Events

Designing language learning tasks is not just about creativity; it also means following certain principles that are rarely addressed in teacher training courses. Since many of these principles only become clear through feedback from others, I’ll share some of the editorial feedback I’ve received over the years to show how to recognize and avoid common task-design pitfalls. With examples from different proficiency levels, I’ll demonstrate how small tweaks in wording, sequencing, or layout can make a big difference in learning outcomes. Participants will take on the role of editor as we look at flawed samples (including some generated by AI!), try to spot the problems, and discuss possible fixes. They will leave the session with a checklist of red flags and some practical self-editing strategies they can use when creating their own materials.

Accuracy is often eclipsed by fluency in clinical communications training, yet mastering advanced grammar concepts is essential to effective communication with colleagues and patients. This webinar focuses on hedging, used by healthcare professionals to describe side effects, give a prognosis, or deliver bad news. Despite its importance, hedging remains one of the most challenging aspects of grammar to teach. In this webinar, Ros will present a set of materials to illustrate how video can bring grammar to life in high-stakes contexts. Participants will explore how a carefully chosen clip can be exploited for noticing tasks, discourse analysis, and follow-up practice, enabling learners to observe how clinicians shift between categorical and tentative language. The webinar offers a practical model for materials development, showing how video can raise awareness of both linguistic form and communicative purpose, while equipping learners with the subtle grammatical tools essential for effective, empathetic healthcare communication.