The Best Choice: Bringing Dedication

     I am convinced that I am the best choice for the position of KOTESOL First Vice-President because of my (a) dedication, (b) knowledge, (c) experience, and (d) vision. Here I would like to delineate my dedication to both KOTESOL and the field of English language teaching (ELT) in general. 

Dedication to KOTESOL

     An association’s publications are a powerful vehicle for reaching its membership. It was through publications’ work that I first dedicated myself to KOTESOL. Through many years and many, many hours of editing work on The English Connection, Korea TESOL Journal, and KOTESOL Proceedings, I have contributed to making important information about ELT research, ELT methodology, and KOTESOL available to our membership.

     At a time when Korea and KOTESOL were still licking their wounds from the Asian financial crisis, I offered my services to the National Council, and in my years of service in the position of Treasurer, KOTESOL became considerably more healthy financially. As a National Council member I devoted myself to growing KOTESOL to be of more benefit to members in terms of professional development.

     At this time, too, I became a member of my first of a dozen consecutive International Conference committees. This year-round conference-planning (we are already working on KOTESOL 2012) results in bringing professional international expertise and local talent together to benefit our members and the wider ELT community.

     I have also dedicated myself to my Chapter, presenting at Chapter events, participating in Chapter conference planning committees, serving as Chapter Advisor, and presently serving as Chapter President. During my two years as president, Chapter membership has more than doubled.

Dedication to ELT in Korea

     In addition to advancing ELT from within KOTESOL, I am active in numerous other Korean ELT associations, and have service on the boards of directors of several, as well as on their conference committees.

     I have authored or co-authored nine books on English language learning, edited several others, and prepared teaching and testing materials for the local Office of Education.

     I have dedicated myself to ELT research, carrying out several research projects annually and reporting their results at conferences, and in proceedings and journals.

Frankly, there is hardly a day that passes in which I don’t put in at least a couple of hours of work on KOTESOL-related affairs, sometimes many more. It is my dedication to the advancement of KOTESOL, and my belief in KOTESOL, that allows me to do this. This dedication will also allow me to serve the membership and the Chapters well in the position of First Vice-President.

The Best Choice: What Dr. Shaffer as 1VP Means to Your Chapter

The First Vice-President, as stipulated by the KOTESOL Constitution, is the “supervisor of the Chapters,” and in that position I would devote myself to the growth and smooth operations of the Chapters. I intend to push for more Chapter support from National in the form of funding, planning, training, and problem solving.

Chapter Support from National
As 1VP, I plan to see that funds are made available for professional development at the chapter level for conferences, symposiums, and others that promote KOTESOL. Funds for chapter emergencies, loans, and new chapter start-up will be included, and funds for chapter service awards will be reinstated. All of these items were originally added to the National budget on my initiative.

Chapter Leaders' Meetings
As 1VP, I will plan two Chapter Leaders' Meetings, where the Chapter presidents and other chapter leaders will identify chapter problems and roll up their sleeves to discuss courses of action and viable solutions. I was proactive in the call for and planning of the 2010 Chapter Leaders' Meeting. Items on the table would include membership maintenance and growth, publicity, presenter booking, website management, and inter-chapter collaboration.

Chapter Officer Training
As 1VP, I plan to provide training sessions for chapter treasurers new to their positions and new to chapter budgeting, bookkeeping, and financial statement production, and for chapter webmasters new to Drupal and its data management system. This training would be supported KOTESOL.

Chapter Expansion
As 1VP, I intend to conduct a study on the feasibility of starting up new chapters in areas that are not presently well served by KOTESOL and their sustainability; e.g., Incheon, Ulsan, and Changwon.

Chapter Visits
As 1VP, I would visit individual Chapters at the request of the Chapters, with special interest in participating in chapter executive sessions for discussion on Chapter issues, as well as meeting the membership and participating in the monthly meetings.

Vote for David Shaffer for First Vice-President for the above National support to you and your Chapter.

The Best Choice: Bringing Knowledge

     To the job of KOTESOL First Vice-President, I offer dedication, experience, and vision, in addition to knowledge. Here I will expand on that knowledge and insight which I will bring to the office in the areas of (a) KOTESOL affairs, (b) Korea's ELT circles, and (c) the field of TEFL as a whole.

Of KOTESOL Affairs
     During my 19 years of KOTESOL membership, I have been quite active at the National level for 14 years, especially in the areas of publishing, conference preparations, research, membership, and financial affairs. In the position of Treasurer, I have worked closely with numerous presidents, consulting on all areas of KOTESOL. Through these activities over an extended period of time, I am able to bring a deep and broad store of institutional knowledge to the 1VP position.

