ReSIG News
IATEFL ReSIG has recently been involved in various exciting events and collaborations. In this section you can find a brief description of them and links to their recordings. This section is updated regularly, so make sure you stay up-to-date with the latest news by bookmarking this page.
2025
APRIL
58th IATEFL International Conference and Exhibition 07-11 April 2025, Edinburgh, U.K.
During the 2025 IATEFL Conference in Edinburgh, the Research Special Interest Group (ReSIG) hosted two events: a Joint Pre-Conference Event (PCE), organised in collaboration with the Global Issues (GI) and Young Learners & Teenagers (YLT) SIGs, which took place on Monday, 7 April 2025, and a Showcase Day on Wednesday, 9 April 2025.
Joint RESIG, GISIG & YLTSIG PCE: Researching Social Justice in Young Learner Classrooms
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Dr Harry Kuchah, IATEFL Past President, reflecting on the importance of epistemological justice in researching social justice in young learner classrooms during the closing reflections session.
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This year’s PCE brought together members of the Research, Global Issues, and YLTSIGs to explore how social justice is being addressed in young learner classrooms worldwide. Through insightful plenaries, interactive activities, and a diverse poster session, participants examined current research and shared practical strategies for integrating social justice into their teaching. Highlights included talks by Prof Annamaria Pinter on involving children in research, Dr Erik Ekembe on whose voices are heard in applied linguistics, and Judy Boyle on student-led action against human trafficking. A final panel and reflection session encouraged participants to consider their next steps. The day offered a valuable space for teachers and researchers—whether experienced or just getting started—to connect, share, and find new ways to bring social justice into the classroom. Learn more about the event: here |
RESIG Showcase Day
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The ReSIG Showcase Day featured a series of research-informed presentations examining diverse dimensions of teacher-research across a range of contexts. Topics included mentoring approaches, working with pre-service teachers, understanding migrant interactions, learner engagement, and the integration of AI into research practices. The day also included an Open Forum, where SIG members shared key developments from the past year and discussed ongoing initiatives. Find out more about the event: here |
Other Teacher Research highlights at IATEFL 2025
Daniel Xerri's plenary talk: Teachers and classroom research
In his plenary talk, Daniel Xerri emphasised the value of teacher-research, particulalrly when it’s teacher-led and relevant to real classroom questions. He also referred to ReSIG’s work in supporting educators take ownership of the research process and develop as teacher-researchers.
Watch the full version of the talk here Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research
ReSIG/MenTRnet’s publication Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research highlated at IATEFL 2025 — available for free download here.
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Oriana Oñate - 2025 IATEFL ReSIG Scholarship winner
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MARCH
IATEFL ReSIG Event: A global celebration of teacher-led inquiry, voice, and transformation
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The 11th edition of Teachers Research! Online 2025 took place on 29–30 March 2025, welcoming over 400 registered attendees for two days of dialogue, reflection, and celebration of classroom-based inquiry. Co-organised by IATEFL ReSIG and MenTRnet, the event featured 68 presentations from 105 teacher-researchers and 47 mentors across 15 countries—including India, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Argentina, Turkey, Laos, China, Iran, Cameroon, Egypt, Japan, Kuwait, Syria, Vietnam, and Nigeria—making it one of the largest teacher research conferences in the world.
Through plenary talks, poster presentations, and roundtable sessions, participants explored the value of teacher research as both a tool for professional development and a way of recognising local, practice-based knowledge. Sessions showcased a wide range of contexts, themes, and methodologies, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, inclusion, and critical reflection. We thank all presenters, mentors, participants, and organisers for their contributions to Teachers Research! Online 2025, helping to create another vibrant and inspiring global gathering. See the programme here |
RESIG Online Forum - Supervision and Mentoring Practices for TEFL Teacher Educators: An Inclusive and Transformative Approach
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On 1st March 2025, the RESIG hosted an online forum on 'Supervision and Mentoring Practices for TEFL Teacher Educators: An Inclusive and Transformative Approach'. The session was divided into two parts. The first part focused on the principles of the mentoring approach, which emphasizes trust, cultural sensitivity, and reflection to promote equity and inclusion in TEFL education. In the second part, the presenters shared preliminary results from implementing this framework in two public universities in Mexico, discussing both the successes and challenges of its application. The session provided valuable insights into innovative mentoring strategies for teacher development.
