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Friday, January 25
 

9:15am CST

English, Learning and 21st Century: The Future of English 2.0
Limited Capacity seats available
English may have transformed the world, but with non-native speakers now outnumbering native speakers 3 to 1, the language – and the way it is taught and learnt – is being reshaped in return. The globalization and adaptation of English, and the impact that technology has had on it, will revolutionize the language in ways we can only begin to imagine. Is that good or bad? Depends on who’s talking… In this presentation we will explore some of the ways in which globalization and rapidly-developing technology, including social media and online platforms, are influencing the use of English, ELT course content and teaching methods, and the different roads our profession might follow based on current trends and possible future needs both globally and in our own Latin-American context.
Presenters
avatar for Jair Félix

Jair Félix

Senior ELT Academic Consultant for Latin America, National Geographic Learning
Jair Félix, National Geographic Learning Senior ELT Academic Consultant for Latin America, has a B.A. in TEFL from Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa in Mexico and a Post-Graduate Degree on Teachers’ Development from The College of St. Mark & St. John, Plymouth, UK. Jair has been... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 9:15am - 10:00am CST
Eugene O'Neill Theater
  Opening Keynote Presentation

10:00am CST

Visit to the Publishers | Coffee Break
Friday January 25, 2019 10:00am - 10:30am CST
Lobby

10:30am CST

Using technology effectively in the EFL classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
In this practical talk, we will look at why using technology is useful in our classes, and why teachers sometimes avoid using it. The key word in the title of this talk is “effectively”. Technology will indeed make our classes more dynamic and it will awaken interest regardless of students' age, but this is not the only reason for using it. Technology does things better than teachers and we need to learn how to exploit this rather than being afraid of it. Concepts we will deal with in this talk are: blended learning, bring your own device, and using technology to help us assess how our students are achieving learning outcomes.
Presenters
avatar for Darragh O’Grady

Darragh O’Grady

Consultant, National Geographic Learning
Darragh has taught EFL to all ages and levels since 1994. He has been an IELTS examiner, project manager, teacher trainer, and author. He holds a master’s degree in English and a TEFL-Q qualification from the National University of Ireland. He is currently completing the Trinity... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 10:30am - 11:15am CST
Eugene O'Neill Theater
  Plenary Session

11:15am CST

Imaginative and creative thinking: Business methodologies and steps to increase innovation in the classroom.
Limited Capacity seats available
In today’s challenging world, skills like creativity, teamwork, communication and research are required  in any industry. The challenge to this generation of learners and teachers is to make sure that they are cultivated today, so that it can be present in the workforce for tomorrow. In this presentation, the audience will be presented with different methodologies and its application in the classroom, to answer one critical question: How might we apply what we learn, in the context of technology, investigation and research
Presenters
avatar for Sergio Mondragon

Sergio Mondragon

Co-Founder, Constru-Robot
With 20 years of experience in Information technology, Sergio has worked in companies like Hewlett Packard and IBM. He has had the opportunity to lead organizations  to implement agile and Design thinking ways of working, fostering innovation and creativity in the workplace. Today... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 11:15am - 12:00pm CST
Eugene O'Neill Theater
  Interest Section

12:00pm CST

Visit to the Publishers | Lunch
Friday January 25, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Lobby

1:00pm CST

How To Use Breaking News English, CNN 10 & Padlet to Teach Current Events
Limited Capacity full
Participants will learn about two user friendly current event sites for English Learners. Participants will learn how to use Padlet as a means of communication, collaboration, and conversation starters for the classroom.
Presenters
avatar for Erica Ellis

Erica Ellis

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Erica Ellis is an English instructor with over eight years of teaching experience. She holds a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and has taught at universities and community colleges in the U.S. and Mexico. Currently, Erica is serving as an English... Read More →
avatar for Rosie Ojeda

Rosie Ojeda

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Rosie Ojeda is an English Language Fellow from California. She is currently working in Zapopan, Mexico at Instituto Tecnologico Mario Molina. Rosie earned her MA TESOL at the University of San Francisco. She has worked in the field of TESOL for over eight years, with both students... Read More →
avatar for Maureen Rooney

Maureen Rooney

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Maureen Rooney is currently an English Language Fellow working with the Secretariat of Education in Yucatán.  She has her Masters in Education/TESOL and was twice awarded Teacher of the Year while teaching ESL in Rhode Island. Maureen also redesigned teacher education programs in... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
201
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

How to Use EDPuzzle to Enhance Vocabulary and Incentivate Discussion
Limited Capacity full
EDPUZZLE.com allows Teachers and students to use video as the base for language practice and acquisition by making said videos interactive, fostering active listening.  During this workshop, we will create an assignment, register as students to complete the assignment and then review the results from the teacher’s website so we can jointly discover the benefits for the the motivation and language development as well as for feedback that we can provide to our classes.

Please visit the following webpage:

https://edpuzzle.com/join/gedpasg   
Presenters
avatar for Ana María Socarrás E.

Ana María Socarrás E.

Resource Teacher, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
I have been teaching English for 20 years, and each day I’m more passionate about it. I am a storyteller, a communicator, helping hand and a partner in the adventure of curiosity.Diplomado Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults – Universidad de SantanderDiplomado Gestión... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
306
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

How to Use Quizlet to Foster Vocabulary Development
Limited Capacity filling up
Quizlet modernizes the traditional flashcard with images and games. In this session, learn how to maximize these tools to make learning fun and meaningful. Quizlet is appropriate for young learners through university students. Teachers can use Quizlet to preview, teach and assess vocabulary learning. Best of all, students can use Quizlet to learn independently.
Presenters
avatar for Dana Frye

Dana Frye

English Language Fellow, Paraguay, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Dana Frye has twenty years of experience teaching ELs in various settings from Kindergarten through Community College. Her expertise is in teaching language through content, particularly in science. Dana is an English Language Fellow in Paraguay where she is helping to train 600 new... Read More →
avatar for Renee Thessing

Renee Thessing

English Language Fellow, Uruguay, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
ReneeThessing has been working with English Learners for the past ten years, both internationally and in the U.S. Her focus has been how to foster literacy in the EL classroom. Currently, she is developing a curriculum and materials for rural schools in Uruguay as an English Language... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
402
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

How to Use Vocabtest to Enhance English Language Lessons
Limited Capacity seats available
Teaching is a work of heart, and it needs different aids in order to be successful. Nowadays, it is undeniable to acknowledge that technology plays an essential role in ELT; nevertheless, many educators do not take full advantage of it since they do not know about all the online tools available. In this training, we will work with Vocabtest, two free, useful resources that can turn English lessons into a more interactive, livelier experience.
Presenters
avatar for Rony Molina Cajina

