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What's Next? Embracing the Changes in EAL
Join us online on October 16 -17 to envision bold futures and changes in EAL pedagogy, policies, and technologies.
Schedule at a Glance
08:00
GMT-7:00
Pre-Recorded Session "How to - vFairs"
08:30 - 10:30
GMT-7:00
Opening Prayer - Welcome Address - Keynote Address
1. Opening Prayer - Tobacco ceremony | 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM2. W...
1. Opening Prayer - Tobacco ceremony | 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
2. Welcome Address | 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM
3. Keynote Address - Teaching EAL in the Age of AI | 9:00 AM - 10:30
Language learning has always been fundamentally human, built on trust, relationship, and the irreplaceable experience of being understood. The rise of AI in language education doesn't change that truth, but it does challenge us to defend it. This keynote moves beyond the hype to ask what these technologies can and cannot do for the learners we serve. Three honest tensions shape the conversation: keeping pedagogy ahead of technology, recognizing the equity and access gaps that AI can widen rather than close, and affirming that human connection remains at the heart of language acquisition, not as a soft ideal, but as a research-grounded reality. But this session is ultimately forward-looking. What's next for EAL professionals isn't a scramble to keep up. It's an opportunity to lead. Teacher agency, relational practice, and deep knowledge of learners are precisely the capacities that matter most right now, and this keynote offers a practical and hopeful framework for carrying them into whatever comes next.
Elder Lynn
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Elder Lynn
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Jessica Cheong
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Jessica Cheong
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Rigvi Kumar
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Rigvi Kumar
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Nathan Hall
Educational Technology & Pedagogy Coordinator , Douglas College
Nathan Hall
Educational Technology & Pedagogy Coordinator , Douglas College
Nathan Hall is the Educational Technology & Pedagogy Coordinator at Douglas College. His research and professional interests include AI in language education, educational technology, instructional design, and teacher professional development. He also leads the teaching & research commons (TREC).
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Teaching Responsible AI Use: A New Avenue Course
This session introduces a new Avenue course that teaches res...
This session introduces a new Avenue course that teaches responsible and effective use of AI tools in language learning. Grounded in the Avenue Learner Standards for Technology-enhanced Language Learning (TELL), the course includes modules that build AI literacy. Presenters will overview the AI-related Standards, demonstrate the course and discuss practical classroom and online integration.
Sepideh Alavi
Associate Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Sepideh Alavi
Associate Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Sepideh Alavi PhD is the Associate Executive Director at Avenue Canada Solutions. At Avenue, Sepideh is also the manager of CanAvenue, where she oversees course design and development of this independent language learning platform.
Sharon Rajabi
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Sharon Rajabi
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-
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Embracing Well-Being in Instruction for Adult EAL Literacy Learners
We used Segliman’s (2011) PERMA model as a holistic lens t...
We used Segliman’s (2011) PERMA model as a holistic lens to examine 379 literacy learners’ experiences of portfolio-based language assessment (PBLA). Findings revealed the influence of PBLA on the learners’ emotions, engagement, relationships, sense of meaning, and feelings of accomplishment. Implications for instruction, programming, and policy will be discussed.
Marilyn Abbott
Professor, University of Alberta
Marilyn Abbott
Professor, University of Alberta
Marilyn Abbott is a professor in the Teaching English as a Second Language Program at the University of Alberta.
Kent Lee
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Kent Lee
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-
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Columbia’s AI Lesson Plan Generator for CLB-Aligned Teaching Materials
This session demonstrates Columbia College’s AI-Enhanced L...
This session demonstrates Columbia College’s AI-Enhanced Lesson Plan Generator, a tool for creating CLB-aligned LINC and EAL lesson materials. Participants will see how the tool supports lesson planning, classroom activities, PBLA-connected assessment ideas, multi-level instruction, and responsible AI use while keeping instructors in control of final content.
Mehdi Soleimani
Manager, Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training, Columbia College
Mehdi Soleimani
Manager, Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training, Columbia College
With more than 20 years in TESOL, Mehdi Soleimani brings broad experience from classroom teaching and program leadership in Canada and overseas. He currently manages the Columbia Immigrant Centre for Foundational Skills Training, where his work includes instructor support, program planning and delivery, and practical uses of educational technology in adult language learning.
Danica MacDonald
Language Training Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator, Columbia College
Danica MacDonald
Language Training Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator, Columbia College
Danica MacDonald is the Language Training Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator at Columbia College in Calgary. She has extensive experience in adult language education, curriculum development, facilitator training, and educational research. Her work focuses on CLB- and PBLA-aligned instruction, instructional innovation, and the responsible integration of AI to support teaching and learning.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
AI and Professional Judgement in PBLA
This CCLB Professional Learning Session workshop supports LI...
This CCLB Professional Learning Session workshop supports LINC instructors to use AI ethically and effectively in PBLA-aligned classes. Participants will review Canadian guidance, examine appropriate classroom uses, and problem-solve common challenges, leaving with practical strategies for integrating AI while maintaining use of professional judgement in PBLA principles and CLB assessment integrity.
Kathy Hughes
Project Manager, CCLB
Kathy Hughes
Project Manager, CCLB
Kathy Hughes is a Project Manager with the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks and has a strong background in project management for training initiatives.
Rana Ashkar
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Rana Ashkar
-
-
Rebecca Hiebert
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Rebecca Hiebert
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-
Lisa Herrera
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Lisa Herrera
-
-
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Teaching by Numbers: Simple Frameworks for Success
Numbers help learners organize language and build confidence...
Numbers help learners organize language and build confidence. This session explores practical "teaching by numbers" frameworks, including the three-step apology, three-step goodbye, five-part paragraph, and five-part email. Participants will experience adaptable classroom activities that support communication, retention, and learner independence across CLB levels.
Farida Aghammadova
Columbia College
Farida Aghammadova
Columbia College
Farida Aghammadova has worked as an ESL Instructor, Trainer and Program Administrator since 2002 in different countries. She is currently working for Columbia College Calgary as a LINC Instructor and is an experienced PBLA Lead. Her professional interests include second language acquisition, online learning, teaching soft skills and intercultural communication.
Simon Best
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Simon Best
-
Simon Best is an English Language Instructor with over 20 years in the field working in Russia, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Canada. He currently works for Columbia College as a LINC Instructor and PBLA Lead. His professional interests include business communication, pragmatics, TBLT and digital learning.
Tracy Bounil
-
Tracy Bounil
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Corrie Davidson
Facilitator / PBLA Lead Teacher, Columbia College
Corrie Davidson
Facilitator / PBLA Lead Teacher, Columbia College
Corrie Davidson is an experienced ESL/LINC instructor and PBLA Lead with a passion for teaching newcomers. She has taught internationally across CLB Stages 1 and 2 and specializes in CLB-aligned instruction. Corrie is dedicated to creating inclusive, learner-centered classrooms that support language development and successful settlement through PBLA principles.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Literacy in a Digital World: Multiliteracies and Multimodalities
Afra Shirazi
ESL Literacy/LINC Instructor, CIWA
Afra Shirazi
ESL Literacy/LINC Instructor, CIWA
Afra Shirazi is an ESL Literacy , LINC and Biliteracy Instructor who is passionate about supporting adult immigrant women in their language learning journeys. She works as a curriculum developer, assessment creator, and module designer, focusing on learner-centered materials that connect classroom learning to real-life needs.
Fauzia Yasir
-
Fauzia Yasir
-
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
English for Skilled Trades
English for Skilled Trades OER introduces a free, CLB-aligne...
