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Better Learning Conference
2–3 July — Robinson College, Cambridge
20 19
Building brighter futures together
See Cambridge like never before...
Stay in a famous Cambridge University College. Relax ad enjoy a guided tour on the River Cam in a world-famous wooden punt. Explore the Cambridge sites on foot with a guided morning run.
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Listen to our authors and speakers live!
Learn from some of the leading experts in the world of education, live at Cambridge University. Be inspired by key influencers such as Sarah Mercer, David Crystal and Scott Thornbury to name a few, on education and research and listen to alternative perspectives on learning from experienced and talented colleagues from around the globe.
Conference Speakers
We hope to see you there!
I found it extremely interesting to have the opportunity to talk to professionals from different parts of the world and be able to take part in discussions with them."
Mariana Ruiz
"
Join us in Cambridge, UK this July for a chance to learn from the very best in English Language Teaching. Whether you are a leader or manager you will gain insights, deeper understanding and practical ideas for enhancing success in your institution. Learn more about: | Strengthening your teacher team | A curriculum for 21st century | | Managing technological change | This two day inspirational conference will be held at Cambridge University, Robinson College where you will stay in college accommodation and join our speakers for a formal dinner in the magnificent dining hall.
Developing a brighter future
Once you step in to a University like Cambridge, everything changes: the local energy is indescribable. Inspiration to learn more naturally emerges."
Alessandra Jastes
Sorry, tickets have sold out!
Thank you for your interest in the Better Learning Conference 2019. Look out for more details for the conference in 2020!
Wednesday 3rd July
Tuesday 2nd July
MORNING
AFTERNOON
7.00 8.15 8.30 9.30 9.45 10.50 12.00
Morning Exercise: Let’s run! · Meet at the Porters' Lodge Registration and Morning Refreshments Optional Session 1a · Auditorium Lounge Mindfulness Session Optional Session 1b · Umney Theatre Education in the News · Karen Momber and Jo Timerick Welcome · Auditorium Keynote · Auditorium Unleashing Great Teaching · Bridget Clay Keynote · Auditorium Technology and Change Management · Lenise Butler Lunch and Innovation Showcase
Get your running shoes on and join us for an early morning tour of Cambridge! Whether you’re a complete beginner, an occasional jogger, or an experienced runner, take in the sights of Cambridge with our friendly and fun running duo Simon and Joe. There is no pressure to compete to run a specific pace, distance or time, it really is about lacing up your trainers, taking part and feeling energised for the day ahead.
Feel refreshed and brighter, ready to take on the day with this guided meditation class. Megan will show you breathing techniques, guiding you to connect body and mind in deep relaxation. Explore how to relax, practise positive thinking and find your inner peace. No experience necessary.
An opportunity for a coffee and conversation about hot educational issues. We will look at recent headlines from the news, which relate to education, and discuss the impact on our educational contexts.
Drawing on international research and practice, Bridget Clay will explore how we can make every school into an organisation where every teacher can learn, develop and improve every year. She will draw on ideas from her book, 'Unleashing Great Teaching', written with David Weston, as well as key ideas from research on leadership and development.
How do we prepare our institutions, our teachers, our departments for the implementation of new technologies? How can we create buy-in from all our stakeholders and ensure today's students are receiving the educational tools that will help prepare them for the use of language in this technological world? This session will discuss the ways in which we can work toward smooth integration of technology in our language programs, from preparing for change, the implementation of change and how to make that change sustainable within our programs for the long term. We will look at working with all our stakeholders, creating effective communication and how to work with best practice to ensure long-term success in our leadership with change management.
