York University’s TESOL Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Antonella Valeo has been recognized by TESL Ontario with the Distinguished Contributions Award.
The TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program is a certificate program at York University open to current York students and university graduates. TESL (Teachers of English as a Second Language) Ontario, is a non-profit organization serving the needs of teachers of English as a second language and English literacy development. It is the professional voice and accrediting body for ESL instructors and TESOL programs in Ontario.
Antonella Valeo
Valeo was honoured with the award during the TESL Ontario annual conference, Dec. 5 and 6, and was recognized for her many years of service with TESL. Her many roles have included affiliate president, local co-chair for the TESOL Convention, and research committee Chair. In addition, she contributed to the early establishment of the current institutional accreditation model and the creation of a model for additional qualifications available to ESL instructors.
Her work with TESL Ontario continues to connect York’s TESOL Certificate Program, and university graduates, with the professional community.
The TESOL Certificate Program at York adheres to the standards of TESL Ontario, ensuring a standard of quality for both faculty teaching in the program and graduates preparing to teaching adult English language learners across Canada. It is the only accredited concurrent TESOL university program in Ontario, open to both current undergraduates and post-graduate applicants. A critical component of this program is the teaching practicum in which York students are placed in TESL Ontario-accredited programs and work alongside experienced teachers to gain experience in the classroom.
Valeo has been working with ESL learners and teachers for more than 25 years and is currently an associate professor at York University where she teaches graduate courses in applied linguistics, TESOL, and ESL to undergraduate students. As a researcher, her interests are embedded within the ESL classroom and include a focus on classroom interaction and language teacher development. Over the years, her work with TESL Ontario has both inspired and reflected these interests.