English for Skilled Trades OER introduces a free, CLB-aligned resource designed to help newcomers build the language skills needed for careers in the trades. Explore practical materials, technical vocabulary, workplace communication activities, and implementation strategies that support learner success in training, employment, and apprenticeship pathways.
Elina Stop
Faculty Service, NorQuest College
Elina Stop
Faculty Service, NorQuest College
Elina Stop earned her MA in TESL from the University of Alberta in 2016 and has been teaching at NorQuest College since then. She is passionate about integrating technology into her lessons to engage learners and create a collaborative, interactive classroom environment.
Andrew Thompson
LINC Instructor, NorQuest College
Andrew Thompson
LINC Instructor, NorQuest College
Andy Thompson is a LINC instructor at NorQuest College who helps newcomer students develop the English, math, and science skills required for the Trades Entrance Exam.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
AI for All: Empowering EAL Literacy Learners with Interactive Chatbots
While AI discussions often target higher-level learners, thi...
While AI discussions often target higher-level learners, this presentation addresses a critical research gap: utilizing Generative AI in lower-level Literacy classrooms. This session shares action-research using free tools (ChatGPT/Gemini/Grok) alongside student-selected mobile short videos, demonstrating how human-AI interaction empower Literacy learners and foster low-anxiety autonomy.
Haimei Wang
LINC Instructor, Centre for Newcomers
Haimei Wang
LINC Instructor, Centre for Newcomers
Haimei Wang, a LINC Instructor at the Centre for Newcomers, holds an MA in Linguistics. She has over 20 years of extensive EAL teaching and research experience both in Canada and internationally. Her primary interests include AI in education, language instruction, settlement and integration.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Assessment Redesign for Responsible AI Use
Generative AI has fundamentally changed what assessments mea...
Generative AI has fundamentally changed what assessments measure. Traditional writing tasks no longer reliably evidence learning. This presentation synthesizes recent research on how language instructors are redesigning assessments not to police AI, but to make learning visible through process evidence, authenticity, and equity.
Daria Konovaltseva
ESL instructor, MaKami College
Daria Konovaltseva
ESL instructor, MaKami College
Daria Konovaltseva is an M.Ed.-qualified ESL instructor at MaKami College in Calgary specializing in curriculum design, instructional planning, and AI applications in education. She has completed professional development in PBLA and prompt engineering training. A returning ATEAL presenter, she brings research-informed, equity-centered practice to ELL instruction
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Setting and Maintaining Professional Boundaries
In this workshop, participants will explore reflection strat...
In this workshop, participants will explore reflection strategies to support healthy boundaries. Participants will learn about compassion fatigue and how to set and enforce realistic expectations regarding their commitment to help and to
serve learners.
Alana Johnson
Alberta Routes Manager, NorQuest College
Alana Johnson
Alberta Routes Manager, NorQuest College
Alana Johnson is the Manager of the Alberta Routes Initiative, bringing 18 years of expertise in EAL education. She is dedicated to empowering educators and supporting newcomers through innovative, community-based learning strategies.
Selestia Herrera-Ganton
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Selestia Herrera-Ganton
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Rosalia Dela Cruz
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Rosalia Dela Cruz
-
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
National LINC Online Curriculum (NLOC) CLB 2 Units
Nadine Leggett
Manager, National LINC Curriculum Projects, Achēv
Nadine Leggett
Manager, National LINC Curriculum Projects, Achēv
Nadine has been with Achēv for over three years, serving as a dedicated project manager developing eLearning materials for ESL instruction. Driven by a passion for creating meaningful, positive change, she currently manages the National LINC Curriculum Project. With experience leading projects across diverse industries, Nadine brings a thoughtful approach to coordination, collaboration, and strategic planning in the field of education and language training. She is committed to advancing programs that foster learning, growth, and opportunity, empowering students to reach their goals and realize their full potential.
Jayne Geldart
-
Jayne Geldart
-
Maria Kenward
-
Maria Kenward
-
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Social Inclusion and Digital Equity for Adult Newcomer Language Learners
Matthias Sturm
Adult Education Researcher/Lead Evaluator, Avenue Canada Solutions
Matthias Sturm
Adult Education Researcher/Lead Evaluator, Avenue Canada Solutions
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Building Digital Skills for Stage 1 Literacy Learners
Discover practical strategies for teaching digital skills to...
Discover practical strategies for teaching digital skills to Stage 1 EAL literacy learners. Developed by the Literacy Centre of Expertise, this session introduces classroom-tested, PBLA-aligned modules that scaffold skills from basic computer use to using email and online platforms, with demonstrations of simulators that support safe practice and real-world application.
Donna Clarke
Literacy Centre of Expertise Lead, TIES - the immigrant Education Society
Donna Clarke
Literacy Centre of Expertise Lead, TIES - the immigrant Education Society
Donna Clarke is the Lead of the Literacy Centre of Expertise at TIES in Calgary. She is committed to advancing literacy instruction and strengthening connections across the sector. For Donna, literacy is a bridge to confidence, community, and opportunity, and her work advocates for a more connected, nationwide literacy community.
Jeremy Wilson
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Jeremy Wilson
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John Vasquez
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John Vasquez
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-
12:15 - 13:00
GMT-7:00
Alberta Routes Microcredentials: Expanding Pathways for EAL Educators
Join the Alberta Routes team to learn about our free microcr...
Join the Alberta Routes team to learn about our free microcredentials: EAL Community Educator, Educator’s Toolkit, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). These flexible programs build practical, job-ready skills for those supporting adult English language learners, offering hands-on strategies, inclusive practices, and professional growth, recognized through portable digital badges.
Alana Johnson
Alberta Routes Manager, NorQuest College
Alana Johnson
Alberta Routes Manager, NorQuest College
Alana Johnson is the Manager of the Alberta Routes Initiative, bringing 18 years of expertise in EAL education. She is dedicated to empowering educators and supporting newcomers through innovative, community-based learning strategies.
Selestia Herrera-Ganton
-
Selestia Herrera-Ganton
-
-
Rosalia Dela Cruz
-
Rosalia Dela Cruz
-
12:15 - 13:00
GMT-7:00
Colouring Clearer English, Rooted in Sound
English spelling and pronunciation rarely seem to agree, lea...
English spelling and pronunciation rarely seem to agree, leaving many learners—and teachers—wondering where to begin. Discover a practical, classroom-tested framework that builds clearer, more confident speech while honouring learners' accents. Learn adaptable strategies that support learners from emerging literacy through citizenship, career pathways, and CAEC preparation.
Roberta Power
Educational Consultant, Pro Literacy New Readers Press
Roberta Power
Educational Consultant, Pro Literacy New Readers Press
Roberta Power is a veteran EAL and LINC educator and Educational Consultant for Canada with ProLiteracy’s New Readers Press. She combines creativity, humour, and a thoughtful teaching approach to support adult language learners and educators.
Anca Mihaela Nichifor
Founder, Teacher Trainer, EAL Facilitator, Skillstree Rising & Canadian English Solutions
Anca Mihaela Nichifor
Founder, Teacher Trainer, EAL Facilitator, Skillstree Rising & Canadian English Solutions
Anca Mihaela Nichifor is an Educational Consultant, Teacher Trainer, and TESOL Educator with Skillstree Rising and Canadian English Solutions. An international curriculum leader, she bridges language, culture, and identity through student-centred innovation. Dedicated to personal and organizational growth, she creates authentic, inclusive learning experiences that honour diverse voices and foster meaningful connection.