You can watch the recording of the session here |
FEBRUARY
New ReSIG Publication: ELT Research, Issue 40
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We are pleased to announce that ELT Research, Issue 40, the annual publication of the IATEFL Research Special Interest Group (ReSIG), has now been published. This issue showcases a wide range of contributions from teachers and researchers around the world, exploring current topics in English language teaching and practitioner research.
The issue opens with a note from ReSIG Coordinator Ernesto Vargas Gil, outlining recent activities and upcoming plans. Featured articles include Marisol Guzman Cova’s report on the ReSIG and LTSIG Pre-Conference Event, which focused on inclusive language practices and technology, and her second piece on the use of reflective journals to support pre-service teachers' wellbeing. Also included are Koko Lee’s reflection on the 2024 MA TESOL Quick Fire Event, Lone Bendixen Goulani’s study on vocabulary learning for EAP students in Iraq, and contributions by Yanyan Li, Charles Lam and Laura Richards, and Brendal Aformeziem on student interaction, translation tools in EAP, and ChatGPT in academic writing. The issue features reflective pieces by María Marta Mora and Ester Magrinyá, and closes with book reviews by Cynthia Adaeze Onuegwunwok, Grazzia Maria Mendoza Chirin, and Chris Richards. Explore the latest issue: click here ReSIG Publications: click here |
JANUARY
A Celebration of MenTRnet & the launch of two ReSIG publications!
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On 18 January 2025, MenTRnet hosted a special Festival event to celebrate its achievements and officially launch two exciting new publications co-edited with IATEFL ReSIG.
In the first half of the event, members of MenTrnet reflected on the network’s journey so far and the ways it has been fostering collaboration and professional growth in the teacher-research community. The event also marked the launch of Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research, a ReSIG publication produced in collaboration with MenTRnet. Editors shared insights into the book’s development, while chapter authors highlighted their favourite mentoring stories. This collection showcases a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, offering valuable insights into the mentoring process. Finally, it was introduced Teachers Research! Online 2024—a video-based publication capturing the teacher-researchers’ conference held in March last year. Co-chairs and mentors involved in the event shared their reflections, highlighting the contributions of teacher-researchers and the impact of mentoring on their work. The event constituted a a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate the power of mentoring in teacher-research. If you missed the live session, you can watch the video recording here. Publication links: |
4th Sub-Saharan Africa Teacher Research Conference - Teacher research in English language teacher education: What options?
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The 4th Sub-Saharan Africa Teacher Research Conference was held on 11th January 2025, under the theme Teacher Research in English Language Teacher Education: What Options? Organised by CAMELTA and IATEFL Research SIG, and supported by MenTRnet, TransformELT, the event brought together teacher researchers from across the region to explore the impact and practical applications of teacher-led research in English language teaching.
Chaired by Dr Ernesto Vargas, IATEFL ReSIG Coordinator, the conference featured a dynamic programme including a plenary talk by Prof Kate M. Reynolds (Central Washington University) and a panel discussion featuring MenTRnet steering committee members Ana Garcia Stone and Prof Ravinarayan Chakrakodi, who shared global perspectives on teacher research. The conference sessions showcased a variety of teacher-research presentations which shared impactful research findings from their contexts. Topics included motivating learners with impairments, cultivating a reading culture, addressing students' lack of motivation, and implementing effective classroom management strategies, among others. This collaborative event successfully highlighted the role of teacher research in solving classroom challenges, fostering professional growth, and improving English language teaching practices in Global South contexts. |
2024
DECEMBER
New ReSIG-MenTRnet publication: Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research
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This book, edited by Richard Smith, Seden Eraldemir Tuyan, Mariana Serra, and Erzsébet Ágnes Békés, presents a collection of 20 reflective accounts of mentoring practices from across the globe, with a particular focus on contexts in the Global South.
