| 1.45- | REGISTRATION |
| 3.15-3.30 | VIRTUAL CONFERENCE OPENING |
| 3.30-4.15 | Katalin Czeglédi & Zsuzsanna Soproni: Lessons from and in Hungarian Sign Language With the help of a mini-lesson, the workshop aims to introduce participants to Hungarian Sign Language (HSL) and move them out of their comfort zones to rethink teaching techniques used both in foreign language teaching and sign language teaching. Perceptions of HSL learners that surfaced from a small-scale study will be presented to discuss with participants how learning a sign language compares with learning a foreign language. BIOS: Katalin Czeglédi is a native teacher of Hungarian Sign Language. She teaches at SINOSZ (National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing), Budapest. Zsuzsanna Soproni is a teacher of English, English for business and academic purposes, oral communication skills, and research methodology at International Business School, Budapest, and a learner of Hungarian Sign Language. |
| | Kristóf Hegedűs (Euroexam): Boost your students’ exam skills with the Writing Checklist Many of our students find writing to be by far the most difficult skill to master. This means that we, the teachers, need to be doubly self-confident when it comes to skills development and the perennial question: „Is this good enough for a B2 exam?” Join us for some hands-on experience of Euroexam International’s new formative assessment tool, the Writing Checklist! BIO: Kristóf Hegedűs is responsible for academic development at Euroexam International, which includes both the development of Euroexam’s range of tests and also training programmes for teachers and prospective test takers. Besides having taught English in a variety of contexts for 25 years, Kristóf also leads the team of exam developers for the Hungarian National Matura in English language. |
| | Mary Sousa & Patrícia Szakály: Creative Cafés want YOU! Come and find out about Creative Cafe, the two-hour workshop events sponsored by IATEFL Hungary — and then you might even offer yourself as a workshop presenter! There are Creative Cafes not only in Budapest, but around the countryside as well. Our talk will energise you as we describe the Creative Cafe, which is a short presentation about an area of English teaching with time for participants to discuss and network. We will provide helpful tips on how to give the ideal workshop, too. No doubt you too have something to show other teachers in a friendly and creative atmosphere. Come along and shine with us! BIOS: Mary Sousa is a freelance teacher and IATEFL Hungary committee member responsible for Creative Cafe workshops. She has taught adults at university level as well as in-company. She is especially interested in blending new technology with traditional methods, as well as storytelling. I have organised a weekly bilingual language club for more than 15 years. Patrícia Szakály is a fifth-year student at the University of Pannonia training to become a teacher of English and German languages. At the moment, she is teaching at a language school in Veszprém, mostly students around the age of 30, but she also enjoys working with children. Her main interest in teaching is integrating methods and skills within the 21st century classroom. She is a member of the IATEFL-Hungary committee, responsible for PR issues and coordinating the Veszprém Creative Café. |
| | Réka Czirok (FirSTeps English): Become a child again to find new ways to teach You are welcome to join a special workshop, where you can become like a small child again- playing, singing, moving, listening to stories- all while acquiring English. You can be also part of the planning part of the demo lesson, as you can decide what should it contain. Shall we jump in puddles or rather hammer the wheels on the bus? „We nurture our creativity when we release our inner child.” BIO: I have worked as an English teacher at infant, pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary levels for 24 years. I love the challenge of meeting the needs of different age groups when teaching English. Though teaching small children has always been my passion, the acquisition type methodology primarily utilized here is a great aid in teaching all age-groups. I started to develop story-centered teaching material for young learners in 2006. I was greatly inspired by my own children and my students and trainees in working out and developing the material. Presently, it consists of a series of 15 storybooks, workbooks, teacher handbooks, as well as puppets. FirSTeps Early English was registered as trademark in 2018. I am currently a full-time primary teacher (teaching English, Mathematics, Science, Craft) as well as a part-time freelance English teacher, and material writer. |
| 4.30-5.15 | Beatrix Price: Developmental milestones – Professional development in teachers’ associations This workshop aims to reflect on the professional development of teachers or teacher trainers in their teachers’ associations. Research shows that initially, smaller professional communities of practice provide a safe environment for members, Regional Branches (RBs), Special Interest Groups (SIGs) or other professional communities, such as Creative Cafés or Book Clubs. Local and international conferences also have a significant role for further development. Members of these communities, originally being knowledge consumers, gradually become knowledge providers and motivators for other ELT professionals. They might even take on volunteer positions, acquire various organisational and leadership skills, and at the same time continually grow personally and