Tag: ELT

CamTESOL 2023

Posted on | by Ed Itor

The 19th Annual CamTESOL Conference at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia starts tomorrow and NEAS Australia will be there! This is one of the most significant conferences in the region with over 1000 participants and its theme of “Online and Transnational Delivery of English Language Teaching – Global Views and Perspectives for Being Future Ready” is set to stimulate interesting debate.

The opening Plenary Panel Discussion is sponsored by NEAS Australia and Dr Patrick Pheasant, as part of the panel, will be focusing on Online and Transnational delivery of English Language Teaching (ELT). Through a lens of quality management, this keynote plenary will showcase teaching and learning innovations in High Schools, Vocational Colleges, Universities, and English Language Centres in online delivery, English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) and Transnational ELT Delivery from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Australia, identifying global best practice.  The plenary will also address how the impact of closed borders during the pandemic has affected social, cultural and economic barriers in international education. In many cases virtual learning, virtual mobility and improved technology have become conduits for learners to access quality international education. Now, it is important to secure the quality of Online and Transnational delivery in ELT and by embedding 21st Century skills into our programs and turbo-charging such skills to meet the needs of future generations, Dr Pheasant asserts that we can be future-ready.

In the role of Chief Executive Officer, Dr Patrick Pheasant brings 30 years’ experience in applying drama, TESOL and teacher training methodologies across multiple education sectors around the world. Patrick has extensive experience in change management and leadership development and completed his PhD research at the University of Sydney in using process drama in ELT. Patrick is a past Director at the University of Sydney Centre for English Teaching, past Vice-President of the University English Centres of Australia (UECA) and past Convenor of the NEAS Advisory Council.

February 2023

10 WEEKS UNTIL THE 2023 NEAS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Speaker Spotlight

Daljit Rao

Daljit Rao has several years of experience as a University lecturer specialising in key Business Management subjects at the Bachelor and Master Level in Australia. Daljit Rao’s passion for the education industry is an exemplary of her involvement on the Curriculum Advisory Boards at Universities in Australia, India, and Nepal. Ms Rao is an Associate Professor, specialising in key Business Management Masters Level in Australia. 

In 2014 Daljit Rao, established a coaching centre – PEAR Academy Australia, with its coaching and testing centre opened in Bangalore, India in 2018. Today PEAR Academy is an approved OET Premium Preparation centre.  

Neil McRudden

Neil has been teaching English as a Second Language since 2000 at language institutes and universities in Sweden, Malaysia, Germany, and Australia and in many contexts: general, business, examination preparation and bespoke courses for specific companies. More recently, Neil has been at the College at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus as a teacher since 2014, where he mostly teaches English for Academic Purposes (EAP). He also worked in SCU’s Academic Skills department.

Neil completed a Master of Applied Linguistics from UNE in 2020 and is increasingly interested in the design of media-rich and interactive learning tools to further support student learning. 

In just two and half months and we will be greeting you in person and online. The NEAS 2023 Management Conference is shaping up to be jam-packed with informative and interesting activities and we have expanded the space at Doltone House, Darling Island, Sydney to four rooms, as opposed to the previous two. The theme of the conference: The Profession, The Professional and Professionalism in ELT has started to intrigue and discussion around this is already abuzz.

Nowadays, with increased scrutiny into quality standards in ELT, high professional standards are burgeoning and the number of ELT teachers up-skilling and completing Master level degrees in ELT is trending upwards at a rapid rate. ELT “requires a specialized knowledge obtained through both academic study and practical experience” (Torres – Rocha, 2019).

It is generally acceptable to say that ELT teachers and leaders are professionals because they are a “disciplined group of individuals who adhere to high ethical standards and uphold themselves to, and are accepted by, the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised, organised body of learning derived from education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interests of others.”(cited in Professional Standards Council, 2022)

This conference will explore the different professional landscapes in ELT locally and globally and the impact they are having on world economy, education, and future generations.

References

Professions Australia. The Professions, Public Interest and Competition Policy, 2000, cited in Professional Standards Council (2022).

Torres-Rocha, J. C. (2019). EFL teacher professionalism and identity: Between local/global ELT tensions.

If you are coming in person, then don’t forget to purchase your Gala Dinner tickets here, so that you can enjoy the entertainment, gourmet menu as well as the Awards Ceremony.