13.30 14.30 15.15 15.45 15.55 16.55 18.30 19.00
PICK AND CHOOSE TALKS Session 1a · Auditorium The Critical Thinking Ecosystem: Why it’s everybody’s responsibility · Chris Sowton Session 1b · Umney Theatre Can We Improve the Way we Describe Progress in Learning English? · Ben Knight and Clare Harrison PICK AND CHOOSE TALKS Session 2a · Auditorium The Foundations of Engagement: A positive classroom culture · Sarah Mercer Session 2b · Umney Theatre English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) Programmes in Tertiary Contexts · Peter Lucantoni Coffee Break Developing Future-Ready Learners · Auditorium Keynote · Auditorium What’s the Latest Method? · Scott Thornbury Day 2 Closing Remarks Drinks Reception · Robinson College Formal Dinner · Robinson College
Critical thinking is consistently presented as being a core component of English language, and in particular EAP, courses in the UK. This is reflected within curricula, course prospectuses, published materials and documents such as the Cambridge Framework for Life Competencies. But how much genuine buy-in is there for this amongst teachers and academic managers? Do all teachers feel prepared and willing for English language courses to be repurposed in this way? In their day-to-day practices, do English language departments and the wider institutions themselves reflect on what they are teaching about critical thinking in their classrooms? In the background to this are those wider issues which are currently influencing the wider higher education arena, such as no platforming and safe spaces, and how these concepts align with the critical thinking agenda.
Learning English takes sustained effort over a long time, and both teachers and learners depend on being able to evaluate and describe progress as clearly and frequently as possible. This presentation looks at developments in the way we can evaluate students, in the way we describe their progress against a standard Cambridge English Curriculum and how we can provide targeted information on what they should focus on next in their learning journey.
Effective language learning needs learners to be active and engaged – it is not a spectator sport! The challenge for teachers is to ensure learners do not sit on the sidelines but get actively involved in classroom life and tasks. To do this, we can foster learner engagement on two levels – the first is through the development of the psychological foundations needed for learners to be willing to engage, and the second emerges from employing engaging task design. In this workshop, we start with the foundations and reflect on how teachers can help learners to develop a facilitative mindset for engaging with the language learning opportunities provided by teachers. In particular, we will look at the type of classroom culture that promotes learner engagement and specific strategies educators can use to develop the sense of security, confidence and belonging that is characteristic of engaging classroom cultures.
Although we supposedly live in the 'post-method era', the question that I am most often asked - by teachers, trainers and administrators - is ' What's the best method?' Why is the 'method concept' so persistent, and what does this tell us about the various needs of teachers, trainers, and administrators? In this talk I'll attempt to answer these questions, while also offering my own opinions as to what constitutes a 'good method.'
Hear about an innovative idea and its impact on learning.
More and more contexts around the world are developing programmes with English as a Medium of Instruction, with varied degrees of success. What can we learn about what is most important for success? This presentation will consider the factors that have been shown to be essential for successful EMI programmes, drawing on the experience of developing EMI programmes in tertiary contents in the Middle East, and will suggest practical strategies for use in EMI contexts.
7.00 8.00 9.00 10.20 11.05 11.35 12.30 13.30 13.40 14.40 15.10 15.30
Morning Exercise: Let's run! · Meet at the Porters' Lodge Optional Session · Auditorium Lounge Morning Stretch! Keynote · Auditorium Educational Data Mining and Learning Analytics for Language Teaching · Dr. Hayo Reinders PICK AND CHOOSE TALKS Session 1a · Auditorium Rigor From the Get Go! Embedding skills for the 21st century in curricula · Betsy Parrish Session 1b · Umney Theatre What Really Interests and Motivates Children? Lessons we've learnt from analysing 7,000+ stories · Delia Kidd Coffee Break PICK AND CHOOSE TALKS Session 2a · Auditorium Cultivating Wellbeing in English Language Teaching: Supporting teachers to flourish and thrive · Dr. Christina Gkonou Session 2b · Umney Theatre Language Learning in Digital Contexts: Putting the pedagogy first · Olivia Goodman and Niall Curry Lunch Developing Future-Ready Learners · Auditorium Keynote · Auditorium The Future of Englishes · David Crystal Key Conference Takeaways · Auditorium Closing Remarks Optional Cambridge Activity Join us for a guided punting tour on the river Cam.
