MIDTESOL Matters
Fall 2006
A Publication of Mid-America Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

MIDTESOL Retirees: Honoring Those Who Have Served


This past year, MIDTESOL saw the retirement of several key educators who have contributed a great deal to our profession. These professionals have seen many changes in our organization and in our field, in general; we are excited to hear more about their exceptional careers in this special section dedicated to them on pages 4-6. I also want to take this moment to thank those who interviewed and prepared the articles; without your help, this project could not have happened!

Adelaide Parsons: SEMO's ESOL/TESOL Innovator
By Phyllis Mithen


Q. How and when did you first get involved in English to Speakers of Other Languages?


A. I did my student teaching for Northwest University in Chicago at a Navajo reservation and was asked to teach Math and ESL. I got hooked right then. I went to the University of Michigan for a Masters in Foreign Language Education and spent some time in the Dominican Republic while in that program. I also spent two years at the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota. When I went back to school to finish my Masters, Douglas Brown was there and inspired me to go into teacher training. After I got my Doctorate - also at the University of Michigan - I spent five years at Ohio University in Athens doing teacher training and teaching in the intensive English program (IEP).
Q. How did you get involved in MIDTESOL?


A. Twenty-three years ago, I came "home" to Cape Girardeau to Southeast Missouri State University, near my home town, to set up a MA in TESOL teacher training program and to start an IEP. My family was nearby and by then I was married to Bob Parsons, who had his glass-making business and whom I had met at Michigan. I had already been involved in TESOL affiliates so I got involved here too. I served as President 1988 - 1989 and also served in several positions on the board through the years. Wes Eby and I co-chaired the Midwest Regional TESOL conference in St. Louis in the mid-90s and that led to the "big" TESOL conference's being in St. Louis in 2001. This time I was chair of the conference by TESOL election, and again, Wes was my co-chair.


Q. It was great for MIDTESOL and for you to be the TESOL conference chair. What other TESOL involvements have meant a lot to you?


A. As far as the 2001 conference is concerned, I take pride in our innovation of the Graduate Student Forum and the PhD Student Forum. These have continued at other TESOL conventions. I was involved in the early days of the TESOL standards and served as chair of the Standards Committee. I was also active in supporting the establishment of TESOL caucuses. I served a term as Chair of the Christian Educators Caucus. I am incoming chair of the Teacher Education Interest Section.


Q. What in your overall career has meant the most to you?


A. I left southeast Missouri in 1955 and came back in 1984. Lots had happened in the world, but it did not seem to have affected my home area. There was little tolerance for "others". My goal on returning was to help my community understand the beauty of other cultures and to help build a global community. The coming of folks from so many countries for the IEP and later the university and for teacher training has made this a different place than it was. It also means a great deal to me to see people I have trained creating new programs and training others. I feel confident that ESOL teacher training is now established throughout the state. I deeply appreciate all the colleagues who have made MIDTESOL happen and made ESOL happen throughout the area of our affiliate.


Q. What's going on with you now and into your retirement, which you've said will be official on December 31?


A. I'm still involved in teacher training through MELL, training classroom teachers and consulting. Some of this is through a large grant I am wrapping up. I'm still advising the International program, training TAs and teaching a professional seminar. I'm still working with the Adult Education Standards, training those who will be field testing them this year. I've been invited to Saudi Arabia to do consulting and to Tokyo to deliver some lectures, as I have done in the past.


I am now a certified lay minister in the United Methodist Church. I intend to become a locally licensed pastor and have already been doing a lot of preaching. This is my main current goal.


Bob and I also plan to do a lot of traveling in our RV!