PhD program admissions committees expect to see at least a few presentations on your vita . The TESL advisor will provide sample abstracts and guidance for TESL students. While this may be true, try to make sure that the reputation of the department is as solid as that of the university. And while some people choose a PhD program because of the presence of a particular scholar, be aware that big-name scholars may not prove as accessible as you had hoped. Some SIUE MA candidates have visited prospective universities to talk with the graduate advisor and assess the campus and community.
Financial aid is a complex issue.
Other programs make no such promises, and graduate students might have to wait a year or more to get support, and even then may have to compete for positions as teaching assistants. Be aware that most PhD programs accept students only in the fall term and usually have deadlines in the preceding January, or even earlier. This aspect of your preparation for PhD applications begins, ideally, before your final year in the MA program. You'll get the strongest letters from professors with whom you've taken more than one class. Be alert for signs of hesitation or indifference.