12:15 - 13:00
GMT-7:00
ExploreK12: From Learning English to Learning in English: Building Academic Language Across the Curriculum
Jessica Barrett
-
Jessica Barrett
-
13:00 - 14:30
GMT-7:00
KEYNOTE ADDRESS - Generative AI, Critical Digital Literacies, and Newcomer Futures
As generative AI becomes embedded in EAL practices, educator...
As generative AI becomes embedded in EAL practices, educators must make critical judgments about language, equity, and participation. This keynote moves beyond efficiency to examine how GenAI reshapes newcomers' learning conditions, adopting a sociomaterial view that technologies are never neutral. It explores how platform designs, datasets, and policies necessitate critical digital literacies, as Gen AI can support access but also reproduce biases, native-speakerism, and inequalities. The challenge is not whether to embrace or reject AI, but how to develop pedagogies for strategic, ethical use. The keynote offers practical principles for GenAI-mediated instruction that prioritizes multilingual repertoires, learner voice, critical awareness, and equitable participation across educational, workplace, and civic contexts.
Dr. Ron Darvin
Associate Professor , University of British Columbia - Vancouver
Dr. Ron Darvin
Associate Professor , University of British Columbia - Vancouver
Dr. Ron Darvin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). His research areas include critical digital literacies, generative AI, and language learning.
14:30 - 15:15
GMT-7:00
Practice Makes Possibility - Beyond the Classroom
This session shares how field trips and real-world tasks sup...
This session shares how field trips and real-world tasks support literacy learners. Presenters will demonstrate how classroom practice can prepare learners to use English in real-world experiences such as job fairs, volunteer fairs, and health fairs. As a result, learners can build confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and connect classroom learning to meaningful community participation and opportunities.
Manpreet Chawla
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Manpreet Chawla
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Sonia Lovece
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Sonia Lovece
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-
14:30 - 15:15
GMT-7:00
Introducing GenAI to the ESL/ EAP Classroom
Generative AI has rapidly transformed the educational and pr...
Generative AI has rapidly transformed the educational and professional landscape. As English language teachers, how can we make our students relevant and ready, equipped with the digital skills necessary to navigate post-secondary education or a full-time job? How do I, the teacher, effectively introduce the tool to my learners?
Hayley Goodwin
EAP Professor, Sheridan College
Hayley Goodwin
EAP Professor, Sheridan College
Hayley Goodwin has been an EAP Professor at Sheridan College since 2021. She holds the CELTA, DELTA, and OCELT teaching qualifications, and an MA in Applied Linguistics. In addition to 15+ years of teaching experience locally and abroad, Hayley has also been a CELTA tutor for 10+ years.
Sara Machan
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Sara Machan
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Madhumini Rajapakse
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Madhumini Rajapakse
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Dana Victor Hazin
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Dana Victor Hazin
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-
14:30 - 15:15
GMT-7:00
Literacy Instruction Using Updated National LINC Curriculum Guidelines
Nadine Leggett
Manager, National LINC Curriculum Projects, Achēv
Nadine Leggett
Manager, National LINC Curriculum Projects, Achēv
Nadine has been with Achēv for over three years, serving as a dedicated project manager developing eLearning materials for ESL instruction. Driven by a passion for creating meaningful, positive change, she currently manages the National LINC Curriculum Project. With experience leading projects across diverse industries, Nadine brings a thoughtful approach to coordination, collaboration, and strategic planning in the field of education and language training. She is committed to advancing programs that foster learning, growth, and opportunity, empowering students to reach their goals and realize their full potential.
Setsu Kawahara
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Setsu Kawahara
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Anna Ballares
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Anna Ballares
-
14:30 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Effective Practices for Onboarding to Avenue
This session addresses identified obstacles that make onboar...
This session addresses identified obstacles that make onboarding to the Avenue platform seem too daunting to attempt. The Avenue team and selected SPO Managers will consider recent survey data and discuss ways to overcome challenges both large and small.
Nancy Van Dorp
Manager, Distributed Learning, Avenue Canada Solutions (formerly New Language Solutions)
Nancy Van Dorp
Manager, Distributed Learning, Avenue Canada Solutions (formerly New Language Solutions)
After 15 years as a Trainer, Mentor and Developer for Avenue Canada Solutions, Nancy Van Dorp is now the Manager, Distributed Learning for Avenue. She regularly presents to audiences at TESL conferences across Canada and abroad. She is fascinated with the affordances of edtech solutions, and loves to help others learn to love teaching with technology.
Marianne Kayed
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Marianne Kayed
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Shazma Tahir
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Shazma Tahir
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John Allan
Lead Learning Technologist and Senior Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
John Allan
Lead Learning Technologist and Senior Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
John works on the Avenue Project as a teacher mentor, instructional designer and a course facilitator. Through Avenue Canada Solutions, he is currently involved with teacher development, raising awareness of extensive reading and writing as well as enhancing accessibility of online courses. John also is a regular blogger (https://blog.teslontario.org/author/john-allan/) and webinar facilitator.
14:30 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Yes, they can! Using Avenue with LINC Literacy Learners
Bonnie Nicholas
Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
Bonnie Nicholas
Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
Bonnie Nicholas has an MEd in TESL and certificates in online teaching and instructional design. She has taught both blended and fully online classes in LINC, and is a mentor/facilitator with Avenue Canada Solutions. Her interests include integrating language learning with digital literacy skills as an essential aspect of settlement.
Kerry Howard
Manager, LINC Program, Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
Kerry Howard
Manager, LINC Program, Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
Kerry Howard is Manager of the LINC Program at the Immigrant Education Society (TIES). Since 2012, he has also supported newcomer education as a LINC Instructor, PBLA Lead, and LINC Supervisor. Kerry is passionate about integrating technology into settlement-focused classrooms and helping newcomers build skills for life in Canada.
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Marie Fontaine
PBLA Lead, Assist Community Services Centre
Marie Fontaine
PBLA Lead, Assist Community Services Centre
Marie Fontaine is a PBLA Lead Teacher at Assist Community Services Centre with 25+ years of ESL experience, including 16 years in Germany and 8+ in Canada’s LINC program. A creative force, she designs vibrant materials and weaves movement and healthy living into her teaching. She’s an artist who brings energy and playfulness into every aspect of what she does.
Jeremy Wilson
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Jeremy Wilson
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Larae Stephan
LINC Literacy Instructor, Care for Newcomers
Larae Stephan
LINC Literacy Instructor, Care for Newcomers
LaRae Stephan is a LINC literacy instructor and curriculum designer at Care for Newcomers in Red Deer.
Diana Agudelo
Academic Director, ECSD LINC
Diana Agudelo
Academic Director, ECSD LINC
Diana Agudelo has been the Academic Director for the LINC program at Edmonton Catholic Schools since 2015, leading literacy curriculum and instructor training. She previously taught regular and literacy classes and has extensive experience supporting adult newcomers. She holds an MA in TESL and a Post‑TESL Certificate.
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Teaching Youth in LINC: Challenges, Successes, and Lessons Learned
This interactive session brings together experienced youth L...
This interactive session brings together experienced youth LINC instructors to share practical strategies, challenges, and successes in teaching young newcomers. Participants will explore engagement, classroom management, PBLA, and CLB-aligned instruction while exchanging ideas with colleagues. Attendees will leave with practical resources and evidence-informed approaches to support effective, engaging youth LINC classrooms.
Simon Best
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Simon Best
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Simon Best is an English Language Instructor with over 20 years in the field working in Russia, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Canada. He currently works for Columbia College as a LINC Instructor and PBLA Lead. His professional interests include business communication, pragmatics, TBLT and digital learning.
