Pre-Primary - 18 September (11:00 & 17:30 CET)

Starting the Learning Journey: Where to Begin with Karen Elliott (45 min.)

How can we make the best start with our very young learners? The earlier we introduce key learning skills like setting goals, managing the learning environment and reflection, the more autonomous children can become throughout their learning journey. In this session we look at age-appropriate, easy and fun activities to help our youngest students to develop the skills and strategies they need for effective learning.

Karen has been an English teacher, trainer, and materials writer for over 20 years. Specialising in young learners, Karen is committed to a life-long and nature-based approach to education. She co-authored Activities for Young Learners with Herbert Puchta and has worked with authors to contribute materials to several course books including Greenman and the Magic Forest.

Young Learners - 19 September (11:00 & 17:30 CET)

Starting from Scratch with Olha Madylus (45 min.)

Olha will explore the challenges of beginning to teach a new language to young learners, who are just starting to develop literacy skills on their own. We’ll think about creating the right environment for language development, how to maximise exposure to English, and ideas for developing life skills from day one.

Olha is a freelance author, materials designer, consultant, and teacher trainer. She is based in London and as well as working with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, provides consultation, teacher training and teacher trainer training for organisations such as the British Council and Ministries of Education worldwide. Her focus is on understanding and motivating learners.

Exams - 21 September (11:00 & 17:30 CET)

Motivating Teenagers for Success with Claire Ross (45 min.)

Let´s think beyond 'fun activities' as a way to motivate our learners. In this session we will learn about the importance of being relevant and setting expectations to motivate teenagers, effectively engage them, and help them to feel exam ready. We will also discover how supporting our learners to work together effectively, providing choice, and building autonomy can help them to choose behaviour that supports learning.

With over 20 years of international experience in ELT, Claire Ross is a freelance training consultant and education expert. She collaborates with institutions like Cambridge University Press and Assessment, the British Council, and Ministries of Education, delivering impactful teacher education projects, developing online learning courses, and writing classroom teaching materials.

Teenagers - 25 September (11:00 & 17:30 CET)

Making Language Memorable with Herbert Puchta (45 min.)

What are the most efficient study strategies for my students at the start of the school year? How can I help them remember language better and for longer? How can the efficacy of their learning be improved and consolidated? In this session we will look at findings from the new science of learning. There will be several suggestions as to what we as language teachers can do to make our teaching and our students’ learning even more efficient.

Herbert Puchta holds a Ph.D. in ELT Pedagogy, was Professor of English at the Teacher Training University in Graz, Austria, and is a well-known plenary speaker at international conferences. For more than three decades, Herbert has done research into the practical application of findings from cognitive psychology and brain research to the teaching of English as a foreign language. Herbert has co-authored numerous course books, articles, and resource books.