Allison Tinch, LLCC ESL instructor, showcased her expertise at the Illinois Teachers of Bilingual Education (ITBE) conference in Chicago on Feb. 24. The focus of her presentation, “Family, Culture, Self: Unraveling the Motivational Forces in Adult ESL Learners,” delved into the intricate influences of family and native language (L1) community on the motivation of adult ESL learners. She shared valuable insights for enhancing responsive programs that seamlessly integrate classrooms with the social environments of learners. Along with sharing her knowledge with other ESL instructors across the state, Allison returned with valuable ESL instructional approaches, methods and best practices. Her sharing of these insights with colleagues actively contributes to the ongoing professional growth within the ESL teaching community.