THE SPEAKERS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2ND - 06:30 PM

Revolutionizing Education: Building Peace in a Divided World

OVERVIEW

This presentation encapsulates Aziz Abu Sarah’s profound journey of utilizing education as a catalyst for transformation – steering him away from radicalism towards becoming a dedicated peacebuilder. With a focus on his educational endeavors spanning Syria, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, and the United States, Abu Sarah illustrates how these initiatives have successfully bridged chasms among discordant communities. By delving into the omnipotent role of education, this session uncovers its potential not only in resolving geopolitical strife but also within the microcosms of classrooms. Join us for an enlightening discourse that explores the remarkable capacity of education to foster harmony amidst division.

AZIZ ABU SARAH

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER AND TED SPEAKER

Aziz Abu Sarah is a National Geographic Explorer and a TED fellow. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, peace builder, and author. He is the author of “Crossing Boundaries” and the coauthor of “Strangers, Neighbors, Friends.” In 2009, Aziz co-founded MEJDI Tours, an international tourism company founded on the belief that a place can only be truly understood when seen through multiple perspectives. In 2014, he delivered a TED Talk discussing his vision for redefining tourism. Aziz has addressed numerous international organizations and universities, including The United Nations, Nexus, TED, BMW, the European Parliament, and Harvard. His articles have been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, TED, Haaretz, and The Jerusalem Post, among others.

His dedication to peace building earned recognition from former UNSG Ban Ki Moon. Aziz is the recipient of the Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East from the Institute of International Education, as well as the Eliav-Sartawi Award for his Middle Eastern Journalism. He was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Strategic Centre in Jordan. Additionally, he received the Intercultural Innovation Award from the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group. In 2022, Aziz was honored with the Strait of Magellan Award for Innovation and Exploration by the government of Chile.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD - 09:00 AM

Exploring Artificial Intelligence's Role in ELT

OVERVIEW

With recent advancements in the training of large language models and machine learning, artificial intelligence tools have been able to take a huge leap forward. The impact of these developments is likely to have significant implications across both the academic sphere and the world of work. These tools offer huge opportunities for the development of languages and education more generally, but in order to ensure we use them wisely we need to have a firm understanding of how they will impact the lives of our students both now and in their future careers.

Within this presentation, I aim to clarify the numerous opportunities and obstacles that AI introduces to our classrooms. I will explore its potential to foster positive transformations, not only in teacher development and education methodologies but also in nurturing our students’ growth.

NICHOLAS PEACHEY

EDUCATOR, AUTHOR AND LEARNING TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT

With 30+ years of global teaching, Nik leads in digital learning and teacher development. He turns challenges into opportunities, guiding us through the digital era.

Dive into Nik’s influential books on blended learning, digital literacy, AI, and more. His insights light up educational platforms, offering priceless strategies to educators worldwide.

Unlock education’s future with Nik, your sought-after tech consultant. He crafts powerful tech integration strategies and custom development initiatives.

Celebrated worldwide, Nik’s achievements include two British Council Innovations Awards. His dynamic presentations and workshops shape ed-tech trends, empowering educators everywhere.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD - 10:15 AM

Empowering Youth for Real-World Media in English

OVERVIEW

Living in a multimodal world requires us to think differently about how we teach language, especially a global language like English. Media literacy education can inform how we prepare our young learners and teenagers for real-world media in English. What are some useful frameworks and practical strategies for successful media literacy instruction in our English language lessons? This session will advance your thinking about media literacy education and provide strategies for developing lessons using real-world media as engaging content for both young learners and teens.

Joan Kang Shin

AUTHOR

Joan Kang Shin, Ph.D. is a Professor of Education at George Mason University and the Director of the Advanced Professional Teacher Development and International Education (APTDIE) Division. She is also the founder and director of the Global Online Teacher Education Center (GOTEC) at Mason. She is an award-winning author and series editor for National Geographic Learning. Her titles include Breaking Through the Screen, Teaching Young Learners English, Our World, and Impact. She recently published a co-edited volume through Routledge called Contemporary Foundations for Teaching English as an Additional Language and a co-authored book through TESOL Press called The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners: Young Learners in a Multilingual World. In 2021, she was named one of the top 30 English Language Specialists by the U.S. Department of State in recognition of her lasting impact on the Specialist Program and the field of TESOL. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees for The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF).

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD - 11:30 AM

Relational Agility in Ourselves and in our Organizations

OVERVIEW

Relational agility is the ability to make strategic, intentional decisions about how to respond to oneself and others in any given moment, with any given circumstance. In this session we will look at 5 pillars of relational agility: mindfulness, self-carefulness, compassionate communication, holding space and collaborative inquiry. Each of these pillars are constructed through knowledge, skills and awareness that interweave to create a practice that gives us the ability to ground into our values, to see and assess our own and other’s needs, to focus on who or what is most important in the moment, to assess our options and our capacity and to choose wisely.  Relational agility is a life-long learning process and practice that empowers us and others to lead meaningful interconnected lives.

