Find quick links to each episode of the Teacher Think-Aloud podcast, hosted by Shélynn Riel and Anna Ciriani-Dean and sponsored by Ellii.  

Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast

In the latest episode of&nbsp;The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, hosts Sh&eacute;lynn Riel and Anna Ciriani-Dean sit down with&nbsp;Dr. Debra Suarez, President of TESOL International Association, to discuss what&rsquo;s in store for&nbsp;TESOL 2025&nbsp;and the evolving landscape of English language teaching (ELT).

Dr. Suarez shares insights into&nbsp;key conference themes, including the rise of AI in ELT, translanguaging, project-based learning, and the growing emphasis on teacher advocacy and well-being. She also reflects on her inspiring career journey&mdash;from classroom teaching to leadership roles in the US&nbsp;Department of Education and the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders&mdash;offering invaluable wisdom for educators at all stages of their careers. 
&nbsp;

<blockquote>&quot;TESOL is like a buffet. There&rsquo;s something for everyone because we all contribute to the table.&quot; 
&mdash;Dr. Debra Suarez,&nbsp;President of TESOL International Association</blockquote>

 
But what truly sets this conversation apart is her deeply personal take on&nbsp;&ldquo;The Joy of TESOL,&rdquo;&nbsp;the theme of her upcoming keynote. Dr. Suarez explores how joy sustains educators through the challenges of the profession, beyond passion and mission alone. 
&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XNfDw-YJ19A?si=gYSe7e7AIc5fkZ_p" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

<h2> 
Listen to Episode 65: The World Comes to TESOL!</h2>

Don&rsquo;t miss this dynamic and inspiring conversation that will&nbsp;get you excited for TESOL 2025&nbsp;and provide&nbsp;practical guidance on making the most of the event.

<h2>Listen now on your favorite platform:</h2>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1OdOXKen4987GDL9Gb8fw8" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/e-64-soft-skills-strong-impact-supporting-multilingual/id1629819608?i=1000685309083" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a> 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>Follow&nbsp;The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast&nbsp;on social media for more updates:</h2>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzGrcVFBuEH/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://twitter.com/thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a> 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Planning to attend&nbsp;TESOL 2025? Join the conversation in the comments!

<blockquote>
What are you most looking forward to at the conference?
</blockquote>

The World Comes to TESOL! An Inside Look at the 2025 Convention with Dr. Debra Suarez

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In the latest episode of <a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, hosts Sh&eacute;lynn Riel and Anna Ciriani-Dean sit down with Shweta Ramkumar, an educator specializing in coaching multilingual healthcare professionals.

<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes/episode/31c8171f/e-64-soft-skills-strong-impact-supporting-multilingual-healthcare-professionals-with-shweta-ramkumar" target="_blank">Episode 64</a> explores the transformative power of soft skills and intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) contexts. Shweta highlights how skills like empathy, adaptability, and effective communication are crucial for navigating the complexities of today&rsquo;s globalized workplaces, especially in healthcare, where cultural and linguistic diversity among patients and professionals continues to grow.

Shweta shares actionable strategies for teaching these skills, including reflective exercises, role-playing, and culturally sensitive communication techniques. Her approach emphasizes real-world application, empowering healthcare professionals to build trust and rapport with their patients while navigating cultural nuances. For ESP educators, this episode provides valuable insights into tailoring instruction to meet industry-specific needs and fostering meaningful connections in diverse environments.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qO5pEsJHJBg?si=7uFQYGVGQ2PB0bTQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎧 Listen to Episode 64 to explore how soft skills and ICC can transform professional success in specialized contexts:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes/episode/31c8171f/e-64-soft-skills-strong-impact-supporting-multilingual-healthcare-professionals-with-shweta-ramkumar" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO5pEsJHJBg" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1OdOXKen4987GDL9Gb8fw8" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/e-64-soft-skills-strong-impact-supporting-multilingual/id1629819608?i=1000685309083" target="_blank">Apple</a></li>
</ul>

Follow The&nbsp;Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on your favorite social account:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzGrcVFBuEH/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://twitter.com/thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li>
</ul>

Bridging Cultures & Skills in ESP with The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast

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Stay up-to-date with ELT trends and ideas with articles from experts and teachers in the field.