There’s no better way to see a city than on a run, so why not join our team and see the sights! Whether you’re a complete beginner, an occasional jogger, or an experienced runner, take in the sights of Cambridge with our friendly and fun running duo Simon and Joe. There is no pressure to compete to run a specific pace, distance or time, it really is about lacing up your trainers, taking part and feeling energised for the day ahead.
Rise and shine with a gentle rhythmic stretch class that improves circulation, flexibility and general wellbeing, including some functional Pilates core exercises, suitable for all levels. Enjoy this friendly laid-back class and take on the day feeling fresh and focused.
The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the topics of educational data mining and learning analytics, and to explore how they may be relevant to improving learning and teaching, as well as enable new types of (classroom) research. We will first explore the increasing range of data available to teachers about our students’ language learning journeys, the types and frequency of language input they receive and output they produce, as well as the various types of engagement data we now have access to. We will look at ways in which such data can be gathered, analysed and put to use to improve language learning and teaching.
In today’s world, becoming a proficient user of a language requires effective communication and collaboration, critical thinking, digital competence, and tools for understanding complex informational texts. How can we embed these 21st century skills into English language curricula? In this interactive session, we explore the complexity of the everyday and academic tasks learners need to engage with in today’s world, identify the language demands and thinking skills inherent to those tasks, and experience concrete examples of how to address these skills in English language instruction. We see how educators can add a layer of 21st century skills to any lesson or curriculum through simple modifications to teaching practices and curriculum design, whether working with younger learners or adults.
In 2018, Cambridge University Press ran a story writing competition with young learners around the world. We received entries from almost 1,500 schools: over 7,000 stories from 50 different countries. The competition was simple: write a story and illustrate it. By giving learners the freedom to write about anything they want, we were able to gain insights into the things which spark their imagination and creativity. Join us as we present fascinating insights from the data analysis so far – what topics are learners interested in? What characters inspire them? How important is a happy ending? And much more. We will then consider how these insights can help us shape the way we interact with our learners and provide them with topics and content that will inspire them and ensure lifelong learning.
Teacher wellbeing has become an issue of increasing focus over recent years. This talk will provide an understanding of teacher wellbeing from the individual and cultural perspectives, with consideration of the specific challenges faced by language teachers. This will be followed by a set of practical strategies to support the wellbeing of teachers in school, for both inside and outside the classroom. The aim is not only to prevent stress and mental health problems in the teaching workforce, but also to promote high levels of flourishing and thriving for all members of the school community.
What are the consequences of the global status of English for the future development of the language? The talk reviews the relevant statistics, the historical reasons for the language's present position, and the trends which are affecting English world-wide, especially in relation to cultural diversity.
An overview and summary of the key strands explored over the course of the conference taking into account speakers’ contributions, workshops and views expressed by delegates from the past three days.
The world of ELT is increasingly concerned with how digital technologies can help language teaching and learning. However, many digital resources leave much to be desired in terms of their value for learning. Taking a less ‘tech centric’ view and drawing from research on second language acquisition, this presentation details a research project that looks at how we can optimise learning in digital contexts. That is, what digital does well and where digital technology truly adds value to English language teaching and learning.
Peter Lucantoni
Author and Senior Teacher Training Consultant for Cambridge University Press.
Find out more
Ben Knight
Language Research ELT at Cambridge University Press.
Betsy Parrish
Professor of MA TESOL and TEFL programmes at Hamline University, Minnesota.
Chris Sowton
International education consultant and teacher trainer.
Dr. Christina Gkonou
Associate Professor at the University of Essex, UK.
David Crystal
Editor, lecturer, broadcaster, writer and Honorary Professor at the University of Wales.
Bridget Clay
Head of Leading Together at Teach First.
Clare Harrison
Assessment Group Manager for Teacher Development and Curriculum.
Delia Kidd
Senior ELT Research Manager at Cambridge University Press.
Dr. Hayo Reinders
Professor and Director at Anaheim University, California.
Jo Timerick
Teacher Development Senior Editor at Cambridge University Press.
Karen Momber
Teacher Development Publisher at Cambridge University Press.