Rony Molina Cajina

Academic Coordinator Heredia, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Rony Molina Cajina has worked at Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano since 2006. He holds and English teaching degree from Universidad de Costa Rica, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Universidad Hispanoamericana. He also has a specialization in Educational... Read More →
avatar for Mario Mairena Salas

Mario Mairena Salas

Hourly Teacher, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Mario Mairena Salas has worked as an educational leader at Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano for three years. He holds two English teaching degrees from Universidad de Costa Rica: one in Secondary education, and another one in elementary school education. He has had an... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
304
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

How to use Weebly Website Creator to Engage Students in Project-Based Learning
Limited Capacity full
To best prepare students for the real world, they must learn how to create a long-term goal and plan short-term steps for achieving that goal. If you are new to project-based learning, by the time this demonstration is over, you will see how to integrate music, photography, web design, and descriptive writing into a multi-lesson project. You will walk out with a unit plan, technological tools, and all the materials you need to start this project with your students tomorrow!
Presenters
avatar for Lisa Pye

Lisa Pye

English Language Fellow, Ecuador, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
avatar for Jennifer Ventimiglia

Jennifer Ventimiglia

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Jennifer Ventimiglia is a lifelong learner who is driven by the belief that education is power.  She is a teacher, a teacher trainer, and a curriculum developer who has worked in the U.S. and Latin America for the past 15 years.  Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in TESOL and a... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
403
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Imaginative and creative thinking: Business methodologies and steps to increase innovation in the classroom.
Limited Capacity seats available
Note: This hands-on session is part 2 of Sergio's morning plenary talk.


In today’s challenging world, skills like creativity, teamwork, communication and research are required in any industry. The challenge to this generation of learners and teachers is to make sure that they are cultivated today, so that it can be present in the workforce for tomorrow. In this presentation, the audience will be presented with different methodologies and its application in the classroom, to answer one critical question: How might we apply what we learn, in the context of technology, investigation and research

Presenters
avatar for Sergio Mondragon

Sergio Mondragon

Co-Founder, Constru-Robot
With 20 years of experience in Information technology, Sergio has worked in companies like Hewlett Packard and IBM. He has had the opportunity to lead organizations  to implement agile and Design thinking ways of working, fostering innovation and creativity in the workplace. Today... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
307
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Increasing Student Talk Time and Student Motivation Using Flipgrid
Limited Capacity full
Apps have become an essential tool in learning environments; especially those that allow full interaction and real-time answers. Flipgrid provides an interactive environment where both teachers and students voice their views on topics discussed in the classroom. This platform allows full interaction among students in order to improve their performance in the target language. Join us in this workshop and learn how to use the tool!

If you are attending this session, please download the following app prior to the conference:

For Android:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vidku.app.flipgrid&hl=en
For iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipgrid/id756972930?mt=8

Presenters
avatar for Liana Rojas Binda

Liana Rojas Binda

Head of the English Department, Universidad Castro Carazo
Liana Rojas holds a BA in English from Universidad de Costa Rica and a Master’s in TESOL from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  Formerly a Curriculum developer and Head of Training and Recruitment at CCCN, and a consultant and presenter for several publishing houses... Read More →
avatar for Juan Pablo Fallas

Juan Pablo Fallas

Professor, Universidad Castro Carazo / UTN
Juan Pablo Fallas holds a Master’s Degree in Technical Education from the ITCR, and a bachelor’s degree in English teaching from UNA. He has been a university professor for 11 years, and has been teaching for 14 years. Juan Pablo currently teaches at UTN and Castro Carazo University... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
205
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Making formative assessment engaging with Kahoot!
Limited Capacity seats available
This workshop will engage participants in a brief, interactive lesson about how to use Kahoot, a game-based learning platform that students can access with cell phones. Kahoot allows teachers to create their own multiple-choice quizzes that can be used to assess students’ prior knowledge about a topic or as a formative/summative assessment. It produces on-the-spot data that teachers can use to drive their next instructional moves and is highly energizing for students.
Presenters
avatar for Ellen Berry

Ellen Berry

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
For the past twenty-five years or so, Ellen Berry has been working with English learners as an instructor, Department Head, Instructional Coach, and Program Director. This work has taken place in Massachusetts public schools, Venezuela, Salem State University, and Harvard University’s... Read More →
avatar for Alexa Varriano

Alexa Varriano

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Alexa Varriano has taught English in Albania, Romania and New York City for the past ten years. She has also served as a teacher coach, trainer and linguistics professor and now lives in Lima working to revise the nationwide English curriculum for the country’s teacher training... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
401
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Online Games to Teach Phonemic Awareness
Limited Capacity full
In this new technological world in which our students are exposed to different Apps and online programs and games, it is important that teachers research and look for the best options to work in the class. This presentation intends to show different online free games that can be used to teach phonemic awareness for students to feel motivated and become more participative in the English class. The free online games can be found all over the web but the teacher must know which are the ones that fits with the English program you are part of.
Presenters
avatar for Paula Brenes Ferreto

Paula Brenes Ferreto

Professor, Universidad Hispanoamericana / MEP
Prof. Paula Brenes is a Universidad Nacional graduate who studied her licentiate program at Universidad Hispanoamericana and who is currently finishing another licentiate program in assessment. She works for MEP as an English teacher at Carlos Sanabria Mora School, where she has her... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
303
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Storybird: Creating My Own Contextualized Stories for Children
Limited Capacity seats available
Costa Rican English education has changed. Part of the new curriculum requires teachers to start the reading learning process in first cycle; however, it is difficult to find short stories that are suitable to the content and level of our students. Storybird is an online tool that provides teachers with endless possibilities to create short illustrated stories that can later be used in the English classroom to enhance the literacy process. This mini-workshop mixes theory on developing students’ literacy with ideas on how to use the website to create your own short digital storybooks.
Presenters
avatar for Jonathan Elizondo Mejías

Jonathan Elizondo Mejías

English Teacher and Professor, MEP / UNED
Jonnathan Elizondo is an experienced EFL professional who devotes his time and energy seekingways to enhance his students´ learning processes. He is especially interested in exploring theimpact of technology in the English classroom and specifically in using ICTs to improve students’listening... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
202
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Talk to Move
Limited Capacity seats available
Talk to Move is a digital platform created to encourage students at Liceo Sinaí to participate actively in the English classroom, to increase their fluency, and to foster cross-cultural communication. The presenters will guide you through the platform's four components and how it is used in high school to spark new ideas on participants and its potential use in their English classrooms.
Presenters
avatar for Angélica Altamirano Jiménez

