(image source: http://www.integralhospitality.com/?p=238)

I attended the MIDTESOL annual conference in Kansas City – the yearly meeting for the Midwest regional branch of the International TESOL organization. Upon returning, my head was spinning with all the information I’d been exposed to. In those moments, one of the presenter’s words of wisdom came back to me like a whisper in the swirling wind.

Neil J. Anderson, a well-known researcher and educator in the field of TESOL, spoke to us about the essentials of professional development in ESL, especially as they apply to instructors and administrators coming back from large conferences. 🙂 Among his useful grounding points, he reminded us of the importance of having a plan for retaining and actually applying one or more of the concepts we’d been introduced to (or reminded of). He likewise stressed the need for a professional development community around us and how we must give/receive support and accountability in order to make sure that the positive changes we seek to apply are truly making teaching/learning better when we return to our home environments. Otherwise, we will go home and nothing will ever change – for we didn’t have a plan to intentionally change it.

In reflecting, I had to admit that I feel only a very loose sense of professional development community in my current work setting. I’d like this to change, but I’m not sure how to see that change happen. It’s as if I need to have a plan for setting up an intentional community with regular checks and balances (and encouragement) before I can move forward with the other part(s) of Anderson’s advice.

I also realized that most of my life has recently been about simply surviving, both professionally and personally. In teaching, that means last minute lesson plans and rushing to overlooked meetings; in professional development, it means a couple of relevant books marked a few pages in and collecting dust on an end table.

I need to have a plan or goal, even just one thing that I will aim for and focus on. And I need to ask a friend or colleague to help me stay on track while I reach for it.

Of course, the principles of community and purpose/priorities  apply to more than teaching and professional growth. They are also essential for emotional, mental, and spiritual growth and individual effectiveness in the broader community. So in daily reflection we can ask: “What/Who am I aiming for today? How am I going to do that or reach my goal? And how will I adjust myself or my plan today or tomorrow based on what happens today?”