Creating a Sustainable Community of Practice for TESOL Professionals in the Lower Mekong Region

Abstract

A community of practice (CoP) consists of individuals who ally with one another to pursue topics or goals of common interest. The goal of CoP membership is to deepen one's knowledge and gain additional expertise from the community's more experienced members. In English language teaching, CoPs have typically been implemented with classroom learners. Alternatively, they may also be implemented with teachers for the purpose of ongoing professional development. This entry concerns the latter case, initiated in the five countries in the Lower Mekong region of Southeast Asia as part of a larger US government project. The goal of this project, the Professional Communication Skills for Leaders (PCSL) CoP, was to create transnational alliances among teachers in the region and better prepare them to teach English for professional purposes to local experts in environment, health, infrastructure, energy development, and agriculture. The entry provides information on the implementation of the project and how it is being sustained.

Dissertation in practice: who teaches the teacher? increasing the literacy knowledge of teachers through formation of a professional learning community

“…The establishment of a Community of Practice (CoP) within the school setting also promotes teacher growth and the development of new professional knowledge (Brinton et al, 2020). CoPs are traditionally developed by a group of individuals who share common knowledge and interests (Brinton et al, 2020). Participants work collaboratively to set goals, take on responsibilities, and guide each other (Brinton et al, 2020).…”

“…CoPs are traditionally developed by a group of individuals who share common knowledge and interests (Brinton et al, 2020). Participants work collaboratively to set goals, take on responsibilities, and guide each other (Brinton et al, 2020). CoPs may be formed by teachers at the same school; however, the broad definition allows for educators from multiple schools, districts, or countries join together to share ideas (Burns, Howard, and Kimmel, 2016).…”

“…CoPs may be formed by teachers at the same school; however, the broad definition allows for educators from multiple schools, districts, or countries join together to share ideas (Burns, Howard, and Kimmel, 2016). They can take place in person or be facilitated through social media or video calls (Adjaong, Emdin, & Levy, 2018;Brinton et al, 2020). While no explicit instruction occurs within a Community of Practice, these groups are beneficial because they can cater directly to the professional needs of the participants (Brinton et al, 2020).…”

“…They can take place in person or be facilitated through social media or video calls (Adjaong, Emdin, & Levy, 2018;Brinton et al, 2020). While no explicit instruction occurs within a Community of Practice, these groups are beneficial because they can cater directly to the professional needs of the participants (Brinton et al, 2020).…”

“…Not only did the chats allow teachers to gain additional tools in order to provide more effective instruction, the chats also increased the teachers' motivation to be engaging educators (Adjaon, Emdin, & Levy, 2018). The interpersonal relationships between members of a CoP allow for the provision of open, constructive feedback and opportunities to improve their teaching (Brinton et al, 2020). By creating an inclusive and welcoming space, teachers can navigate their professional difficulties and make changes to their practice (Brinton et al, 2020).…”