TESL Dialogue Sessions

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The TESL Dialogue series is an open forum where participants are free to turn on their microphones and cameras to fully immerse in a discussion about a relevant topic in ELT. A subject-matter-expert joins participants in this session to help guide the conversation and offer helpful insight when needed.

Format: Throughout the session the moderator will provide the audience with a thought-provoking question to encourage conversation. After the subject matter expert responds to the question, participants are invited to answer the questions themselves, provide a comment or example, or ask a related question to the subject matter expert and their peers. The goal of this session is to develop a community of practice which allows for as many narratives to be heard and shared as possible. The session will conclude with a breakout room reflection activity where participants are encouraged to discuss what they have learned, any remaining questions they have, and their next steps in respect to the session topic.

Upcoming TESL Dialogue Sessions

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TESL Dialogue: English Mostly: Co-Creating Plurilingual Classroom Policies           

Subject-Matter Expert: Rebecca Schmor

When: Tuesday, November 28, 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST

Teaching Sectors: All sectors

Session Type: Teaching Best Practices 

Participant Level: No previous knowledge required

Category: Blended Teaching/Learning, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Lesson Planning/Ideas, Social Justice

Dialogue Description

Have you ever used non-target languages with your students? Why or why not?

Do your students ever use non-target languages in class? In what capacity?

What do you think are the benefits of using non-target languages in class? 

What do you think are the challenges of using non-target languages in class? 

What classroom activities can support the activation of students' full linguistic and cultural repertoires? 

 

Increasingly, educators recognize the value of including learners’ diverse languages, cultures, and identities in the learning process. However, it is not always clear how to do this. One possible approach can be found in plurilingual pedagogies, which leverage learners’ linguistic and cultural knowledge and promote diversity and inclusion in education. This session invites TESL Ontario members to consider their own perspectives and practices in relation to target-language-only policies, exploring the benefits of "English-mostly" classrooms.

 

 

About the Subject-Matter Expert

 

Rebecca Schmor (she/her) is an English for Academic Purposes Instructor, Graduate Research Assistant, and PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto. She has taught and conducted research with higher education institutions, ministries of education, and private language schools in Canada, China, Cuba, Germany, and Italy. Her main research interests centre around inclusive language education and plurilingual teacher identity.

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-schmor-35052515b/ 

 

Note: TESL Dialogue sessions are only open to current TESL Ontario members.

 

Want to Lead a Discussion?

TESL Ontario continuously accepts proposals for TESL Dialogue subject-matter experts throughout the year. Proposals will be reviewed by the Dialogue team, and if approved the subject-matter expert will be contacted to make arrangements for scheduling the TESL Dialogue session.

Visit our Become a Presenter webpage for more information.

TESL DIALOGUE VIDEO LIBRARY

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Want to Lead a Discussion?

TESL Ontario continuously accepts proposals for TESL Dialogue subject-matter experts throughout the year. Proposals will be reviewed by the Dialogue team, and if approved the subject-matter expert will be contacted to make arrangements for scheduling the TESL Dialogue session.

Visit our Become a Presenter webpage for more information.