Articles

It&#39;s time to head back to school, and we&#39;ve got some great resources to get you off to a good start! 
 
In addition to this NEW back-to-school <a href="https://app.ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/back-to-school?_gl=1*1ctfb9m*_gcl_au*MTc5OTcyODM4OC4xNzI0MTgwNTc4*_ga*MTE2ODEwMTYzNy4xNjc2OTg3MTA2*_ga_0YR675LR3Q*MTcyNTQ1NDgyOS45MTcuMS4xNzI1NDU3NDY5LjAuMC4xMjc1OTEyMTYw" target="_self">Ellii Poll</a>&nbsp;and our ready-made <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons" target="_self">lessons</a>, <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos" target="_self">videos</a>, and <a href="https://ellii.com/media/flashcards" target="_self">flashcards</a>, we have a full <a href="https://ellii.com/resources" target="_self">Resource library</a> full of charts, forms, warm-up activities, and worksheets that are ideal for getting started with a new class. 
 
Below you&#39;ll find a list of 10 of our top&nbsp;back-to-school downloads to help you get back into the swing of things. Some of these items are also available as digital activities.

<ol>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4164-ellii-placement-quiz">Ellii Placement Quiz</a> 
	A quiz consisting of 30&nbsp;multiple-choice questions divided into three sections (Listening, Grammar, and Reading) to assess your students&#39;&nbsp;current English level. For a longer, more in-depth assessment, try the <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4226-ellii-placement-test">Ellii Placement Test</a>.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2209-class-list">Class List</a> 
	A basic template for creating a class list (includes fields for contact information and preferred name).&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2208-attendance-sheet">Attendance Sheet</a> 
	A basic template for class attendance.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2169-weekly-planner">Weekly Planner</a> 
	A planner template with a to-do list for weekly lesson planning. A printable&nbsp;<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2461-monthly-planner">Monthly Planner</a>&nbsp;is also available, but don&#39;t forget about our&nbsp;built-in digital lesson planner that is part of every class you create on Ellii!</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2124-autobiography-int">Autobiography</a> 
	A personal story with gaps to fill in for intermediate-level learners. We also have fill-in-the-blank autobiography templates for <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2123-autobiography-beg">beginner-</a> and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2125-autobiography-adv">advanced-level</a> learners.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2127-my-language-goals">My Language Goals</a> 
	A goal-setting form for students to fill out during a transitional stage.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2565-teaching-order">Teaching Order (Grammar Targets)</a> 
	A chart outlining Ellii&#39;s suggested teaching order for our <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/grammar-practice-worksheets">Grammar Practice Worksheets</a>.</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2218-writing-correction-key">Writing Correction Key</a> 
	A code that teachers and peer editors can use for making writing corrections.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2151-basic-ipa-phonetic-chart">IPA Chart</a> 
	A chart that shows the basic phonemes of American and Canadian English to aid with teaching pronunciation.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2228-exit-slips">Exit Slips</a> 
	Learner reflection forms that teachers hand out to students toward the end of class.</li>
</ol>

Our <a href="https://ellii.com/resources">Resources</a> section is packed full of amazing content that we hope teachers will find useful throughout the school year! In addition, don&#39;t forget to check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/collections/everyday-topics/back-to-school">Back-to-School collection</a>&nbsp;where&nbsp;you&#39;ll find role-plays, dialogues, articles, debates, and discussion starter lessons on a variety of back-to-school topics.&nbsp; 
 
Are you NEW to Ellii and wondering where to start? Check out our video demos in our <a href="https://help.ellii.com/">Help Docs</a>. If you don&#39;t find what you&#39;re looking for, please <a href="https://ellii.com/contact">send us a request</a>.&nbsp;

10 Back-to-School Resources for English Language Teachers

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Discover what's new or coming soon, including upcoming lessons and resources and product feature updates. 

