Material Writers (MaWSIG) Meet-up
MaWSIG
September 21, 2024
14:00 UK time
Join us for a materials writing meetup for English language teaching professionals. This is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded educators, exchange ideas and experiences, and expand your professional network. Whether you’re an experienced materials writer or just getting started, come ready to share your insights and learn from others in a relaxed, social setting.
This meetup is open to all who are passionate about creating effective learning materials for English language learners.
Refreshments will be available from BrewDog (including delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks), so come prepared to mingle, collaborate, and be inspired.
In conversation with Penny Hands
Penny Hands
June 14, 2024
11:00 UK time
In the second of a series of informal online events entitled ‘In conversation with …’, we are delighted to announce that our guest will be Penny Hands, who will be sharing insights and telling us about her life in editing materials. We invite participants to submit questions for Penny using this form, and we’ll add a few of our own, too. We look forward to seeing you there!
Bio
Penny Hands is a freelance editor who has worked for nearly 30 years as a lexicographer, compiler of language reference materials and as an editor on ELT materials and teacher resource books. She has worked with a variety of authors, from academics to materials writers and self-publishers. Her interest lies in how best to achieve the shared goal of making a book the best it can be, through communication, collaboration and a strong understanding of the field and the market. She is just coming to the end of her six year term in the role of Editor on the MaWSIG committee.
Penny Hands is a freelance editor who has worked for nearly 30 years as a lexicographer, compiler of language reference materials and as an editor on ELT materials and teacher resource books. She has worked with a variety of authors, from academics to materials writers and self-publishers. Her interest lies in how best to achieve the shared goal of making a book the best it can be, through communication, collaboration and a strong understanding of the field and the market. She is just coming to the end of her six year term in the role of Editor on the MaWSIG committee.
Creating Materials to Enhance EAP Vocabulary
Coni Barbariol
July 22, 2024
14:30 UK time
Creating materials to teach and practise vocabulary is crucial in ELT courses. Yet our approach might need to be tweaked when the materials are for EAP classes.
In this practical session, we’ll look at how creating materials following a Flipped Classroom approach can enhance the quality of our EAP content. We will share practical ideas to write worksheets which will be valuable for learners.
Bio
Coni Barbariol is an EAP, English language and literature teacher. She has worked teaching these subjects in Buenos Aires (Argentina) for thirteen years and, at the moment, she’s teaching in Madrid (Spain). She is also a speaking examiner and materials writer. She’s currently studying a TEFL Masters and her top priority is developing meaningful materials which are aligned with her pedagogical insights and students’ needs.
Coni Barbariol is an EAP, English language and literature teacher. She has worked teaching these subjects in Buenos Aires (Argentina) for thirteen years and, at the moment, she’s teaching in Madrid (Spain). She is also a speaking examiner and materials writer. She’s currently studying a TEFL Masters and her top priority is developing meaningful materials which are aligned with her pedagogical insights and students’ needs.
Considerations for developing language materials for Deaf EAL /BSL learners
Rebecca Fenton-Ree and Katherine O'Grady-Bray
July 2, 2024
16:00 UK time
Teaching Deaf children who are EAL or are first language British Sign Language (BSL) users require specialist teachers and bespoke resources. This paper will utilise the twenty years teaching experience of three specialists Teacher of the Deaf to state the considerations for making English teaching resources for Deaf children.
Bio
Becky is a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf and also works part time as a BSL/English Interpreter. She has been signing for nearly 35 years and has had 20 years teaching experience. She is currently working part time as a Language and Communication Teacher at Oak Lodge (a specialist Deaf and SCLN school in London). She has previously taught at university, college and schools (including experience as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles). Katherine is a Teacher of the Deaf with 20 years of experience ranging from Primary to 6th Form. She has held several senior leadership roles, including Deputy Headteacher and head of 6th form and is currently the Head of the Language Communication Team and KS3 leader. She also holds a NPQH, Masters in Deaf Education and Level 6 BSL. As a Profoundly Deaf, BSL user herself, her experience and knowledge of teaching deaf children is fundamental in supporting D/deaf pupils at Oak Lodge. Katherine and Becky currently consult for Ofqual as the lead experts for the BSL GCSE.