Corrie Davidson
Facilitator / PBLA Lead Teacher, Columbia College
Corrie Davidson
Facilitator / PBLA Lead Teacher, Columbia College
Corrie Davidson is an experienced ESL/LINC instructor and PBLA Lead with a passion for teaching newcomers. She has taught internationally across CLB Stages 1 and 2 and specializes in CLB-aligned instruction. Corrie is dedicated to creating inclusive, learner-centered classrooms that support language development and successful settlement through PBLA principles.
Diana Katsnelson
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Diana Katsnelson
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Diana Katsnelson has been teaching English to newcomers in Calgary for nearly 20 years. She has also worked with children and youth in South Korea, Japan and China. A PBLA-certified Lead Teacher with an M.Ed. from the University of Calgary, she currently teaches in the LINC Youth Program at Columbia College. She is passionate about helping newcomers build confidence, develop language skills, and foster a sense of belonging in Canada.
Trina St. Jean
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Trina St. Jean
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Trina St. Jean has 20+ years of experience as an ESL/LINC instructor and has taught in Quebec, Japan and Calgary. She has primarily taught CLB 4 up to CLB 8, is a certified PBLA lead teacher and has worked on PBLA-aligned curriculum projects. Trina is passionate about making learning engaging and meaningful for her students. She enjoys helping newcomers reach goals and gain confidence by providing opportunities to build their language skills in a welcoming environment.
Danica MacDonald
Language Training Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator, Columbia College
Danica MacDonald
Language Training Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator, Columbia College
Danica MacDonald is the Language Training Curriculum and Staff Development Coordinator at Columbia College in Calgary. She has extensive experience in adult language education, curriculum development, facilitator training, and educational research. Her work focuses on CLB- and PBLA-aligned instruction, instructional innovation, and the responsible integration of AI to support teaching and learning.
Joel Pearson
Columbia College
Joel Pearson
Columbia College
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Getting Started with Literacy Learners
This workshop is designed for EAL/ESL instructors who are ne...
This workshop is designed for EAL/ESL instructors who are new to teaching literacy-level learners. The session is divided into three parts: an introduction to Foundation Literacy learners, an exploration of the key literacy skills and skill-building strategies needed to support them, and a brief practical component demonstrating how to apply the continuum of literacy skills in the classroom.
Kathy Hughes
Project Manager, CCLB
Kathy Hughes
Project Manager, CCLB
Kathy Hughes is a Project Manager with the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks and has a strong background in project management for training initiatives.
Rana Ashkar
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Rana Ashkar
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Larry Iveson
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Larry Iveson
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Lisa Herrera
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Lisa Herrera
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15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Beyond a Worksheet
Beyond a Worksheet explores practical strategies for increas...
Beyond a Worksheet explores practical strategies for increasing learner engagement. Discover movement-based activities, interactive tools and games, and AI-powered resources that promote participation, collaboration, and meaningful language learning in both face-to-face and virtual classrooms.
Elina Stop
Faculty Service, NorQuest College
Elina Stop
Faculty Service, NorQuest College
Elina Stop earned her MA in TESL from the University of Alberta in 2016 and has been teaching at NorQuest College since then. She is passionate about integrating technology into her lessons to engage learners and create a collaborative, interactive classroom environment.
Janet Kwong
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Janet Kwong
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15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
AI-Powered Assessment: Saving Time While Supporting Learning
This workshop explores practical applications of AI in EAL a...
This workshop explores practical applications of AI in EAL assessment, including creating rubrics, generating differentiated tasks, and providing feedback. Participants will examine effective AI-assisted assessment strategies, discuss ethical considerations, and leave with practical tools and prompts to enhance assessment practices while supporting learner success.
Anastasia Makharadze
Partial-Load Professor, ESL and EAP Programs, Sheridan College
Anastasia Makharadze
Partial-Load Professor, ESL and EAP Programs, Sheridan College
Dr. Anastasia Makharadze is a Partial-Load Professor in ESL and EAP programs at Sheridan College. She holds a PhD in Linguistics and an MA in TESL. Her work focuses on adult language education, classroom assessment, and innovative teaching practices, with an emphasis on integrating technology to support EAL learner success.
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
When EAL Learners Stay Invisible: The Human Readiness Gap
EAL learners need more than language skills. They need confi...
EAL learners need more than language skills. They need confidence, belonging, voice, and readiness to participate. This session introduces Human Readiness and the VISIBLE™ Framework as practical tools for helping educators strengthen learner agency, communication risk-taking, classroom participation, and real-world language use in changing EAL environments.
Sheena Yap Chan
Founder, The Tao of Self-Confidence
Sheena Yap Chan
Founder, The Tao of Self-Confidence
Sheena is a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, TEDx and keynote speaker, and one of the leading voices in human readiness — the emerging field at the intersection of confidence, visibility, and workforce transformation. She is the founder of the Confidence Through Visibility™ movement and creator of the VISIBLE™ Framework (Voice, Identity, Spotlight, Inner Work, Belief, Leverage, Elevation) — a proprietary system used by leaders, teams, and organizations to bridge the gap between raw talent and realized potential. Her work helps organizations answer the most important question in leadership: Are your people truly ready to show up, lead, and grow at the level they're capable of?
Her Wall Street Journal bestselling debut, The Tao of Self-Confidence, was named one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority. Her latest release, Bridging the Confidence Gap, is a bold call to make visibility and self-trust core leadership competencies — not soft skills, but strategic ones.
Sheena is the host of The Tao of Self-Confidence Podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% globally with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews featuring CEOs, celebrities, and cultural icons across 180+ countries. She has delivered transformational keynotes and corporate programs for global brands including NASA, Live Nation, and UKG, and her work has been featured on NBC News, FOX, MindValley, and The Manila Times.
Sheena's belief is simple: the leaders and organizations that will define the next decade won't just be the most skilled — they'll be the most human-ready.
Her Wall Street Journal bestselling debut, The Tao of Self-Confidence, was named one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority. Her latest release, Bridging the Confidence Gap, is a bold call to make visibility and self-trust core leadership competencies — not soft skills, but strategic ones.
Sheena is the host of The Tao of Self-Confidence Podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% globally with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews featuring CEOs, celebrities, and cultural icons across 180+ countries. She has delivered transformational keynotes and corporate programs for global brands including NASA, Live Nation, and UKG, and her work has been featured on NBC News, FOX, MindValley, and The Manila Times.
Sheena's belief is simple: the leaders and organizations that will define the next decade won't just be the most skilled — they'll be the most human-ready.
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Process Over Product: AI-Informed Assessment for Belonging and Integration
This session explores how assessment redesign can strengthen...
This session explores how assessment redesign can strengthen belonging and meaningful integration in multilingual classrooms in an AI era. Drawing on the Process–Product Model, the AIAS Assessment Scale, and portfolio-based approaches, participants will examine practical strategies for moving beyond product-only grading toward transparent, process-informed assessment that supports equity and real-world competence.
Daniela Jost Guimarães
EAL Instructor & Curriculum Developer, ISANS
Daniela Jost Guimarães
EAL Instructor & Curriculum Developer, ISANS
Daniela Jost Guimarães is a DELTA-qualified EAL instructor and IMTE graduate from Saint Mary’s University. With over 27 years in TESL, she specializes in curriculum design, AI in Education, supporting internationally educated professionals while promoting authentic learning, multilingual identity, and equitable integration. She views learning as an emotional, empowering journey shaped by belonging, reflection, and authentic communication.
