TESOL: Professional Development Opportunity Professional development is an important aspect in the modern teaching environment given the consideration of teaching as a profession instead of people performing a job. In essence, since teaching is a profession, teachers should actively participate in professional development activities. These activities are primarily centered on sharpening the skills and enhancing competence for teaching practice. Educators have the essential responsibility of lifelong learning, which implies that they must constantly learn new approaches and strategies that benefit their students. Consequently, there are numerous opportunities that are available for professional growth and development of teachers.

For TESOL, professional development activities help improve their dedication to advancement and improvement of teaching English as well as enhance competence in their practice. One of the professional development activities that are available to these practitioners is conferences that are held by different organizations or associations in this field. The focus of a recently attended TESOL professional development conference was to provide networking opportunities through which these teachers can enhance their competence and efficiency. The conference provided an opportunity for these teachers to exchange ideas with others and discuss pertinent issues affecting them in teaching practice. Teachers exchanged ideas...

Conferences are basically opportunities that make positive contributions to an individual's professional development and work, especially TESOL professionals (Borg, 2014, p.1). One of the concepts learned in this course is the significance of networking as a tool for enhancing competence since professionals from different institutions exchange ideas freely and discuss issues that help them improve their teaching practice. The discussions in this conference involved exchange of ideas and evaluation of relevant issues to the group. Through this activity, TESOL professionals examined the various teaching models adopted by their peers and how to become more effective in their classrooms. Therefore, this conference demonstrated the importance of exchanging ideas with others in the same field in order to improve competence and professional practice.
In my current situation, involvement in a relevant professional association is mandatory in order to enhance my competence as a TESOL professional. Such an initiative would provide an opportunity for me to achieve my career goals through constant development and growth in teaching practice. Joining…