Becky is a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf and also works part time as a BSL/English Interpreter. She has been signing for nearly 35 years and has had 20 years teaching experience. She is currently working part time as a Language and Communication Teacher at Oak Lodge (a specialist Deaf and SCLN school in London). She has previously taught at university, college and schools (including experience as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles). Katherine is a Teacher of the Deaf with 20 years of experience ranging from Primary to 6th Form. She has held several senior leadership roles, including Deputy Headteacher and head of 6th form and is currently the Head of the Language Communication Team and KS3 leader. She also holds a NPQH, Masters in Deaf Education and Level 6 BSL. As a Profoundly Deaf, BSL user herself, her experience and knowledge of teaching deaf children is fundamental in supporting D/deaf pupils at Oak Lodge. Katherine and Becky currently consult for Ofqual as the lead experts for the BSL GCSE.
(R)evolution of Video Tasks in ELT: New Horizons, Coursebook Realities
Dr. Armanda Stroia
September 18, 2024
17:00 UK time
Looking back, video has radically reshaped the ELT landscape, shifting from mere comprehension checks to tasks fostering 21st century skills and multimodal literacies. Thus, current pedagogical trends empower students to become active prosumers. Yet, is this shift visible in mainstream localized coursebooks? Gazing into the AI-powered future, we question the role of video tasks.
Bio
Dr Armanda Stroia is an experienced EFL teacher, teacher trainer, international conference speaker, and materials developer interested in digital storytelling, multimodality, critical thinking, intercultural competences, digital and emotional literacies. She designs materials to help teachers integrate multimodality into lessons through an award-winning approach to student-generated videos. She is the founder of the Academy of Creators who Teach to Inspire (https://acttoinspire.com/articles/), where she shares her latest research-based articles, tailored courses, workshops, and free lesson plans.
Dr Armanda Stroia is an experienced EFL teacher, teacher trainer, international conference speaker, and materials developer interested in digital storytelling, multimodality, critical thinking, intercultural competences, digital and emotional literacies. She designs materials to help teachers integrate multimodality into lessons through an award-winning approach to student-generated videos. She is the founder of the Academy of Creators who Teach to Inspire (https://acttoinspire.com/articles/), where she shares her latest research-based articles, tailored courses, workshops, and free lesson plans.
A journey through time: redesigning materials for the 21st century
Jill Hadfield
March 25, 2024
14:30 UK time
In this practical talk based on recent personal experience, I consider the various challenges involved in redesigning and updating materials, focusing principally on the challenges of designing online interactive materials. Using examples from a number of books I will outline a framework that teachers can use to develop online interaction.
Bio
Jill Hadfield has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in Britain, France, China, Tibet, Madagascar and New Zealand, run short courses and seminars for teachers in many other parts of the world and worked as consultant for the UK’s British Council and Department of International Development, writing materials for and reviewing aid projects in Africa. She has written over forty books for teachers, including the Communication Games series, Classroom Dynamics and the Oxford Basics series. These have been translated into a total of 17 languages. She has also written two travel books : Watching The Dragon and A Winter in Tibet and a novel, Postcards from Babel. Her book Interaction Online, co-authored with Lindsay Clandfield, was short-listed for both the Ben Warren Prize and the ELTons Awards for Innovation in Teacher Resources. Her latest book, Live Online Teaching, co-authored with Lindsay Clandfield, was published in 2021. New updated versions of the Communication Games series, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Communication Games 2.0 are forthcoming from Pavilion Publishing.
Jill Hadfield has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in Britain, France, China, Tibet, Madagascar and New Zealand, run short courses and seminars for teachers in many other parts of the world and worked as consultant for the UK’s British Council and Department of International Development, writing materials for and reviewing aid projects in Africa. She has written over forty books for teachers, including the Communication Games series, Classroom Dynamics and the Oxford Basics series. These have been translated into a total of 17 languages. She has also written two travel books : Watching The Dragon and A Winter in Tibet and a novel, Postcards from Babel. Her book Interaction Online, co-authored with Lindsay Clandfield, was short-listed for both the Ben Warren Prize and the ELTons Awards for Innovation in Teacher Resources. Her latest book, Live Online Teaching, co-authored with Lindsay Clandfield, was published in 2021. New updated versions of the Communication Games series, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Communication Games 2.0 are forthcoming from Pavilion Publishing.