EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program celebrated the success of its fourth annual International Conference for Preservice Teachers (ICPET), held virtually to connect students, alumni, and international partners for professional development.

Originating from a Fulbright Scholar collaboration between Eastern Michigan University’s Zuzana Tomaš and Anna Slatinska of Matej Bel University in Slovakia, ICPET invites preservice teachers to deliver concise five-minute lightning talks showcasing their projects. This format encourages engagement and builds public speaking skills while fostering a “teacher-professional” identity for participants.

"Presenting to a broader audience of international peers, university professors, and local teachers raises the stakes—and our students always rise to the occasion," said Tomaš. 

ICPET’s collaborative framework has expanded to include joint presentations by Eastern and Matej Bel University teacher candidates. In the fall of 2024, they worked together to design and implement online English lessons for Slovak and Ukrainian secondary students. Despite the challenges of time zones and cultural differences, participants lauded the service-learning experience for fostering global competencies and communication skills.

"It was challenging to work across time zones and cultural differences, but I grew so much from this experience,” said Lee Samuels, a preservice teacher at EMU. "I learned patience, practiced teaching and leadership skills, and collaborated effectively with international partners."
This year’s conference welcomed alumni from Eastern Michigan University and Matej Bel University, adding depth to the experience for current preservice teachers. Eastern Michigan University alumna Trisha Dowling delivered a keynote on community-engaged teaching, sharing insights from her doctoral research at the University of Toronto.

Dowling emphasized the power of service-learning, encouraging preservice teachers to explore real-world connections that benefit students and communities alike. Her contributions exemplify the strong sense of community and ongoing professional growth fostered within Eastern’s TESOL program.

As ICPET expands, plans include incorporating additional international partners and enhancing collaboration opportunities between Eastern Michigan University and Matej Bel University.

Participants from the U.S., Slovakia, and Ukraine brought many perspectives to this year’s ICPET conference. The conference recording is available on the website. To relive the experience or explore the presentations, click on the link.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.