Lenise Butler
Manager, Global Campus-Based Operations Laureate International Universities.
Rupert Daniels
Global Marketing Director at Cambridge University Press.
Sarah Mercer
Professor of Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Graz, Austria.
Scott Thornbury
Author and teacher of MA TESOL at The New School, New York.
Eric Baber
Teacher Training and Development Director at Cambridge University Press.
Niall Curry
Olivia Goodman
ELT Research Manager at Cambridge Univeristy Press.
Ticket Details
Includes accommodation in a standard-plus student single bedroom with en suite bathroom, as well as a buffet style full English breakfast to set you up for the day ahead. All rooms are well-appointed and have the following facilities: Check in time is 13:00 on 1st July. Check out time is 9:30 on 4th July.
College Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Shower-over-bath and toilet Central heating Radio alarm clock (televisions are not available) Bath and hand towels Complimentary toiletries pack Tea/coffee making tray Mineral water Complimetary internet access via Wi-Fi or wired network point
Bed and breakfast accommodation is provided at the famous Robinson College in the heart of Cambridge.
Robinson College
Set in beautiful landscaped gardens, Robinson College is just a few minutes' walk from Cambridge city centre and the famous ‘Backs’. The striking architecture and fabulous location make for the perfect setting to feel inspired.
Location: Grange Road Cambridge CB3 9AN
Taxi: Camcab 01223 704704 11 minutes drive from Cambridge railway station
Your ticket gives you full entry to the conference and includes buffet lunches and refreshments across the two days of the conference. You will also receive a Cambridge University Press goodie bag on arrival to the conference and a certificate to take home on the last day to mark your attendance at this professional development event.
2 Days, 25 Talks
Wednesday 3rd July In the afternoon you will be taken on a guided punting tour on the River Cam. Relax and enjoy the famous sights of Cambridge and learn about the history behind one of the world’s well-known cities. Please note comfortable shoes are advised.
Punting
Formal Dinner
Tuesday 2nd July You are invited to attend a drinks reception and a formal three course dinner in the magnificent oak-panelled dining hall at Robinson College. Drinks served from 18.00. Dinner will be served at 19.00. Dress code is smart/formal, but no need for black tie!
Click here for our frequently asked questions.
When can you see Karen? Tuesday 2nd July Wednesday 3rd July
8.30
Optional Session 1b Education in the News · with Jo Timerick
14.40
Key Conference Takeaways · with Ben Knight and Eric Baber
Karen is the Teacher Development Publisher at Cambridge ELT. Before joining the Press, Karen was involved in ELT teaching and training in Europe and Latin America. She holds a Diploma in English Language Teaching and an MEd in Educational Technology and ELT. As well as commissioning teacher development resources and courses for the Press, Karen is currently involved in monitoring teaching and learning, in her role as Chair of Governors, at a local secondary school.
View all speakers
When can you see Jo? Tuesday 2nd July
Optional Session 1b Education in the news · with Karen Momber
Jo is the Senior Editor working in the Teacher Development team at Cambridge University Press. Having worked for Cambridge Assessment and taught at a number of adult education institutions, Jo moved into ELT in 2010. Her enthusiasm for teacher development grew whilst working for Embassy English Cambridge as a teacher and trainer in the use of classroom technologies. There, Jo helped to devise a programme of directed face-to-face and online training which was delivered throughout Embassy schools. As well as working on a variety of professional development publications, Jo is currently involved with the development of a number of face-to-face and online teacher training modules designed to support sustained and relevant ‘on-the-job’ training.
When can you see Bridget? Tuesday 2nd July
9.45
Keynote Unleashing Great Teaching
Bridget Clay is a former teacher who works with schools on their leadership and development. She recently co-authored Unleashing Great Teaching, a book which outlines the culture and processes for great learning for teachers and students. She is Head of Programme for Leading Together at Teach First and was previously Director of School Programmes at the Teacher Development Trust. She has advised a number of organisations, including the Department for Education and the Greater London Authority, and is a frequent speaker, including at ResearchED and The Telegraph Festival of Education. She is a regular media contributor.