Angélica Altamirano Jiménez

English Teacher, MEP
Angélica Altamirano Jiménez works as an English Teacher for the Ministry ofPublic Education (MEP). Currently, she teaches conversational English to seventhand ninth graders at Liceo Sinaí, Pérez Zeledón. However, she keeps a tenureposition in Quebradas Elementary School where... Read More →
avatar for Moisés Quirós Monge

Moisés Quirós Monge

English Teacher, MEP
M.Sc. Moisés Quirós Monge works as an English Teacher for the Ministry of PublicEducation (MEP). Currently, he teaches conversational English to eighth and ninthgraders at Liceo Sinaí, Pérez Zeledón. In addition to this, Mr. Quirós has eightyears of experience working with children... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
203
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Tea Time with Darragh
Limited Capacity seats available
In this session, we will look at practical ways of implementing the ‘bring your own device’ approach for incorporating technology into our teaching practice in a useful way. Be sure to have your cellphones and tablets at the ready!
Presenters
avatar for Darragh O’Grady

Darragh O’Grady

Consultant, National Geographic Learning
Darragh has taught EFL to all ages and levels since 1994. He has been an IELTS examiner, project manager, teacher trainer, and author. He holds a master’s degree in English and a TEFL-Q qualification from the National University of Ireland. He is currently completing the Trinity... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
310
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

The Implementation of Online Blogs to Improve Writing Skills
Limited Capacity seats available
Nowadays, there is a vast sea of technological resources that can be implemented to improve learners' skills. However, most of these resources focus on aspects such as listening, reading, vocabulary and grammar. It is a hard task to find helpful tools to work on writing skills. But, how about taking advantage of ONLINE BLOGS? What are they? How can they be implemented in a class to get the best outcomes? What are the pros and cons? Are they useful to improve my students' writing? Can they help me as a teacher to make the writing process more dynamic for my students? Is it possible to become better at teaching writing by using blogs? This information will be shared and discussed at the 2019 NCTE.
Presenters
avatar for Gustavo Córdoba Arias

Gustavo Córdoba Arias

English Teacher, Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios de Cartago
Licenciado Gustavo Alonso Córdoba Arias got his Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching at Universidad de Costa Rica in 2013. He got graduated from Licenciatura Degree at Universidad Americana in 2018. He works as a technical English teacher at Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
302
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Using Padlet to Increase Student Participation in the English Language Classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
Padlet is an interactive and visually interesting tool that allows teachers to quickly and easily create online boards for students to write on. Unlike Google Docs, students cannot change what others have written, but teachers can edit students' work. In this presentation, we will show you different ways to set up a Padlet page and share various activities you can use in your classroom that are easily adaptable for different skills and levels.
Presenters
avatar for Katrina J. Schmidt

Katrina J. Schmidt

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Katrina J. Schmidt is an English Language Fellow in Tijuana, Mexico and has been an English instructor for over ten years. She has taught at universities in the US, Mexico and Colombia. She received her MA TESOL from the New School, and is interested in social justice in educatio... Read More →
avatar for Cara Schroeder

Cara Schroeder

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Cara Schroeder is an English Language Fellow in Celaya, Guanajuato. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a former board member of the Colorado TESOL affiliate. She has over 15 years of experience teaching English Language Learners... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
404
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Using Wikis to Internationalize Your Classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
Have you ever considered internationalizing your classroom with the use of wikis by having your students collaborate with other learners in a different part of the globe? Through this session, the presenter will show you how you can set up your own class wiki and connect it to the world.
Presenters
avatar for Allen Quesada Pacheco

Allen Quesada Pacheco

Academic Coordinator, BA in English, UCR
Allen Quesada-Pacheco, Full professor at the School of Modern Languages, University of Costa Rica (UCR), is currently the academic coordinator in the BA in English. He obtained a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (TESOL) and an MSc. in Educational Technology from the University... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
305
  Session 01

1:00pm CST

Workshopping Ideas from TED with National Geographic Learning
Limited Capacity full
Join National Geographic Learning as we explore how big ideas from TED help learners everywhere find their voice in English. Participants will use National Geographic Learning materials to understand, think, and talk about fascinating ideas from TED so that they can share their own ideas in English.
Presenters
avatar for Caitlin Thomas

Caitlin Thomas

Senior Product Marketing Manager, General English, National Geographic Learning
Caitlin Thomas is a Senior Product Marketing Manager specializing in General English materials for National Geographic Learning, based in San Francisco, California. Caitlin began working with National Geographic Learning in 2005 and has held positions in sales and marketing for English... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:00pm - 1:30pm CST
204
  Session 01

1:40pm CST

How To Use Breaking News English, CNN 10 & Padlet to Teach Current Events
Limited Capacity seats available
Participants will learn about two user friendly current event sites for English Learners. Participants will learn how to use Padlet as a means of communication, collaboration, and conversation starters for the classroom.
Presenters
avatar for Erica Ellis

Erica Ellis

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Erica Ellis is an English instructor with over eight years of teaching experience. She holds a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and has taught at universities and community colleges in the U.S. and Mexico. Currently, Erica is serving as an English... Read More →
avatar for Rosie Ojeda

Rosie Ojeda

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Rosie Ojeda is an English Language Fellow from California. She is currently working in Zapopan, Mexico at Instituto Tecnologico Mario Molina. Rosie earned her MA TESOL at the University of San Francisco. She has worked in the field of TESOL for over eight years, with both students... Read More →
avatar for Maureen Rooney

Maureen Rooney

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Maureen Rooney is currently an English Language Fellow working with the Secretariat of Education in Yucatán.  She has her Masters in Education/TESOL and was twice awarded Teacher of the Year while teaching ESL in Rhode Island. Maureen also redesigned teacher education programs in... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
201
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

How to Use EDPuzzle to Enhance Vocabulary and Incentivate Discussion
Limited Capacity seats available
EDPUZZLE.com allows Teachers and students to use video as the base for language practice and acquisition by making said videos interactive, fostering active listening.  During this workshop, we will create an assignment, register as students to complete the assignment and then review the results from the teacher’s website so we can jointly discover the benefits for the the motivation and language development as well as for feedback that we can provide to our classes.

Please visit the following webpage:

https://edpuzzle.com/join/gedpasg   
Presenters
avatar for Ana María Socarrás E.

Ana María Socarrás E.