The narratives explore the challenges encountered by mentors and mentees ranging from teaching in conflict zones to overcoming cultural and logistical barriers. These narratives illustrate how mentoring in teacher-research, particularly within the framework of Exploratory Action Research (EAR), has supported educators in navigating these challenges, fostering professional growth, and deepening their understanding of teaching practices. Topics include mentoring practices during emergencies, fostering teacher agency, promoting collaborative approaches, and leveraging digital tools for research and publication. Each story highlights the collaborative and empowering nature of teacher-research mentoring, showcasing its potential transformative role in professional development and the enhancement of classroom practices. Link publication |
NOVEMBER
2nd National Conference on English Language Educational Research - Mexico 2024
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IATEFL ReSIG and ReSIG Mexico jointly organised the 2nd National Conference on English Language Educational Research, held online on Friday, 29th November 2024. This event marked the final event of the IATEFL ReSIG Festival of Research in ELT for 2024, bringing together teacher-researchers and student-teacher researchers from ten public universities across Mexico.
Participants presented their research on various aspects of English language teaching and learning at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The conference featured interactive breakout sessions and plenary discussions, fostering dialogue and collaboration between presenters and attendees. Research topics included:
The conference was dedicated to the work and contributions of Pat Grounds (British Council), who delivered a plenary talk reflecting on her distinguished career in English Language Teaching in Mexico, inspiring attendees with her insights and experience. Her reflections not only highlighted the evolution of the field but also emphasised the importance of continuous professional growth, the value of teacher-research, and the transformative power of collaboration in shaping the future of English Language Teaching. The event concluded with a panel discussion, offering participants an opportunity to reflect on the key themes and takeaways from the day. The discussions emphasised the importance of teacher-research in shaping the future of English language education in Mexico and beyond. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the presenters, their tutors, participants, and organisers who made this event a success. As we wrap up the IATEFL ReSIG Festival of Research in ELT for 2024, we look forward to supporting and promoting teacher-led research in the coming year. You can see the full conference program: here The recording of the event is now available on the IATEFL website in the resources section: [Video 1] [Video 2] |
ReSIG congratulates Prof Rama Mathew on her British Council ELTons Award!
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IATEFL ReSIG congratulates Prof Rama Mathew, a distinguished member of our Advisory Board, on receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2024 British Council ELTons. This award recognises her contributions to English language teaching and teacher research, particularly in Global South countries.
We celebrate her dedication to advancing inclusive and innovative practices in education, especially her support for teachers in conducting classroom-based research. As highlighted by the British Council: “The judges were particularly impressed with Rama’s focus on empowering teachers to approach teaching and assessment through research. Her methods have enabled teachers to deeply understand their learners and classrooms, fostering skills in self-observation, analysis, and evaluation within their cultural contexts. This sustainable approach supports ongoing professional growth, inspiring many teachers to launch their own customized research projects, often under Rama’s guidance and mentorship.” We are proud to have Prof Mathew as part of our ReSIG community and look forward to her continued contributions to teacher research and professional development worldwide. Learn more about this year’s ELTons Awards [here] |
IP&SEN SIG & ReSIG Joint Online Conference: Mind the Research Gap: Teacher-Led Inquiry into Inclusive Practices
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The IATEFL IP&SEN SIG and ReSIG Joint Online Conference, Mind the Research Gap: Teacher-Led Inquiry into Inclusive Practices, took place on November 24, 2024. The event brought together educators and researchers to share insights into fostering inclusive learning environments.
Key sessions explored topics such as:
You can see the full conference program: here The recording of the event is now available on the IATEFL website in the resources section: here Thank you to all participants and attendees for a successful event. We look forward to future collaborations with IATEFL IP&SEN SIG! |
MaWSIG & ReSIG Joint Online Conference: Research in Materials
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The IATEFL MaWSIG & ReSIG Joint Conference 2025 on Research in Materials took place online on Friday, November 15, 2024, bringing together educators, researchers, and materials developers.
