MCAEL Provides Free Professional Development

See the events calendar below for upcoming professional development opportunities.

Topic in Program Administration (TPA) Meetings

Topics in Program Administration meetings are for any adult ESOL program administrator (directors, managers, coordinators, etc.) serving Montgomery County. Each meeting we discuss one of the areas from TESOL’s Standards for Adult Education ESOL Programs. Topics include: learner retention and transition, instruction, assessment and learner gains, and more.

Instructor Workshops

Instructor workshops support instructors in improving classroom instruction. Topics revolve around developing learner-centered and equitable classrooms while addressing important skills needed to create a thriving classroom environment. Previous workshops have included topics such as: learner retention, online instructional tools, racial equity and the four key areas of language instruction (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

Foundations for Adult ESOL Instruction Course

(Foundations Course)

This is MCAEL's asynchronous online instructor training course. The Foundations course introduces the theories, skills and techniques used in the adult ESOL classroom. This course provides a foundation for teaching English to adult learners. The Foundations Course is great for new instructors, as well as experienced instructors who’d like a refresher on the foundational elements of classroom instruction. Learn More >>

Network Meetings/Workshops

Montgomery County is rich in support services and resources for residents. Network meetings are for program administrators, instructors, and other community members. These meetings feature guest speakers from various organizations providing services relevant to the adult ESOL learners we work with.

Previous meeting topics have included:

Connecting Learners with Wraparound Services
Job Skills & Employment Resources
Internet Enrollment & Computer Distribution
Immigration Policy & Citizenship

Please check the events calendar for more details→

MCAEL PD Conference & Convenings

MCAEL’s bi-annual professional development conference is a must for Adult ESOL professionals! Our conferences features a variety of interactive workshops from adult ESOL experts, many from within our own coalition.

View materials for our past conference from March 15th, 2024.

MCAEL holds other networking opportunities throughout the year for adult ESOL professionals.

Please check the events calendar for more details→

MCAEL Provides Awards to Pay For

Professional Development

If you are an adult ESOL professional and need financial support to attend a non-MCAEL professional development event or conference, consider applying for our Dr. Deborah Bhattacharyya Professional Development Award (Debbie B. Award).

This scholarship is for:

· TESOL or Adult Education Conference registration reimbursement

· TESOL-related workshops, events, or meetings

Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Awardees will be reimbursed up to 100% of the cost for the eligible registration. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. (No deadline.)

The Dr. Deborah Bhattacharyya Professional Development Award

This award was established in honor of Debbie Bhattacharyya, MCAEL Program Manager from 2007-2009, who lost her battle to cancer on August 31, 2009. The Award was created in recognition of Debbie’s legacy in advancing the work of MCAEL and the cause of adult English literacy in Montgomery County.

In recognition of her commitment to supporting the local professional community, the Award is designed to defray the cost of registration for instructors, trainers and instructional staff to (1) attend professional conferences (i.e. WATESOL and MDTESOL), workshops, events or meetings, and (2) to incentivize instructors to share and disseminate the knowledge and practices gained with their peers and across organizations. Applications will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Awardees will be reimbursed up to 100% of the cost for registration. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis (no set deadlines).

Dr Bhattacharyya Professional Award Application →