Join us on 26th November in Dusseldorf for two exciting workshops.

Make Materials ‘Lit’ Again: Writing for today’s learners

by László Németh – IATEFL Hungary

The changing needs of present-day learners, coupled with some ongoing global issues and processes, have acted as a catalyst for change in (language) education. Digital literacy has become a key skill, and online resources and teaching materials have come to the forefront of language teaching. This has implications for lesson planning and materials writing, which, on a surface level, may seem as a dull and daunting process; however, with a few carefully selected creative and relevant resources (e.g., materials taken from social media), every classroom can be spiced up in ways that motivate and engage learners.

The workshop will introduce a more universal, conceptual framework for designing classes (or learning experiences), capitalising on a few points to make lesson planning simpler and more feasible. We will also devote some time to better understand 21st-century learners and their learning. In this practical session, participants will have the opportunity to try out lots of activities that integrate the aforementioned framework and social-media inspired activities.

László is an aspiring professional who loves all things related to education, with a primary focus on language teaching. He has gained vast experience working with various age groups in both public and private settings. While pursuing a PhD in multilingualism at the University of Pannonia, he is a full-time university lecturer and freelance English teacher, materials writer, and educational consultant. His main research interests lie in authentic classroom materials, educational technologies, as well as teaching life competencies and transversal skills. He has been on the IATEFL-Hungary committee since 2018 and acted as President of the Association since January 2022.

How to enhance your ESP learner’s Employability

by Kristy Kors – Express Publishing

This session aims to highlight the essential skills required by today’s ESP learners in order to succeed in their chosen vocation or professional environment, while exploring methodologies that allow for these skills to be developed effectively in the classroom. We will first discuss the principal aims and features of ESP instruction, with emphasis on functional language learning through the learners’ exposure to authentic and specific materials for their vocation. We will also focus on the growing importance of soft skills in the modern workplace, while discussing practical methods of reinforcing them in unison with the rest of the skills. Special attention will be paid to the implementation of these strategies, which include scaffolding techniques, use of authentic and specific materials (including both digital and print) in addition to the integration and use of functional language and topic specific vocabulary.

Kristy Kors has a BA (Hons) from Leeds Metropolitan University and a CELTA allowing her to study different types of teaching methodological approaches. She taught English as a foreign language for several years before joining Express Publishing as an ELT Consultant. She now participates in seminars and conferences around the world, where she enjoys sharing ideas on the latest methodological advances.