The event started with a thought-provoking plenary by Prof. Adrian Holliday titled Private Sites, Being Communicative, and Varicultural Translingual Audiences. Prof. Holliday challenged participants to rethink materials design from a de-centred perspective, encouraging the incorporation of learners’ diverse cultural and linguistic experiences to create more inclusive and communicative resources. The conference also featured a range of insightful presentations, including:
Attendees had the opportunity to engage in lively discussions, share best practices, and reflect on the future of materials development in ELT. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this event. We look forward to future collaborations with IATEFL MaWSIG in upcoming joint events. The recording of the event is now available on the IATEFL website in the resources section: here |
OCTOBER
ReSIG Online Forum: Navigating Complexities in ELT Research at Mexican Universities
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On Friday, October 25, the ReSIG Online Forum hosted a session featuring three Mexican university lecturers who discussed their experiences and challenges as English Language Teaching (ELT) researchers.
The event focused on the role of research in professional development and its application in the classroom. Each lecturer shared specific encounters with common research obstacles and described the methods, practices, and perspectives they used to address them, facilitating an open discussion among participants. This exchange of experiences allowed attendees from various backgrounds to discuss different approaches to research challenges. The session provided a platform for educators to explore strategies for conducting research, integrating findings into their teaching, and addressing challenges to implementing research-driven changes in diverse classroom settings. Recording of the event: coming soon! |
SEPTEMBER
ReSIG Online Forum: Fostering Inclusive Teaching in the ELT/EFL Classrooms
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On 20 September 2024, the ReSIG Online Forum: 'Fostering Inclusive Teaching in the ELT/EFL Classrooms', brought together expert educators and researchers to share valuable insights on fostering inclusive teaching practices for learners with functional diversity (disabilities) in ELT/EFL classrooms. Through four engaging mini-talks, attendees were provided with practical strategies and resources for creating a more inclusive learning environment.
The forum’s key highlights included:
Each session was followed by interactive breakout discussions, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers, exchange ideas, and further enhance their understanding of inclusive teaching practices. This forum was an enriching opportunity for educators to broaden their perspectives and improve their inclusive teaching skills. Recording of the event: coming soon! |
AUGUST
IATEFL ReSIG Festival of Research in ELT: MA ELT Quick Fire Presentation Event 2024
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The MA ELT Quick Fire Presentation Event 2024 took place on August 12th, 2024. This was the first event of the ReSIG Festival of Research in ELT.
Hosted at the University of Warwick and co-organized by ReSIG and Warwick Applied Linguistics, this hybrid event brought together postgraduate students from ten UK higher education institutions to share insights from their research. Participating universities included University College London, University of Warwick, University of Hull, University of Bath, University of Edinburgh, University of Leeds, University of York, London Metropolitan University, University of Strathclyde, and Queen Mary University of London. The event featured dynamic presentations where each student delivered a concise, 5-minute summary of their dissertation research using 15 auto-advancing PowerPoint slides. This format allowed presenters to emphasize key aspects of their work, including topic selection, methodology, and preliminary findings. The audience, both in-person and online, was then divided into small groups to discuss the presentations and formulate questions during a five-minute discussion period. These questions were posed to the presenters, who expanded on their topics or addressed previously unmentioned aspects of their research. In the afternoon, Dr. Luis Carabantes from Queen Mary University of London provided valuable reflections on his academic journey from MA student to PhD and beyond. His session included a Q&A segment, offering attendees the opportunity to discuss their own career trajectories. The event also featured an introduction to the benefits of joining professional associations like IATEFL and highlighted publication opportunities available through the Research Special Interest Group. Overall, the event was a success, fostering a fruitful exchange of ideas and providing postgraduate students with critical feedback and networking opportunities. Presentations |
MAY
ReSIG Event: 'Challenges in Mentoring Teacher-Research and How to Overcome Them'
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Mentoring teacher-researchers is a pivotal aspect of professional development, yet it presents multiple challenges. This online event organised by IATEFL ReSIG on 4 May 2024 as part of the International Festival of Mentoring Teacher-Research (2024-25) aimed to explore these challenges and provide effective strategies for overcoming them. Hosted as a follow-up event of Teachers Research! 2024 conference, this event showcased the invaluable work of mentors in guiding and supporting teachers to conduct teacher research, particularly in Global South contexts. From navigating methodological complexities to fostering a supportive learning environment through teacher research, experienced mentors shared their insights, best practices, and innovative approaches.