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Beyond Language: Embedding Essential Skills for EAL- Workplace Readiness
Leila Samahnejad
Business Development and Project Lead, AWES
Leila Samahnejad
Business Development and Project Lead, AWES
With over 20 years of experience in education, Leila supports newcomers and advances workforce inclusion at AWES. As an immigrant herself, she brings a unique perspective to contextualized training and sustainable employment initiatives, centering empowerment, inclusion, and lifelong learning.
16:00 - 17:30
GMT-7:00
ATEAL Annual General Meeting
Irene Wood
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Irene Wood
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Sofia Elgueta Duplancic
Associate Lecturer, University of Alberta
Sofia Elgueta Duplancic
Associate Lecturer, University of Alberta
Sofia has 25 years of EAL teaching experience and has been with the English Language School, University of Alberta, since 2008. She teaches EAP and various courses, as well as develops curricula and resources focusing on student-centred learning. Active in ATEAL, she has served on the Board since 2021.
08:15 - 08:45
GMT-7:00
Pre-Recorded Art Session
Lucy Yoo
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Lucy Yoo
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08:45 - 10:30
GMT-7:00
Morning Announcements - Keynote Address
1. Morning Announcements | 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM2. KEYNOTE ADDRE...
1. Morning Announcements | 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM
2. KEYNOTE ADDRESS - Beyond Language: Relational Belonging, Mental Health, and the Future of Supporting Newcomers in Canada | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
As Canada continues to evolve through immigration, increasing diversity, and shifting social realities, EAL teachers and professionals are often positioned at the frontlines of relational care, belonging, and community integration. Beyond teaching language, EAL educators frequently become trusted witnesses to the emotional, social, cultural, and systemic challenges experienced by newcomers navigating displacement, isolation, racism, uncertainty, and complex settlement systems.
This keynote explores how relational and collaborative approaches can help move newcomer support beyond transactional EAL educational models toward deeper experiences of belonging, dignity, and connection. Drawing from collaborative-dialogic practice, trauma-informed care, and community mental health research, this presentation will examine the intersections between migration, mental health, language learning, and social inclusion. Participants will be invited to reflect on how educational and settlement spaces can foster relational safety, hope, and collective wellbeing while responding ethically and compassionately to the realities newcomers and the teachers who support them increasingly face across Canada.
Rigvi Kumar
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Rigvi Kumar
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Jessica Cheong
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Jessica Cheong
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Dr. Monica Sesma-Vazquez
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Dr. Monica Sesma-Vazquez
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Monica is a social constructionist-oriented social worker, family therapist, educator, supervisor, and researcher who lives in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) and Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, Canada. Monica is an Assistant Professor and the Academic Coordinator of the Couple and Family Therapy Program at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. She is the Research Coordinator of the Calgary Family Therapy Centre. Monica is currently a Board Member of the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her current clinical and research interests focus on relational and systemic work with underserved communities. Monica's research focuses on mental health and wellbeing, children and their families, immigrants, refugees, and newcomers’ issues, and gender-based violence.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Walking in Their Shoes: Exploring the Learner Experience Across Cultures
Miria Munoz
Professor, Algonquin College
Miria Munoz
Professor, Algonquin College
Dr. Munoz, a Brazilian-Canadian educator and scholar, holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of South Carolina and brings over 15 years of experience teaching adult learners from various cultural backgrounds across Canadian school boards, colleges, universities, and settlement organizations. Passionate about teacher education and the development of soft skills, she mentors TESL teachers-in-training throughout their practicum while fostering inclusive and learner-centred classrooms. Known for connecting academic rigour with meaningful real-world practice, she believes language learning is not only about developing linguistic proficiency, but also about promoting social justice and empowering learners to advocate for themselves and their communities.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
AI: Helping students navigate the hype and avoid the harm
Daniel Ripley
Assistant Lecturer, University of Alberta English Language School
Daniel Ripley
Assistant Lecturer, University of Alberta English Language School
Dan Ripley is a graduate of the TESL Master’s degree program at the University of Alberta. He has taught English in Japan and Korea and in LINC programs in Edmonton, Vancouver and Halifax. Since 2019, he has been teaching international students at the University of Alberta English Language School.
Marvin Zimmer
EAP Instructor, University of Alberta Language School
Marvin Zimmer
EAP Instructor, University of Alberta Language School
Marvin Zimmer has a Masters degree in TESOL from the University of Leicester. He has taught ESOL in Taiwan, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. Since 2009 he has been teaching EAP courses at the University of Alberta English Language School.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Maximizing Avenue Course Performance
Oversized Avenue courses can slow systems, disrupt learning,...
Oversized Avenue courses can slow systems, disrupt learning, frustrate teachers and increase support staff workloads. This session explains Avenue’s course size policy and practical ways to reduce course “bloating.” Participants will learn strategies for managing digital clutter, improving duplication practices and maintaining leaner, faster and more effective online learning environments.
John Allan
Lead Learning Technologist and Senior Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
John Allan
Lead Learning Technologist and Senior Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
John works on the Avenue Project as a teacher mentor, instructional designer and a course facilitator. Through Avenue Canada Solutions, he is currently involved with teacher development, raising awareness of extensive reading and writing as well as enhancing accessibility of online courses. John also is a regular blogger (https://blog.teslontario.org/author/john-allan/) and webinar facilitator.
Paul Carter
Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
Paul Carter
Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
Paul Carter supports teachers across Canada and BC as a LearnIT2teach Mentor, Live Help Assistant, Avenue/CanAvenue Resource Developer for New Language Solutions, and Certified Moodle Course Creator. He has also worked on projects for ISSofBC, LISTN, NewToBC – The Library Link for Newcomers, and AMSSA.
Jeremy Cole
Developer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Jeremy Cole
Developer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Jeremy Cole leads innovation and development in Canada’s national Moodle-based training platforms. He specializes in server administration, Moodle architecture, custom plugin development, and solutions for stakeholders, teachers and students.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Innovating with Avenue.ca in the Face of Program Challenges
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Rob McBride
Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Rob McBride
Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Diana Agudelo
Academic Director, ECSD LINC
Diana Agudelo
Academic Director, ECSD LINC
Diana Agudelo has been the Academic Director for the LINC program at Edmonton Catholic Schools since 2015, leading literacy curriculum and instructor training. She previously taught regular and literacy classes and has extensive experience supporting adult newcomers. She holds an MA in TESL and a Post‑TESL Certificate.
Kerry Howard
Manager, LINC Program, Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
Kerry Howard
Manager, LINC Program, Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
Kerry Howard is Manager of the LINC Program at the Immigrant Education Society (TIES). Since 2012, he has also supported newcomer education as a LINC Instructor, PBLA Lead, and LINC Supervisor. Kerry is passionate about integrating technology into settlement-focused classrooms and helping newcomers build skills for life in Canada.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
Translanguaging in Action
This session will explore best practices for supporting lear...
This session will explore best practices for supporting learners through translanguaging. We will examine how understanding learners' linguistic repertoires can strengthen instruction and demonstrate practical strategies for creating inclusive, multilingual classroom practices that build confidence, engagement, and language learning.
Hannah Grimwood
LINC Instructor, TIES
Hannah Grimwood
LINC Instructor, TIES
Hannah is a LINC instructor with four years of experience supporting adult English language learners. She is passionate about helping newcomers build confidence and make Canada feel like home. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading non-fiction and watching films that explore refugee experiences, migration, and settlement in Canada.
Nura Mohamed
LINC Instructor, Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
Nura Mohamed
LINC Instructor, Immigrant Education Society (TIES)
Nura is a LINC instructor with nine years of experience teaching adult English language learners. Before teaching in Canada, she taught in Dubai, bringing valuable international experience to her classroom. She enjoys creating supportive learning environments and, in her free time, loves knitting and hiking.