When can you see Lenise? Tuesday 2nd July
10.50
Keynote Technology and Change Management
Lenise Butler is currently working on an Ed.D. Doctoral Dissertation for a degree in Leadership in International Education. Lenise has lived in Mexico for 18 years and worked in many facets of education, from public to private and from teaching to educational administration. From 2002 she worked as part of the State University of New York, focusing on international partnerships. In 2007 was Head Principal at Westhill Institute for Middle and High School programs. After, Lenise was Director of the International Culture Center at the Universidad Anáhuac del Sur, focused on language teaching and internationalization. In 2013, Lenise became the National Director for Languages at Universidad del Valle de Mexico, focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning of languages for the UVM network. In 2018 Lenise joined the Laureate International Universities global team in Laureate Languages as Manager for Global Operations. She currently supports implementation of language programs across the Laureate International network, working with pedagogy, training and quality assurance as well as heading of global initiatives for program change.
When can you see Chris? Tuesday 2nd July
13.30
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 1a The Critical Thinking Ecosystem: Why it’s everybody’s responsibility
Chris’ language teaching and training experience has been wide and varied, including Vietnamese asylum seekers with learning disabilities, Cambridge PhD students, secondary school children in Nepal, ESOL students in East London and Syrian refugee teachers in Lebanon. Now a freelance consultant, he works with a range of organisations such as Cambridge University Press, the British Council and several NGOs, focusing particularly on projects which prioritise the emancipatory power of English in marginalised (especially refugee) communities. This is also the focus of his doctoral work. He has also written several self-study books, teachers’ books and coursebooks, and is the joint coordinator of IATEFL’s Global Issues SIG. More information can be found at www.chrissowton.co.uk.
Ben Knight works for Cambridge University Press as our Director of ELT Research and Teacher Development. His responsibilities include ensuring that high quality research underpins the learning materials, curriculum development and teacher support that CUP provides. Ben has taught and worked in several countries around the world, with International House, the British Council, Cambridge Assessment, City & Guilds, and various other schools and universities.
When can you see Ben? Tuesday 2nd July Wednesday 3rd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 1b Can We Improve the Way we Describe Progress in Learning English? · with Clare Harrison
Key Conference Takeaways · with Eric Baber and Karen Momber
Clare Harrison has been Assessment Group Manager for Teacher Development and Curriculum at Cambridge English since 2012. Clare oversees development of the Cambridge English Curriculum, as well as courses and tests for teachers, such as CELTA, DELTA and TKT. As part of her work on educational reform, Clare also works on teacher development projects. She joined Cambridge English in 2003 to work on the development of TKT and at that time also worked on a range of English language examinations. Before joining Cambridge English, she was a teacher trainer and English/modern languages teacher.
When can you see Clare? Tuesday 2nd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 1b Can We Improve the Way we Describe Progress in Learning English? · with Ben Knight
When can you see Sarah? Tuesday 2nd July
14.30
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 2a The Foundations of Engagement: A positive classroom culture
Sarah Mercer is Professor of Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Graz, Austria, where she is Head of ELT methodology. Her research interests include all aspects of the psychology surrounding the foreign language learning experience, focusing in particular on self-concept, language teacher wellbeing, and positive psychology. She is the author, co-author and co-editor of several books in this area. Sarah was co-editor of the journal system for several years and now works on the editorial board of various journals. In one of her many current roles, Sarah is the Vice President of the International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning (IAPLL) and has served as a consultant on several international education projects. In 2018, she was awarded the Robert C. Gardner Award for excellence in second language research by the International Association of Language and Social Psychology (IALSP).