Program and link to posters Record of the event |
ReSIG Congratulates Prof. Richard Smith for Achieving 'Highly Commended' in Research Impact at the Warwick Research Celebration Awards 2024
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ReSIG is delighted to announce that Prof. Richard Smith, past ReSIG Coordinator and current ReSIG advisory board member, was awarded 'Highly Commended' in the category of research impact at the University of Warwick Research Celebration Awards on May 1, 2024. This recognition stands as a testament to Richard’s exceptional leadership and prolific and innovative work in the field of teacher research on a global scale. Congratulations, Richard!
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APRIL
ReSIG at the IATEFL Conference Brighton 2024
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During the 2024 IATEFL Conference in Brighton, the Research Special Interest Group (ReSIG) hosted two significant events: a Joint Pre-Conference Event (PCE) organised with LTSIG on Monday, April 15, 2024, and a Showcase Day on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
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ReSIG-LTSIG Joint Pre-Conference Event (PCE)
This year, ReSIG joined forces with LTSIG to organise a joint PCE that focused on exploring various aspects of 'Researching and promoting inclusive language practices through Technology'. Conference delegates gained knowledge about challenges and opportunities to make informed decisions regarding inclusive language practices through technology. All presentations shared ideas and best practices incorporating technologically advanced techniques to promote inclusive language practices.
Overall, this was an insightful and interactive day, including two plenary talks by Dr Harry Kuchah (University of Leeds) and Nicky Hockly (The Consultants-E) and one featured workshop by Graham Stanley (British Council Americas); showcase and Poster presentations on inclusive language practices through technology; an expert panel discussion, and plenty of opportunities for networking throughout the day.
Thank you all, presenters, conference delegates, and organising team, for making this event a success. We are looking forward to seeing you in Edinburgh in 2025!
Programme
Overall, this was an insightful and interactive day, including two plenary talks by Dr Harry Kuchah (University of Leeds) and Nicky Hockly (The Consultants-E) and one featured workshop by Graham Stanley (British Council Americas); showcase and Poster presentations on inclusive language practices through technology; an expert panel discussion, and plenty of opportunities for networking throughout the day.
Thank you all, presenters, conference delegates, and organising team, for making this event a success. We are looking forward to seeing you in Edinburgh in 2025!
Programme
ReSIG Showcase Day
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The IATEFL ReSIG Showcase Day took place on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, as part of the IATEFL International Annual Conference and Exhibition Brighton 2024 program. The day's schedule featured seven talks and an Open Forum, where attendees could learn more about the ReSIG and its events and meet committee members.
Programme here |
MARCH
ReSIG Conference: Teachers Research! Online 2024
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The 10th edition of the Teachers Research! Conference took place online on March 9th and 10th, 2024. Organised by the IATEFL ReSIG and supported by MenTRnet, the event showcased over 90 teacher presentations from mentors and teachers from all over the world. Embracing the ethos of its previous iterations, the conference upheld a participant-centred approach, placing teachers' own inquiries and discoveries at the centre rather than viewing them as receivers of expert knowledge and promoting interaction among presenters and participants, allowing discussion in breakout rooms following brief poster presentations. The program also had two plenary sessions, placing mentors in the forefront, thus enriching the collective learning experience.
Link Proceedings: here |
FEBRUARY
New ReSIG publication: ELT Research, Issue 39
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ELT Research, the annual publication of IATEFL Research SIG (ReSIG), has released its latest issue, Issue 39. The issue features a variety of contributions from teachers and teacher educators around the world, covering a range of topics in English Language Teaching (ELT).
