***For CTLE credit, click here***Episode Summary:In this episode of RBERNing Questions, Dr. Okon Effiong, the incoming President of TESOL, sits down to talk to us at the TESOL Convention in Long Beach, California. Dr. Effiong shares his inspiring journey from aspiring genetic engineer to prominent educator in the field of English Language Learning. He recounts his first TESOL convention, his transition into leadership roles, and his efforts in founding the Africa English Language Teachers Association. Dr. Effiong also discusses the challenges and underrepresentation faced by African teachers, as well as his views on current political issues affecting language teaching. With a vision to advance TESOL's mission of promoting academic excellence and research, as the President Elect 2025, he emphasizes the importance of flexibility, advocacy, and global membership engagement in the rapidly changing landscape of education.RBERNing Questions for this Episode:1- As the incoming President of TESOL, what is your mission for the organization? What is your vision in terms of its development?2- What was your personal reaction to the news about the executive order designating English as the official language of the U.S., and what did it motivate you to do as a leader in our field? 3- Given the current anti-diversity and anti-multi-lingual climate here in the US, in which providing advocacy for our English Language Learners and our immigrant students is facing excruciating resistance, what advice do you have for the educators out there to keep them motivated?Guest BIO:Okon Effiong is an English lecturer at Qatar University. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Okon is the Founder of the African English Language Teachers Association and the President-Elect of TESOL International Association. He is also the winner of the British Council ELTons Outstanding Achievement Award 2024. Okon held several leadership positions in TESOL International Association, and has given numerous international presentations. His publications include Cultivating positive reading attitudes with Grade 8 (Routledge,2024), Global Efforts in Advocacy for English Language Teaching and Learning: Conclusions and Futures (Michigan Publishing, 2024), When visible minorities lead visible majorities (Macmillan, 2023), and Continuing professional development in the Foundation Program at national university in the State of Qatar (Springer, 2023). He is the lead editor of Hybrid Learning in English Language Teaching: Motivation, Challenges and Opportunities (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024), and co-editor of Decentering Advocacy in ELT: Perspective and local practices (Michigan Publishing, 2024), and The role of language teacher associations in professional development (Springer 2018).To find out more about Mid-State RBERN at OCM BOCES' services, listen to season 1 of the show with host Collette Farone-Goodwin, or to receive CTLE credit for listening to episodes, click here: https://midstaterbern.org/

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