PD Update

15 May 2015

Webinar: Teacher Observations Essentials 4 June at 4pm
This webinar presented by 3 ELICOS managers combines an overview of different types of observations and ways to give observation feedback. It includes  a practical lesson video which participants can comment on. A must for anyone involved in teacher observations.

Webinar: Written Agreements 11 June at 4pm
Susan Gray, who wrote the Overseas Students Ombudsman’s Written Agreements Issues Paper and Checklist for Providers, will present this webinar. Her aim is to take people through the Checklist and clarify what makes a written agreement and refund policy compliant to ensure providers can enforce their terms and conditions in disputes about refunds and complaints.

Workshop: An integrated skills approach to language development 25 June 4pm
This exciting workshop presented by Cath Moore from ETS TOEFL will focus on an integrated skills approach to English language development and assessment, which allows students to develop their skills through authentic tasks. The workshop will provide tools for incorporating an integrated skills approach into teaching and assessment using the TOEFL iBT test as a model. It would be particularly useful for Academic English teachers who use an integrated skills approach in their course or those teaching TOEFL courses.

English Australia Conference: Hurry, proposal submissions due 8 June
Thinking about presenting at the English Australia Conference? This year we’ve made it easier than ever to write your proposal submission by developing some great tools to help you every step of the way. Click on the documents below or download them from the conference website: http://www.eaconference.com.au/

Tips for writing a conference proposal
Presentation guidelines

Not ready to present but still wish to participate in the conference? Presenting a poster is the perfect way to do this. Posters will be displayed in the conference exhibition space and are a way to discuss your ideas in a relaxed setting during catering breaks. Don’t know what a poster presentation is? Please read our helpful guide: What's involved in presenting a poster

 Congratulations to the very committed VIC Branch PD Committee of English Australia who held a wonderful PD event last night with excellent presentations by local teachers about taking class out of the classroom. You can view photos of of the evening on our Facebook page. Thanks to VU for generously hosting the event too.

Webinar - Charles Hadfield: 'Creative Grammar'. Looks interesting for any night owls out there. IATEFL usually leaves their webinars posted afterwards for at least a week for anyone to access before they become member only documents.

Check out the first issue of the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation, including articles about pronunciation myths and a review of the website English Accent Coach. Hurry as we’re not sure how long this will be publicly available. https://benjamins.com/#catalog/journals/jslp.1.1/toc

Dictation doesn’t have to be boring! This article by Richard Ingold in the English Australia Journal is great for anyone interested in using dictation in Academic English (or other) classes.

How can teachers avoid burnout? Published by the British Council, this mini-guide is helpful for teacher managers and for teachers themselves. It wisely advocates that: “A good professional community is the most powerful tool for helping teachers avoid burnout.”

Only 2 more weeks left to nominate an individual from your college or nominate an innovative idea from your college for an English Australia Award. As well as the great prizes for winners, this is a way to make sure that excellence is recognised and promoted within our industry.

Award for Innovation

John Gallagher Professional Bursary

Award for Academic Leadership

Nominations close 29 May. 

Interested in getting published but not ready to write a research article yet? If you’ve done a great PD session/workshop/blogpost/lesson recently, it could also make a great practical article to share with other teachers. The Classroom Talk section of the English Australia Journal is currently looking for contributors and its editor would love to talk to you. For more details click here or email the section editor, Sophia Khan, at classroomtalk@englishaustralia.com.au

Congratulations are in order for English Australia member college Discover English which has been selected as a 2015 finalist in the Cambridge English Language Assessment Awards for Preparation Centres: Excellent Business Growth Category.

Discover English is the only language school from Asia Pacific that for two years in a row has been selected as a finalist in this Award category – a wonderful achievement. The school has also been awarded a highly commended mention for the 2015 Outstanding Service to Customers category.

The story of Discover English is quite impressive, in particular its growth in a short time. After opening its doors in June 2010, it now has over 330 students and runs General English, Business English, Cambridge, IELTS and EAP courses as well as study tours. In addition, it has over 30 pathways with colleges, TAFES and universities and it has recently opened its PTE Academic testing centre.

Congratulations again to Discover English and we wish you all the best for the judging of the Award.

June
11-13 CAES (Centre for Applied English Studies) International Conference, ‘Faces of English: Theory, Practice and Pedagogy,’ Hong Kong

September 
5 10th University of Sydney TESOL Research Network Colloquium. Call for papers now open.

23-25 English Australia Conference , ‘Looking ahead: change, challenge and opportunity’, Brisbane Hilton, QLD
28 Australian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association (ASFLA) Conference, Brisbane, Call for presentations open until 2 April
24-26 Argentina’s Federation of English Teachers’ Associations (FAAPI) annual conference: ‘EFL Classroom in the New Millenium – Local Developments and Global Concerns,’ Argentina, call for papers now open: contact Ms Mariana Agnolin for details

October
6-9 Australian International Education Conference (AIEC), Adelaide, #AIEC2015. There is

November
17-19 4th Regional Conference on Education leadership and Management, Malaysia. Call for papers now open.
23-26 4th Language Education and Diversity Conference, Auckland, New Zealand
19-21 The 14th Symposium on Second Language Writing, ‘Learning to Write for Academic 
Purposes,’ AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
25-27 Association for Academic Language and Learning conference (AALL), ‘Critical Intersections,’ Wollongong, NSW

30 Nov-2 Dec 4th ALAA ALANZ ALTANZ 2015 Learning in a Multilingual World, University of South Australia

December
3-5  TESOL International Association Regional Conference, ‘Excellence in Language Instruction: Supporting Classroom Teaching and Learning, National Institute of Education, Singapore.

Did someone else at your college forward this to you? If you have an English Australia member college email address you can sign up for PD Updates directly – just contact easec@englishaustralia.com.au . 

Please feel free to email me at sophieokeefe@englishaustralia.com.au with any questions.

Kind regards,
Sophie O’Keefe
Professional Support & Development Officer