Resource Teacher, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
I have been teaching English for 20 years, and each day I’m more passionate about it. I am a storyteller, a communicator, helping hand and a partner in the adventure of curiosity.Diplomado Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults – Universidad de SantanderDiplomado Gestión... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
306
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

How to Use Quizlet to Foster Vocabulary Development
Limited Capacity full
Quizlet modernizes the traditional flashcard with images and games. In this session, learn how to maximize these tools to make learning fun and meaningful. Quizlet is appropriate for young learners through university students. Teachers can use Quizlet to preview, teach and assess vocabulary learning. Best of all, students can use Quizlet to learn independently.
Presenters
avatar for Dana Frye

Dana Frye

English Language Fellow, Paraguay, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Dana Frye has twenty years of experience teaching ELs in various settings from Kindergarten through Community College. Her expertise is in teaching language through content, particularly in science. Dana is an English Language Fellow in Paraguay where she is helping to train 600 new... Read More →
avatar for Renee Thessing

Renee Thessing

English Language Fellow, Uruguay, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
ReneeThessing has been working with English Learners for the past ten years, both internationally and in the U.S. Her focus has been how to foster literacy in the EL classroom. Currently, she is developing a curriculum and materials for rural schools in Uruguay as an English Language... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
402
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

How to Use Vocabtest to Enhance English Language Lessons
Limited Capacity seats available
Teaching is a work of heart, and it needs different aids in order to be successful. Nowadays, it is undeniable to acknowledge that technology plays an essential role in ELT; nevertheless, many educators do not take full advantage of it since they do not know about all the online tools available. In this training, we will work with Vocabtest, two free, useful resources that can turn English lessons into a more interactive, livelier experience. 
Presenters
avatar for Rony Molina Cajina

Rony Molina Cajina

Academic Coordinator Heredia, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Rony Molina Cajina has worked at Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano since 2006. He holds and English teaching degree from Universidad de Costa Rica, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Universidad Hispanoamericana. He also has a specialization in Educational... Read More →
avatar for Mario Mairena Salas

Mario Mairena Salas

Hourly Teacher, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Mario Mairena Salas has worked as an educational leader at Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano for three years. He holds two English teaching degrees from Universidad de Costa Rica: one in Secondary education, and another one in elementary school education. He has had an... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
304
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

How to use Weebly Website Creator to Engage Students in Project-Based Learning
Limited Capacity filling up
To best prepare students for the real world, they must learn how to create a long-term goal and plan short-term steps for achieving that goal. If you are new to project-based learning, by the time this demonstration is over, you will see how to integrate music, photography, web design, and descriptive writing into a multi-lesson project. You will walk out with a unit plan, technological tools, and all the materials you need to start this project with your students tomorrow!
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Ventimiglia

Jennifer Ventimiglia

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Jennifer Ventimiglia is a lifelong learner who is driven by the belief that education is power.  She is a teacher, a teacher trainer, and a curriculum developer who has worked in the U.S. and Latin America for the past 15 years.  Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in TESOL and a... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
403
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Imaginative and creative thinking: Business methodologies and steps to increase innovation in the classroom.
Limited Capacity seats available
Note: This hands-on session is part 2 of Sergio's morning plenary talk.


In today’s challenging world, skills like creativity, teamwork, communication and research are required in any industry. The challenge to this generation of learners and teachers is to make sure that they are cultivated today, so that it can be present in the workforce for tomorrow. In this presentation, the audience will be presented with different methodologies and its application in the classroom, to answer one critical question: How might we apply what we learn, in the context of technology, investigation and research

Presenters
avatar for Sergio Mondragon

Sergio Mondragon

Co-Founder, Constru-Robot
With 20 years of experience in Information technology, Sergio has worked in companies like Hewlett Packard and IBM. He has had the opportunity to lead organizations  to implement agile and Design thinking ways of working, fostering innovation and creativity in the workplace. Today... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
307
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Increasing Student Talk Time and Student Motivation Using Flipgrid
Limited Capacity full
Apps have become an essential tool in learning environments; especially those that allow full interaction and real-time answers. Flipgrid provides an interactive environment where both teachers and students voice their views on topics discussed in the classroom. This platform allows full interaction among students in order to improve their performance in the target language. Join us in this workshop and learn how to use the tool!


If you are attending this session, please download the following app prior to the conference:

For Android:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vidku.app.flipgrid&hl=en
For iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipgrid/id756972930?mt=8
Presenters
avatar for Liana Rojas Binda

Liana Rojas Binda

Head of the English Department, Universidad Castro Carazo
Liana Rojas holds a BA in English from Universidad de Costa Rica and a Master’s in TESOL from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  Formerly a Curriculum developer and Head of Training and Recruitment at CCCN, and a consultant and presenter for several publishing houses... Read More →
avatar for Juan Pablo Fallas

Juan Pablo Fallas

Professor, Universidad Castro Carazo / UTN
Juan Pablo Fallas holds a Master’s Degree in Technical Education from the ITCR, and a bachelor’s degree in English teaching from UNA. He has been a university professor for 11 years, and has been teaching for 14 years. Juan Pablo currently teaches at UTN and Castro Carazo University... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
205
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Making formative assessment engaging with Kahoot!
Limited Capacity seats available
This workshop will engage participants in a brief, interactive lesson about how to use Kahoot, a game-based learning platform that students can access with cell phones. Kahoot allows teachers to create their own multiple-choice quizzes that can be used to assess students’ prior knowledge about a topic or as a formative/summative assessment. It produces on-the-spot data that teachers can use to drive their next instructional moves and is highly energizing for students.
Presenters
avatar for Ellen Berry

Ellen Berry

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
For the past twenty-five years or so, Ellen Berry has been working with English learners as an instructor, Department Head, Instructional Coach, and Program Director. This work has taken place in Massachusetts public schools, Venezuela, Salem State University, and Harvard University’s... Read More →
avatar for Alexa Varriano

Alexa Varriano

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Alexa Varriano has taught English in Albania, Romania and New York City for the past ten years. She has also served as a teacher coach, trainer and linguistics professor and now lives in Lima working to revise the nationwide English curriculum for the country’s teacher training... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
401
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Online Games to Teach Phonemic Awareness
Limited Capacity full
In this new technological world in which our students are exposed to different Apps and online programs and games, it is important that teachers research and look for the best options to work in the class. This presentation intends to show different online free games that can be used to teach phonemic awareness for students to feel motivated and become more participative in the English class. The free online games can be found all over the web but the teacher must know which are the ones that fits with the English program you are part of.
Presenters
avatar for Paula Brenes Ferreto

