The Global Issues Special Interest Group is a part of the KOTESOL organization. The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were initially formed to provide a forum for English Language Teachers to meet other professionals focusing on similar areas of research and interest. The Global Issues SIG is attempting to provide a forum among English Language Teaching practitioners to stimulate awareness and understanding of Global Issues and to encourage the development of global education within language teaching. The use of global issues within the classroom aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values which can help them confront both local and global problems. It is essential that our focus should relate to ESL in Korea, and in the world. In addition to teaching a wide range of issues relating to global challenges, this teaching approach also allows the introduction of culture, intercultural communication, geography, history, and travel. It also can be used to develop critical thinking skills, a vital element necessary for the next generation to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges. The Global Issues SIG is seeking to discover a consensus of enthusiasm for a revitalized GI-SIG function that makes welcomeindividual inclinations toward advocacy and activism. Combined with pedagogy and practice, our goal is to raise our students' consciousness of their shared humanity with people everywhere, of every station in life.

The Global Issues SIG is currently in the earliest stages of development. We welcome all teachers (as well as anyone interested in education and global issues), and encourage everyone to actively participate. It will be through your enthusiastic exploration of Global Issues that this SIG will become a vital element of English Language Teaching in Korea. Please read through the site, make comments on the forum, participate in reasearch, and submit material and links you feel are relevant for this site. Global Issues is a rich and diverse field, and can surely incorporate most, if not all, interests. We look forward to meeting all of you, and are excited about the possibilities for the future.