Alan Kohler's Conference Summary

     Alan Kohler
     Ph.D. Student
     Second Language Acquisition & Teaching GIDP

     Conference Summary
     2017 American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
     Portland, Oregon

It is with great pleasure and sincere gratitude that I write this letter of thanks for the support that I received from the H.E. Carter Award for my travel and presentation of research at the American Association of Applied Linguistics 2017 Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon.  Late last year, when my paper for the conference was accepted, I looked forward to what a great of an opportunity it was going to be, but like all graduate students—especially those of us also supporting a family while we work towards a degree—I worried about how to make the trip work financially.  This trip to AAAL is the most important and influential conference for researchers in my field, and presenting at this conference not only represents the chance to present research in front of an international audience of experts, but the trip to AAAL also represents a special, unique chance to network, collaborate, and brainstorm with researchers around the world who  share my same professional passions and are indeed some of the leading luminaries and experts in my research field that inspire what I do.

                I am happy to report that my presentation was an unqualified success.  The research that I presented on represents the final chapter/the third research study in my soon-to-be-finished dissertation, and this opportunity to present on the data for the first time allowed me to sit down with my research more intimately as I prepared to talk about it.  In doing so, I gained a better understanding of my own findings and was able to see more clearly the path forward with the organization and the successful planning toward completion of this article.  Further, not only was I able to deliver my research well, but I did so in front of a packed room of attendees, which I took to be an indication and a confirmation of the value of my work.  These 35+ researchers and linguists in attendance showed great enthusiasm during my presentation and my talk was followed by a rich, thoughtful discussion has since resulted in new relationships and new pathways for exploration.  Throughout the remainder of the conference, I was able to attend many other talks, colloquia, and roundtables that allowed me to build even more such pathways and relationships with others that showcased research both on metaphor and metonymy and also on L2 Writing and TESOL methods—both areas of interest and expertise of mine that will be driving my career forward.   

                A trip like this, for a graduate student supporting a family and working full-time throughout his path to degree is a significant, yet entirely necessary, financial burden to say the least.  Without the generous support of the H.E. Carter Travel Award this trip would not have been possible.  I am in debt to the Herbert E. Carter Travel Award Program and to you, the selection committee, for making this incredibly important and ultimately rewarding trip doable. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued and generous support of all UA graduate and professional students.