MARY SCHOLL

SENIOR ACADEMIC CONSULTANT

Mary Scholl deeply values presence, learning, empathy, creativity, and curiosity and is founder and fellow of the Institute for Collaborative Learning in Costa Rica.  She has been teaching language for 30 years, designing and implementing educational projects in Latin America for over 18 years and served as an English language specialist for 16 years in 9 countries.  A teacher-trainer and trainer of trainers, Mary is also a certified practitioner and facilitator at the Centre for Holding Space and holds a certification in teaching mindfulness meditation from Greater Good Science Center and The Awareness Training Institute at the University of California at Berkeley. She holds an MA in Teaching English and Spanish from SIT Graduate Institute and has done doctoral studies in Adult Learning and Leadership at Teacher’s College at Columbia University.  She has lived and/or taught on four continents and currently enjoys working virtually around the world from her home in rural Costa Rica, in addition to face-to-face work wherever she is invited! She is a frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences In 2021, she was named as one of the top 30 English Language Specialists by the U.S. Department of State in recognition of her lasting impact on the Specialist Program and on the field of TESOL.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD - 02:15 PM

Leading Through Community Engagement

OVERVIEW

Experience the transformative power of language learning and global exploration in an inspiring talk by Cultural Educator, National Geographic Explorer, and TED Fellow, Aziz Abu Sarah. This captivating session shows how learning languages and exploring the world have shaped his personal and professional journey. Discover how his leadership approach effectively navigates challenges and cultivates innovative ideas for fostering community engagement and advancing educational programs. Gain valuable insights into the leadership lessons Aziz has learned throughout his remarkable journey of personal and professional transformation.

AZIZ ABU SARAH

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER AND TED SPEAKER

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD - 03:30 PM

The Invisible Story of Microalgae

OVERVIEW

Feeling invisible is something we have all experienced at some point in our lives. That’s why I enjoy studying invisible microalgae. Microalgae are tiny organisms that can only be seen with the help of a microscope. They hold significance for our daily lives because they produce 50% of the oxygen we breathe. As a Fulbright National Geographic Digital Storyteller Fellow, I am working on a project in which I collect microalgae from the Panama Canal while documenting the process in both English and Spanish through videos, microscope pictures, and blog posts. Additionally, I am communicating the science of microalgae through the five senses: sight with microscopic pictures, smell with microalgae soap, touch with 3D printed microalgae, taste with nutritional foods (as they are high in proteins), and finally, hearing with music that synchronizes the movement of algae. By engaging all five senses to learn about microalgae, nobody will feel invisible, and everyone will come to know the invisible story of these remarkable organisms.

JENNY GIL

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER

Jennifer Gil-Acevedo is an environmental scientist who specializes in the study of microalgae in South Florida at Florida International University. She has completed internships at the Smithsonian on two separate occasions. Additionally, she was selected as an AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow in 2015, during which she worked at CNN Español.

As a Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellow, Jennifer is currently embarking on a journey to three facilities of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute located in Panama. Her primary focus is the collection of microalgae samples, which she will document in both Spanish and English through blogs, microscopic imagery, and videos. Furthermore, she plans to curate an exhibit that will enable visitors to engage with the hidden realm of microalgae using all five senses.

Jennifer pursued her undergraduate studies in Interdisciplinary Science at the University of Puerto Rico. Recently, she achieved her Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Florida International University.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH - 02:30 PM

Unleashing the Power of Content 

OVERVIEW

Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of language learning in today’s educational landscape. In this workshop, we’ll explore the key question: How can we elevate language learning to make it truly relevant for today’s students?

This fascinating session will dive into the academic research-based ‘why’ and ‘how’ of utilizing real-world content and powerful images to craft language lessons that resonate with students. Participants will gain practical insights into recognizing materials that not only enhance language skills but also foster global competencies necessary for success in the 21st Century.

Discover the transformative potential of authentic and captivating real content materials that go beyond mere words. Explore how these materials can shape students into 21st-century dynamos. Guided by a leading publisher from National Geographic Learning, we’ll uncover the magic that occurs when real content intersects with language learning.

The ultimate outcome? Students who not only master English but also acquire the vital skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving world.

SHERRISE ROEHR

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LEARNING SENIOR DIRECTOR EDITORIAL

Sherrise Roehr, Senior Director of Publishing at National Geographic Learning, is a highly accomplished professional with over 28 years of experience in the English Language Teaching field. She has played a pivotal role in leading the Boston based editorial teams. Under her guidance, NGL has produced innovative programs such as the award-winning primary series Our World and Look; Academic series such as Pathways and Reflect; Adult General English series such as World Link, World English, and Stand Out; and, for Secondary learners, series such as Impact and Perspectives. Sherrise is recognized for her transformative approach to material design and is passionate about leveraging National Geographic’s rich resources to create real-world based content that helps empower educators and inspire learners worldwide.

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