Paula Brenes Ferreto

Professor, Universidad Hispanoamericana / MEP
Prof. Paula Brenes is a Universidad Nacional graduate who studied her licentiate program at Universidad Hispanoamericana and who is currently finishing another licentiate program in assessment. She works for MEP as an English teacher at Carlos Sanabria Mora School, where she has her... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
303
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Storybird: Creating My Own Contextualized Stories for Children
Limited Capacity filling up
Costa Rican English education has changed. Part of the new curriculum requires teachers to start the reading learning process in first cycle; however, it is difficult to find short stories that are suitable to the content and level of our students. Storybird is an online tool that provides teachers with endless possibilities to create short illustrated stories that can later be used in the English classroom to enhance the literacy process. This mini-workshop mixes theory on developing students’ literacy with ideas on how to use the website to create your own short digital storybooks.
Presenters
avatar for Jonathan Elizondo Mejías

Jonathan Elizondo Mejías

English Teacher and Professor, MEP / UNED
Jonnathan Elizondo is an experienced EFL professional who devotes his time and energy seekingways to enhance his students´ learning processes. He is especially interested in exploring theimpact of technology in the English classroom and specifically in using ICTs to improve students’listening... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
202
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Talk to Move
Limited Capacity seats available
Talk to Move is a digital platform created to encourage students at Liceo Sinaí to participate actively in the English classroom, to increase their fluency, and to foster cross-cultural communication. The presenters will guide you through the platform's four components and how it is used in high school to spark new ideas on participants and its potential use in their English classrooms.
Presenters
avatar for Angélica Altamirano Jiménez

Angélica Altamirano Jiménez

English Teacher, MEP
Angélica Altamirano Jiménez works as an English Teacher for the Ministry ofPublic Education (MEP). Currently, she teaches conversational English to seventhand ninth graders at Liceo Sinaí, Pérez Zeledón. However, she keeps a tenureposition in Quebradas Elementary School where... Read More →
avatar for Moisés Quirós Monge

Moisés Quirós Monge

English Teacher, MEP
M.Sc. Moisés Quirós Monge works as an English Teacher for the Ministry of PublicEducation (MEP). Currently, he teaches conversational English to eighth and ninthgraders at Liceo Sinaí, Pérez Zeledón. In addition to this, Mr. Quirós has eightyears of experience working with children... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
203
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Tea Time with Darragh
Limited Capacity seats available
In this session, we will look at practical ways of implementing the ‘bring your own device’ approach for incorporating technology into our teaching practice in a useful way. Be sure to have your cellphones and tablets at the ready! 
Presenters
avatar for Darragh O’Grady

Darragh O’Grady

Consultant, National Geographic Learning
Darragh has taught EFL to all ages and levels since 1994. He has been an IELTS examiner, project manager, teacher trainer, and author. He holds a master’s degree in English and a TEFL-Q qualification from the National University of Ireland. He is currently completing the Trinity... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
310
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

The Implementation of Online Blogs to Improve Writing Skills
Limited Capacity seats available
Nowadays, there is a vast sea of technological resources that can be implemented to improve learners' skills. However, most of these resources focus on aspects such as listening, reading, vocabulary and grammar. It is a hard task to find helpful tools to work on writing skills. But, how about taking advantage of ONLINE BLOGS? What are they? How can they be implemented in a class to get the best outcomes? What are the pros and cons? Are they useful to improve my students' writing? Can they help me as a teacher to make the writing process more dynamic for my students? Is it possible to become better at teaching writing by using blogs? This information will be shared and discussed at the 2019 NCTE.
Presenters
avatar for Gustavo Córdoba Arias

Gustavo Córdoba Arias

English Teacher, Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios de Cartago
Licenciado Gustavo Alonso Córdoba Arias got his Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching at Universidad de Costa Rica in 2013. He got graduated from Licenciatura Degree at Universidad Americana in 2018. He works as a technical English teacher at Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
302
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Using Padlet to Increase Student Participation in the English Language Classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
Padlet is an interactive and visually interesting tool that allows teachers to quickly and easily create online boards for students to write on. Unlike Google Docs, students cannot change what others have written, but teachers can edit students' work. In this presentation, we will show you different ways to set up a Padlet page and share various activities you can use in your classroom that are easily adaptable for different skills and levels.
Presenters
avatar for Katrina J. Schmidt

Katrina J. Schmidt

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Katrina J. Schmidt is an English Language Fellow in Tijuana, Mexico and has been an English instructor for over ten years. She has taught at universities in the US, Mexico and Colombia. She received her MA TESOL from the New School, and is interested in social justice in educatio... Read More →
avatar for Cara Schroeder

Cara Schroeder

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Cara Schroeder is an English Language Fellow in Celaya, Guanajuato. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a former board member of the Colorado TESOL affiliate. She has over 15 years of experience teaching English Language Learners... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
404
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Using Wikis to Internationalize Your Classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
Have you ever considered internationalizing your classroom with the use of wikis by having your students collaborate with other learners in a different part of the globe? Through this session, the presenter will show you how you can set up your own class wiki and connect it to the world.
Presenters
avatar for Allen Quesada Pacheco

Allen Quesada Pacheco

Academic Coordinator, BA in English, UCR
Allen Quesada-Pacheco, Full professor at the School of Modern Languages, University of Costa Rica (UCR), is currently the academic coordinator in the BA in English. He obtained a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (TESOL) and an MSc. in Educational Technology from the University... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
305
  Session 02

1:40pm CST

Workshopping Ideas from TED with National Geographic Learning
Limited Capacity full
Join National Geographic Learning as we explore how big ideas from TED help learners everywhere find their voice in English. Participants will use National Geographic Learning materials to understand, think, and talk about fascinating ideas from TED so that they can share their own ideas in English.
Presenters
avatar for Caitlin Thomas

Caitlin Thomas

Senior Product Marketing Manager, General English, National Geographic Learning
Caitlin Thomas is a Senior Product Marketing Manager specializing in General English materials for National Geographic Learning, based in San Francisco, California. Caitlin began working with National Geographic Learning in 2005 and has held positions in sales and marketing for English... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
204
  Session 02

2:20pm CST

How To Use Breaking News English, CNN 10 & Padlet to Teach Current Events
Limited Capacity seats available
Participants will learn about two user friendly current event sites for English Learners. Participants will learn how to use Padlet as a means of communication, collaboration, and conversation starters for the classroom.
Presenters
avatar for Erica Ellis

