Evaluating Success in Your TA A Case of

Evaluating Success in Your TA: A Case of Rapid Expansion Les Kirkham, TESOL Arabia IATEFL 2008, Exeter Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008

Seven Ages of a TA 1 Mewling infant 2 Whining childhood 3 Lover 4 Soldier 5 Justice 6 Old age 7 Death Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 2

Where is TESOL Arabia? Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 3

The United Arab Emirates Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 4

The Gulf Cooperation Council Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 5

Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 6

Problems resulting from expansion Membership and registration processing Expansion of the Annual International Conference presentation proposals Conference Exhibition Branches Cost of servicing membership Publications Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 7

Solutions to problems Contract out processing Move Conference venue Online processing of proposals Professional help for Exhibition More branches Membership fees raised / sponsorship Publications expanded Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 8

Verdict: post-expansion Successes – – – Expansion of Annual International Conference Proposals processing Conference Exhibition Branch expansion Membership fees & sponsorship Expanding publications Failures – Membership & registration processing – Marketing publications Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 9

TESOL Arabia: Mission The goal of TESOL Arabia is to establish a network of communication among professionals who use English as a medium of instruction, in order to promote and maintain the excellence of their teaching and administration. Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 10

TESOL Arabia: Aims We aim to: Stimulate the growth of professional development through the encouragement of both practical and theoretical scholarship. Encourage the use of available technologies. Adopt the instructional methodologies that best meet the needs of our students. Promote the English language teaching profession as a career. Provide a forum for discussion and support. Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 11

Further Criteria? Do the criteria reflect your goals? What is your membership retention rate? Does it benefit your current members? Is there a minimum level of activity? Are you able to offer grants? Do you reflect the demography of your target pool? What is the degree of participation of your membership? Are your proceedings transparent? Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 12

Qualitative reports SWOT analysis – TAEx. Co 2007 Retreat Research paper – Aubrey* *(Jonathan Aubrey, “The TESOL Arabia Conference and its Role in the Professional Development of Teachers at Institutions of Higher Education in the United Arab Emirates”, in progress. ) Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 13

SWOT Analysis – some issues Good reputation & history Lack of clear legal status Finances strong – in the black Lack business sense – assumed to be wealthy Have good leaders Not many of them Answer a need Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 14

Research Paper Some reasons for joining To reflect upon & share practice Keep up with current trends Give sense of professional legitimacy & worth Having a professional organisation in region is an asset Need to react with fellow-professionals outside regular workplace Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 15

“To a large extent, the above responses may be linked to the collective ways that members of an organisation engage in developing a shared sense of community, and the opportunities that may result in doing so. Whereas in-house PD schemes are aimed with the host institution in mind, conferences offered by extended communities of practice may be more enticing in a number of ways, as they not only offer opportunities for professional development but also serve as conduits to make contacts, make friends and also make deals. ” Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 16

Parker’s Characteristics of a TA 1. A strong sense of commitment to an idea 2. A sense of shared purpose 3. A mixture of information-sharing and psychological support 4. Voluntary participation 5. An egalitarian ethos Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 17

Assessment Model Review of values held and opportunities taken. Qualitative information & comments. The “necessary but not sufficient” criteria. Y/N, how many, how much, how often? Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 18

Finally… Thank you for your attention. Comments and questions welcome. Les. Kirkham@gmail. com Evaluating the Success of Your TA IATEFL 2008 19