2020 Master's Student Forum
To be held at the 2020 TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo
Denver, Colorado, USA
Tuesday, 31 March 2020
The 2020 TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo includes a forum for full-time and part-time students enrolled in graduate programs leading to a master's degree in TESOL (or related fields) at any institution of higher learning. Students who are currently working toward a degree are invited to submit a proposal for the Master’s Student Forum.
Note: You must be enrolled in a graduate student program to present at the Master's Student Forum. Doctoral students should submit to the
Doctoral Research Forum. Applicants may not submit more than one abstract.
The deadline for proposals is 11:59 pm ET, 16 September 2019.
Types of Proposals
You may submit proposals for presentations or poster sessions. Only two presenters are allowed per presentation or poster session. The presenter listed first is responsible for notifying the co-presenter of the status of the proposal and any other notifications received.
Presentations (15 min. with 5 min. Q & A) will be considered in the following categories:
- Completed Study: Reports on an entire study. It should include information on the underlying principles, gaps in research, participants, methods, and results. Handouts and audiovisual aids may be used.
- Study in Progress: Presents an original study that the presenter is currently conducting. It should include information on the underlying principles, gaps in research, participants, and methods. Handouts and audiovisual aids may be used.
- Demonstration: Shows a technique for teaching or testing. The presenter should spend no more than 5 minutes explaining the theory underlying the technique. Handouts and audiovisual aids may be used.
- Teaching Workshop: Focuses on activities, techniques, or teaching aids for the ESL or EFL classroom. Handouts and audiovisual aids may be used.
Poster Session (1 hr.): is presented on a large (4 ft. by 8 ft., 1.22 m by 2.44 m) display board. Posters can display research, teaching tips, curriculum development ideas, and many other areas of interest. Posters should include: title, names and institutional affiliation of the presenter(s), and brief text with clearly labeled photos, drawings, graphs, or charts. Handouts may be used, but no other audiovisual equipment is allowed.
This type of presentation allows for short, informal discussions with other participants while the poster is on display. Although the exhibit should be self-explanatory, presenters are required to be available with their poster during their scheduled time slot.
How to Prepare Your Proposal
Proposals must include the following information:
- Full name
- University affiliation
- Graduation year
- Email address
- Postal Address
- Proposal title, abstract, and summary
- Designated interest area (see below)
Title Guidelines (10 words max.)
The title should
- not exceed 10 words
- be carefully written and proofread
- accurately reflect the presentation content
- be clear to the intended audience
- not have a colon or quotation marks
- capitalize all major words
Abstract Guidelines (50 words max.)
The proposal must include an abstract. The abstract will appear in the forum’s program book, and attendees will use it to decide whether to attend your presentation, so it should be carefully written and proofread.
The abstract should
- not exceed 50 words
- be written in the third person present tense (e.g., “The presenter begins by… and she…”)
- not refer to published works
- be carefully edited and proofread
- be written to draw the most appropriate audience to the presentation
- spell out any acronym(s) used in the title
- not include names of presenter(s) or institution(s)
Summary Guidelines (300 words max)
The summary should
- not exceed 300 words
- not include names of presenter(s) or institution(s)
- clearly state a purpose and point of view
- include supporting details and examples
- contain evidence of current practices and/or research
- refer to published works
- be carefully edited and proofread
- select appropriate format for presentation (e.g., Demonstration, Study in Progress)
- include/discuss a designated interest area (see below)
Designated Interest Area
You must select one area, and your choice must match the interest area listed in the summary.
- Adult Education
- Applied Linguistics
- Bilingual Education
- Computer-Assisted Language Learning
- Elementary Education
- English as a Foreign Language
- English for Specific Purposes
- Higher Education
- Intercultural Communication
- Intensive English Programs
- International Teaching Assistants
- Materials Development
- Nonnative English Speakers in TESOL
- Program Administration
- Refugee Concerns
- Second Language Writing
- Secondary Schools
- Social Responsibility
- Speech, Pronunciation, and Listening
- Teacher Education
- Video and Digital Media
Adjudication Process
Submitted proposals will be peer-reviewed by graduate students. All applicants will be notified in November.
Download the evaluation rubric.
Factors Affecting Selection
Balance: To ensure that the Master’s Student Forum brings together individuals from a variety of institutions and backgrounds, the Forum Program Committee seeks balance in
- range of topics
- interests covered
- proposal’s relevance to the needs of TESOL graduate students
Quality of proposal summary: Summaries should
- clearly state the proposal's purpose
- be succinct
- be appropriate to the type of session proposed
- show the proposal's significance for the intended audience
- indicate the quality of research (if relevant)
- show evidence that the presentation will be well prepared
You may submit only one proposal for either a presentation or poster session.
Factors Disqualifying a Proposal
Your proposal will be disqualified if it
- promotes commercial interests
- is not completed according to the guidelines outlined in this call
- is not received by the deadline
Responsibilities of the Presenter
- Register for the forum through the convention registration form. Registration for the forum (and convention) open in September/October.
- Only two presenters are allowed per presentation. The presenter listed first is responsible for notifying the co-presenter of the status of the proposal and any other notifications received.
- Do not change the conceptual content of your session once it has been accepted.
- Bring a computer and power cord for your oral presentation (if necessary).
- Support the other presenters by participating in all forum activities.
Registration
To present at the 2020 Master's Student Forum, you must register. To register, select the Master's Student Forum on the TESOL Convention registration form when it opens starting September/October. There is a fee to cover the cost of breakfast.
Questions?
If you have questions about the proposal process, please contact
forums@tesol.org.
Submitting Your Proposal
Proposals must be submitted online by
11:59 pm ET, 16 September 2019. Proposals will not be accepted after the deadline.
Submit Your Proposal