Announcements

Feature Releases & Platform Updates

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Learn how to make the most of your Ellii subscription with tips from our publishing team.

Teaching with Ellii

Looking for guidance on how to teach grammar targets? We&#39;ve turned our popular grammar materials into practical and easy-to-follow courses! 
 
Each of our nine&nbsp;grammar <a href="https://ellii.com/packs?page=1" target="_blank">courses</a> is packed full of comprehensive lessons and engaging supplementary materials, all designed to help your students master tricky grammar targets. 
 
Ranging from pre-beginner to advanced, we&#39;ve designed our courses to cover the important grammar structures and uses for every learning level!

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AEpRuqwmmaY?si=95ozdGL_PHAs4W1W" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>

We hope you love this ready-made, grammar-focused curriculum!&nbsp;Let us know what you think. Happy teaching! 💛

<ol>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-groundwork-1/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Groundwork 1</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-groundwork-2/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Groundwork 2</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-groundwork-3/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Groundwork 3</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-growth-1/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Growth 1</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-growth-2/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Growth 2</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-growth-3/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Growth 3</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-genius-1/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Genius 1</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-genius-2/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Genius 2</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/grammar-genius-3/materials" target="_blank">Grammar Genius 3</a></li>
</ol>

A Ready-Made Grammar Curriculum for Every ELL Level

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Tour around the ELT conference circuit as our team shares conference highlights and session reviews.

Conferences

<blockquote>
This September 14 and 15, Ellii is&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023">ElliiCon2023</a>&mdash;a free two-day virtual conference to explore the intersection of technology and traditional teaching. Learn how to maintain human connections with your students in the age of AI while incorporating practical tech tools that can free up more time for the crucial aspects of learning. This article is part of a series of posts introducing our 2023 conference&nbsp;speakers.
</blockquote>

<h2>Meet Dr. Amin Davoodi</h2>

Dr. Amin Davoodi is an assistant professor of bilingual and ESL education at the University of Texas Permian Basin. He earned his PhD in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in ESL, technology, and teacher education from Texas A&amp;M University in 2021. His research interests include educational equity, TESOL, robot-assisted learning, innovations in teaching, and bilingual education. Dr. Davoodi is widely recognized for his exemplary work with pre-service teachers and English language learners, having received numerous awards. His 18 years of teaching experience, combined with his international accreditation as a teacher trainer, has enabled him to train ESL and EFL teachers from more than 25 countries. Dr. Davoodi has captivated audiences around the world as an active researcher and keynote speaker, delivering inspiring speeches and presentations in numerous countries including the US, Mexico, Iran, Turkey, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Egypt.

<h2>Presenter Q &amp; A</h2>

We are grateful that Dr. Davoodi found time to share these thoughts with the&nbsp;#Ellii team ahead of ElliiCon2023 to help us get to know him better.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
Ellii: The theme of ElliiCon2023 is&nbsp;Humanity &amp; Technology in ELT: Striking a Balance in the Age of AI. In your opinion, is AI a friend or foe&nbsp;of English language teachers? How do you think AI will impact our learners?
</blockquote>

Dr. Davoodi:&nbsp;In my opinion, AI can be both a friend and a valuable ally for English language teachers, especially when approached with a humanistic perspective. AI has the potential to enhance language teaching and learning experiences by providing personalized and interactive opportunities for students. It can offer immediate feedback, adapt content to individual needs, and create engaging learning environments that cater to various learning styles. However, the key lies in striking a balance between the benefits of AI and the human touch that educators provide. AI should never replace the role of teachers but should rather complement and amplify their efforts. English language teachers possess unique qualities, such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create meaningful connections with students. These human aspects cannot be replicated by AI.

