technologies for L2 Composition Classrooms,” and “Crossing Bridges With Second Language Writing Partnerships.” We will also be holding our first Academic Session, entitled “Broadening Perspectives on Second Language Writing.” This session will be a chance to take stock of where L2 writing has been as a discipline, to share current research and trends in the field, and to discuss the future of L2 writing studies. It will also be a chance to share the work of L2 writing specialists with the larger TESOL audience.

As these topics suggest, the new SLWIS provides a forum for researchers and educators to discuss and exchange information in the area of second language writing. Specifically, our goals are

  • to increase awareness of the significance of writing in teaching ESL/EFL
  • to encourage and support the teaching of writing to ESOL students at all levels
  • to provide a forum to discuss issues of writing assessment and the placement of second language writers
  • to disseminate and promote research on second language writing

The hope is that SLWIS will facilitate communication about writing across teaching levels and settings. Recent research on the scope of second language writing scholarship suggests that most of the field's nationally (within the United States ) and internationally circulated scholarship is produced by scholars in postsecondary education at research-intensive institutions. Other contexts for writing (pre-K through 12, 2-year colleges, community programs, international K-12 schools, etc.) often have much larger populations of ELL/EFL writers, but scholars, particularly teacher-researchers, in these settings do not often receive support for researching and writing.

In light of that, the new SLWIS provides us with the opportunity to initiate more research and scholarship in these underrepresented contexts by supporting new collaborations and partnerships across levels and by providing a forum for discussing shared experiences. Indeed, the SLWIS will hopefully bring teachers, teacher-researchers, and second language writing specialists together, from across nations, across institutions, and across grade levels, to discuss the unique needs and concerns of ESL/EFL writers. Along with the Symposium on Second Language Writing and the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Committee on Second Language Writing, the SLWIS at TESOL hopes to broaden the scope of L2 writing research and to help teachers and administrators further their understanding of second language writers.

The Tampa convention will also be an opportunity to introduce new and current TESOL members to the SLWIS. We will also begin to set our agenda for 2006-07, which will include an increased number of SLW sessions at TESOL 2007. These sessions will provide a new venue for the many promising L2 writing researchers and educators who are eager to share their insights, and I hope that many of you will consider submitting proposals for TESOL 2007 in Seattle , Washington .

People at TESOL are interested in second language writing issues, and I hope that you will consider adding the SLWIS to your membership, joining the SLW e-list, and attending our open meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 5-7 p.m., in Tampa . We also encourage TESOL members to stop by our booth in the convention hall. Join us in charting the future for this new IS. I look forward to seeing you in Tampa !

Best wishes,

Christina