Spring and Summer Event 2022: Celebrating our Comeback

 

Spring & Summer 2022 Webinar

Surviving A minute before the exams

Under the auspices of the Virtual International Publishers’ Exhibition

 

Link to the event:

Room Agora on Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ocO2opj8jH9Vd_z2DT1Ct5qDpOAtxUkZ9

Sessions start 15:00

15:00 Opening to the TESOL MTH Strand of Events by M.A.Sachpazian

15:10

 Ms Pola Papadopoulou, Programme Manager and English Language Teacher.    

Session Title: A ‘minute’ of meaningful impact: the road to exams

Summary

How can one define ‘a minute’ before the exams? How much time do we need to prepare students and have a meaningful impact on their learning and path to exams? This presentation/discussion will try to delve deeper into the time framework on the road to exams.
16:00-16:10 Break

16:10

Mr Apostolis Koumarinos, Founder of The Speakers, Public Speaking Champion

                           Session Title: Boost your students’ communication skills

                                                                 Summary

In every environment, impactful communication plays a significant role. During our webinar a different way of approaching communication will be introduced. How we can boost others so they can vividly express themselves and be heard in both personal and professional level.

17:00-17:10 Break

 17:10-18:00 Let us RESTART ourselves

Presented by TESOL Macedonia-Thrace, Northern Greece Executive Members 

Ms. Antigoni Melidonioti, EFL Teacher/Oral Examiner, Teacher Trainer and School Owner   

Session Title: The Hungry Caterpillar goes digital.

Summary

Is it possible for Baby Boomers and Generation X to keep up with the Millenians or is it a cause? Are educational apps and webtools an invaluable asset of nuisance to revolutionize and transform learning? A passing fad or reality? Can the hungry caterpillar go digital and transform learning apart from ourselves? To what extent?

 Maria Polychrou, EFL Teacher / Oral Examiner / Adult Educator and Teacher Trainer

Session Title: Reinventing ourselves through Educational Drama

Summary

Is it important to reinvent ourselves as educators to reinvent our classes? Which path of exploration should we follow with our students so as to go beyond standard approaches? How can we lead our classes from the personal to the critical? Educational Drama is the key to critical reflection, reinvention and social change. Reinvent Yourselves and Become Spect-Actors!

 

Ms. Tanya Livarda, EFL Teacher & Teacher Trainer / Oral Examiner    

Session Title: Hey Teacher, where is your magic wand?

Summary

Summary: Are we magic weavers? Do we do magic every day? Do we have invisible magical powers? What are our magic spell and magic word? In other words, how can we cope with being teachers, facilitators, mentors, leaders and coaches at the same time? And how are all these connected to our darkest friend: the burnout? Don’t forget to bring your magic wand and your magic spell with you!

                                                 We hope to see you all there!

The TESOL MTH / NG Executive Board

 

TESOL MTH NORTHERN GREECE has elected a new board

A new board to RESTART Tesol MTH/NG 

On Sunday 20th March TESOL MTH / NG managed to have a great turnout of 50 participants in the ''Restarting Ourselves' session led by the ...virtual Tanya Livarda, the really amazing and totally present Maria Polychrou and Antigoni Melidonioti. 

 After the end of the session members enjoyed coffee, juice and cakes sponsored by Express Publishing. 

Then Maria-Araxi Sachpazian explained what happened in the AGM of 2020 and explained why the limbo had been deemed necessary.  The interim controller went on to present the Fiscal Report to account for the money that was received during the conference 2020. Finally, messages from plenary speakers, friends of TESOL MTH/NG and Associates were played or read. 

George Topalis led the election committee with Pheadra Zaga and Poppy Alexopoulou as members. Maria Sachpazian asked members to vote with a show of hands if they agreed for members to be nominated by proxy (via zoom connection). This was accepted. The AGM is the body that makes the ultimate decisions of the association, voted that a shorter more flexible board will work better so we now have a board of 5 members, two alternate members and an oversight committee consisting of two people. 

After the elections the following results were announced. Here we include the later voting of the board regarding the roles of the members of the board. 

Ms.Maria-Araxi Sachpazian, Chair  

Dr. Vicky Papachristou, Vice-Chair 

Ms. Antigoni Melidonioti, Secretary General 

Ms. Tanya Livarda, Member 

Ms. Maria Polychrou, Member 

Mr. George Raptopoulos, Alternate Member 

Ms. Joanna Tsiolakis, Alternate Member 

Supervisory Committee 

Mr. Manolis Kontovas 

Dr. Linda Manney 

(Ms. Cathy Salonikidis) 

 
Huge thanks to all members who came to the event and to those who put their names on the TESOL MTH/NG ballot. It means the world to the board and to the members that TESOL MTH/NG is back in action. 

