6 essential tips for writing a TESOL conference presentation proposal
Fresh out of graduate school and in my first year of teaching at the University of Oregon, I felt confident enough to write a TESOL proposal. During graduate school, I suspected conferences were better left to the 'experts,' I should have considered what — or how — I could contribute to the field. If you're in grad school thinking the same: don't. Try it out now - you indeed have ideas that would benefit others.
I don't know if I would have taken the plunge without a buddy. Danielle Bus and I worked together at the University of Oregon when she suggested we try submitting a proposal. We had shared experiences over the year that raised questions we wanted to investigate, so we invited two senior instructors to join us to widen our perspective.
I submitted three joint proposals in my first year, and all three presentations were accepted. I do not take full credit for this; I was fortunate to collaborate with exceptionally talented mentors and friends. The following year, I had two TESOL presentations accepted. TESOL proposal acceptance rates hover around 25%. It's a mix of many factors, from the ability to craft a catchy title, the number of slots a particular interest session has to fulfill (some are more competitive than others) — and yes, even luck.
Danielle Bus and Abby Mack at TESOL 2013.
We presented three sessions after all three proposals we had written were accepted. It was busy but rewarding.
Here are six things that I've learned about the proposal writing process:
1. Collaborate
I almost always write proposals with other people. It makes it more fun, and I don't have to feel guilty about wildly creative brainstorming or finding someone to proofread my proposal. Plus, when my thoughts get jumbled, I have others to help me focus and keep the writing clear.
2. Write now
Start now. The hardest thing to do is start. If you still need to start it, get going! (The deadline for TESOL 2024 is June 1, 2023.) And remember to leave time to review your proposal before you hit submit.
3. Get feedback
Find a colleague who has presented before to give you feedback on the proposal. It's helpful to have someone consider your writing from the prospective audience's viewpoint.
4. Use what you're already doing
In the past, I've had a habit of biting off more than I could chew. We had big, far-reaching ideas and wanted to conduct research and present the work. Though I learned a lot while doing this, taking on outside research on top of a full-time teaching job has often been demanding. Other sessions we've presented have centered on what we're teaching or doing in class, and these sessions are usually more comfortable for me. They are more manageable, especially for newer presenters.
5. Read the rubric!
TESOL provides a rubric that shows how proposal readers will rate each submission. Do read it carefully and aim to get the highest mark in every category. Joe McVeigh has provided a list of other TESOL proposal writing tips worth reading.
6. Be clear
In a Writing for Publication class, the professor, Graeme Sullivan, repeated the mantra, "Clear writing reflects clear thinking." I hear these words every time I sit down to write. And I attempt to follow them. He also told us we should remember that "every word is sacred." Eliminate what isn't essential in the proposal, which is necessary when working within strict word limits.