When can you see Peter? Tuesday 2nd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 2b English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) Programmes in Tertiary Contexts
Peter Lucantoni has been teaching English, training teachers, and writing teaching and learning materials for nearly 40 years, and has an MA TESOL from the University of Edinburgh. He has lived and worked outside the UK since 1986, in Europe and the Middle East, and is now based in Cyprus. Peter is Senior Teacher Training Consultant for Cambridge University Press, and is the author and co-author of several popular coursebooks for students, including Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language, and Introduction to English as a Second Language, both published by Cambridge University Press. Peter regularly presents at conferences and trains teachers internationally, both in the public and private sectors, at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Scott Thornbury teaches on the MA TESOL program at The New School in New York. His previous experience includes teaching and teacher training in Egypt, UK, Spain, and in his native country of New Zealand. His writing credits include several award-winning books for teachers on language and methodology. most recent book, 'Scott Thornbury's 101 Grammar Questions', is published by Cambridge Universtiy Press. He is a series editor of the 'Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers' which he discusses on his website, www.scottthornbury.com.
When can you see Scott? Tuesday 2nd July
15.55
Keynote What’s the Latest Method?
Dr. Hayo Reinders is TESOL Professor at Anaheim University, California, and is Director of their doctoral programme. He is also Head of Education at Unitec and Editor of Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching. Hayo's interests are in CALL, autonomy, and out-of-class learning, topics he explores at www.innovationinteaching.org. His most recent books are on teacher autonomy, teaching methodologies, and second language acquisition.
When can you see Hayo? Wednesday 3rd July
Keynote Educational Data Mining and Learning Analytics for Language Teaching
9.00
When can you see Betsy? Wednesday 3rd July
10.20
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 1a Rigor From the Get Go! Embedding skills for the 21st century in curricula
Betsy Parrish is Professor in the MA TESOL and TEFL Certificate programmes at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has worked as a language teacher, teacher educator, and consultant for over thirty years, with experience in the US, Bangladesh, France, India, Russia and Vietnam. She has participated in the development of state and national standards focusing on college and career readiness. Her research centers around instruction in effective collaboration, critical thinking, and strategies for comprehending complex texts, all essential for preparing English learners for success in today’s world. She also explores effective practices in continuous teacher professional development. Her most recent book, 'Teaching Adult English Language Learners' (Cambridge University Press, 2019), addresses the diverse needs of adult English learners and provides ideas on how to prepare all learners for the demands of the 21st century.
When can you see Delia? Wednesday 3rd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 1b What Really Interests and Motivates Children? Lessons we've learnt from analysing 7000+ stories
Delia Kidd is a Senior ELT Research Manager at Cambridge University Press. She manages research projects relating to primary education in ELT. She has a background in editorial for primary and secondary materials, as well as several years as a primary and EFL teacher and materials developer in multiple countries including South Africa, South Korea, Italy and the UK. Her interests include child psychology, young learner language and classroom pedagogy.
When can you see Kate? Wednesday 3rd July
11.35
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 2a Cultivating Wellbeing in English Language Teaching: Supporting teachers to flourish and thrive · with Dr. Christina Gkonou
Kate Brierton
Kate is an Independent Clinical Psychologist and school Governor. She completed her first degree at Cambridge University and followed this with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry in London. After a career break, she returned to the profession as an Associate Lecturer for the Open University in Psychology and Counselling before setting up her own private clinical practice in 2014. In her day job, she supports children with complex needs in both mainstream and special schools. She has a longstanding interest in education and became involved in school governance in 2015, as a founding Trustee of the Morris Education Trust. She currently sits on the local governing body of Impington Village College, where she has worked with school leaders to develop a compassionate approach to wellbeing for both staff and students.
When can you see Christina? Wednesday 3rd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 2a Cultivating Wellbeing in English Language Teaching: Supporting teachers to flourish and thrive · with Kate Brierton
Dr. Christina Gkonou is Associate Professor of TESOL and MA TESOL Programme Leader in the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex, UK. She is also Deputy Director of Education in the same Department. She convenes postgraduate modules on teacher education and development, and on psychological aspects surrounding the foreign language learning and teaching experience. She is the co-editor of 'New Directions in Language Learning Psychology' (with Sarah Mercer and Dietmar Tatzl) and 'New Insights into Language Anxiety: Theory, Research and Educational Implications' (with Jean-Marc Dewaele and Mark Daubney), and co-author of 'MYE: Managing Your Emotions Questionnaire' (with Rebecca L. Oxford). Her new book, entitled 'Language Teaching: An Emotional Rollercoaster' (co-edited with Jean-Marc Dewaele and Jim King) will be out in late 2019.
