Access to TESL Ontario webinars
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TESL Ontario members will continue to enjoy all TESL Ontario webinars for FREE as a benefit of membership. Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
However, TESL Ontario webinars are now available to non-members for a fee of $30+taxes for each webinar. This includes:
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Access to the live webinar.
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Unlimited access to the webinar video, for individuals with a Tutela account.
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Access to the webinar video for two months following the webinar, for individuals without a Tutela account.
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A PD certificate for length of the session.
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Not a member of TESL Ontario, but want to receive notices of upcoming webinars and events?
Complete the online form to opt-in to our email list.
Lifting Poetry Off the Page, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Webinar Series
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Sunday, March 26, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Annie Altamirano
Webinar Description
Does poetry have a place in the English language classroom? How can it be used to teach more than language? How can we enable students to engage confidently with poetry while becoming aware of social issues?
Poetry can be a vehicle for messages of social justice, bringing our attention towards injustices, and helping us cope with them. Our presenter will present three poems and show how to enable students to engage confidently with contemporary poetry and help them build empathy and understanding.
The key points to be covered are:
• a brief explanation of what the main themes of the poems are, and
• a description of activities to accompany the poems, suitable for different ages and levels of English (ESL and EFL).
Webinar Type: Teaching Best Practices
Categories: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Social Justice
Teaching Sectors: All sectors
Participant Level: Moderate level
Complementary TESL Dialogue session
If you are a TESL Ontario member, we encourage you to also register for the
February 11 TESL Dialogue session on this same topic. Annie Altamirano will be our subject-matter expert for what we anticipate is likely to be an engaging discussion.
About the Presenter
Annie Altamirano (she/her) has over 30 years’ experience as a teacher and teacher trainer and has given teacher-training workshops in Europe. Her main areas of interest and study are assessment for learning, the use of literature and, more specifically poetry to develop awareness of social issues, and integrating different visual media to develop critical thinking and creativity. She has an MA in ELT and Applied Linguistics from the University of London, England. She is currently TESOL-SPAIN’s Vice-President and External Liaison Officer.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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From Task-Based to Action-Oriented Listening
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Dr. Yuliya Desyatova, OCELT & Cheryl Fretz, OCELT
Webinar Description
This webinar introduces an open access website with listening and other teaching/learning materials for adult ESL audiences. The audio clips, accompanied by visual support, include short authentic conversations on a variety of settlement-relevant topics. Each audio clip is complemented by a set of online pre-, during-, and post-listening activities for self-study and/or classroom use.
The website presented is developed by ESL teachers for ESL teachers and learners in need of authentic listening materials integrating other skills development opportunities. The resource responds to the issue of listening being “the Cinderella skill in second language learning” (Nunan, 2002), as well as its potential of becoming a vehicle for improving other aspects of the target language.
Attendees will learn about:
• materials available on the website,
• how these audio materials respond to the needs of adult ESL learners both in language learning and in settlement challenges, and
• connections between the resources and current research on language learning and teaching.
Webinar Type: Language Training Resources
Categories: Blended Teaching/Learning, Lesson Planning/Ideas, Listening, Online Teaching/Learning
Teaching Sectors: Adult ESL (credit), Continuing Education/Adult ESL (non-credit), LINC
Participant Level: No previous knowledge required
About the Presenters
Yuliya (she/her) earned a PhD in Language and Literacies Education from the University of Toronto, after completing a large-scale study of practitioner experiences with PBLA. Originally from Ukraine, Yuliya has been teaching ESL/LINC/TESL at the Canadian Centre for Language and Cultural Studies (CCLCS) for over 15 years.
Cheryl (she/her) has 28 years of experience in the field, as a language teacher, teacher trainer, and program coordinator. She is the TESL Coordinator at CCLCS and is currently pursuing her PhD in Applied Linguistics at York University. Her main research focus is self-directed teacher learning.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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ChatGPT in Language Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Tuesday, March 28, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: John Allan, OCELT
Webinar Description
During this webinar, the presenter will present various viewpoints regarding the ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence chat tool phenomenon. ChatGPT has achieved a remarkable feat of acquiring 100 million users within a mere two months, making it the fastest-growing application ever witnessed on the internet. While there are numerous other AI tools available, ChatGPT can serve as a case study to evaluate whether AI text tools have a role to play in language instruction. After exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with this technology, attendees will have the chance to participate in this discussion.