The issue begins with a note from the ReSIG Coordinator, Ernesto Vargas Gil, outlining the key events (co-)organised by the ReSIG in 2023, its publications, and its plans going forward. Ernesto’s piece also contains a tribute to Zoltán Dörnyei. The issue features several conference reports: Meifang Zhuo reflects on ReSIG’s pre-conference event at IATEFL 2023, and Laura Ferroglio reports on the ReSIG Showcase Day at the IATEFL 2023 Asli Lidice Göktürk-Sağlam, Richard Smith and Zening Yang report on the 2023 Teachers Research! online conference. Cemile Buğra and Mark Wyatt use poetry to reflect on their collaboration over the years, including in events facilitated by ReSIG. Jan McArthur discusses authentic assessment, and Lance Cummings writes about using ChatGPT to study his students’ course reflections. The issue also includes a report on the MA ELT / TESOL Quick Fire Presentation Event, a collaboration between the Applied Linguistics Department at the University of Warwick and ReSIG. In 2023, the event was organised as a hybrid event, to which Suyog Dixit and Inga Haselmann contributed a report. Two narrated Quick Fire presentation summaries are also featured, including one by Chan Pek Si on written corrective feedback and the other by Dandan Zhang on L2's willingness to communicate. Gabriela Madlo contributes a longer summary of her Quick Fire presentation on the challenges of novice ESOL teachers. Finally, this issue features three reviews of 2023 publications. Anna Szegedy-Maszák reviews Mentoring Teachers: Supporting Learning, Wellbeing and Retention by Angi Malderez. Regina Corona discusses Decentring ELT: Practices and possibilities by Amol Padwad and Richard Smith. Omid S. Kalantar looks at The Future of English: Global Perspectives by Mina Patel, Mike Solly, and Steve Copeland. Info: click here ReSIG Publications |
JANUARY
IATEFL Re-SIG Supported Events: EVO 2024 projects: 'Classroom-based Research for Professional Development' & 'Mentoring Teacher Research'
IATEFL Research SIG SUPPORTED two projects at EVO 2024 on ‘Teacher-Research for Professional Development’ and ‘Mentoring teacher-research’. These projects involved a series of weekly input sessions and discussions led by TESOL experts and participants from around the world who engaged in collaborative online discussions or hands-on virtual workshops of professional and scholarly benefit.
The series were part of the TESOL CALL-IS Electronic Village Online (EVO) and ran from 15 January to 18 February 2024.
The series were part of the TESOL CALL-IS Electronic Village Online (EVO) and ran from 15 January to 18 February 2024.
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Classroom-based research for Professional Development
This hands-on EVO project aimed at empowering teachers to conduct teacher research to solve situated problems in their classrooms.
The team of experienced mentors guided participants in the implementation of their research projects in their classrooms and in the dissemination of their research findings in the EVO online community. Moderators: Mariana Serra, Ruben Mazzei, Erkan Arkin, Sidney Martin Mota, Silvia Severino, Ayşegül Salli, Ella Maksakova, Vanita Chopra, Sagrolikar Manjusha Shamrao, and Jorge Leal Cevallos. More information here |
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Mentoring Teacher-research
Resources on facilitating teacher-research were limited until 2020, when the first EVO on Mentoring Teacher-Research was organized, leading to the development of an international mentor support group, now meeting monthly. This session aimed to strengthen that community, providing guidance to enable (prospective) mentors to support teacher-research through experiencing peer-coaching.
Moderators: Seden Eraldemir Tuyan, Ana Garcia Stone, Ravinarayan Chakrakodi, Mariana Serra, Richard Smith More info here |
JANUARY
The Fair List, UK 2023 Award to ReSIG
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ReSIG has once again been honoured with the Fair List award this year, recognising its commitment to ensuring gender diversity in the selection of plenary speakers across its diverse range of events held throughout 2023.
The Fair List. UK is an annual award that celebrates the achievement of gender balance among speakers at UK ELT/TESOL events. As expressed by Tessa Woodward, the founder of this award, The Fair List is predicated on the belief that better gender balance at UK ELT/TESOL events ensures wider coverage of relevant topics and a more balanced perspective on the issues affecting both women and men in their professional lives. The Fair List website (Link) |
2023
DECEMBER
1st National Conference on English Language Educational Research - Mexico 2023
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IATEFL ReSIG was delighted to support the organisation of the 1st National Conference on English Language Educational Research - Mexico 2023, held online on Friday, 1st December 2023.
