TESOL 2022 Master's Student Forum:
Call for Proposal Guidelines

TESOL 2022 Master's Student Forum

Held prior to the TESOL 2022 International Convention & English Language Expo

Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Tuesday, 22 March 2022 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. US ET

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Submitting Your Proposal

The deadline for proposals is Friday, 1 October 2021 at 11:59 p.m. U.S. ET. Late proposals will not be considered.

Link to apply will be available on 13 August 2021.

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. 

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 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 December of their status.

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 Graduate Student Research 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:

• 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

• Registration for the forum (and convention) opens in mid-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.

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Questions?

Contact forums@tesol.org