AI&#39;s impact on learners will likely be profound. It can help students overcome traditional barriers like time and location constraints, making learning more accessible. AI can offer personalized learning pathways that adapt to students&#39; strengths and weaknesses, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement. Moreover, AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify learning patterns, helping educators tailor their instruction to meet specific student needs. However, we must also be cautious. The ethical and socio-cultural dimensions of AI need careful consideration. Ensuring data privacy, avoiding biases in algorithms, and maintaining a focus on human values and diversity are crucial. Moreover, fostering compassionate educators who guide students through their language learning journey with empathy and understanding will be indispensable, even in an AI-enhanced environment.

In conclusion, AI can be a friend to English language teachers when harnessed thoughtfully. It can amplify our teaching and provide unique learning opportunities. Nonetheless, educators should always stand at the forefront, nurturing the human aspects of learning that AI cannot replace. This balance will ensure that AI enhances education while upholding the values of empathy, compassion, and individualized support that are fundamental to effective language teaching.

<blockquote>
Ellii: What topic will you be focusing on at ElliiCon this year? Can you share a few key points that you plan to touch on?
</blockquote>

Dr. Davoodi:&nbsp;At ElliiCon this year, my keynote presentation will focus on &quot;Practical Strategies for Empowering Language Learning with Humanistic Approaches to Technology and AI: Nurturing Compassionate Educators.&quot; The central theme of my talk is to explore how educators can effectively leverage technology and AI in language teaching while maintaining a humanistic perspective. Here are a few key points I plan to touch on:

Revolutionizing Language Education: I will discuss how the integration of technology and AI has the potential to revolutionize language education by providing students with personalized, interactive, and engaging learning experiences. This transformation can lead to improved learning outcomes and increased student engagement.

Humanistic Approach: I&#39;ll emphasize the importance of approaching technology and AI from a humanistic perspective. It&#39;s crucial to align the development of these tools with pedagogical principles that prioritize student well-being, emotional connection, and holistic development.

Compassionate Educators: I&#39;ll delve into the role of educators as compassionate guides in the technology-enhanced learning landscape. Fostering empathy and compassion remains paramount, even as technology becomes more prominent in education. I&#39;ll discuss strategies for educators to nurture these qualities and create meaningful connections with their students.

Practical Strategies: I will provide practical strategies that educators can implement to integrate technology and AI into their teaching practices. These strategies will be geared towards creating a harmonious balance between technological tools and the human touch in the classroom.

Enhanced Learning Outcomes: I&#39;ll highlight how prioritizing compassion and empathy in technology-integrated teaching can lead to improved learning outcomes. Students are more likely to engage deeply with the learning process when they feel understood, supported, and valued by their educators.

Easy-to-Use Technology: I will offer insights into integrating easy-to-use technology tools that seamlessly fit into educators&#39; teaching routines. These tools can enhance learning experiences without overwhelming teachers or students.

In essence, my presentation aims to bridge the gap between technology and humanistic education, demonstrating that the two can coexist to empower language learning. I look forward to discussing these key points and providing educators with actionable strategies to embrace the benefits of technology and AI while remaining true to the values of compassion, empathy, and holistic student development.

<blockquote>
Ellii: What&#39;s one thing that you would like ElliiCon attendees to know about you before attending your&nbsp;session?
</blockquote>

Dr. Davoodi: Before stepping into my session at ElliiCon, I invite attendees to embark on a captivating voyage through the chapters of my life. Hailing from Kermanshah, Iran, I grew up in a Kurdish family that gifted me the remarkable ability to become a simultaneous bilingual in Kurdish and Persian. However, it was my fascination with English that truly kindled my journey.

Imagine a young version of me, around five&nbsp;or six years old, fully engrossed in the captivating world of the iconic video game, Mario. Little did I anticipate that these pixelated adventures would ignite a lifelong passion for language learning. The curiosity that stirred within me was sparked by a seemingly straightforward message at the end of each level: &quot;Thank You, Mario, But Our Princess Is in Another Castle.&quot; With no one around me fluent in English, I was unrelenting in my determination to unravel the mystery behind those words and breathe life into their meaning.