Thanks to Philip Dietschi and to Express Publishing. 

Let us RESTART TESOL and make it stronger, bigger and more dynamic!

At the International Publishers Exhibition, at the MET Hotel, on Sunday 20th March 2022, at 16:00 right after the 'Let us Restart ourselves' session, the TESOL MTH Annual General Meeting, which was interrupted in February 2020, will be repeated. 

*Do you want to help TESOL MTH? 

*Have you been a member of TESOL MTH since 2018 at least? 

*Then put your name on the ballot! 

*This is the point to decide if we want TESOL MTH to remail active or not. 

Watch the video for more information and come to the International Publishers Exhibition on Saturday 19th March and on Sunday 20th March to get more information and to support TESOL MTH! 

Heartfelt thanks to Philip Dietch for hosting us and to Express Publishing for sponsoring our coffee break! 

 

https://www.facebook.com/tesolmth/videos/645101170100940

TESOL MACEDONIA-THRACE  AGM at the International Publisher's Exhibition. 

The MET Hotel, Thessaloniki  19th and 20th March 2022 

After two years in limbo TESOL Macedonia-Thrace, Northern Greece is holding its AGM that was postponed from February 2020 to March 2020 and could not be held due to the lockdowns. Now, thanks to the generosity of Philip Dietchi, we have a unique opportunity to meet face to face and run our elections. 

On Sunday 20th March at the MET Hotel at 15:00, Tania Livarda, Maria Polychrou and Antigoni Melidonioti will be presenting a joint session entitled 

''Let us restart ourselves!'' 

The speakers have shared the following summaries with us: 

Title: Hey Teacher…. where’s your magic wand?

 Summary: Are we magic weavers? Do we do magic every day? Do we have invisible, magical powers? What is our magic spell and magic word? In other words, how can we cope with being teachers, facilitators, mentors, leaders, and coaches at the same time? And how are all these connected to our darkest friend…burnout? Don’t forget to bring your magic wand and magic spell with you!

Ms Tanya Livarda  holds a BA and an MA in TESOL, a CELTA and DELTA. She works as ab EFL Teacher abd Oral Examiner

                                                Title: Reinventing ourselves through Educational Drama

 Smmary: Is it important to reinvent ourselves as educators in order to reinvent our classes? Which path of exploration should we follow with our students so as to go beyond standard approaches? How can we lead our classes from the personal to the critical? Educational Drama is the key to critical reflection, reinvention and social change! Reinvent Yourselves and Become Spect- Actors!!

Ms Maria Polychrou holds a BA and an MA Theatre in Education. She is an EFL Teacher, Oral Examiner, Teacher Trainer and Adult Education Teacher

 Title : The hungry caterpillar goes digital

 Summary: Is it possible for Baby Boomers and Generation X to keep up with the Millennials or is it a lost cause? Are educational apps and webtools an invaluable asset or a nuisance in order to revolutionise and transform learning? A passing fad or the new reality? Can the hungry caterpillar go digital and transform learning apart from ourselves? To what extent?

 Ms Antigoni Melidonioti  holds a CELTA and is an EFL Teacher, Teacher Trainer, Oral Examiner, and School Owner.

 At 15:50 when the session ends, EXPRESS PUBLISHING will be treating us to coffee. After the coffee break, we will hold our AGM to elect our Board and Supervisory Committee. It is very important for all members to attend and run for the board (provided they have been TESOL MTH members for at least a year before the limbo). 

If you want to ask for more information email tesolmth@gmail.com 

 

27th Tesol Macedonia Thrace Annual International Conference - At-a-glance programme

You can find the programme of our Conference by clicking on the image below!

27th Tesol Macedonia Thrace Annual International Conference - An interview with Leo Selivan

Our fourth speaker is Leo Selivan, a talented speaker and ELT professional who has honoured us with his presence at our Conference once more. Leo Selivan has been involved in ELT for 15 years in various roles: teacher, examiner, teacher trainer, senior teacher, materials writer, e-moderator. He considers himself fortunate in three respects: (1) starting his ELT career with the British Council; (2) having Penny Ur as his Master's thesis supervisor; (3) getting to work with Scott Thornbury on his book Lexical Grammar, which saw the light in 2018 (Cambridge University Press). His other professional writing credits include articles in Modern English Teacher, EFL Magazine, The Guardian Education, Humanising Language Teaching as well as his own aptly-named blog Leoxicon (http://leoxicon.blogspot.com). Leo's plenary session entitled "On Eclecticism and Other Exotic Fruits " will be focusing on the following questions: As the trends in ELT constantly change, eclecticism has become a popular position among EFL teachers. What is eclecticism? What does it involve? Is it cherry-picking or a mixed salad of different methods? As we go on a journey through the history of ELT methodology, this light-hearted presentation will address these questions, and allow you to reflect on the methods and techniques you use in your teaching.

