"In our quest for quality English language teaching worldwide, research must come first."

James Alatis, TIRF Trustee

The International Research
Foundation
for English Language Education

Why I Give to TIRF > G. Richard Tucker

Why I Give to TIRF

G. Richard Tucker

At the 2008 TIRF Breakfast in New York City, Dick Tucker shared his thoughts on "Why I Give to TIRF". The following is adapted from his notes.

I've been involved with TIRF since the beginning when an Association Advancement Committee was appointed by Joy Reid to explore the formation of an organization that would fund research and disseminate the results of that research broadly. There was, and continues to be, a paucity of support for research to help us to understand better how to improve the teaching and learning of English worldwide. Foundations were no longer so active as they had been in the 1960's and 1970's. The federal government has never provided sustained, sufficient funding for this purpose.

TIRF's first substantive activity was a research priorities invitational meeting in Alexandria, VA February 2001. It involved a small number of leading researchers from diverse fields, worldwide. Some of these were specialists representing major constituencies and organizations. This group identified the importance of multi-site, multi-method research.

And so we have initiated a multifaceted small grants program whose continuation is subject to your generosity; TIRF is governed and run by an all-volunteer Board whose membership is known to most of you. Approximately 80 cents of every dollar during Fiscal Year 2008 will go toward program (as opposed to administrative) expenses.

For me personally, two things are vital: (1) Additional research to enable us to understand better various factors instrumental in the teaching and learning of English, and (2) more effective dissemination so that the results of what is known (and becoming known) reaches appropriate decision makers. TIRF is active in both of these areas, and it is the reason that I personally both devote a good deal of my time and energy to working with the TIRF Board and why I support TIRF financially each year. All of us idiosyncratically, and thoughtfully, target certain areas for personal philanthropy (so, for example, we try to support wildlife conservation and animal welfare efforts, we provide support for our local town library in Harwich Port, MA and we support a number of other organizations) —but right there prominent on our personal list each year is TIRF.

If I did not provide support to TIRF, I would in a very real sense be a hypocrite — talking about the importance of research and information dissemination; but doing nothing to support its existence through the only not-for-profit organization solely committed to this cause.

TIRF is important to me. I hope that you will consider supporting TIRF as well.