Fast forward to today, where I stand as an assistant professor of bilingual/ESL education at the University of Texas Permian Basin. My journey has encompassed the domains of language, culture, and education. Driven by my zeal, I embarked on a self-guided expedition to master English, which eventually carried me across oceans to the United States, where I commenced my PhD&nbsp;pursuit in 2016. My resolute commitment led me to successfully complete my doctoral odyssey at Texas A&amp;M University in 2021.

Across these passages, one truth has crystallized: I am not solely a teacher; I am an eternal learner. With a unique perspective as someone who learned English as a second language, I&#39;ve gained insights into the excitement, challenges, and transformations that language learning entails. So, as you venture into my ElliiCon session, know that you&#39;re engaging with an individual who not only understands both the learner&#39;s and educator&#39;s perspectives, but also brings 17 years of immersive teaching and teacher training experience across the world. Together, let&#39;s explore practical strategies that empower language learning through humanistic approaches in the age of AI, and let the journey of learning continue, for all of us, indefinitely.

<h2>Attend Dr. Amin Davoodi&#39;s #ElliiCon2023 Session</h2>

At #ElliiCon2023, Dr. Davoodi will be presenting on practical strategies for empowering language learning with humanistic approaches to technology and AI.&nbsp;Join this session on September 15 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm CDT.&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">Register for ElliiCon2023</a>.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;free! You can also connect with Dr. Davoodi after his presentation at our&nbsp;Presenter Q&amp;A&nbsp;Table.

<img alt="Dr. Amin Davoodi's ElliiCon2023 session description" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3350/content_dr-amin-davoodi_ElliiCon2023-session.jpg" />

ElliiCon2023 Speaker Spotlight: Dr. Amin Davoodi

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<div class="white-box">
This September 14 and 15, we&rsquo;ll be hosting&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">ElliiCon2023</a>&mdash;a free two-day virtual conference to explore the intersection of technology and traditional teaching. Learn how to maintain human connections with your students in the age of AI while incorporating practical tech tools that can free up more time for crucial aspects of learning.

This article is part of a series of posts introducing our 2023 conference&nbsp;speakers.
</div>

<h2>Meet Russell Stannard</h2>

Russell is a multi-award-winning educational technologist known for his work in using technology to enhance feedback, online teaching, and blended or flipped learning. Russell currently works as a consultant on educational technology for Kings&#39; College London and as an associate trainer for NILE&#39;s MA program. His YouTube channel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKjOFIFE0q71IJ4GFx4brng" target="_blank">Teacher Training Videos</a>, has more than 70,000 subscribers.

<h2>Presenter Q &amp; A</h2>

Q. The theme of ElliiCon2023 is&nbsp;Humanity &amp; Technology in ELT: Striking a Balance in the Age of AI. In your opinion, is AI a friend or foe&nbsp;of English language teachers? How do you think AI will impact our learners?

Q. What topic will you be focusing on at ElliiCon this year? Can you share a few key points that you plan to touch on?

Q. What&#39;s one thing that you would like ElliiCon attendees to know about you before attending your&nbsp;session?

<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *;" height="600px" src="https://www.videoask.com/cfqq0urojy872z9hye64tw5goxw0qv7m8obkr9cw" style="border: none; border-radius: 24px" width="100%"></iframe>

<blockquote>
&quot;There are many, many opportunities with AI to do things that we perhaps couldn&#39;t do before in language learning.&quot;

&mdash;Russell Stannard
</blockquote>

Join us at ElliiCon2023!

Want to attend Russell Stannard&#39;s presentation?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airmeet.com/e/0ee877b0-e369-11ec-b1b2-394b94cc9521" target="_blank">Register for ElliiCon2023</a>&nbsp;(it&#39;s&nbsp;free!). This talk will take place on Friday, September 15 from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm CDT.&nbsp;Russell&nbsp;will focus on some of the AI experiments and tests he has been running with groups of teachers and students. He&#39;ll also share creative ideas around a few key AI tools that he believes really work for language learning.

