The ESL Classroom of the Future

The ESL Classroom of the Future

31 ^st Bolyai Summer Academy

Apáczai Csere János Pedagógusok Háza, Csíkszereda 10 – 14 July, 2023

ESL Summer Academy objectives:

Familiarizing Ourselves with “Best Practices” in Education: The seminar will familiarize English teachers with some of the latest in educational practices in language classrooms. Participants will finish with ‘useful take-aways’ that they can try in their own classrooms.

Interactive Methodologies for the Classroom:Participants will become more familiar with interactive methodologies of teaching English, thus transforming their teaching from the routine to the exciting. Teaching with flair and fun is the goal!

Building Confidence:The seminar is designed to build confidence in teachers by creating opportunities to practice the implementation of a variety of interactive instructional strategies that can be utilized in the classroom with “hands-on” experience for all participants.

Teachers will:

- Have fun interacting with the presenters and one another

- Understand the importance of empowering & managing student engagement

- Add a variety of interactive ESL strategies to their instructional skill set

- Be empowered to develop their desired workplace culture

- Gain perspectives on ESL, Technology and the future of our schools

Contact person: Csilla Lázár, Spektrum Educational Center, sec@sec.ro , tel. +40475454548

International Team of Presenters:

Kevin McQuade (Swanton, Ohio):

I am in my 48th year as an educator with experiences as an English teacher, school administrator, and a basketball coach. I now work part time for the University of Toledo, Ohio, as an Adjunct Professor of Literacy and Field Experience Instructor. Since retiring, I have been volunteering as an ESL teacher since 2005 in Russia, Poland, and Romania. I have been the Director of Mini-American Summer School since 2009 and this will be our second teaching adventure with Spektrum as our partner.

Joe MacPherson (Wales, UK):

I am an English teacher at a church grammar school in Kisvarda, Hungary. I am in my 8th year of ESL teaching, with experience in public school teaching, training centre teaching, debate classes, phonics, kindergarten and more. I previously taught public school ESL in China for 7 years and have lived in several Asian countries during the last decade. I have a passion for traveling and I love meeting new people and learning new things.

Margaret Papetti (Atlanta, Georgia):

I live in Atlanta, Georgia, the home of Coca Cola ? with my husband, two dogs and two cats and teach at Gwinnett Technical College. I have an MA degree in TESOL and taught ESL for many years to adult students and have participated in two English summer camps for teens in the USA.

Eileen Powers (Ontario, Canada):
My education experiences have been in Canada, England, Australia, Cambodia and China, from teaching 4 year olds through to the end of high school, administrative duties, from big cities to a fly-in community.

Elizabeth Peck (Colorado, USA):

I'm an ESL instructor, intercultural communications trainer, and radio presenter in Gdańsk, Poland. I have worked with American Councils on programs for FLEX students and Fulbright instructors in Poland, and I am a three-time Mini-American Summer School volunteer instructor in Russia (2016-2018). I hold an A-level CELTA English teaching certificate from the University of Cambridge and run a language coaching business in Gdańsk, where I specialize in developing interactive and creative workshops and courses for teens and adults.

Kirk Layton (Calgary, Canada):

My first career was as a radio announcer before I joined a university to teach literature and composition. A few years ago, I shifted to teaching ESL internationally. I’ve taught in Ecuador and for a Chinese university. I’ve volunteered with MASS Russia and for the University of the People. Currently, I am the English Coordinator as well as Speech and Composition Instructor at the College of the Marshall Islands.

Janet Layton (Calgary, Canada):

Originally from the UK, I grew up in the northern Canada and now make my home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have had the privilege of teaching all grade levels in both rural and urban settings. About ten years ago I moved into the ESL world, working at the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, developing settlement, employment and English language programs. Recently retired, I am excited about sharing my experiences and learning from other instructors.

Bethany Martin (Colorado, USA)

I am a retired teacher with 44 years of experience teaching in regular and special education classrooms (PreK-6), ESL instruction 1:1 and in large groups, and am instructor for teacher training in educational strategies. I love working with teachers from all over the world! I enjoy any opportunity to learn about teaching in different countries and cultures and sharing ideas that will connect the world through better education.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE