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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 Teaching reading in the ESOL classroom

      A part-time ESOL tutor in Greenwich, Philida Schellekens is also a teacher trainer, a part-time inspector with OFFSTED and an author. This seminar saw Schellekens present findings from the...

      See video Sally Farley: Inclusive learning

      As an experienced counsellor, a special needs support tutor at The University of Kent and also a teacher trainer specialising in creative methodology, it was from an incredibly...

      See video Café culture in ELT: the importance of reading for pleasure

      Jez Uden's seminar is about the importance of reading for pleasure among English language learners in the UK.

      See video David Baker and Keith Harding. ESP and UK ESOL: Building on common ground

      This is a recording of seminars presented by David Baker and Keith Harding in January 2011.

      See video Using video in ELT - Jamie Keddie

      Filmed at the British Council in October 2010, this is the first part of Jamie Keddie's seminar, all about video in ELT.

      See video Susan Sheehan/Brian North: Introduction to the Core Inventory for General English

      These presentations by Susan Sheehan and Brian North introduce the Core Inventory for General English. 

      The British Council and EAQUALS joined together to create...

      See video A global revolution? Teaching English at primary school

      English is being taught at increasingly younger ages in an expanding number of countries. So today, teenagers are no longer young learners of English. The new YL is a first grader, a pre-...

      See video ESOL workshop

      Held at the British Council, London on June 15 2010, this event included presentations by four UK-based ESOL teachers/teacher trainers. Mike, Phil, Amanda and Callie explore materials...

      See video Teaching grammar inductively - Catherine Walter

      These excerpts were recorded at Catherine Walter's British Council Seminar held in London in spring 2010.

       

      See video Mutual supervision - Mario Rinvolucri

      These excerpts were recorded at Mario Rinvolucri's British Council Seminar held in London in 2009. You can also read the ...

      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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