<img alt="Russell Stannard ElliiCon 2023" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3351/content_Russell-Stannard_ElliiCon2023-session.jpg" />

#ElliiCon2023 Speaker Spotlight: Russell Stannard 

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<blockquote>
This September 14 and 15, Ellii is&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023">ElliiCon2023</a>&mdash;a free two-day virtual conference to explore the intersection of technology and traditional teaching. Learn how to maintain human connections with your students in the age of AI while incorporating practical tech tools that can free up more time for the crucial aspects of learning. This article is part of a series of posts introducing our 2023 conference&nbsp;speakers.
</blockquote>

<h2>Meet Angela Tribus Ramos</h2>

Angela Tribus Ramos&nbsp;is the associate director of English Language Programs and senior oral communications specialist at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. At Brandeis, Tribus Ramos plans, develops, and oversees all ELP services for the International Business School. She also provides consultations for graduate students, visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows, and other ELLs at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. She is a member of the Global Brandeis working group, whose aim is to identify and promote pathways that emphasize social justice as a primary goal of international education.

Angela is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer, and she has taught English to speakers of other languages in Ecuador, China, Costa Rica, and the US. Her research interests include communicative functions of language, nonviolent communication, and teaching speaking.

<h2>Presenter Q &amp; A</h2>

To help you get to know Angela, Lise (our ElliiCon host) posed a few&nbsp;questions using&nbsp;VideoAsk! We hope you love his&nbsp;video responses. You can click on each one in the video below.&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li>The theme of ElliiCon2023 is&nbsp;Humanity &amp; Technology in ELT: Striking a Balance in the Age of AI. In your opinion, is AI a friend or foe&nbsp;of English language teachers? How do you think AI will impact our learners?</li>
	<li>What topic will you be focusing on at ElliiCon this year? Can you share a few key points that you plan to touch on?</li>
	<li>What&#39;s one thing that you would like ElliiCon attendees to know about you before attending your&nbsp;session?</li>
</ol>

<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *;" height="600px" src="https://www.videoask.com/cb4nt1vo0x6vh2gtsqo8z3yf3f5ou4thkaibeec8" style="border: none; border-radius: 24px" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>Attend Angela&#39;s #ElliiCon2023 Session</h2>

At #ElliiCon2023, Angela will be presenting on strategies for meaningful conversation. Join this session on September 15 from 2:45&nbsp;pm to 3:45 pm CDT. You will learn all about how to help learners gain confidence in their English&nbsp;conversations.&nbsp;Interested in attending Angela&#39;s session?&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">Register for ElliiCon2023</a>.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;free! You can also connect with Angela after her presentation at our&nbsp;Presenter Q&amp;A&nbsp;Table.

<img alt="Angela Ramos ElliiCon2023 session" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3323/content_Teaching-Humanity-7-strategies-for-meaningful-conversation_ElliiCon2023_Angela-Tribus-Ramos.png" />

#ElliiCon2023 Speaker Spotlight: Angela Tribus Ramos

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<blockquote>
This September 14 and 15, Ellii is&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023">ElliiCon2023</a>&mdash;a free two-day virtual conference to explore the intersection of technology and traditional teaching. Learn how to maintain human connections with your students in the age of AI while incorporating practical tech tools that can free up more time for the crucial aspects of learning. This article is part of a series of posts introducing our 2023 conference&nbsp;speakers.
</blockquote>

<h2>Meet Nik Peachey</h2>

Nik Peachey is a two-time British Council ELTons award winner for innovation in English language teaching. He&rsquo;s also the founder and director of pedagogy at PeacheyPublications, a publishing company that designs digital learning materials for English language classrooms.

<h2>Presenter Q &amp; A</h2>

<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/elliicon2022-nik-peachey" target="_blank">Nik Peachey</a> was a popular speaker at last year&#39;s ElliiCon, and we are thrilled that he agreed to come back to offer&nbsp;more great ideas and tools this year. Nik was kind enough to share&nbsp;a few&nbsp;thoughts with the #Ellii team ahead of ElliiCon2023 to help us get to know him better. (View <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biu9XIYq45s">last year&#39;s session with Nik Peachey</a> here.)