Get ahead and plan your future PD!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Communities of Practice: Arts Based Pedagogy

When: 24 March, 15:00 AEDT
Type: In-person Workshop
Registration: $10 CPD Points: 10

Arts based pedagogy in English language teaching (ELT) incorporates visual and performing arts into the learning process to engage students in a creative and dynamic way. This approach recognizes the power of art to foster critical thinking, cultural awareness, and emotional intelligence. By using art as a tool for language development, students can experience the joy of expression and build a deeper connection to the language. Arts based pedagogy also encourages collaboration, communication, and the development of intercultural competencies, making it an effective and enriching addition to any ELT curriculum.

Drama is a powerful tool that can be used in English language teaching (ELT) to help students develop their language skills and cultural awareness in a fun and engaging way. Drama activities such as role-plays, improvisations, and scripted scenes can provide students with opportunities to practice their language skills in meaningful and authentic contexts. It can also help students build confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills, while promoting collaboration, social interaction and keeping students engaged and motivated. 

This Arts Based Pedagogy Community of Practice (COP) Workshop is for teaching professionals who would like to embed the arts and drama into their teaching repertoire. The workshop will shine a spotlight on the benefits of alternative teaching methods in the ELT classroom and provides participants with a supportive structure to begin their journey into the world of the arts in ELT. 

Topics up for investigation in this COP include 

·      the power of the arts and drama in teaching 

·      reflective self-assessment 

·      further professional development opportunities

So, what are you waiting for? Book your place here to avoid disappointment!

THE 2023 NEAS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE IS ONLY 11 WEEKS AWAY!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

The countdown has started!

With a furore of activity we are well under way to welcoming you all at this year’s Management Conference. The theme of the conference has taken hold and is becoming the talk of the town as we grapple with the idea of The Profession, The Professional and Professionalism in ELT.

Nowadays, with increased scrutiny into quality standards in ELT, high professional standards are burgeoning and the number of ELT teachers up-skilling and completing Master level degrees in ELT is trending upwards at a rapid rate. ELT “requires a specialized knowledge obtained through both academic study and practical experience” (Torres – Rocha, 2019).

It is generally acceptable to say that ELT teachers and leaders are professionals because they are a “disciplined group of individuals who adhere to high ethical standards and uphold themselves to, and are accepted by, the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised, organised body of learning derived from education and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interests of others.”(cited in Professional Standards Council, 2022)

This year’s conference is set to explore the different professional landscapes in ELT locally and globally and the impact they are having on world economy, education, and future generations.

As usual, we are pleased to be able to offer a hybrid event! With three full days of in-person activities, attendees will also be able to live-stream content, so if you can’t make it in person, you can always join us online. You can download 60+ presentations, join our virtual community events and live-stream speaker sessions.

If you are coming in person, then don’t forget to purchase your Gala Dinner tickets here, so that you can enjoy the entertainment, gourmet menu as well as the Awards Ceremony.

Speaker Spotlight

Cara Dinneen

Cara Dinneen is the Associate Director, Learning and Teaching at Macquarie University College. Cara holds a Master of TESOL, Graduate Certificate in Business Educational Leadership, Trinity Diploma of TESOL, BA Communications and is currently completing a qualification in Digital Learning Leadership. Cara has 20 years’ experience in English language teaching, teacher training and leadership, having taught and managed programs in Australia, Oman and Spain. She is a fluent Spanish speaker. 

Throughout her career, Cara has designed and managed teacher development programs for large, multi-cultural teaching departments of up to 65 staff. Cara has a strong background in teaching methodology and a creative, participant-focused approach to lesson design and teacher development. 

Cara also has a keen interest in learning and assessment design. She is currently the Head Convenor for the English Australia Assessment Special Interest Group, and her current area of research is digital learning and assessment.

Yulia Kharchenk

Yulia Kharchenko is an English language teacher and a higher degree researcher. She has taught in Russia, Ireland and Australia in a variety of tertiary, adult and migrant education settings. She currently teaches on the Graduate Certificate of TESOL at Macquarie University. Her research interests include multilingual pedagogy, language policies in education and language learner identity.

Virtual MoU Signing Ceremony between NEAS Australia and AUN

Posted on | by Ed Itor

On 18 January 2023, Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, ASEAN University Network (AUN) Executive Director and Dr. Patrick Pheasant, Chief Executive Officer of NEAS Australia (National ELT Accreditation Scheme Ltd.), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance towards effective enhancement of the process as well as the management of quality assurance (QA) of English Language Teaching (ELT).

The Signing Ceremony of the MoU between NEAS and AUN Secretariat took place through a virtual meeting. The MoU seeks to empower possible collaboration between NEAS and AUN as both parties will delve into QA activities and QA among ELT providers, as well as provide opportunities for the professional development of working staff to learn from one another and foster the exchange of best practices. The MoU is initially set to be in force for two years.