10:45 - 11:30
GMT-7:00
From Need to Impact: The Story behind TBLV Works!
Marijke Geurts
online content developer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Marijke Geurts
online content developer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Marijke Geurts has been an educator for over 25 years. She’s worked with the Avenue project since 2014 as a teacher trainer and curriculum developer. She has experience as a LINC instructor and employment language trainer and has always welcomed volunteers in her classroom. Currently she is the TBLV coordinator.
Ron Lavoie
Avenue Canada Solutions
Ron Lavoie
Avenue Canada Solutions
Ron Lavoie is an ESL professional who has worked in TESL training, assessment, and in LINC programs. He has a special interest in intercultural aspects of language and migration. Ron is currently a course developer at Avenue Canada.
Matthias Sturm
Adult Education Researcher/Lead Evaluator, Avenue Canada Solutions
Matthias Sturm
Adult Education Researcher/Lead Evaluator, Avenue Canada Solutions
10:45 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Digital Selves, Real Lives: Navigating Identity, Social Media, and Intergenerational Gaps in Adult EAL Learning
EAL learners are juggling three identities online—parent, ...
EAL learners are juggling three identities online—parent, professional, and language learner. The digital skills they need aren't in textbooks.This workshop gives educators strategies to bridge the intergenerational and identity gaps that social media creates. Come learn how to turn digital chaos into connection, confidence, and critical conversation.
Anca Mihaela Nichifor
Founder, Teacher Trainer, EAL Facilitator, Skillstree Rising & Canadian English Solutions
Anca Mihaela Nichifor
Founder, Teacher Trainer, EAL Facilitator, Skillstree Rising & Canadian English Solutions
Anca Mihaela Nichifor is an Educational Consultant, Teacher Trainer, and TESOL Educator with Skillstree Rising and Canadian English Solutions. An international curriculum leader, she bridges language, culture, and identity through student-centred innovation. Dedicated to personal and organizational growth, she creates authentic, inclusive learning experiences that honour diverse voices and foster meaningful connection.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
What’s Next in EAL: Building Readiness for Voice, Belonging, and Change
This session introduces Human Readiness and the VISIBLE™ F...
This session introduces Human Readiness and the VISIBLE™ Framework as practical tools for EAL instructors and program leaders. Participants will explore how voice, identity, belief, and visibility influence learner participation, classroom belonging, and real-world communication.
Sheena Yap Chan
Founder, The Tao of Self-Confidence
Sheena Yap Chan
Founder, The Tao of Self-Confidence
Sheena is a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, TEDx and keynote speaker, and one of the leading voices in human readiness — the emerging field at the intersection of confidence, visibility, and workforce transformation. She is the founder of the Confidence Through Visibility™ movement and creator of the VISIBLE™ Framework (Voice, Identity, Spotlight, Inner Work, Belief, Leverage, Elevation) — a proprietary system used by leaders, teams, and organizations to bridge the gap between raw talent and realized potential. Her work helps organizations answer the most important question in leadership: Are your people truly ready to show up, lead, and grow at the level they're capable of?
Her Wall Street Journal bestselling debut, The Tao of Self-Confidence, was named one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority. Her latest release, Bridging the Confidence Gap, is a bold call to make visibility and self-trust core leadership competencies — not soft skills, but strategic ones.
Sheena is the host of The Tao of Self-Confidence Podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% globally with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews featuring CEOs, celebrities, and cultural icons across 180+ countries. She has delivered transformational keynotes and corporate programs for global brands including NASA, Live Nation, and UKG, and her work has been featured on NBC News, FOX, MindValley, and The Manila Times.
Sheena's belief is simple: the leaders and organizations that will define the next decade won't just be the most skilled — they'll be the most human-ready.
Her Wall Street Journal bestselling debut, The Tao of Self-Confidence, was named one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority. Her latest release, Bridging the Confidence Gap, is a bold call to make visibility and self-trust core leadership competencies — not soft skills, but strategic ones.
Sheena is the host of The Tao of Self-Confidence Podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% globally with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews featuring CEOs, celebrities, and cultural icons across 180+ countries. She has delivered transformational keynotes and corporate programs for global brands including NASA, Live Nation, and UKG, and her work has been featured on NBC News, FOX, MindValley, and The Manila Times.
Sheena's belief is simple: the leaders and organizations that will define the next decade won't just be the most skilled — they'll be the most human-ready.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
From Assessment to Opportunity: A Client’s Journey with CLARC
Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre’s role has ...
Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre’s role has evolved beyond language assessment to supporting learner navigation and informed decision-making. Using a client journey approach, this session explores assessment, referrals, educational counselling, and integrated supports that help newcomers access language, education, employment, and settlement pathways while responding to changing EAL sector needs.
Mary Katherine Neal
Senior Advisor/Newcomer Language Specialist, Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre (CLARC) - Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC)
Mary Katherine Neal
Senior Advisor/Newcomer Language Specialist, Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre (CLARC) - Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC)
Mary Katherine Neal is the Senior Advisor/Newcomer Language Specialist at Calgary Language Assessment Referral Center (CLARC), Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC). She has been working as a language assessor with ISC since October 2009. In that time, she has been trained and certified on multiple CLB-referenced literacy and non-literacy assessments.
Carla Seyts
Immigrant Services Calgary
Carla Seyts
Immigrant Services Calgary
Carla Seyts is a Newcomer Language Specialist and Coordinator at CLARC–ISC and has served as an English Assessor at ISC since August 2022. She also provides educational counselling to clients. Carla brings 20 years of ESL teaching experience across K–12 and LINC settings.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Tackling Tough Topics in LINC: Embracing Canada for real!
This session explores why tough topics such as Indigenizatio...
This session explores why tough topics such as Indigenization, women’s rights, anti-racism, mental health, and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion belong in the LINC classroom. Presenters will share practical, non-confrontational strategies and resources to build learner confidence, support meaningful settlement, and integrate real Canadian content into essential language learning.
Justine Light
Instructional Designer, -
Justine Light
Instructional Designer, -
Justine Light has worked in EAL for 25+ years, specializing in instructional design, LINC to EAP, and in teacher education. She has contributed to provincial and national LINC projects and delivers professional development across Canada. Her work focuses on empowering EAL instructors through professional learning and practical, learner-centred instructional resources.
Emily Albertsen
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Emily Albertsen
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11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Custom Listening Audio in Minutes: Interactive, CLB-Aligned Activities
Finding listening materials at the right CLB level eats teac...
Finding listening materials at the right CLB level eats teacher time. This session shows how TalkScript.io turns any topic into a natural-sounding, CLB-aligned listening passage in minutes — then wraps it in interactive comprehension activities students can do on any device, giving teachers data on where learners struggle.
Cedric Mwambi-Kabongo
Co-founder, TalkScript.io
Cedric Mwambi-Kabongo
Co-founder, TalkScript.io
Cedric Mwambi-Kabongo is co-founder of TalkScript.io, a Canadian tool that helps EAL teachers create customized, CLB-aligned listening activities with AI-generated audio. With over ten years teaching EAL/LINC, he designs classroom-ready technology that saves preparation time while keeping teachers in control.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Beyond the Basics: Getting the Most Out of Tutela Resources and Collections
In this Tutela live demo, participants will learn best pract...
In this Tutela live demo, participants will learn best practices for searching on Tutela, both for a specific resource and general browsing. They will also review how to use the favourites folder and have an opportunity to look through popular collections.
