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TESOL Greece Start-of-the-Year & Big SIG Day 2024
22 September @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
TESOL Greece Start-of-the-Year & Big SIG Day Event 2024
"Assessments in its Varous Forms"
In collaboration with
IATEFL Global Issues SIG
Gold Sponsors
Plenary Presentations
Valentini Andreoula has been involved in education for more than 10 years. She holds a BA in Accounting and Finance, from Deree College, an MA in Applied Linguistics, and a Ph.D. in Language and Communication from Hellenic American University. Valentini teaches English as a foreign, is also an instructor at Hellenic American University teaching courses to under and post-graduate students.
Dr. Valentine Andreoulas
“Writing Apprehension and Assessment. Can We Use AI to Help Students Improve and Feel Less Stressed?”
10:00-10:50
Room A1
Summary: Writing apprehension hinders EFL students due to fear of negative evaluation, low confidence, and unfamiliarity with grammar. Studies in Greece highlight its impact on academic performance. AI tools like grammar checkers provide immediate, personalized feedback, reducing anxiety and improving writing skills. Teachers should integrate these tools as aids, promote collaborative activities, and foster supportive environments to enhance students’ confidence and autonomy in writing.
Abigail Ekanguo
“Adaptive Assessment Practices for Large and Multilingual EFL Classrooms in Africa”
12:40-13:30
Room A1
Summary: This presentation explores adaptive assessment practices tailored for large, multilingual EFL classrooms in Africa. It first shall provide an overview of large and multilingual classroom contexts, then address the challenges of language diversity and resource limitations while highlighting some effective strategies ELTs in such contexts can adopt and adapt to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in their culturally and linguistically diverse educational settings.
Abigail Ekangouo Awanga is an English Language teacher in a state secondary school in a semi-rural town in Cameroon who has been in the field for 17 years. She is the founder and coordinator of English Language Teaching Women Cameroon, CAMELTA Vice President in charge of International Outreach, Associate Editor for Africa ELTA and Events and Publications Coordinator for IATEFL-GISIG
TESOL Greece SIG Presentations
Adult Learners SIG
With over 25 years of expertise in adult education and TESOL, Lia Kalianos has held various roles, including ESP consultant, EAP tutor, IELTS examiner, course designer, materials writer, mentor, and teacher trainer. She is DELTA-qualified and holds both BA and MA degrees from UCL, University of London. Currently, she is a faculty member in the School of Graduate and Professional Education at The American College of Greece.
Lia Kalianos
“Enhancing Communication Skills Through Role Plays”
11:00-11:45
Room K.2.1
Summary: How can role plays facilitate the development of communication skills? How can they be used as formative assessment tools in foreign language classrooms? This workshop will explore these questions, providing attendees with practical strategies for designing and implementing effective role plays with adult learners.
Drama & Literature SIG
Evi Karydi
“Drama in Action: Elevate EFL Assessment with Engaging Techniques”
14:45-15:30
Room K.2.1
Summary: Discover how to transform EFL assessment through dynamic educational drama techniques and learn how to incorporate role-playing, improvisation, and simulations to evaluate language skills effectively. This hands-on workshop will provide participants with practical strategies and assessment tools to create an engaging and comprehensive language learning experience for our students. And guess what! It comes with a magic touch of storytelling!
Evi Karydi is an EFL teacher, the owner of iLearn Language School in Greece, a certified storyteller and educational drama coach, a teacher trainer, the founder of Dramactivate: teaching through
embodiment, a volunteer educator with the Hands-Up Project but above all she is an ardent supporter and practitioner of life-long learning who whole- heartedly believes that teaching is a work of heart.
Learning Technologies SIG
Magdalini Giannakouli is an owner and teacher at Meli English language school with over 26 years of experience, passionate about integrating technology into education.
Magdalini Giannakouli
“The GENIE in my Lamp: A Multidimensional Approach to Assessing”
14:45-15:30
Room K.2.5
Summary: Educational tools function like genies, offering invaluable assistance, feedback, and resources to teachers. These tools simplify educators’ tasks by providing a vast array of materials, all accessible with just a click. They enhance the teaching experience, making it more efficient and effective.
Specific Learning Differences SIG
Aggeliki Agiotatou
“Autism Recognition & Intervention in the Learning Process”
13:30-14:15
Room K.2.2
Summary: The presentation addresses Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the importance of its recognition and intervention in the learning process. The presentation outlines the main features of ASD, such as communication disorders, cognitive characteristics, and behavioral peculiarities. It also emphasizes the significance of early diagnosis and appropriate support to achieve better educational outcomes, particularly in learning foreign languages, such as English. Provides an extensive analysis of how this disorder affects individuals both personally and educationally, with a focus on the education of students with ASD in learning foreign languages, particularly English.