Erica Ellis

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Erica Ellis is an English instructor with over eight years of teaching experience. She holds a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and has taught at universities and community colleges in the U.S. and Mexico. Currently, Erica is serving as an English... Read More →
avatar for Rosie Ojeda

Rosie Ojeda

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Rosie Ojeda is an English Language Fellow from California. She is currently working in Zapopan, Mexico at Instituto Tecnologico Mario Molina. Rosie earned her MA TESOL at the University of San Francisco. She has worked in the field of TESOL for over eight years, with both students... Read More →
avatar for Maureen Rooney

Maureen Rooney

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Maureen Rooney is currently an English Language Fellow working with the Secretariat of Education in Yucatán.  She has her Masters in Education/TESOL and was twice awarded Teacher of the Year while teaching ESL in Rhode Island. Maureen also redesigned teacher education programs in... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
201
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

How to Use EDPuzzle to Enhance Vocabulary and Inacentivate Discussion
Limited Capacity seats available
EDPUZZLE.com allows Teachers and students to use video as the base for language practice and acquisition by making said videos interactive, fostering active listening.  During this workshop, we will create an assignment, register as students to complete the assignment and then review the results from the teacher’s website so we can jointly discover the benefits for the the motivation and language development as well as for feedback that we can provide to our classes.

Please visit the following webpage:

https://edpuzzle.com/join/gedpasg   
Presenters
avatar for Ana María Socarrás E.

Ana María Socarrás E.

Resource Teacher, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
I have been teaching English for 20 years, and each day I’m more passionate about it. I am a storyteller, a communicator, helping hand and a partner in the adventure of curiosity.Diplomado Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults – Universidad de SantanderDiplomado Gestión... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
306
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

How to Use Quizlet to Foster Vocabulary Development
Limited Capacity filling up
Quizlet modernizes the traditional flashcard with images and games. In this session, learn how to maximize these tools to make learning fun and meaningful. Quizlet is appropriate for young learners through university students. Teachers can use Quizlet to preview, teach and assess vocabulary learning. Best of all, students can use Quizlet to learn independently.
Presenters
avatar for Dana Frye

Dana Frye

English Language Fellow, Paraguay, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Dana Frye has twenty years of experience teaching ELs in various settings from Kindergarten through Community College. Her expertise is in teaching language through content, particularly in science. Dana is an English Language Fellow in Paraguay where she is helping to train 600 new... Read More →
avatar for Renee Thessing

Renee Thessing

English Language Fellow, Uruguay, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
ReneeThessing has been working with English Learners for the past ten years, both internationally and in the U.S. Her focus has been how to foster literacy in the EL classroom. Currently, she is developing a curriculum and materials for rural schools in Uruguay as an English Language... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
402
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

How to Use Vocabtest to Enhance English Language Lessons
Limited Capacity filling up
Teaching is a work of heart, and it needs different aids in order to be successful. Nowadays, it is undeniable to acknowledge that technology plays an essential role in ELT; nevertheless, many educators do not take full advantage of it since they do not know about all the online tools available. In this training, we will work with Vocabtest, two free, useful resources that can turn English lessons into a more interactive, livelier experience. 
Presenters
avatar for Rony Molina Cajina

Rony Molina Cajina

Academic Coordinator Heredia, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Rony Molina Cajina has worked at Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano since 2006. He holds and English teaching degree from Universidad de Costa Rica, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Universidad Hispanoamericana. He also has a specialization in Educational... Read More →
avatar for Mario Mairena Salas

Mario Mairena Salas

Hourly Teacher, Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Mario Mairena Salas has worked as an educational leader at Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano for three years. He holds two English teaching degrees from Universidad de Costa Rica: one in Secondary education, and another one in elementary school education. He has had an... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
304
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

How to use Weebly Website Creator to Engage Students in Project-Based Learning
Limited Capacity seats available
To best prepare students for the real world, they must learn how to create a long-term goal and plan short-term steps for achieving that goal. If you are new to project-based learning, by the time this demonstration is over, you will see how to integrate music, photography, web design, and descriptive writing into a multi-lesson project. You will walk out with a unit plan, technological tools, and all the materials you need to start this project with your students tomorrow!
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Ventimiglia

Jennifer Ventimiglia

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Jennifer Ventimiglia is a lifelong learner who is driven by the belief that education is power.  She is a teacher, a teacher trainer, and a curriculum developer who has worked in the U.S. and Latin America for the past 15 years.  Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in TESOL and a... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
403
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Imaginative and creative thinking: Business methodologies and steps to increase innovation in the classroom.
Limited Capacity seats available
Note: This hands-on session is part 2 of Sergio's morning plenary talk.


In today’s challenging world, skills like creativity, teamwork, communication and research are required in any industry. The challenge to this generation of learners and teachers is to make sure that they are cultivated today, so that it can be present in the workforce for tomorrow. In this presentation, the audience will be presented with different methodologies and its application in the classroom, to answer one critical question: How might we apply what we learn, in the context of technology, investigation and research

Presenters
avatar for Sergio Mondragon

Sergio Mondragon

Co-Founder, Constru-Robot
With 20 years of experience in Information technology, Sergio has worked in companies like Hewlett Packard and IBM. He has had the opportunity to lead organizations  to implement agile and Design thinking ways of working, fostering innovation and creativity in the workplace. Today... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
307
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Increasing Student Talk Time and Student Motivation Using Flipgrid
Limited Capacity full
Apps have become an essential tool in learning environments; especially those that allow full interaction and real-time answers. Flipgrid provides an interactive environment where both teachers and students voice their views on topics discussed in the classroom. This platform allows full interaction among students in order to improve their performance in the target language. Join us in this workshop and learn how to use the tool!