Olivia holds a first-class BA honours degree in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese from Nottingham Trent University, which included a year studying Linguistics. She also studied at the University of Valencia in Spain, and at Yunnan Normal University in Kunming, China. Olivia is a certified ELT teacher, and completed her CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) qualification at Cambridge Regional College.
When can you see Olivia? Wednesday 3rd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 2b Language Learning in Digital Contexts: Putting the pedagogy first · with Niall Curry
Niall Curry is a Senior ELT Research Manager at Cambridge University Press and conducts research on language and language pedagogy to inform materials development. He focuses on how we can use research from fields like corpus linguistics to better inform the choice of language to be learnt as well as educational research to guide the best way to learn language. Prior to working at Cambridge University Press, Niall worked as a language teacher and lecturer in applied linguistics at universities in France and Ireland. He is also completing his PhD at the University of Limerick, Ireland on corpus-based contrastive linguistics of academic writing in English, French and Spanish.
When can you see Niall? Wednesday 3rd July
PICK AND CHOOSE TALK Session 2b Language Learning in Digital Contexts: Putting the pedagogy first · with Olivia Goodman
David Crystal works as an editor, lecturer, broadcaster and writer. He is probably best known for his two encyclopedias 'The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language' and 'The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language', Cambridge University Press. His many academic interests include English language learning and teaching, English genre, Shakespeare, indexing, lexicography and much more. David is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, patron of IATEFL and the Association for Language Learning (ALL), president of the UK National Literacy Association, and a number of other institutes.
When can you see David? Wednesday 3rd July
13.40
Keynote The Future of Englishes
Eric Baber is Teacher Training and Development Director for Cambridge University Press. He oversees the products and services aimed at teachers. These include an award-winning range of methodology titles; over seventy online teacher development courses; e-tutoring services; and face-to-face training delivered by a network of trainers in key markets. Eric’s experience includes delivering training around the world in the use of ICT for teaching and learning, being a tutor for the UK Open University, and setting up an online-only language school. He is Past President of IATEFL, the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language.
When can you see Eric? Wednesday 3rd July
Key Conference Takeaways · with Ben Knight and Karen Momber
Rupert is the Global Marketing Director at Cambridge University Press and joined the world of ELT five years ago having previously worked for Arsenal Football Club and FIFA. Passionate about education, the move to Cambridge was a natural fit. Rupert is responsible for branding, communications, research, design and conferences, like this one!
When can you see Rupert? Wednesday 3rd July
Closing Remarks
15.10
Back to details
Frequently Asked Questions
If your place is cancelled before or on Friday 3rd May 2019 a refund of 50% will be given, as we will have incurred fees and costs with both ticket vendor and accommodation. If your place at the conference is cancelled after that date no refunds will be given to ensure incurred costs are covered.
1. What is the cancellation fee/refund policy?
The conference programme and line up is subject to change and updates.
2. Is the conference programme and speaker line-up going to change?
We shall not be liable for travel costs, or other costs and expenses incurred (included wasted costs and expenses) if we are required to cancel or relocate the conference as a result of an event outside our control.
3. Do you cover travel expenses?
Delegates are responsible for getting visas. It is the sole responsibility of the delegate to take care of his/her visa requirements to be able to attend the conference.
4. Do you sponsor visa applications?
We advise delegates take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance. The Press take no responsibility for any loss of luggage, personal belongings or property whilst at the conference and travelling to and from the conference.
5. Health and Safety
Transfers are not included in the price of ticket. You will need to arrange your own transfers to and from the conference.
6. Do I get transfers with my ticket?
For any questions surrounding the conference please email
betterlearning@cambridge.org