Webinar Type: Technology, Language Training Resources, Teaching Best Practices
Categories: Online Teaching/Learning, Technology,
Teaching Sectors: Adult ESL (credit), Continuing Education/Adult ESL (non-credit), LINC
Participant Level: No previous knowledge required
About the Presenter
John Allan, OCELT, works on the Avenue project as a teacher mentor and a content developer. He sometimes contributes webinars, blogs, workshops and magazine articles to the TESOL community.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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Having Fun and Teaching IELTS Reading
Sponsored by Education Perfect
When: Sunday, April 23, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Dr. Mehdi Khodaparast
Webinar Description
Can IELTS instructors use games while teaching reading? How can we facilitate learning reading techniques? How can a strict IELTS class be changed into an interesting one?
In this webinar, our presenter will make IELTS instructors familiar with some techniques to have more fun in their classes, specifically reading ones. IELTS candidates learn better while having fun in their exercises.
The anticipated learning outcomes from this webinar are:
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better IELTS results for your learners,
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happier learners and classes, and
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for you, becoming a different IELTS instructor.
Webinar Type: Career Development
Categories: Reading
Teaching Sectors: Adult ESL (credit), College/University (EAP), Continuing Education/Adult ESL (non-credit), Self-employed
Participant Level: Moderate level
About the Presenter
Mehdi (he/him) holds a Ph.D. in TEFL and has been teaching English for more than 20 years. He is an IELTS administrator and IELTS mock examiner who ran more than 20 IELTS Teacher Training Courses.
Instagram: khodaparast.me
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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Working with Adult ELL Students with Undiagnosed Learning Disabilities, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Webinar Series
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Wednesday, April 26, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Dr. Cheryll Duquette
Webinar Description
What are learning disabilities (LDs)? What are characteristics of ELL adult students who may have LDs? What instructional strategies can you use to include them academically and create a sense of social belonging?
The focus of this webinar will be on inclusive practices for students who may have undiagnosed learning disabilities (LDs). Topics will include characteristics of LDs and strategies for working with ELL adult students. While strategies to promote academic inclusion and achievement will be emphasized, suggestions for developing a sense of social belonging among students will also be described.
From this webinar, participants will:
• understand the characteristics of LDs and be able to use the list of characteristics to conduct informal observations,
• know instructional strategies to improve learning among adult ELL students who may have undiagnosed LDs, and
• be familiar with practical suggestions to support social inclusion among ELL students who may have LDs.
Webinar Type: Teaching Best Practices
Categories: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Teaching Sectors: Adult ESL (credit), College/University (EAP), Continuing Education/Adult ESL (non-credit), LINC
OSLT/ELT, Program administrators, Self-employed, TESL trainers
Participant Level: Beginner level
About the Presenter
Dr. Cheryll Duquette (she/her) is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa (retired full professor). She has conducted research on inclusion of students with exceptionalities and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. She has expertise in the education of individuals with learning disabilities (LDs) developed through research and her own experience working in schools and at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Duquette has taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels on inclusion, given workshops in various parts of Canada and the Middle East on working with students with exceptionalities, and written books containing practical suggestions for teachers on inclusive practices.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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Cultivating Trauma-Informed Spaces in Education, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Webinar Series
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Wednesday, May 17, 7:00 - 8:00pm EDT
Presenter: Nicole Johnson
Webinar Description
How is trauma relevant in your work as educators and employees working with learners? What is trauma-informed education and why is it important in your role as educators and employees? What are the ways you can build trauma-informed education into learning spaces?
This webinar will provide practical pedagogical strategies for educators and employees looking to enhance their practices with adult learners in post-secondary education settings. The presenter will draw from a community-driven research project and a recently developed Promising Practices Manual.
The webinar will highlight the research findings, the need for trauma informed education from an EDI lens in post-secondary settings and will share practical pedological strategies from the framework.
Areas to be covered include:
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fostering authentic, courageous, and safer spaces,
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supporting choice and autonomy,
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creative and supportive curriculum design,
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commitment to reflective practice and growth, and
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cultivating individual and collective wellness.