Currently, NEAS and AUN have initiated a potential project exclusively for the ASEAN University Network to explore and enhance the capabilities of English Language Teaching Units/Centers across the ASEAN region. This aims to ensure the active roles of university ELT Units/Centers that go beyond “English Teaching.” The initiatives cover more contemporary functions such as standardising English for research papers, English as a medium of instruction, English in the delivery of interdisciplinary courses, English pathways for international mobility programmes, etc. It will ultimately lead to the advancement of QA in English language learning. 

The MoU signing ceremony between NEAS and AUN was a momentous occasion as it marked the first official collaboration between AUN and Australia. This will signify the beginning of the growth of QA in English language learning and designate the direction to steer English language teaching communities forward.

02 February 2023

PEARSON Versant English Language Tests Endorsed as Quality Product / Service.

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Congratulations to Pearson on achieving NEAS Quality Endorsement of the Versant by Pearson English Language Tests as a Quality Product / Service. NEAS Quality Products and Services benefit the ELT community by delivering aspirational standards in innovation and best practice. This endorsement covers a range of Versant by Pearson English tests: the Versant English Speaking & Listening Test; the Versant English Writing Test; the Versant English Placement Test; the Versant English 4 Skills Essential Test; the Versant Professional English Test; and the Versant English Certificate. The NEAS Endorsement Committee was impressed with the products’ use of ground-breaking AI technology and automated test scoring. The flexibility of product application enables users to achieve efficiencies in cost and administration. The products are shaped by extensive research and development and supported through ongoing collaboration with independent international experts for validation studies and updates.

Congratulations to Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT) Melbourne!

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Congratulations to: Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT) Melbourne for becoming the latest Quality Endorsed Member Centre, successfully progressing from Pending status. VIT completed its Quality Review after a series of onsite meetings and focus groups, led by a NEAS Quality Assessor. VIT is an established provider of VET and Higher Education programs with a compact ELICOS Centre, located in the Melbourne CBD. It offers General English, EAP and IELTS Preparation courses; most of its current students hail from East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Benefitting from the instruction of highly qualified and experienced teachers, one student commented through an anonymised survey that: ‘VIT is a good learning environment with enthusiastic teachers’. VIT takes great pride in providing high value services to its students, and this is reflected in the structured manner in which the Centre collates and uses feedback from its leaners to drive ongoing improvements. VIT draws on the expertise of multiple governance committees in delivering excellent education and training outcomes.

Congratulations to ACU English Language Centre

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Congratulations to ACU English Language Centre on the successful quality endorsement of its two new online writing courses. Offering quality English language programmes in Brisbane, Melbourne and North Sydney, ACU English Language Centre provides a dynamic and supportive learning environment for students of all beliefs and backgrounds.

The development and use of these courses serve a collaborative project between ACU and the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (PISAI), and embody the sharing of academic resources to build capacity in inter-religious dialogue. Initially purpose-designed for higher degree research students at PISAI, ACU continues to calibrate and enhance further this series of online writing courses, and develop them to serve PhD candidates at ACU and other universities.

This quality endorsement exercise was proudly supported by Trade and Investment Queensland, through a dedicated grant to NEAS.

Congratulations to English Unlimited Brisbane!

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Congratulations to English Unlimited Brisbane on the successful completion of its 2021 NEAS Quality Review! In addition to it central location in Brisbane, English Unlimited also has campuses in Melbourne and Sydney. Students benefit from English Unlimited’ s modern facilities and its team of caring and passionate staff.

The centre immediately and effectively switched to online delivery via its Virtual Learning Environment platform from the onset of the pandemic, and students have since been integrated into national classes, where they engage with and learn from peers and teachers of the organisation’s three Australia-wide campuses. Even with the challenges of the ongoing border closure, English Unlimited continues to enrol new onshore students, often via word-of-mouth recommendations.

Working for an Endorsed Centre, English Unlimited teachers also benefit from access to the NEAS Quality ELT Professional Listing. To join the register of Quality ELT professionals, please visit the NEAS website here.

Congratulations to UTS College!

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Congratulations to UTS College (formerly Insearch) on successful completion of its 2021 NEAS Quality Review! UTS College has been a member of NEAS since 1989 and offers exceptional pathway programs designed with UTS entry requirements in mind. UTS College, like many providers, continues to deliver its courses remotely and has done an outstanding job of moving all teaching, learning and assessment to their Canvas LMS, all while managing the implementation of a brand-new curriculum.

NEAS encourages its members to share their NEAS achievements on social media.

Working for an Endorsed Centre, UTS College teachers also benefit from access to the NEAS Quality ELT Professional Listing. To join the register of Quality ELT professionals, please visit the NEAS website here.