professionally. The skills participants gain within their associations lead to enhanced professional growth. During the workshop participants are invited to share their own experience, asked to identify their own stepping stones in their development, name the influential others who helped them or mentored them, recall their first presentations, and look back on their own steps or milestones in their CPD. BIO: Beatrix works as a teacher and a teacher trainer at the Language Pedagogy Department of the School of English and American Studies, ELTE, Budapest. As a teacher trainer, she gives talks, workshops and courses, in Hungary and other countries, on Young Learner methodology, using art in ELT, extensive reading, teacher development and teacher wellbeing. Her interests include professional development, teacher wellbeing, learning organisations, holistic education and using art in foreign language teaching. Her current doctoral dissertation is on EFL teachers’ continuing professional development supported by teachers’ associations. |
| Boglárka Spissich: TikTok in the EFL Classroom In this workshop participants will have the chance to familiarize themselves with the popular application, TikTok, and to explore its usefulness in EFL education. Besides useful tips and already created tasks, teachers can use their creativity and brainstorm potential activities. The workshop will mainly focus on how to improve listening and speaking skills by motivating learners with social media. Although this unconventional method can be used in any EFL group, this occasion will focus on engaging teenagers on B1-B2 language levels. BIO: Boglárka Spissich is a PhD student at Eötvös Loránd University at the Language Pedagogy and English Applied Linguistics programme. She is currently teaching academic skills and advanced writing courses for BA students at the university. Her main research interest is EFL learning and teaching with the help of films and social media, focusing on the use of popular applications. Besides university she also teaches at a language school and has some experience in teaching at a secondary school. She finds it extremely important to engage and motivate learners, for which social media and films can be great tools. | |
| | Rita Divéki: Embracing controversy in the EFL classroom Even though discussing controversial issues may be considered risky, these conversations undoubtedly have their place in our classrooms, especially in a world characterised by polarisation, tensions and conflicts. Dealing with controversy in our classes has numerous benefits for our students: they can explore the complexities of the world under the guidance of their teachers, develop their critical thinking and perspective-taking skills, and learn how to listen to understand, argue with information and express their opinion about issues in a polite manner. In this workshop, we will look at how we can create a brave space for discussing challenging topics and we will explore activities with the help of which we can encourage our students to take a stand respectfully. Hopefully, by the end of the workshop, the participants will have widened their methodological repertoire to deal with these challenging matters and will be ready to incorporate these complex issues into their lessons. BIO: Rita Divéki is a language teacher and teacher trainer at the Department of English Language Pedagogy at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), a temporary lecturer at Budapest Business School in Budapest and a PhD candidate in the Language Pedagogy PhD Programme of ELTE. Her main interests include dealing with controversial issues, global citizenship education, and teaching with pop culture. |
| | Zita Kassai (NYU Abu Dhabi): College Counseling 101 In Hungary, public high schools typically don’t have official „college counselors” and often the English Teacher is the one that writes the letters of recommendation for foreign university applications. In this interactive workshop, interested teachers may learn about how they can best support their students with their foreign university applications. We will share insights about the college counselor’s main roles and responsibilities as well as look at a specific example through the application process to New York University (NYU). Our aim is to make English Teachers feel more comfortable stepping into the role of college counseling, should the need arise, and thereby be better able to help with transforming student outcomes. BIO: After completing her MA studies in English Literature at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Zita gained experience in teaching English as a foreign language with different language schools in Budapest. Nevertheless, her career took a turn when she became Student Coordinator at the Department of International Affairs at ELTE Faculty of Humanities: she discovered her love for working in the international higher education scene. Currently, Zita works as an International Recruitment Specialist whereby she recruits talented high school students from across Europe who are interested in studying at one of the most internationally diverse US higher education institutions, NYU Abu Dhabi. Zita would be happy to connect with ELT teachers interested in relaying the message of NYU Abu Dhabi’s opportunities to their students. |
| 5.45-6.45 | EXHIBITORS’ HOUR (FIRST FLOOR) |
| | ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (CINNAMON) |
| 8.00-10.30 | TRIVIA NIGHT: The Kaledonia Budapest Gastro and Sports Pub 1066, Budapest VI, Mozsár utca 9. |
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