Ellii: The theme of ElliiCon2023 is&nbsp;Humanity &amp; Technology in ELT: Striking a Balance in the Age of AI. In your opinion, is AI a friend or foe&nbsp;of English language teachers? How do you think AI will impact our learners?

Nik: I certainly think that AI can be a friend of language teachers. It can save us so much time in so many ways from lesson planning to creating materials that are personalized and differentiated for our students&#39; needs. It does require us to step outside of our comfort zone, but for me that&rsquo;s always been an exciting place to be. That&rsquo;s where we can really grow. It can also be a great friend for students. They can literally make it into a friend that they can chat to in English and that can talk back to them and support and encourage them. It can open up so many ways for students to practice and learn language and find out more about the world.

Ellii: What topic will you be focusing on at ElliiCon this year? Can you share a few key points that you plan to touch on?

Nik: In my talk, I&rsquo;ll be looking at how AI can be used with students to help them prepare for pair work in the classroom. I&rsquo;ll be sharing some prompts that will enable students to practice interviews, role-play real-life situations, cowrite scripts, get feedback on their writing, and immerse themselves in the world of literature. So come along and see how this new technology can really engage our students.

Ellii: What&#39;s one thing that you would like ElliiCon attendees to know about you before attending your&nbsp;session?

Nik: Even though I&rsquo;ve been working with educational technology in English language teaching for more than 25 years now, I still consider myself to be a humanistic teacher. My real interest is in people&mdash;their culture and their creativity&mdash;and what technology can do to enable and empower teachers and students to engage in expressing those parts of their lives.&nbsp;

<h2>Attend Nik Peachey&#39;s #ElliiCon2023 Session</h2>

At #ElliiCon2023, Nik Peachey will be presenting on ChatGPT as a tool for flipped learning. Join this session on September 14 from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm CDT.&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">Register for ElliiCon2023</a>.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;free! You can also connect with Nik Peachey after his presentation at our&nbsp;Presenter Q&amp;A&nbsp;Table.

<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank"><img alt="Description of Nik Peachey's ElliiCon2023 presentation" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3324/content_ChatGPT-as-a-tool-for-flipped-learning_ElliiCon2023_Nicholas-Peachey.png" /></a>

#ElliiCon2023 Speaker Spotlight: Nik Peachey

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<blockquote>
This September 14 and 15, Ellii is&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023">ElliiCon2023</a>&mdash;a free two-day virtual conference to explore the intersection of technology and traditional teaching. Learn how to maintain human connections with your students in the age of AI while incorporating practical tech tools that can free up more time for the crucial aspects of learning. This article is part of a series of posts introducing our 2023 conference&nbsp;speakers.
</blockquote>

<h2>Meet Dr. Charles Browne</h2>

Dr. Browne is a professor of applied linguistics and TESOL in the English Department of Meiji Gakuin University, where he runs the EFL teacher training program as well as the graduate and doctoral programs. He is a specialist in second language vocabulary acquisition and extensive reading, especially as they apply to online learning environments. He is also the CEO of <a href="http://www.charlie-browne.com" target="_blank">Charlie Browne Company</a>, which helps online language-learning companies develop science-based learning platforms, gamified teaching approaches, and content.&nbsp;

<h2>Presenter Q &amp; A</h2>

To help you get to know Dr. Browne, Lise (our ElliiCon host) posed a few&nbsp;questions using&nbsp;VideoAsk! We hope you love his&nbsp;video responses. You can click on each one in the video below.&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li>The theme of ElliiCon2023 is&nbsp;Humanity &amp; Technology in ELT: Striking a Balance in the Age of AI. In your opinion, is AI a friend or foe&nbsp;of English language teachers? How do you think AI will impact our learners?</li>
	<li>What topic will you be focusing on at ElliiCon this year? Can you share a few key points that you plan to touch on?</li>
	<li>What&#39;s one thing that you would like ElliiCon attendees to know about you before attending your&nbsp;session?</li>
</ol>