Various macro level strategies will be shared recognizing the importance of embedding trauma-informed practices into an educational organization’s culture.
Webinar Type: Teaching Best Practices
Categories: Classroom Management, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Health/Mental Health, Instructional Design, Lesson Planning/Ideas, Social Justice
Teaching Sectors: Adult ESL (credit), College/University (EAP), Continuing Education/Adult ESL (non-credit), LINC
OSLT/ELT, Program administrators, Self-employed, TESL trainers
Participant Level: All levels
About the Presenter
Nicole Johnson (she/her) has been a professor in the Social Service Worker Program at Sheridan College for 14 years. She holds a Masters in Education and has 20 years of experience in the anti-violence sector. As a curriculum developer and researcher, she has developed a passion for trauma-informed education supporting building safer, more inclusive, and harm-reducing spaces for learners. Nicole was the principal researcher on a Sheridan-funded research project entitled Developing a Trauma-Informed Practice Framework and recently co-authored a Promising Practices Manual which is being launched for 2023.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicole-johnson-she-her-93669617
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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Now And Later: Tools For Pre-Arrival Assessment
An iTEP International sponsor webinar event
When: Wednesday, May 31, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Christina Wade & Lorena Chatwell
Webinar Description
Schools around the world are welcoming an increasing number of international students in intensive English programs. However, planning program levels prior to student arrival can be a challenge. Is there an effective way to test students’ language proficiency before they arrive? And how could pre-arrival assessment help programs and students?
In this webinar, iTEP International presents the advantages of assessing students both “now” AND “later” and offers schools helpful tools to facilitate this process. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of pre-arrival English language testing for international students, as well as best practices for successfully previewing students’ language level prior to arrival in Canada
Participants will learn about a variety of tools, both free and low-cost, that can be used to:
• easily schedule pre-arrival meetings with students,
• measure students’ language proficiency through both synchronous and asynchronous methods, and,
• use proficiency results to plan program levels and staffing needs.
Having the right resources for adaptable and responsive program management is more important now than ever!
Webinar Type: Teaching Best Practices
Categories: Assessment, Technology
Teaching Sectors: All sectors
Participant Level: No previous knowledge required
About the Presenters
Christina Wade is the Director of Academic Affairs at iTEP International. She has had extensive experience in IEP management, language assessment, and international student recruiting. She served as the director of an Intensive English Program at a U.S. university for many years. She has also worked with various private and public institutions/organizations to offer language instruction, curriculum and program design, and language assessment services.
Lorena Chatwell is the Global Business Development Manager at iTEP International. She is an international business development professional, with over 15 years of experience working in the international education industry. Born in Brazil but based in Canada, Lorena holds a bachelor’s degree in law from her home country, and has worked on several projects involving educational institutions and companies in Canada and Latin America. During her career in international education, she has worked at both the private and public higher education sectors as well as with her own consulting company, promoting international students recruitment, strategic partnerships, business development, marketing, and sales.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
This webinar is in collaboration with our sponsor, iTEP International. A recording will be available on TESL Ontario's Youtube channel after the event.
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Using Images for Speaking and Writing Activities
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Wednesday, June 21, 7:00 - 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Dr. Lynn Zimmerman
Webinar Description
How do you use images in your classes? Why? What is your interpretation of this quote? “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Where can you get images to use in your classes?
This webinar will begin by examining why we use visuals in the language classroom. Then the presenter will demonstrate several activities that teachers can use as speaking and/or writing prompts in their classrooms. The presenter will point out how the activities can be adapted for low- proficiency and high-level proficiency learners.
This webinar will address:
• how to plan speaking activities using images as prompts,
• how to plan writing activities using images as prompts, and
• how to adapt activities to different proficiency levels.
Webinar Type: Language Training Resources
Categories: Lesson Planning/Ideas, Speaking, Writing
Teaching Sectors: All sectors
Participant Level: All levels
About the Presenter
Dr. Lynn W. Zimmerman (she/her) has taught English in Poland and Siberia and has been a teacher trainer in the US, Poland, Albania, Belarus, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. She has also conducted teacher training workshops in those countries as well as Taiwan, Romania, and Estonia. As an English teacher and as a teacher trainer, she frequently uses pictures as prompts for writing and speaking.