In this session, you will learn:
-How to find a specific resource on Tutela
-How to use the the filters to browse more effectively
-Become familiar with popular collection
Diane Ramanathan
Community Outreach Coordinator, Tutela.ca
Diane Ramanathan
Community Outreach Coordinator, Tutela.ca
Diane Ramanathan is the community outreach coordinator for Tutela.ca. She is also a LINC instructor with Achev and part of the TESL team at Algonquin College.
11:30 - 12:15
GMT-7:00
Pronunciation at different levels: Adapting materials and instructions
Jennifer Foote
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Jennifer Foote
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Jennifer A. Foote is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Her research interests include instructor and learner beliefs around second language pronunciation and exploring issues around ethics in pronunciation instruction. She is passionate about connecting research to practice.
12:15 - 13:00
GMT-7:00
Getting Every Student Talking: Strategies for Today's EAL Classroom
As English language teaching evolves, one question remains: ...
As English language teaching evolves, one question remains: How do we create classrooms where every learner has opportunities to speak early, often, and with confidence? Drawing on examples from the sixth edition of Interchange, participants will explore communicative teaching strategies that foster meaningful interaction, learner confidence, and authentic communication.
Anne Damiecka
ESOL Specialist, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Anne Damiecka
ESOL Specialist, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Anne Damiecka is an ESOL Specialist with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. She has 25 years of experience in adult English language teaching across community colleges, adult education, and virtual instruction for the U.S. Department of State. She holds a Master's degree in TESOL and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design.
12:15 - 13:00
GMT-7:00
What Can TESL Canada Do For You!
Sofia Elgueta Duplancic
Associate Lecturer, University of Alberta
Sofia Elgueta Duplancic
Associate Lecturer, University of Alberta
Sofia has 25 years of EAL teaching experience and has been with the English Language School, University of Alberta, since 2008. She teaches EAP and various courses, as well as develops curricula and resources focusing on student-centred learning. Active in ATEAL, she has served on the Board since 2021.
Leo Etchegary
Committee Chair, TESL Canada NL, TESL Canada
Leo Etchegary
Committee Chair, TESL Canada NL, TESL Canada
Leo is an educational leader committed to creating learning spaces that promote collaboration, leadership, and organizational growth and development.
13:00 - 14:30
GMT-7:00
KEYNOTE ADDRESS -What's Next for L2 Writing? Supporting EAL Students through Writing Studies
As someone who has been teaching writing to EAL students for...
As someone who has been teaching writing to EAL students for almost 15 years, I am constantly thinking about what it means to teach and assess writing. I am also continuously revising old and adapting new strategies to help EAL students become independent writers in a language that is not their first. However, rather than focusing on challenges that another language presents, I focus on helping students draw strengths from being an EAL writer. In this presentation and workshop, I will talk about several strategies I use in my Writing Studies (WRS) classes at the University of Alberta to show how principles from the disciplines of writing studies and composition studies can help students write more effectively and with greater ease and confidence. My presentation will highlight EAL writers' linguistic resources and will examine how WRS can foster rhetorical awareness, genre knowledge, critical engagement with sources and social engagement with other EAL writers. I will briefly address AI in EAL writing and offer some thoughts on how it can be ethically and effectively utilized. In the workshop part of my presentation, I will invite participants to reflect on how principles of WRS and EAL pedagogy can complement one another to support student agency and student writing processes. I will end the presentation with a few practical strategies that instructors will be able to adapt across disciplines.
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Dr. Anna Chilewska
WRS Coordinator- Full Teaching Professor, University of Alberta
Dr. Anna Chilewska
WRS Coordinator- Full Teaching Professor, University of Alberta
Dr. Anna Chilewska is a Full Lecturer and Writing Studies Coordinator at the University of Alberta with nearly 15 years of experience teaching EAL writing. Her work focuses on EAL writing pedagogy and helping students leverage their linguistic resources as multilingual writers. She is also the recipient of The Cécile E. Mactaggart Travel Award for Essay or Non-Fiction Writing (2024).
14:30 - 15:15
GMT-7:00
unpacking Rosenshine principals
Unpack Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction through an ESL...
Unpack Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction through an ESL lens. Discover practical, research-informed strategies that scaffold language learning, build learner confidence, and support English language learners in diverse teaching contexts
Maya Atiyat
MAC schools
Maya Atiyat
MAC schools
Maya is an experienced educator with a diverse background in English language teaching, curriculum development, and teacher training. She has worked as a teacher and Head of the Elementary Department (KG to Grade 5) in the UAE, gaining extensive experience across IB, British, and American curricula. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and Literature, a Professional Teaching Diploma, and a TESOL qualification. She is also a certified Advanced Autism professional through IBCCES.
Throughout her career, Maya has been passionate about developing effective, inclusive, and evidence-informed teaching practices. She has worked as a Curriculum Coordinator and Teacher Trainer, supporting educators in implementing engaging instructional approaches and enhancing classroom practice. Her professional interests include language acquisition, cognitive science in education, curriculum design, inclusive education, and practical strategies that support meaningful and lasting learning for diverse student populations. Maya is committed to empowering educators with research-based approaches that create accessible and engaging learning environments for all
Throughout her career, Maya has been passionate about developing effective, inclusive, and evidence-informed teaching practices. She has worked as a Curriculum Coordinator and Teacher Trainer, supporting educators in implementing engaging instructional approaches and enhancing classroom practice. Her professional interests include language acquisition, cognitive science in education, curriculum design, inclusive education, and practical strategies that support meaningful and lasting learning for diverse student populations. Maya is committed to empowering educators with research-based approaches that create accessible and engaging learning environments for all
14:30 - 15:15
GMT-7:00
Who Is Doing the Learning? Guardrails for AI in EAL
Who is really doing the learning when students use AI? This ...
Who is really doing the learning when students use AI? This interactive workshop explores how generative AI is changing language learning and learner behaviour. Through research, classroom examples, and practical reflection, participants will develop strategies and guardrails that promote meaningful AI use while preserving critical thinking, learner autonomy, and authentic language development.
Sofia Elgueta Duplancic
Associate Lecturer, University of Alberta
Sofia Elgueta Duplancic
Associate Lecturer, University of Alberta
Sofia has 25 years of EAL teaching experience and has been with the English Language School, University of Alberta, since 2008. She teaches EAP and various courses, as well as develops curricula and resources focusing on student-centred learning. Active in ATEAL, she has served on the Board since 2021.
14:30 - 15:15
GMT-7:00
Nexus: Connecting People and Practice in Settlement Language Programs
How can Service Provider Organizations strengthen collaborat...
How can Service Provider Organizations strengthen collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning across their teams? This interactive session introduces Nexus, a new Community of Practice framework developed by Avenue Canada Solutions. Participants will explore practical strategies for fostering organizational learning, supporting staff engagement, and creating sustainable cultures of innovation.
Rob McBride
Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Rob McBride
Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Bonnie Nicholas
Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
Bonnie Nicholas
Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
Bonnie Nicholas has an MEd in TESL and certificates in online teaching and instructional design. She has taught both blended and fully online classes in LINC, and is a mentor/facilitator with Avenue Canada Solutions. Her interests include integrating language learning with digital literacy skills as an essential aspect of settlement.
John Allan
Lead Learning Technologist and Senior Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
John Allan
Lead Learning Technologist and Senior Mentor, Avenue Canada Solutions
John works on the Avenue Project as a teacher mentor, instructional designer and a course facilitator. Through Avenue Canada Solutions, he is currently involved with teacher development, raising awareness of extensive reading and writing as well as enhancing accessibility of online courses. John also is a regular blogger (https://blog.teslontario.org/author/john-allan/) and webinar facilitator.
