«Teach, Learn, Grow»

Praise spoils the student”. “Strict teachers are the most effective”. “I am hopeless at learning languages”.
Teachers and students bring their mindsets into the classroom. Beliefs about an effective teaching process influence every minute of classroom time. Sometimes mindsets and beliefs foster successful learning, growth, enjoyment of the language, and communication. Sometimes, however, teaching and learning can halt because of them.
What kind of beliefs make learning both effective and joyful? How can we use the tools and methods that foster learner motivation, autonomy, and confidence in teachers and learners?
In my talk, we will look at current findings in positive psychology and mindset research in language learning, and learn to apply the most effective techniques to our classroom practice and communication with our students.

Like teaching methodologies and theories of grammar, teacher narratives are shaped by trends and fashions. In recent years has come, in online groups and teacher associations, the notion of the “comfort zone”—notably as a place teachers should endeavor to leave. In this talk, I’ll look at the science behind the comfort zone, as well as some other unhelpful teacher narratives, and then not only discuss what to do when confronted by them in the workplace or on social media but propose a kinder, more realistic, and more helpful model of personal and professional development.

Teens is a spcecial unique type of people. To get them to speak is a challenging. To get them to talk in groups is even more difficult. To get them to talk in online groups is impossible. Is it true?

In her speech Alena
– answers 6 questions of motivating teens to speak,
– shares 5 practical tips and 5 pieces of advice,
– gives 10 examples of pair and group activities to encourage communication