His pre-plenary session entitled "Mind the ______: Gap fills reimagined" will touch on the issue of gap-fill exercises which have been criticised for being boring, unauthentic and mechanical: they promote only receptive knowledge (of vocabulary) and focus on the correct form paying little attention to meaning (for grammar). Let's discover how, with a bit of imagination, we can put a 'spark' into gap-fills, thereby making them more effective and meaningful tools for language practice and review.

1. What do you hope participants will gain from your plenary talks and follow-up sessions?

The participants will have a chance to look back on various language teaching methods that have come and gone (and come back!) and reflect on their teaching. There will be lots of food metaphors throughout. One thing I can guarantee is that participants will never look at fruit the same way again!

2. The title of our Conference is "ELT-Reimagined". What are the changes that you feel will shape the future of ELT?

It may come as a surprise but I don't envisage any radical changes in terms of teaching methodologies. There might be occasional designer methods popping up now and then, like we've had Dogme ELT or Demand High in the last couple of decades, but on the whole the post-methods era looks set to continue. There will also be greater recognition of the status of non-native speaker teachers and learners' L1s, which is something that's already happening. This means native speakers will no longer be regarded as role models for learners; the shift will be towards bilinguals or monolinguals who can function in several languages effectively, regardless of whether they speak English as their mother tongue. Another change that is already underway is learning becoming more 'bite-sized': language courses are likely to become shorter and also more customized to suit very specific needs (English for VERY Specific Purposes?). Learning will increasingly occur online, on the go and on demand (e.g. via video chat or mobile apps). This is mainly due to increasing pressures of modern life, as a result of which learners can devote less time to focused study, as well as shorter attention spans. I'm not saying it's a good thing; it's just where things seems to  be heading.

27th Tesol Macedonia Thrace Annual International Conference - An interview with Dr. Grzegorz Spiewak

Our third speaker is Dr. Grzegorz Spiewak. Dr Spiewak is a teacher, teacher trainer, EFL project manager, adviser and author. He was a former lecturer at the Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw, and subsequently on-line tutor at MATESOL programme, The New School for Social Research, New York. He serves as the Head ELT Consultant for Macmillan Central & Eastern Europe. He's also the co-founder and President of DOS-ELTea, an independent teacher development centre. He also served as IATEFL Poland president and he's currently on its Board of Advisers. 

His plenary session entitled “The science of effectiveness – behind your classroom doors?!” will be looking at where we could – and should – be looking as modern ELT professionals. In particular, the speaker will explore how to prepare an impactful class, how to begin it, how to carry it out, and how to evaluate its impact on our learners. His plenary session will be followed by a workshop entitled “Or NOT to Test ?!”. which will offer participants useful insights into meaningful testing along with some alternative testing techniques, tricks, and life-hacks.

1. What do you hope participants will gain from your plenary talks and follow-up sessions?

We would all like our work to make sense, right? In the case of foreign language teachers, 'making sense' must surely mean 'helping our learners, big and small, learn better, more effectively and, above all, in a more satisfying manner'. But - as always - the question is how ... This is where I intend to help out, looking at and interpreting some rather stunning results of modern, solid research into what works, what doesn't, and what makes more harm than good. Come along to the plenary if you'd like to find out. And to my follow-up session to sample a number of tried-and-tested ideas for one of the areas that this modern research shows to be quite critical: testing and feedback. My take on testing will be quite unorthodox - lots of alternative-testing activity types guaranteed! 

2. The title of our Conference is "ELT-Reimagined". What are the changes that you feel will shape the future of ELT?

The recent years have witnessed a generational change of guard in our profession, wit lots of young, enthusiastic, tech-minded colleagues entering and making their voice heard. As the result, we will continue to see various applications of new technologies in years to come, some of which will ultimately have real impact while others (the majority, IMHO) will die out. And deservedly so, in my view. A welcome recent trend is critical re-examination of the likely overall impact EdTech as such, and its specific pronouncements and claims. I am also observing a rising tide of opposition - not only from the 'old ELT' front - to obsessing with the new and craving relevance by trying constantly to impress one's learners with more and more "wow" moments. I am quite sympathetic to these "anti-wow" tentencies and will definitely look fondly at all attempts to reinstate serious, language-centred learning in our profession.