Continuing my discussion on teacher networking, in my last blog I wrote about setting up teachers’ clubs in a single school or in school cluster areas. In this blog I am sharing some ideas on setting up a teacher association (TA) in a state, province or a country. I take English teacher associations as a case and discuss the major issues related to forming an association from the scratch. I draw ideas from Developing an Association for Language Teachers: An Introductory Handbook (3rd ed. 2006) edited by Ana Falcão and Margit Szesztay and published by IATEFL and on my chapter “Promoting ELE in Nepal: The NELTA Way” from English Language Education in South Asia: from Policy to Pedagogy (Orient Longman India, Forthcoming).

Emergence of a TA
The need for an English language teacher association is realised when the teachers feel that the prevailing situation requires a proactive response from policy to practice level. It is usually when the Ministry of Education does not have an independent body to advise it in matters of English language education programmes, English language professionals do not have a professional forum to share their ideas and experiences, the cross-cutting issues of the discipline are little discussed and debated due to lack of such forums, and English education in the given context is not as responsive to international developments as it can be. Another reason may be that there are teacher associations but they are just trade unions, not professional forums.

Even at the situation mentioned above, and even when the enthusiastic teachers are all ready to start an association, some kind of catalyst is required to take the initiative mainly due to resource constraint. That role in the case of NELTA was played by the British Council. On a day in 1992, David Pottinger, the then Deputy Director, wrote the minutes of the first meeting on a plain sheet of paper announcing the birth of NELTA and everyone who attended the meeting promised to keep this association away from all the organisational ills including politics and favouritism. This first meeting was attended by only some enthusiasts mainly from Tribhuvan University but now similar enthusiasm operates in 24 braches of NELTA over the country. So, you can see that starting a teacher association is not easy, but it is possible. Once it starts, it grows as much as you nourish it.Points to consider when planning for a TA

1. Potential members
Think who the potential members are. This group of stakeholders usually includes teachers from schools, colleges and universities and private language institutes as well as teacher educators, materials developers, textbook writers, other ELT professionals as well as teachers-in-the-making.

2. Potential workers
Identify people who are wiling to be part of ad hoc committee. You will see that mid-career professionals are best suited to be in the lead positions. However, an umbrella figure in the main leading position will be a good idea to begin with.

3. Potential supporters
To run the TA, you will need advice, professional support, financial resources or facilities. So make a list of such potential supporters: IATEFL, TESOL, ministries, publishers, The British Council, The Goethe Institute or Alliance Française, teachers, trade unions, and business houses. If there is a TA already operating, they may guide you in the process provided that you do not appear a rival.

4. Authorities
Your TA will have to be registered with the local authorities or in some cases with central authorities. So, decide who they are and what you should prepare for registration.

5. The Scope
For a small country an all inclusive TA would work well. But for a large country like India or Brazil, you could think of an association for a specific sector: secondary school teachers, a particular geographical area or a state. This is important because a TA with too big a scope may look great but will not be able to serve the majority. When the TA’s a different sectors start functioning well, you can have a national forum. Also find out about the minimum number of members if you thinking of affiliating to international TA’s.

6. Membership types
In order to attract many professionals, there should be a provision for various membership types. Usual types are: ordinary members (one to three years), life members, institutional members (for schools, colleges etc), and honorary members. The last type is given to those individuals who make substantial contribution to the TA. Consider differential fees as well.

7. Organisational structure
This will be finalised by the general meeting when approving the Constitution but initially you can propose a structure such as this one for the Executive Committee: President, Vice-President(s), Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Members. A clear picture of the organisational structure helps potential members to see if they could also contribute in some way.

8. The Draft Constitution
This document is required for a number of reasons. It is the document that helps you to gain legal status from the local authorities. Moreover, when you develop this, you will be able to spell out you vision, mission, goals and objectives. Its immediate purpose is to let the potentials workers and members know how it will operate and what the succession plan is. The draft Constitution will be given a formal and legal status by the first general meeting of the members.

9. First publicity
An advertisement could cost a lot. So, persuade an editor to run an article on the proposed association or write a letter to the editor for publication. This should include information about the venue and dates for first gathering.

10. A Good starter
The first gathering should be able to convince the participants that this TA is worth joining. So, plan for workshops led by a well known person and also a social event. Also make a strategic membership drive during the gathering so you have a sizable number form the beginning. As I mentioned in the blog on the teachers’ club, invite a biggy who is followed by the media, so the publicity will be wide but free.
I invite colleagues who actually set up their TA voluntarily to share their experiences.

Laxman Gnawali