If you are attending this session, please download the following app prior to the conference:

For Android:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vidku.app.flipgrid&hl=en
For iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipgrid/id756972930?mt=8
Presenters
avatar for Liana Rojas Binda

Liana Rojas Binda

Head of the English Department, Universidad Castro Carazo
Liana Rojas holds a BA in English from Universidad de Costa Rica and a Master’s in TESOL from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  Formerly a Curriculum developer and Head of Training and Recruitment at CCCN, and a consultant and presenter for several publishing houses... Read More →
avatar for Juan Pablo Fallas

Juan Pablo Fallas

Professor, Universidad Castro Carazo / UTN
Juan Pablo Fallas holds a Master’s Degree in Technical Education from the ITCR, and a bachelor’s degree in English teaching from UNA. He has been a university professor for 11 years, and has been teaching for 14 years. Juan Pablo currently teaches at UTN and Castro Carazo University... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
205
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Making formative assessment engaging with Kahoot!
Limited Capacity seats available
This workshop will engage participants in a brief, interactive lesson about how to use Kahoot, a game-based learning platform that students can access with cell phones. Kahoot allows teachers to create their own multiple-choice quizzes that can be used to assess students’ prior knowledge about a topic or as a formative/summative assessment. It produces on-the-spot data that teachers can use to drive their next instructional moves and is highly energizing for students.
Presenters
avatar for Ellen Berry

Ellen Berry

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
For the past twenty-five years or so, Ellen Berry has been working with English learners as an instructor, Department Head, Instructional Coach, and Program Director. This work has taken place in Massachusetts public schools, Venezuela, Salem State University, and Harvard University’s... Read More →
avatar for Alexa Varriano

Alexa Varriano

English Language Fellow, Peru, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Alexa Varriano has taught English in Albania, Romania and New York City for the past ten years. She has also served as a teacher coach, trainer and linguistics professor and now lives in Lima working to revise the nationwide English curriculum for the country’s teacher training... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
401
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Online Games to Teach Phonemic Awareness
Limited Capacity full
In this new technological world in which our students are exposed to different Apps and online programs and games, it is important that teachers research and look for the best options to work in the class. This presentation intends to show different online free games that can be used to teach phonemic awareness for students to feel motivated and become more participative in the English class. The free online games can be found all over the web but the teacher must know which are the ones that fits with the English program you are part of.
Presenters
avatar for Paula Brenes Ferreto

Paula Brenes Ferreto

Professor, Universidad Hispanoamericana / MEP
Prof. Paula Brenes is a Universidad Nacional graduate who studied her licentiate program at Universidad Hispanoamericana and who is currently finishing another licentiate program in assessment. She works for MEP as an English teacher at Carlos Sanabria Mora School, where she has her... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
303
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Storybird: Creating My Own Contextualized Stories for Children
Limited Capacity seats available
Costa Rican English education has changed. Part of the new curriculum requires teachers to start the reading learning process in first cycle; however, it is difficult to find short stories that are suitable to the content and level of our students. Storybird is an online tool that provides teachers with endless possibilities to create short illustrated stories that can later be used in the English classroom to enhance the literacy process. This mini-workshop mixes theory on developing students’ literacy with ideas on how to use the website to create your own short digital storybooks.
Presenters
avatar for Jonathan Elizondo Mejías

Jonathan Elizondo Mejías

English Teacher and Professor, MEP / UNED
Jonnathan Elizondo is an experienced EFL professional who devotes his time and energy seekingways to enhance his students´ learning processes. He is especially interested in exploring theimpact of technology in the English classroom and specifically in using ICTs to improve students’listening... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
202
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Talk to Move
Limited Capacity seats available
Talk to Move is a digital platform created to encourage students at Liceo Sinaí to participate actively in the English classroom, to increase their fluency, and to foster cross-cultural communication. The presenters will guide you through the platform's four components and how it is used in high school to spark new ideas on participants and its potential use in their English classrooms.
Presenters
avatar for Angélica Altamirano Jiménez

Angélica Altamirano Jiménez

English Teacher, MEP
Angélica Altamirano Jiménez works as an English Teacher for the Ministry ofPublic Education (MEP). Currently, she teaches conversational English to seventhand ninth graders at Liceo Sinaí, Pérez Zeledón. However, she keeps a tenureposition in Quebradas Elementary School where... Read More →
avatar for Moisés Quirós Monge

Moisés Quirós Monge

English Teacher, MEP
M.Sc. Moisés Quirós Monge works as an English Teacher for the Ministry of PublicEducation (MEP). Currently, he teaches conversational English to eighth and ninthgraders at Liceo Sinaí, Pérez Zeledón. In addition to this, Mr. Quirós has eightyears of experience working with children... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
203
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Tea Time with Darragh
Limited Capacity seats available
In this session, we will look at practical ways of implementing the ‘bring your own device’ approach for incorporating technology into our teaching practice in a useful way. Be sure to have your cellphones and tablets at the ready! 
Presenters
avatar for Darragh O’Grady

Darragh O’Grady

Consultant, National Geographic Learning
Darragh has taught EFL to all ages and levels since 1994. He has been an IELTS examiner, project manager, teacher trainer, and author. He holds a master’s degree in English and a TEFL-Q qualification from the National University of Ireland. He is currently completing the Trinity... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
310
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

The Implementation of Online Blogs to Improve Writing Skills
Limited Capacity seats available
Nowadays, there is a vast sea of technological resources that can be implemented to improve learners' skills. However, most of these resources focus on aspects such as listening, reading, vocabulary and grammar. It is a hard task to find helpful tools to work on writing skills. But, how about taking advantage of ONLINE BLOGS? What are they? How can they be implemented in a class to get the best outcomes? What are the pros and cons? Are they useful to improve my students' writing? Can they help me as a teacher to make the writing process more dynamic for my students? Is it possible to become better at teaching writing by using blogs? This information will be shared and discussed at the 2019 NCTE.
Presenters
avatar for Gustavo Córdoba Arias

Gustavo Córdoba Arias

English Teacher, Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios de Cartago
Licenciado Gustavo Alonso Córdoba Arias got his Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching at Universidad de Costa Rica in 2013. He got graduated from Licenciatura Degree at Universidad Americana in 2018. He works as a technical English teacher at Colegio Vocacional de Artes y Oficios... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
302
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Using Padlet to Increase Student Participation in the English Language Classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
Padlet is an interactive and visually interesting tool that allows teachers to quickly and easily create online boards for students to write on. Unlike Google Docs, students cannot change what others have written, but teachers can edit students' work. In this presentation, we will show you different ways to set up a Padlet page and share various activities you can use in your classroom that are easily adaptable for different skills and levels.
Presenters
avatar for Katrina J. Schmidt

Katrina J. Schmidt

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Katrina J. Schmidt is an English Language Fellow in Tijuana, Mexico and has been an English instructor for over ten years. She has taught at universities in the US, Mexico and Colombia. She received her MA TESOL from the New School, and is interested in social justice in educatio... Read More →
avatar for Cara Schroeder

Cara Schroeder

English Language Fellow, Mexico, English Language Fellow Program, US Department of State
Cara Schroeder is an English Language Fellow in Celaya, Guanajuato. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a former board member of the Colorado TESOL affiliate. She has over 15 years of experience teaching English Language Learners... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
404
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Using Wikis to Internationalize Your Classroom
Limited Capacity seats available
Have you ever considered internationalizing your classroom with the use of wikis by having your students collaborate with other learners in a different part of the globe? Through this session, the presenter will show you how you can set up your own class wiki and connect it to the world.
Presenters
avatar for Allen Quesada Pacheco