Of Chapter Affairs
     Likewise, my years of Chapter executive participation gives me a knowledge of the needs of a smaller chapter, which ours was when I became President, and the needs of a larger one, which ours has grown to during my presidency. Such knowledge is most valuable, as the 1VP is the "supervisor of the Chapters."

Of Korean ELT Circles
     My knowledge of other English language teaching (ELT) associations in Korea comes from my membership in about a dozen associations over the years (most of them current memberships) and active participation in them. I present at many of their conferences and have served on the boards of directors of KATE (2 yrs.), GETA (4 yrs.), and Asia TEFL (9 yrs.; internationally based but strongly Korea-influenced) and on their conference committees. Through these activities, I have formed associations with their presidents and officers, and with key figures in our field.
 
Of TEFL
     My knowledge of TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) covers more than 20 years, although my experience in the field is even longer. My graduate training (masters and doctorate) was in the closely related field of English linguistics, this was followed by a keen interest in TEFL research. During that time I have received post-graduate certificates in TESL (general, advanced, TEYL). I have done research in a wide variety of areas of TEFL, written papers on this research and presented the results at numerous conferences in Korea as well as internationally.

     This capsulizes my knowledge of KOTESOL, the Korean ELT scene, and the field of TESOL. It is strong in both breadth and depth, and I think that it shows that, with this reservoir of knowledge, I am best prepared for the job of KOTESOL First Vice-President.

The Best Choice: Bringing Experience

     I am convinced that I am the best choice for the position of KOTESOL First Vice-President because of my (a) experience, (b) knowledge, (c) dedication, and (d) vision. Here I would like to introduce the experience I have in both in KOTESOL and in the field of English language teaching (ELT) as a whole. 

KOTESOL Experience    
     First, I have been a member of KOTESOL since its early days in 1993, and I have been a member of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter all that time. I have experiences the Chapter going through different mixes of membership, different levels of membership, and different types of leadership.
     I have served on the National Council for eleven years, and in that time, I have become quite familiar with the workings of the various standing committees and departments at the National level.
     At the Chapter level, I am serving a second term as Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter President. I have served as Advisor for several years, and have served as Chapter Conference Chair and committee member numerous times.

ELT Experience 
     In the wider field of ELT beyond KOTESOL, I have been teaching EFL in Korea since 1976 at Chosun University, where I hold a tenured-professor position in the English Language Department. I have been Foreign Language Programs Director of the CU Language Education Institute and Director of the CU TESOL Certificate Program. I have taught teacher training courses, applied and theoretical linguistics courses, and language skills courses at the undergraduate, post-graduate, and graduate school levels. In addition, I have done years of in-service training in various Jeonnam and Gwangju Office of Education-sponsored programs.
     I have also been involved with assessment and materials design with the Jeonnam Office of Education. Of particular note was my involvement with the first province-wide, standardized radio listening tests for secondary schools, which lead to a nationwide program.
     This, in a nutshell, is my KOTESOL and Korea ELT experience. It is strong in both breadth and depth, and I think that it shows that, based on experience, I am best prepared for the job of KOTESOL First Vice-President.

First Vice-President: Candidate's Statement

     The First Vice-President (1VP) is charged with overseeing KOTESOL’s various chapters. In this capacity, I plan to attend to the increasing concerns and needs of our chapters through discussions with individual chapter presidents, visitations to chapters, and convening a chapter leadership meeting to isolate causes of problems, propose solutions, and map out plans to realize those solutions. Long-term planning and chapter expansion will also be explored.

     As an elected officer and member of the National Council, the 1VP is a core administrator within KOTESOL. As such, experience and knowledge of the organization’s workings and precedents are important requisites. I foresee my years of executive experience as contributing to informed and responsible administration, which KOTESOL is in need of.

     We as an organization are at a point where we must exert our efforts to foster and further respect – respect for each other within KOTESOL, and respect for KOTESOL within the larger ELT community. As 1VP, I plan to promote restoration of this respect.

     I am confident that my decades of teaching experience in Korea, my intercultural awareness, my keen Korean language skills, my experience on the executive boards of multiple ELT organizations, my experience as chapter president and National Council member, my broad and detailed knowledge of the workings of our organization, and my associations with those who make it work provide me with the requisite skills and credentials for the position of KOTESOL First Vice-President. I plan to be proactive, productive, proficient, and professional for the further advancement of KOTESOL.

This is my candidate’s statement. It can be found at http://koreatesol.org/Elections/David_Shaffer_2011.pdf  along with the candidate’s profile (KOTESOL service, education, awards, and relevant experience).