The PennTESOL 2023 Spring Conference will be held Saturday, May 6 2023, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Schuykill Yards Building at Drexel University (details about getting to the venue below).

This year’s theme is “Literacies for All: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going.”

Registration is now open and the $40 earlybird rate is available until April 21. Your membership must be current in order to register.

Register Now

Early Bird Registration: $40

*Available now until April 21

Regular Registration: $50

*Cost if you register any time between April 22-May 6

Group Registration: $30

Group registrations are available at a discounted rate of $30 for groups of 5 or more. To book a group registration, please email pennsylvaniatesoleast@gmail.com. Please use the subject line "Group Conference Registration" and include the names of all registrants. Note that all registrants must have active memberships to receive the discounted rate.

Keynote Speaker

From Ándale to Asante: Amplifying the Voices of Multilingual Language Learners

Dr. Raichle (Rai) Farrelly is a Teaching Associate Professor, as well as the TESOL Director, in the Department of Linguistics, an English language instructor in the International English Center, and a member of the board of TESOL International.

Incorporating an expanded definition of literacy and considering the recent shift from the monolingual to multilingual focus in literacy practices, this talk examines approaches to multiliteracy instruction for a range of learner populations in linguistically and culturally diverse settings. We’ll explore the multifaceted nature of literacy development across the lifespan, with a focus on the power of the written word and the desire of our learners to amplify their voices and elevate the issues that matter most to them.

Slides from this session can be viewed here.

Plenary Speaker

Using Corpus Linguistics Tools in the ESL Writing Classroom

Dr. Larissa Goulart is Assistant Professor of Linguistics at Montclair State University and a member of the PennTESOL East board.

The goal of her talk, entitled Using Corpus Linguistics Tools in the ESL Writing Classroom, is to give ESL writing instructors practical ideas of how they can use corpus tools to improve students’ academic writing skills. The presentation will begin with a brief overview of corpus tools that are freely available online. Then, we will examine how these tools can be incorporated in the ESL writing class to bring examples of ‘authentic language’ use to writing courses. Finally, she will share a collection of example activities that integrate corpus in the ESL classroom.

Slides from this session can be viewed here.

Catering will be provided by Greek from Greece:

Breakfast:

Greek Pastries

Yogurt Parfaits

Coffee and Tea

Lunch:

Greek Bowls (includes meat or stuffed pepper, plus a side)

Lemonade, iced tea, and water

Certificates of attendance will be provided upon request to all attendees!

Call for Proposals

The call for proposals has been extended until April 14 at 5:00 PM:

Proposal Submission Form. Call for Proposals Proposal Scoring Rubric

Getting to the Event

The conference will be held at the Schuylkill Yards building located at 3001 Market St., directly across from 30th St. Station. The front of the building has a logo for Spark Therapeutics. When you enter, give your name to security at the front desk, then proceed down the elevator. Follow the signs to the Garden Level Suite when you exit the elevator.

Important: All attendees will need to produce a photo ID in order to enter the building.

By Subway

The event space is a short walk from the 3oth Street SEPTA Station on the Market-Frankford Line and trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36.

By Train

The event space is a short walk from the Philadelphia 30th Street Station, serving both Amtrak and SEPTA Regional Rail.

By Car

There are two recommended parking options:

3101 Market St.: $23 for 12 hours. 1 block walking.

Lot G at 3300 Market: $13 per day. 3 blocks walking.

PennTESOL East is a professional, non-profit association dedicated to the improvement and advancement of English language teaching in eastern Pennsylvania.