Instructor Activities

ESL week is a significant part of our efforts to raise awareness of the importance of English language learning opportunities in Ontario. All individuals involved with learning, teaching and organizing ESL in Ontario are invited to participate in our ESL week contests.

TESL Ontario will award one $250 Grand Prize for a single instructor winner across all entry categories and a $50 cash prize will be awarded to two selected runner up winners for the instructor contest.  The grand prize and runner up winners from the instructor contest will receive an invitation to the Welcome Reception at the TESL Ontario Annual Conference in Toronto where they will be honoured for their contributions.

Submissions from the grand prize and runner up winners will be published/displayed on the TESL Ontario Website, and where appropriate, in our electronic magazine CONTACT, as well as, on TESL Ontario social media platforms.

As a language instructor, you are in a unique position to help Ontario's newcomers adjust to life in their new country and to make a difference in the successes they achieve here in Ontario. We encourage you to show your support of ESL Week by participating in the contest.

All Language Instructor activities are open to any English language educators and administrators working in  ESL, SLT, LINC, ELT,  OSLT and EFL programs at elementary, secondary, college, university and adult educational institutions.

**Please review the entry guidelines carefully before you begin working on your project. If your submission does not follow the entry guidelines it will be not be accepted for the contest.
The deadline for contest submissions is July 14, 2013.

 

Short Story Category

  • A work of original fiction written by an individual language Instructor with themes related to teaching ESL.

Essay Category

  • A short work of literary composition focusing on teaching ESL written by an individual language instructor.

Examples include, but not limited to:

  • Why you chose to teach English as a Second Language
  • What you love the most about your profession
  • What motivates you to teach English to newcomers
  • Helping foreign students succeed in their studies while in Ontario
  • Helping learners to adjust to life in Ontario
  • How ESL Instructors make a difference in a newcomer’s life 
  • Success stories

Poetry Category

  • A short poetic composition written by an individual language instructor with a focus related to teaching ESL.

Examples include, but not limited to:

  • The rewards/joys of teaching English to newcomers
  • Helping a learner adjust to life in Ontario
  • Helping foreign students succeed in their studies while in Ontario
  • A depiction of how you or ESL Instructors make a difference in a newcomer’s life

ESL Blog Category

  • A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts displayed on the web, written by an individual language instructor or a group of instructors from the same learning institution on subjects related to language training such as (but not limited to):
    • Language learning tips/hints
    • Managing ESL classrooms
    • Lesson planning suggestions
    • Classroom activities
    • Success stories
  • Free blog software can be accessed online at http://wordpress.org/

 

Short Film/Documentary/News Piece Category (video must be uploaded to You Tube for submission)

  • A short video composition from the perspective of an individual language instructor or a group of language instructors from the same centre/institution with a focus on teaching ESL.

Examples include, but not limited to:

  • A day in the life of an ESL instructor/teacher
  • An ESL classroom in action - spotlighting a particular lesson or activity
  • "How to" videos e.g. lesson activities, classroom management etc.
  • Mock newscast or video news story on subjects related to ESL

Photo Category

  • A single photo or photo collage by an individual language instructor or a group of instructors from the same learning institution focusing on language training or learning.

Examples include, but not limited to:

  • A photo or collage of an ESL Classroom in action
  • A photo or collage of how an ESL learning centre/school/institution can make a difference in a community
  • A photo collage of a typical day at an ESL learning centre/school
  • A photo or photo collage of foreign students engaged in a community of their peers
    A photo of photo collage of foreign students succeeding in their studies and being successfully integrated within Canadian institutions
  • A photo or collage of engaged learners in the classroom