<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *;" height="600px" src="https://www.videoask.com/cywh6o6e73jcqxd761aifm1jhsitvhpkpx053vmu" style="border: none; border-radius: 24px" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>Attend Dr. Browne&#39;s #ElliiCon2023 Session</h2>

At #ElliiCon2023, Dr. Browne will be presenting on gamified learning of vocabulary. Join this session on September 14 from 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm CDT. You will learn all about the New General Service List and how to make it fun and challenging to learn essential vocabulary.&nbsp;Interested in attending Dr. Browne&#39;s session?&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">Register for ElliiCon2023</a>.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;free! You can also connect with Dr. Browne after his presentation at our&nbsp;Presenter Q&amp;A&nbsp;Table.

<a href="https://www.newgeneralservicelist.com/"><img alt="Charles Browne #ElliiCon2023 session" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3313/content_Charles-Browne_Session.png" /></a>

#ElliiCon2023 Speaker Spotlight: Dr. Charles Browne 

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Registration Is Open for #ElliiCon2023

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<div class="white-box">
This September 14 and 15, we&rsquo;ll be hosting&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">ElliiCon2023</a>&mdash;a free two-day virtual conference to explore the intersection of technology and traditional teaching. Learn how to maintain human connections with your students in the age of AI while incorporating practical tech tools that can free up more time for crucial aspects of learning.

This article is part of a series of posts introducing our 2023 conference&nbsp;speakers.
</div>

<h2>Meet Jamie Keddie</h2>

Jamie Keddie is a teacher, trainer, author, and storyteller. His areas of interest include images, videos, and stories in the classroom. He has shared his ideas with teachers and educators in more than 40 countries. Jamie is the founder of <a href="https://legacy.lessonstream.com/" target="_blank">LessonStream</a>&mdash;a community of teachers with a passion for using stories to engage students. He is the author of&nbsp;Images&nbsp;(Oxford University Press, 2009),&nbsp;Bringing Online Video into the Classroom&nbsp;(Oxford University Press, 2014), and&nbsp;Videotelling: YouTube Stories for the Classroom&nbsp;(LessonStream Books, 2016). Jamie also creates <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/jamiekeddie" target="_blank">YouTube</a> videos for English teachers and is an affiliate trainer at Norwich Institute for Language Education (NILE) in the UK.

<h2>Presenter Q &amp; A</h2>

Q. The theme of ElliiCon2023 is&nbsp;Humanity &amp; Technology in ELT: Striking a Balance in the Age of AI. In your opinion, is AI a friend or foe&nbsp;of English language teachers? How do you think AI will impact our learners?

Q. What topic will you be focusing on at ElliiCon this year? Can you share a few key points that you plan to touch on?

Q. What&#39;s one thing that you would like ElliiCon attendees to know about you before attending your&nbsp;session?

<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *;" height="600px" src="https://www.videoask.com/cwgzlfay19m2y2renlxsbh1perrqotm869m61cyi" style="border: none; border-radius: 24px" width="100%"></iframe>

<blockquote>
&quot;Understanding story and storytelling is the quintessential 21-century skill.&quot;

&mdash;Jamie Keddie
</blockquote>

Join us at ElliiCon2023!

At #ElliiCon2023, Jamie Keddie will be presenting on storytelling.&nbsp;Join this session on&nbsp;September 14&nbsp;from&nbsp;12:30 pm to 1:30 pm CDT.&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/conference/2023" target="_blank">Register for ElliiCon2023</a>.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;free! You can also connect with Jamie Keddie after his presentation at our&nbsp;Presenter Q&amp;A&nbsp;Table.&nbsp;

<img alt="Jamie Keddie's ElliiCon2023 session" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3352/content_Jamie-Keddie_ElliiCon2023-session.jpg" />

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Ellii Team