Quebecer is 2015 TESOL Teacher of the Year

TESOL International Association and National Geographic Learning have announced that Sherry Blok of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, will receive the 2015 TESOL Teacher of the Year Award. The award honors exceptional English language teachers at all levels. Blok will be recognized at the opening session of the 2015 TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Blok is a university lecturer working with adult ESL learners at Concordia University in Montreal. When asked about what motivates her to teach, Blok noted that it was her experience as a child of immigrants, as a language learner, and her first job working for a Canadian tourism bureau that fueled her interest in bridging cultural and language divides through education. These early experiences pushed her to get her master’s degree in second language education at McGill University, which launched her 18-year career at Concordia University. “I’ve always been driven by my desire to learn languages and my interest in multiculturalism,” she said.
The recipient of the TESOL Teacher of the Year Award receives a one-year membership in TESOL International Association; a selection of TESOL publications valued at US$250; complimentary registration, travel, and accommodations for the 2015 TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo, and a cash award of US$1000. The award recipient will also deliver a presentation at the TESOL International Convention.
National Geographic Learning will present the award to Blok at the TESOL international convention, where she will deliver a presentation titled “Global Citizenship: Transformative Practices in ELT Excellence.” Her presentation will discuss the ways that global citizenship education is applicable in the ESL classroom.