LANGUAGECERT at EAQUALS Webinar Series 2026

Learners’ Collaborative Video-Production: Key competencies for the Attention Economy Era
with Dr Sylvia Karastathi

Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 10am–10:40am UTC

How are we preparing language learners for ‘an economy of attention’, where ‘fighting for attention dominates everyday culture’? This talk draws on insights and experiences from a research project conducted in a higher-education context working with video-presentations. It explores how we can facilitate the development of visual and critical literacy skills to help students navigate the new attention landscape.

Dr Sylvia Karastathi is an educator and lecturer with over 15 years of experience in higher education. As Head of Teacher Support at LANGUAGECERT, she leads the development of resources and events that empower teaching communities involved with LANGUAGECERT certifications. With extensive expertise in coordinating graduate teacher development programmes and managing pre-service teacher training as a Programme Director in transnational education partnerships, she focuses her research and publications on language education, visual literacy and multimodality.

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Integrating Socio-Emotional Learning in the Teenage Classroom
with Nancy Katsikari 

Date: Tuesday 21st April 2026
Time: 10am–10:40am UTC

This presentation aims to equip EFL teachers working with teenage learners with effective strategies and tasks targeting the 21st-century teenager.

During adolescence students experience significant emotional, social, and cognitive development which can affect them profoundly. Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps teenagers navigate this sensitive period of their lives by fostering emotional intelligence, empathy, and interpersonal skills, which are essential for their personal and academic success. Join us to explore how by integrating SEL into our classrooms, we can create a supportive learning environment that promotes holistic growth.

Nancy Katsikari has over 16 years of experience in ELT working as a teacher, director of studies and teacher trainer at prestigious educational institutions in Greece, Malta, and the UK. She holds a Master of Science in Management and Organisation of Educational Units (MSc), a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature (BA), and is CELTA and DELTA qualified. As a LANGUAGECERT Academic Consultant, Nancy is driven by her passion for supporting teachers to develop, achieve their goals and progress their careers. She is a true believer of lifelong learning and enjoys exchanging experiences and knowledge with education professionals from around the world.

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From Verse to Voice: Engaging Teen Learners Through Poetry
with Dr Irene Stoukou

Date: Tuesday 2nd June 2026 
Time: 10am–10:40am UTC

How can poetry enhance learner engagement and language development in EFL? This session addresses common classroom challenges and presents low-prep, adaptable activities using poetry and digital tools to foster communicative competence, motivation, and inclusive participation among B1–C1 teenage learners.

Dr Irene Stoukou is a language assessment specialist and researcher with experience in higher education and high-stakes testing. She is a Research Associate at LANGUAGECERT, responsible for the analysis and monitoring of examiner performance, and a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of English Language and Literature at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her research interests include children’s literature, critical theory, language assessment, and inclusive pedagogy.

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The Power of Silence 
with Chantelle Walsh

Date: Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Time: 10am–10:40am UTC

Is silence a part of your communication toolkit? Although often mistaken for the absence of communication, silence is in fact a powerful way of connecting with others, as it carries an important dimension of listening: active listening. This is especially important in a school environment, where relationships, emotional safety, and learning are closely connected, since even without words we can show students that we are paying attention and that we understand them. In this webinar, we will explore silence not as a gap in teaching, but as the space that allows real learning, reflection, and emotional processing to occur.

Chantelle Walsh is an experienced teacher and teacher trainer. Originally from Ireland, she has been living and working in Italy for the past twenty-five years. Passionate about supporting both learners and educators, Chantelle has increasingly focused her work on mindfulness and well-being in education. She has shared her expertise widely, delivering talks and workshops at national and international conferences. Alongside her work as a trainer and speaker, Chantelle collaborates closely with language schools across Italy. In her role as an educational school inspector for AISLi (Associazione Italiana Scuole di Lingue), she supports institutions in maintaining high standards of quality, pedagogical care, and student well-being. She is also an active member of the European Mindful and Compassionate ELT project, contributing to ongoing initiatives that promote more humane, mindful, and compassionate language teaching practices.

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On the shoulders of giants: Ideas from the past to shape the future of ELT
with Teresa Bestwick

Date: Tuesday 17th November 2026
Time: 10am–10:40am UTC

The ELT classroom has evolved significantly over the years, and it’s exciting to see where the future may take us. However, progress doesn’t mean abandoning the past. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll try out some time-tested activities that have helped shape ELT as we know it today. These ideas go beyond language, bringing together motivation, learner autonomy, reflection through a humanistic approach that will continue to play a key role in classrooms of the future.

Teresa is a teacher, trainer and materials writer based in southern Spain. She is highly engaged in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and manages an online community for ELT professionals, the TEFL Development Hub. She is a co-author of Teaching Teenagers with DELTA Publishing and splits her time between tutoring TESOL courses and teaching online. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and snapping pictures of plants.

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