Be different - iTDi webinar

Some years ago, I had the luck of participating at a wonderful webinar series wth teachers from around the world.

In my webinar, I have described the work I have been doing using blended learning as well as STEM teaching, but most of all, it was a talk about fulfilling my goals.

Watching myself after all this years, I reaaly miss my enthusiasm and my willingness to set goals and work towards them. 

Working towards my own improvement personal and professional is something I have set aside in order to survive in this crazy world. I think it's time to get back on it though.

More to come

Quarantine time part 4 - IATEFL Global Gettogether

I have always wanted to attend IATEFL. I have never had the chance to go, although it's been a life dream for years now.
I have been following sessions, blogs and articles since I can remember my teaching-self.
This year nobody could actually go because of the pandemic.
So they orgranized a Global Get Together with wonderful speakers who were supposed to present in thes year's convention.
Day 1 was wonderful!
I managed to watch most of the presentations, this meant that I was in front of a screen almost all day long!

• I managed to watch David Crystal, who is a legend in the ELT field, talking about the English language and how it has changed over the years.
• Tammy Gregersen with some wonderful suggestions on wellbeing and mindfulness for teachers
• A wonderful panel on Inclusive ELT materials 
• Will Nash talking about how we teachers could play a significant role in Language development in the future.
• Carol Read, who I've also seen live in TESOL Greece some years ago, talking about how to empower learners through the sustainable development goals

I'm afraid I didn't continue this journey this Saturday, since I had been online for hours and I needed some movement.

Day 2 included

• Catherine Walter talking about Asynchronous education in teacher training
• Alex Warren (who I've seen live in Thessaloniki in a fantastic NG - Cengage seminar) talking about teaching with TED talks
• Adrian Underhill talking about The psychological atmosphere teachers create is as important as their method
• Laura Edwards with suggestions about how to talk online
• Another wonderful panel of educators about online teaching and learning
• New panel on Moving teaching online

I have to say that this weekend I have learned a lot. So many amazing educators sharing their knowledge online. I can't imagine how else this would be possible - technology unites us.

Quarantine posts to be continued of course

Differentiated learning - EFL talks

We take exams seriously - ToBELTA web conference

Ideas on how to make exam teaching more fun!

October plans, suggestions, hopes and more

October is here, everybody's busy with work at the moment, but wouldn't it be nice to do something for ourselves for a change?
Professionally?
A lot of courses and webinars are going on this month.
My personal choices:

• EFLtalks webathlon: Happened today, 10 hours full of ideas, motivation, inspiration by 50 wonderful professionals

•  Learning Space: A Guide to Unplugged Teaching with Luke Meddings by iTDi - you can watch the first session for free until October 8th. And why not continue with the course? Amazing ideas by an amazing professional. 
•  Professional Practices for English Language Teaching by FutureLearn with the cooperation of the British Council. Lesson plans, managing your lessons and your resources, factors that influence learning. It's all there!
• Future learn offers a big variety of interesting courses all year round. What I intend to follow this month: Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy tales and Understanding Language both starting October 19th 
• Coursera also offers an interesting course called Shaping the way we learn by the University of Oregon. This requires homework as well and I don't really know if I can make it. I have downloaded all the reading material though. Depending on what kind of work and how much free time I will have, I will act accordingly

But life is not only studying and work.
October is a month of planning and adjusting to our new work and life schedule.
It is very important not to lose ourselves.
So what I would suggest:

• At least 5 minutes meditation to relax your mind. http://www.calm.com/ will help you.
• Listen to your favourite song.
• Go out for a walk
• Go to the gym or run or cycle - get moving - it clears your head.
• Eat healthily
• Do eat something you like once in a while, no deprivations.
• Go out, see friends, spend time with people outside work. 
• Have a quiet moment
• Live...

Hopefully surviving October!!

Take care