Twitter: @lwzimmerman
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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Commonlit to Hone Reading, Listening, and Writing Skills
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Wednesday, June 28, 7:00 - 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: Gonul Turkdogan, OCELT & Dr. Laureta Vavla, OCELT
Webinar Description
Are you spending time searching for online literacy resources for your learners? Do you look for reading resources that ideally can also incorporate writing and listening exercises? If so, please join us for this webinar.
This presentation will focus on presenting Commonlit as a free resource which is mainly utilized for its reading passages and exercises. However, it can also be used as a writing and a listening tool.
Our presenters will walk participants through the multiple ways this platform can be best used for educators and English language learners alike. Practical tips will be provided.
From this webinar, you will learn how to:
• best use Commonlit by utilizing all of its features,
• register learners and assign readings and writing prompts,
• make use of the listening activities provided, and
• use the ready-made diagnostic assessments that will help you better understand your students.
Webinar Type: Technology
Categories: Assessment, Lesson Planning/Ideas, Listening, Literacy, Online Teaching/Learning, Reading, Technology, Writing
Teaching Sectors: All sectors
Participant Level: No previous knowledge required
About the Presenter
Gonul Turkdogan (she/her) holds a BA in Sociology with a minor in Women Studies, as well as an MA in Applied Linguistics (TESL) from Brock University. Her experience as an instructor spans more than 10 years, with a variety of different levels and settings. In the past, she taught English in China and Turkey. As an adjunct faculty member of Niagara College's School of English Language Studies since 2013, she has taught a variety of EAP courses. Currently, Gonul works as a peer tutor program coordinator in the Niagara College library, as well as an interpreter for Canadian Border Services.
Dr. Laureta Vavla has more than 18 years of experience in teaching communication, writing, and general education courses, as well as EAP, ESL, and ELT, in Canada and internationally. She has extensive experience in designing curriculum in college and university settings, serving several generations of Indigenous, domestic, and international students. She is currently a professor at Mohawk College, manager of TESL Dialogue, and a member of TESL Ontario’s Social Content Committee and its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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EAP Practitioners in Canada, Colleges and Universities Committee Webinar Series
Sponsored by International Test of English Proficiency and Education Perfect
When: Wednesday, July 26, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Presenter: James Corcoran, OCELT, Julia Williams, OCELT, & Kris Johnston
Webinar Description
What are the lived experiences of those working in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs in Canada? What implications do these findings have for post-secondary policy makers, language teacher educators, and EAP instructors? How can we use further research to highlight the material conditions of oft-marginalized professionals in this growing field?
This webinar will discuss research on EAP professionals' lived experiences. Survey and interviews (n = 481) provide critical perspective into satisfaction and agency among EAP practitioners, with data showing employment precarity as the most salient differentiator of satisfaction between EAP directors and instructors. We conclude this seminar with suggestions for policy makers, educators, and instructors, including the importance of further research on material conditions of professionals working in EAP.
Key points to be covered in this webinar are:
• understanding the lived experiences of those working in EAP programs,
• the professional satisfaction and agency of EAP practitioners, and
• the analytically-driven suggestions for post-secondary policy makers, language teacher educators, and EAP instructors to address precarity in the field.
Webinar Type: Research
Categories: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Employment/Self-Employment
Teaching Sectors: All sectors
Participant level: No previous knowledge required
About the Presenters
James Corcoran (he/him) is an assistant professor of English as a Second Language & Applied Linguistics in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at York University. His research interests include language teacher education, (critical) English for specific/academic purposes, and relations of power in global academic knowledge production. He has been a language instructor for more than two decades, and currently teaches undergraduate students, graduate students, and language teacher candidates at York University.
Julia Williams (she/her) is the chair of the Department of Culture and Language Studies at Renison University College, University of Waterloo. She is the author of several textbooks in the LEAP series (published by Pearson). Her scholarly interests lie in accessible language pedagogy and EAP administration.
Kris Johnston (he/him) is a 6th-year PhD candidate in the Applied Linguistics graduate program at York University. He is currently working as a research assistant on various SSHRC-funded research projects and completing his dissertation. His research concerns technology-mediated approaches to language learning and instruction in EAP contexts.
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.
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