A few ESL/EFL organizations have global issues related special interest groups. Many of these groups have resources available at their websites, and two (IATEFL and KOTESOL) have email groups you can join without being a member of the organization. If you know of any other relevant organizations, please let me know.
For a comprehensive list of ESL/EFL organizations, check out this list from SIU Carbondale or IATEFL’s Associates Directory .
International
IATEFL’s Global Issues SIG aims to exchange ideas on integrating peace education, human rights education, development education and environmental education into language teaching. They have a Yahoo email group (with files) that you can join even if you are not an IATEFL member.
TESOLers for Social Responsibility is a group of TESOL members who “are actively engaged in integrating language teaching with social responsibility, world citizenship, and an awareness of global issues, such as peace, human rights, and the environment. They aim to promote social responsibility within the TESOL profession and to investigate content, methods, and materials which promote tolerance, international understanding, and action for a better world.” Under the resources tab, they have a great collection of links for various global, environmental and social issues.
Country-Specific
Japan - JALT’s Global Issues in Language Education (GILE) special interest group. They have a great newsletter archive with articles on bringing all sorts of issues into the language classroom.
Note: This website is currently under construction.
Korea - KOTESOL has a global issues special interest group as well. The website offers their newsletter and they also have a Yahoo email group that you can join without being a member of KOTESOL.
There are also a variety of non-ESL/EFL related organizations that deal with social justice and global issues. Again, please email me if you know of any others.
World 727 - While not technically a professional organization, World 727 is a great email list maintained by Merry Merryfield, a professor of social studies and global education at Ohio State University. To join, simply send an email to Professor Merryfield at merryfield.1@osu.edu.
Teachers Against Prejudice - A non-profit group dedicated to fighting prejudice, intolerance and bigotry through education.
Educators for Social Responsibility - ESR helps educators create safe, caring, respectful, and productive learning environments.
North American Association for Environmental Education - Not for ESL/EFL teachers in particular, but they have a great collection of resources.
The American Forum for Global Education - They have a variety of papers and teaching materials on teaching global issues.
