TESOL Greece Start-of-the-Year & Big SIG Day 2026
27 September @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
TESOL Greece Start-of-the-Year & Big SIG Day Event 2026
"SIGnificant Teacher Growth"
Plenary Presentations
Sophia Kouzouli is an English Language Teacher and Education Advisor in Greece. She has experience in diverse educational settings and age groups. Her work focuses on teacher professional development, digital pedagogy, and innovation in language education. She contributes to European and international educational initiatives that promote collaboration, intercultural dialogue, and innovative educational practices. Her research interests include multimodality, AI literacy, teacher professional learning, and digital education. Her work has been presented at international conferences, and she designs educational resources that connect research with classroom practice.
Sophia Kouzouli
“Rethinking Professional Learning in a Connected World“
TBA
Summary: Everything begins with connection. Bringing together people, ideas and cultures creates opportunities to learn, collaborate and grow beyond the boundaries of individual practice. Through professional dialogue, international collaboration and multimodal communication, educators broaden their perspectives, co-construct knowledge and transform shared experience into innovative and meaningful educational practice. A shared purpose, openness to new ideas and a willingness to learn with and from others nurture professional growth and reshape professional learning, enabling educators to connect, create and grow together.
TESOL Greece SIG Presentations
Adult Learners SIG
Dr. Sylvia Karastathi is a teacher educator and lecturer with over 15 years of experience in higher education. She leads global teacher development initiatives and has extensive expertise in pre-service and in-service teacher education. Her research focuses on language education, visual literacy, and multimodality.
Sylvia Karastathi
“Learners’ Collaborative Video-Production: Key competencies for the Attention Economy Era”
TBA
Summary: How are we preparing language learners for ‘an economy of attention’, where ‘fighting for attention dominates everyday culture’? This talk will draw on insights and experiences from a research project conducted in a higher-education context working with video-presentations and discuss how we can facilitate the development of visual and critical literacy skills to help students navigate the new attention landscape.
Drama & Literature SIG
Christina prentza
“The Game is Afoot! Getting into Action with Graded Readers”
TBA
Summary: TBA
TBA
Learning Technologies SIG
Maria Philippi is General Director of Vocational Education & Training at the Eugenides Foundation, Athens, leading its Institute of VET and Centre for Lifelong Learning (ΚΔΒΜ). With 25+ years across industry and education, she partners with international organizations and universities to advance Peer-to-Peer Learning and Collective Intelligence, and is a PhD candidate at Ionian University.
maria philippi
“The Road to Collective Intelligence with AI: Reimagining Teacher Growth through Peer-to-Peer Learning”
TBA
Summary: As AI reshapes education, teacher development must move beyond top-down training toward collaborative, technology-enabled models. This presentation explores how Peer-to-Peer Learning and Collective Intelligence, amplified by AI, can transform professional growth, empowering educators to learn from one another, share practice, and co-create knowledge. Drawing on cross-sectoral experience in VET and lifelong learning, Maria Philippi will present practical frameworks for building sustainable, teacher-led learning communities.
Specific Learning Differences SIG
panagiota goudi
“Handling Learning Difficulties in the Mainstream EFL Classroom”
TBA
Summary: This presentation explores practical, inclusive strategies for EFL educators navigating neurodiversity in Greek mainstream classrooms. By examining how profiles such as dyslexia, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder intersect with English language acquisition, we outline actionable techniques to reduce cognitive load and enhance accessibility. Key topics include multisensory instruction, structured task scaffolding, and inclusive assessment alternatives, equipping teachers to foster an supportive, high-engagement environment without compromising educational standards.
Panagiota Goudi: EFL teacher for more than 30 years. Currently, EFL Education Consultant, Directorate of B’ Athens
Teacher Development and Research SIG
Katerina Mantadaki is a Teacher, Teacher Trainer and Senior ELT Educational Consultant. She holds an MSc in Social Neuroscience, Social Pedagogy and Education and regularly designs and delivers teacher-training programmes, workshops and conference presentations. She is committed to promoting accessible, engaging, and evidence-informed educational practices that foster student and teacher resilience, wellbeing and flourishing.
katerina mantadaki
“Resilient Teachers, Flourishing Schools: The Power of Innovation“
TBA
Summary: In a constantly evolving educational environment, rapid social, economic and educational change, alongside increasing pedagogical and administrative demands, intensifies teachers’ stress and burnout risk. This talk explores how innovation, a supportive school climate and strong interpersonal relationships can strengthen resilience, wellbeing and flourishing, enhance pedagogical relationships and educational quality, and improve students’ learning experiences while supporting sustainable school communities.
Young Learners SIG
chrysa papalazarou
“The Language of Thinking: Art, Representation & Student Voice in the Primary EFL Classroom”
TBA
Summary: What happens when we give children the time and space to look closely, wonder freely and express themselves creatively? This talk takes us on a journey through art and creative exploration, offering glimpses of the many ways young learners think, make meaning and communicate ideas in words and beyond them. It is an invitation to value and celebrate the richness of learners’ voices.
Chrysa Papalazarou is an English teacher and writer with over twenty years’ experience in ELT. Her work explores the interplay of art, language and creative thinking, using the aesthetic and social dimensions of artworks to connect with wider world issues, foster values and awareness, and inspire thoughtful, meaningful learning.
SIG Elections
TBA
11:45-12:00
12:45-13:00
13:45-14:00
15:15-15:30
15:45-16:00
16:40-17:55