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      Seminars

      These seminars encourage debate on areas of contemporary interest in the field of English language teaching and learning. The series combines informal networking events with more formal workshops and presentations.

      You can find out about upcoming events on this page or by following us on Twitter

      Watch the seminars

      See video The ESOL debate

      Presented by Philida Schellekens, this seminar took place at the British Council in London in September 2011. You can watch Philida's lead in to and feedback on the debate which took place on the...

      See video 20 steps to teaching unplugged

      Luke Meddings builds a picture of teaching unplugged in this seminar, filmed at the British Council in London earlier in 2011. 

      See video Language testing: looking back and looking forward

      Barry O'Sullivan takes a look at language testing, all the way from Imperial China to the present day global industry, and considers where testing might be going in the future.

      See video Finding Home: a film about learning English at the Refugee Council

      On the evening of June 21 2011 at the British Council in London, an audience of around 100 people attended the premiere of a new documentary film, entitled Finding Home, produced by The British...

      See video Producing materials for IELTS

      This seminar with Sam McCarter was filmed in London in 2011. Eleven of Sam's books have concentrated specifically on IELTS and McCarter used his wealth of knowledge in the field to support...

      See video Vocabulary for the IELTS listening module

      Sam McCarter's seminar from Edinburgh looks at ways of learning vocabulary for the listening module in IELTS.

      See video Skills and techniques to link speaking and writing in IELTS

      Excerpts from Sam McCarter's IELTS-focused talk from Manchester in 2011. There is also an article by Sam to download, which highlights the...

      See video Developing efficient reading skills for IELTS

      Footage from Sam McCarter's seminar in Glasgow, 2011.

      See video Online CPD

      Phil Bird and Mike Harrison talk about continuing professional development.

      See video Exploring the UK ESOL/EFL Divide

      Caroline Wilkinson and Amanda Wilson are both tutors from Boston College in Lincolnshire, teaching ESOL and EFL respectively. Combining research that they had conducted in the field and drawing on...

      Check our 2012-13 schedule

      Every seminar is free of charge; however places are limited.
       

      2013

      Tuesday 15 January 1830 - 2030 | British Council  | London

      Ten quotations to make you think - 'I never let my schooling interfere with my education' - Mark Twain

      We often quote wise words from people within the world of teaching to help us reflect on our work. This talk focuses on things said by people outside the world of teaching, but whose words have relevance to what we do.

      Ken Wilson

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      Tuesday 29 January 1800 - 2030 | Venue TBC | Bournemouth

      DOUBLE EVENT: PRONUNCIATION

      A | Jungle listening: High and low tech approaches to teaching the stream of speech

      Looking at a variety of high and low tech activities that help improve learners' ability to decode streams of speech.

      Richard Cauldwell

      B | Should we all sound the same? The politics of coaching English pronunciation

      Demonstrating key skills and concepts useful for teaching different pronunciation models.

      Helen Ashton and Sarah Shepherd

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      Tuesday 12 February 1830 - 2030 | British Council | London

      English Profile: Establishing what learners can do at A1 - C2 levels

      An overview of the English Profile programme (www.englishprofile.org) with reference to vocabulary and grammar and practical outcomes for teachers and students.

      Annette Capel

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      Tuesday 26 February 1830 - 2030 | Venue TBC | Manchester 

      Own-language use in ELT: Exploring global practices and attitudes

      Drawing on a global survey of classroom practices and teacher attitudes, this seminar explores the role and value of a new bilingual approach to English language teaching in which students' own languages are deployed as a resource for teaching and learning. 

      Graham Hall and Guy Cook

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      Tuesday 12 March 1800 - 2030 | British Council | London

      DOUBLE EVENT: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

      A | Psychosocial adjustment of international students in the UK

      How to help students achieve linguistic fluency through positive acculturative experiences - drawing on a survey of international students in London.

      Lee Hawkes

      B | Cultures of learning:What can we learn from international students?

      Developing intercultural awareness of learning and teaching - drawing on a survey of international experiences.

      Lixian Jin and Martin Cortazzi

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      Tuesday 30 April 1800 - 2030 | British Council | London

      DOUBLE EVENT

      A | Spelling myths and enchantments

      Exploring some of the common myths about our spelling and ways we can really help learners improve, including a demonstration of multi-sensory activities for learners of all ages, across contexts.

      Johanna Stirling

      B | A socio-cultural approach to teacher development and education

      Focussing on principles and practices that have at their heart the socio-cultural aspects of learning how to teach.

      Willy Cardoso

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      Tuesday 14 May 1800 - 2030 | Venue TBC | Leeds

      DOUBLE EVENT: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

      A | Changing Englishes and teachers' conceptions of English

      Reflections on teachers' conceptions of global English forms and functions: a debate on new ways of considering the social and cognitive nature of language.

      Christopher J. Hall

      B | Inspiring teachers: State school teachers of English in China and Indonesia who generate long term motivation

      Drawing on an international survey that looks at how teachers inspire their learners and how they learned to be inspiring in challenging circumstances.

      Martin Lamb and Martin Wedell

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