Featured/Invited
Preparing English Language Teachers for Social-Emotional Learning
Invited Speakers
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a teaching approach that focuses on the core affective skills (i.e., self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) necessary for individuals to be healthy, successful, and responsible. SEL has gained much attention in the field of education in the last 20 years; however, it is only now that English language teaching (ELT) is beginning to embrace it. In this presentation, we propose SEL as a vital practice in ELT. To do this, we first introduce and define SEL, situating it within the ELT field. We then share findings describing the positive effects of SEL in ELT classrooms for both teachers and students at different grade levels. We end the presentation by providing detailed examples of how to incorporate SEL in K–12, adult, and higher education/teacher preparation classrooms.
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Gilda Martínez-Alba, Ed.D. is the Assistant Dean in the College of Education at Towson University (TU), where she has worked for the past 16 years. Her research revolves around asset-based literacy instruction for multilingual learners integrating technology and social-emotional learning, and English language teacher wellness. It is reflected in her books, for example, English U.S.A. Every Day, which has sold over 6,000 copies around the world, Wordless Books: So Much to Say! with Judith Cruzado-Guerrero (a best seller), and most recently Social-Emotional Learning in the English Language Classroom, with Luis Javier Pentón Herrera, which was just published through TESOL Press.