Sepideh Alavi
Associate Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Sepideh Alavi
Associate Executive Director, Avenue Canada Solutions
Sepideh Alavi PhD is the Associate Executive Director at Avenue Canada Solutions. At Avenue, Sepideh is also the manager of CanAvenue, where she oversees course design and development of this independent language learning platform.
14:30 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Adaptable, impactful, prepared: training digital assistants on Avenue
This session focuses on front line experiences of digital na...
This session focuses on front line experiences of digital navigators who have completed the Avenue Digital Assistant Course. Panelists will discuss their roles and experiences, better practices, and how the course supports them. Presenters will share feedback from course participants, situating digital support issues in a local context
Marijke Geurts
online content developer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Marijke Geurts
online content developer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Marijke Geurts has been an educator for over 25 years. She’s worked with the Avenue project since 2014 as a teacher trainer and curriculum developer. She has experience as a LINC instructor and employment language trainer and has always welcomed volunteers in her classroom. Currently she is the TBLV coordinator.
Dori Tarján
Teacher Trainer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Dori Tarján
Teacher Trainer, Avenue Canada Solutions
Dori Tarján has over 10 years of experience teaching newcomers in LINC and ESL programs. She’s worked with the Avenue project since 2022 as a teacher trainer and e-learning developer, creating interactive courses for language learners and instructors. Recently, Dori worked on the development of the Avenue Digital Assistant Course.
14:30 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
More Feedback, Less Grading: AI-Assisted Grading for EAL Assessments
Discover how AI-assisted grading can give EAL learners five ...
Discover how AI-assisted grading can give EAL learners five times more detailed, structured feedback on writing, quizzes, and tests while saving teachers hours of marking. Using practical EAL examples—and, if desired, their own assessments—participants will explore rubric-based and question-by-question workflows while keeping professional judgment at the centre.
Ash Misquith
Founder, SwiftGrade
Ash Misquith
Founder, SwiftGrade
Ash Misquith is an educator and edtech innovator with over 15 years of experience across public, private, and international schools. He has led departments, served on innovation boards, and founded two edtech companies—one of which secured a deal on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. Ash has helped design scalable online curriculum and now focuses on improving assessment and feedback through AI.
14:30 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Creating Lexical Notebooks with a Psycholinguistic Approach
In this session, participants will explore and try out some ...
In this session, participants will explore and try out some interactive techniques to record vocabulary using both a lexical approach and psycholinguistic principles that are combined in a lexical notebook. The presenter will demonstrate how to engage learners in recording new lexis based on different learning styles and promote learner autonomy in keeping lexical notebooks.
Olena Gyrych
ESL Teacher, CCI-LEX
Olena Gyrych
ESL Teacher, CCI-LEX
Olena Gyrych is an English instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience in Ukraine, Qatar, and Canada. She is a Cambridge DELTA–certified educator and holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Philology. She actively participates in international professional conferences, including IATEFL and TESOL, and is committed to continuous professional development and evidence-based practice. Her work focuses on innovative, learner-centred approaches that promote communicative competence, vocabulary development, and assessment-informed instruction. Olena is passionate about empowering English language learners through practical, research-informed strategies and enjoys collaborating with fellow educators to bridge theory and classroom practice.
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Keys to English Sounds Youtube channel
Rose Elliot, an experienced LINC teacher, introduces Keys to...
Rose Elliot, an experienced LINC teacher, introduces Keys to English Sounds, her new YouTube decoding program. With over 300 short, interactive videos, the channel helps teachers integrate decoding into class times and supports students who want to build reading and pronunciation skills independently.
Rose Elliot
Youtube channel Developer, independent
Rose Elliot
Youtube channel Developer, independent
Rose Elliot brings extensive experience from the LINC program, including two years as Coordinator of Language Services at EMCN (now the Newcomer Centre) and approximately eight years as a LINC Literacy classroom instructor with Edmonton Catholic Schools. She has taught across the four lowest literacy levels—Foundations, Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3—supporting newcomers in developing essential language and literacy skills. Throughout her LINC career, Rose has been a regular presenter at LINC conferences, sharing practical strategies and insights with educators across the sector.
15:15 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
Beyond the Prompt: Using AI to Enhance Language Teaching
Elizabeth Abraham
LINC Instructor / PBLA Lead, Centre for Newcomers
Elizabeth Abraham
LINC Instructor / PBLA Lead, Centre for Newcomers
With over 30 years of English language teaching experience, Elizabeth is currently a LINC instructor and PBLA Lead at the Centre for Newcomers, Calgary. She is passionate about integrating technology into the classroom to create engaging, learner-centered experiences that promote language development, digital literacy, and lifelong learning.
15:45 - 16:00
GMT-7:00
From Intent to Impact: What My Students Taught Me About Inclusive Communication
Not Absent, Just Waiting: What Teaching Inside Japanese Classrooms Taught Me About Every Quiet EAL Learner
Zuzanan Buchanan
EAP lecturer, University of Alberta
Zuzanan Buchanan
EAP lecturer, University of Alberta
Zuzana Buchanan is an English for Academic Purposes instructor at the University of Alberta English Language School. She is passionate about student engagement, inclusive teaching, and curriculum development. Her current interests include reflective teaching practice and building stronger relationships with students through communication, curiosity, continuous professional learning, and reflection.
Nwankpa Lilian Ugomma
EAL Educator and Instructional Quality Assurance Specialist, Interac Corp — Mito City Board of Education, Japan
Nwankpa Lilian Ugomma
EAL Educator and Instructional Quality Assurance Specialist, Interac Corp — Mito City Board of Education, Japan
Nwankpa Lilian Ugomma is a TRCN-licensed, TEFL-certified, native English-speaking educator serving as lead teacher across elementary and junior high school levels in Ibaraki, Japan. She also works as an Instructional Quality Assurance Specialist, evaluating what excellent teaching looks like and holding herself to that same standard. She is building an ESL school while working toward international school roles.
16:00 - 16:30
GMT-7:00
Announcements and Closing Remarks
Rigvi Kumar
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Rigvi Kumar
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Jessica Cheong
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Jessica Cheong
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Keynote Speakers
Nathan Hall
Educational Technology & Pedagogy Coordinator , Douglas College
Nathan Hall is the Educational Technology & Pedagogy Coordinator at Douglas College. His research and professional interests include AI in language education, educational technology, instructional design, and teacher professional development. He also leads the teaching & research commons (TREC).
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Dr. Anna Chilewska
WRS Coordinator- Full Teaching Professor, University of Alberta
Dr. Anna Chilewska is a Full Lecturer and Writing Studies Coordinator at the University of Alberta with nearly 15 years of experience teaching EAL writing. Her work focuses on EAL writing pedagogy and helping students leverage their linguistic resources as multilingual writers. She is also the recipient of The Cécile E. Mactaggart Travel Award for Essay or Non-Fiction Writing (2024).
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Dr. Monica Sesma-Vazquez
Monica is a social constructionist-oriented social worker, family therapist, educator, supervisor, and researcher who lives in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) and Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, Canada. Monica is an Assistant Professor and the Academic Coordinator of the Couple and Family Therapy Program at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. She is the Research Coordinator of the Calgary Family Therapy Centre. Monica is currently a Board Member of the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her current clinical and research interests focus on relational and systemic work with underserved communities. Monica's research focuses on mental health and wellbeing, children and their families, immigrants, refugees, and newcomers’ issues, and gender-based violence.
Dr. Ron Darvin
Associate Professor , University of British Columbia - Vancouver
Dr. Ron Darvin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). His research areas include critical digital literacies, generative AI, and language learning.
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