Allen Quesada Pacheco

Academic Coordinator, BA in English, UCR
Allen Quesada-Pacheco, Full professor at the School of Modern Languages, University of Costa Rica (UCR), is currently the academic coordinator in the BA in English. He obtained a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (TESOL) and an MSc. in Educational Technology from the University... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
305
  Session 03

2:20pm CST

Workshopping Ideas from TED with National Geographic Learning
Limited Capacity full
Join National Geographic Learning as we explore how big ideas from TED help learners everywhere find their voice in English. Participants will use National Geographic Learning materials to understand, think, and talk about fascinating ideas from TED so that they can share their own ideas in English.
Presenters
avatar for Caitlin Thomas

Caitlin Thomas

Senior Product Marketing Manager, General English, National Geographic Learning
Caitlin Thomas is a Senior Product Marketing Manager specializing in General English materials for National Geographic Learning, based in San Francisco, California. Caitlin began working with National Geographic Learning in 2005 and has held positions in sales and marketing for English... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
204
  Session 03

2:50pm CST

Visit to the Publishers | Coffee Break
Friday January 25, 2019 2:50pm - 4:00pm CST
Lobby
  Visit to Publishers, Post-Event Session

4:00pm CST

A Heart to be Heard: Humanizing the Teaching Experience
Limited Capacity seats available
For centuries, teaching has been the quintessential trait that humans retain despite the ongoing cultural and social evolution that has molded the modern world we live in today. It is because of that transcendence that the art of teaching and the richness of any learning process should be much more closely attached to the human heart than the technology we have at hand. This theme will be explored through the lens of a Costa Rican teacher, profoundly deaf from birth, who rose from his humble beginnings to become the only deaf English teacher in Latin America who teaches both hearing and deaf students. The limits of innovative and thoughtful teaching go far beyond our ever expanding technological advancements, for technology can never replace teachers who have their heart in the right place.
Presenters
avatar for Fabián Corrales

Fabián Corrales

Special Education Teacher and Director, Oi2-Cualitek
Fabián Corrales Gutiérrez, is a Costa Rican  inter-disciplinarian, English teacher, special education teacher and director of Program Oi2-Cualitek, an interdisciplinary program that supports educational fields among other disciplines for people with/without disabilities. He attended... Read More →

Friday January 25, 2019 4:00pm - 4:30pm CST
Eugene O'Neill Theater
  Closing Session
 
Monday, January 28
 

10:00am CST

Webinar: Motivation in a Technological Environment
Limited Capacity filling up
When using technological tools in the classroom, it is a fact that only some pieces of the learning puzzle can be fully relied on the machines. In this webinar, we’ll discuss some examples in which human interaction and motivation from teachers play a key role in learning when technological tools are a part of the process.
Presenters
avatar for Marina Pardo

Marina Pardo

Product and Field Marketing Manager, National Geographic Learning
Marina Pardo holds an undergraduate degree in Language & Literature and studied Linguistics in UNAM's Master's Program. She has presented her work in conferences such as ICPC, ALFAL, MEXTESOL, and BBELT. She has 13 years’ experience as a teacher, and currently works as a Product... Read More →

Monday January 28, 2019 10:00am - 11:30am CST
Zoom Videoconferencing Platform
  Webinar, Post-Event Session

2:00pm CST

Webinar: Tips and tricks to start teaching online: from planning to feedback
Limited Capacity filling up
Teaching online presents exciting opportunities for teachers and students, but can also be very challenging, especially at the beginning. This webinar will provide practical tips and tricks for teachers who want to transition to the online classroom, from planning to feedback.
Presenters
avatar for Dafna Jodeck Osses

Dafna Jodeck Osses

Language Professor, Laureate Languages Online / UDLA Chile
Dafna Jodeck is an online language instructor, consultant and materials designer. She is a teacher of English as a foreign language and holds a master’s degree in applied linguistics. She has worked as an English teacher and program coordinator in higher education for eight years... Read More →

Monday January 28, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm CST
Zoom Videoconferencing Platform
  Webinar, Post-Event Session
 
Tuesday, January 29
 

10:00am CST

Webinar: TED Talks: Powerful Ideas to Inspire 21st Century Learning
Limited Capacity full
When people want to learn, they do. Explore how powerful ideas from TED Talks, combined with compelling real-world content from National Geographic, will get learners asking questions like “What if?”, “Have you ever wondered?”, and “Could this be true?” and sets the stage for impactful 21st century learning.
Presenters
avatar for Caitlin Thomas

Caitlin Thomas

Senior Product Marketing Manager, General English, National Geographic Learning
Caitlin Thomas is a Senior Product Marketing Manager specializing in General English materials for National Geographic Learning, based in San Francisco, California. Caitlin began working with National Geographic Learning in 2005 and has held positions in sales and marketing for English... Read More →

Tuesday January 29, 2019 10:00am - 11:30am CST
Zoom Videoconferencing Platform
  Webinar, Post-Event Session
 
Wednesday, January 30
 

10:00am CST

Webinar: Mobile Learning
Limited Capacity full
In this presentation we will explore easy-to-plan activities using the most common device around the world today: The Cellphone.
Even though nowadays almost everybody carry a cellphone everywhere they go, many times we do not really see how much we can do with it.
As English Teachers, we might feel quite afraid of using cellphones in class. It might be because they are restricted in our schools, or because we have not really found a purpose to use it in our lessons. Also, part of this fear might be the sensation that we need a lot of training in order to start using technology in our classes. Let me tell you that after this presentation, you will, for sure, feel a lot more confident and willing to put in practice some (if not all) of the activities presented.
I think, since we are surrounded by young and/or young-adults who are always “speaking” technology in everything they do, we have to adjust to the new times and start making technology work for us. In fact, this presentation has been prepared bearing that in mind.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Presenters
avatar for Joe Leon

Joe Leon

Online Platforms Specialist, Oxford University Press
Joe Leon has taught English as a Foreign Language for over 13 years at prestigious Private Schools and Language Centers in Peru. Joe is a graduate in Education from “Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos”, and is a specialist in teaching techniques for English as a Foreign... Read More →

Wednesday January 30, 2019 10:00am - 11:30am CST
Zoom Videoconferencing Platform
  Webinar, Post-Event Session