Aggeliki Agiotatou graduated from the Department of Educational Sciences at the State University of L’Aquila in Italy (Università degli Studi dell’Aquila – Scienze dell’Educazione) as a professional educator, specializing in psychosocial and educational support. Postgraduate studies in Group Analysis and Psychotherapy. Currently enrolled in the
postgraduate program “Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Prevention, and Research” at the European University Cyprus.
Teacher Development and Research SIG
Dr. Kosmas Vlachos is an Associate Lecturer at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and teaches in the TESOL MA program at Deree, the American College of Greece. With extensive experience in TESOL and educational technology, he has taught English, coordinated educational programs, and contributed to research on digital learning and language education.
Kosmas Vlachos
“Navigating the AI Landscape: A Guide for the Foreign Language Classroom”
13:30-14:15
Room K.2.5
Summary: This presentation explores the transformative impact of AI in language learning, particularly for second-language writing. It examines the benefits and challenges of AI-powered tools, such as automated feedback, text generation, and conversation simulation, while addressing ethical and academic integrity concerns. The goal is to help educators integrate AI responsibly into their teaching practices.
Young Learners SIG
Eugenia Tzouramani
“Assessing Using Artificial Intelligences Tools; Applications and Reflections.”
11:00-11:45
Room K.2.2
Summary: It is a fact that artificial intelligence has very recently ‘invaded’ education and provided us with a wide variety of time-saving, efficient, and resourceful teaching tools. However, determining which ones are the most appropriate and how to apply them properly can prove challenging for teachers. This session will explore how some A.I. tools can be used to enhance young learners’ overall assessment.
Eugenia Tzouramani was born and raised in Patras, she holds a BA degree in English Literature from the University of Athens and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Southampton, as well as a Master’s degree in TESOL from H.O.U. During her professional career, she has taught at language and nursery schools, and the British Council. She is also a speaking examiner for Cambridge.
IATEFL Global Issues SIG Presentations
Eftychis Kantarakis, Dip RSA, MBA, is an ELT teacher and teacher trainer working for National Geographic Learning. He has trained teachers in many countries in the Middle East and has regularly presented at International Conferences in Europe. He is a former TESOL Greece vice-chair and Newsletter Editor.
Eftychis Kantarakis & Panos Polygenis
“Summative Assessment Teaching through SEL and SDGs. The Project Outcome”
11:00-11:45
Room K.2.5
Summary: Focusing on the end-result of the projects run with teenagers over the course of 3 months. How did we assess the outcome of projects based on Social and UN Emotional Learning and Sustainable Development Goals through 2 years of students engagement run in an Athenean school. Involving the students and a group of judges, to bring the fruitful fulfilment of work that aimed to create Global Cittizens.
Ruby Polygenis, MA in TEYL, is a teacher, director of studies and teacher trainer working for a private language school for 34 years. He is an international presenter having presented in IATEFL, ELT Africa and other international conferences. He is currently the event coordinator of the Global Issues SIG IATEFL
Efi Tzouri
“With a Little Help of the Hand: Identity Texts as Engaging Warm-up Activities and Authentic Assessment Tools””
14:45-15:30
Room K.2.2
Summary: Have you ever thought of the ways you can use the drawing of your palm in your class? Have you ever imagined how many activities you can come up with? This presentation explores the concept of identity texts. That means creative, personal expressions where students reflect their cultural, linguistic, and personal identities. More specifically, these texts can be used for various purposes. In this talk we will focus on warm-up activities that foster engagement, and on authentic assessment tools that promote meaningful learning and we will discover the powerful way that identity texts provide to make learning more diverse as well as reflective of students’ unique perspectives. What is more, this presentation will offer insights into how we can build activities upon hand drawing in order to cultivate a more inclusive, secure and interactive learning environment and how we can even use these activities to teach through crisis.
Efi Tzouri is an experienced EFL teacher with a strong passion for working both with young learners and adolescents and a keen interest in research. BA holder in English Language and Literature from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Specialised (MA) in Language Education for Refugees and Migrants. Lifelong learner and constantly engaged in language learning experiences while pursuing further academic growth as a potential PhD candidate in the field of documentary films and semiotics.
Venue: New York College, Kallithea
From the HSAP terminals in Tavros and Kallithea (4 min. walk)