The event brought together teacher-researchers from ten public universities in Mexico who showcased and discussed original English language teaching and learning research conducted at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the country. The conference featured a diverse array of short presentations followed by extensive interaction between the presenters and the audience. Topics ranged from Learning-teaching, professional development, and teaching profile to interculturality and Inclusion. The conference was dedicated to the work and contributions of Dr José Luis Ramírez (UNISON), who gave a plenary talk on the implications, applications and impact of ELT research in the country. By the end of the event, a panel discussion was held to reflect on the key takeaways and emerging themes from the various presentations. The event was an enriching experience for all participants, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and celebrating achievements in English language education. Program |
NOVEMBER
Researching the impact of weekly intercultural Zoom link-ups on children's enjoyment of studying English in large classes in Governmental schools in Gaza
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In the autumn months of 2022, The Hands Up Project provided weekly online intercultural link-ups via Zoom to hundreds of children in large classes in Government schools in Gaza. They also conducted quantitative research into the impact on motivation and confidence of the children taking part in these sessions.
As a means to report and reflect on this research, the IATEFL Global Issues SIG and the IATEFL Research SIG co-hosted a webinar on Monday, 20th November (World Children’s Day). The webinar comprised of the following 4 stages: 1) A presentation of the activities undertaken in the Zoom sessions – Nick Bilbrough (IATEFL GISIG) 2) A report of the research methodology and findings – Andre Castro Bilbrough 3) A panel discussing the findings and possible implications for other contexts around the world
4) Q&A with the audience Recording of the event |
AUGUST
MA ELT Quick Fire Presentation Event 2023
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On August 7, 2023, the University of Warwick's Centre for Applied Linguistics, in collaboration with ReSIG, hosted the ‘MA TESOL Quickfire Dissertation Presentation’ event. The event aimed to provide a platform for postgraduate students in the final stages of their dissertations to share their research findings with peers from across the UK.
The event was held both in person and online. The format of Quickfire Presentations was employed, where each presenter had 5 minutes to deliver a concise overview of their dissertation research. Accompanied by 15 PowerPoint slides that automatically transitioned every 20 seconds, participants focused on explaining their chosen topics, research methodologies, and preliminary findings. The event facilitated valuable discussions among attendees, enabling the presenters to obtain feedback on their findings before finalising their dissertations for submission. Postgraduate students at this critical juncture in their academic careers benefited from the opportunity to interact with peers facing similar challenges and to gather insights that enriched their research. Record of the event |
JUNE
Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research Mini-conference (17 Jun 2023)
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The Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research Mini-conference, held on 17th June 2023, provided a platform for mentors from diverse Global-South contexts to share practical insights through engaging stories and captivating digital posters. The event was conducted on Zoom, facilitating seamless virtual participation.
The conference was designed to cater to both experienced mentors who have guided teachers in research endeavors previously, as well as those who were contemplating mentoring for the first time. Participants had the opportunity to interact extensively with the presenters, fostering valuable discussions and networking. By focusing on storytelling, the conference showcased real-world experiences of mentorship, offering rich and relatable narratives that resonated with the attendees. The stories shared not only provided inspiration but also offered practical strategies and lessons learned from successful teacher-research collaborations across different educational settings. Overall, the Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research Mini-conference was a dynamic and inclusive event that blended storytelling, digital posters, and interactive sessions. It left participants feeling inspired and equipped with practical knowledge to embark on their own teacher-research mentoring journeys or enhance their existing practices. Program |
MAY
New ReSIG publication: ELT Research in Action 2022 - Working together towards shared goals (Conference proceedings)
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This book, edited by Jessica Mackay and Tomas Wogan, presents the proceedings of the conference 'ELT Research in Action 2022 - Working together towards shared goals', organised by the Escola d'Idiomes Moderns, Universitat of Barcelona, and supported by ReSIG in 2022, in what was the third edition of this conference. The collection of papers in this edition focuses on the current realities of English Language Teaching (ELT) research and practice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on online learning environments and the use of technology. The chapters explore various topics, such as the use of learning management systems, messaging apps, captioned-video viewing, and the influence of social media on GenZ EFL learners. The challenges faced during the period of emergency remote teaching and the return to face-to-face classes are also addressed. Additionally, timeless questions and debates in language learning and teaching are examined, including the use of learners' own language, learner motivation, feedback provision, and the role of emotions in the learning process. The remaining chapters discuss issues from the teacher's perspective, including action research, beliefs and attitudes towards Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), and insights from experienced educators. Collaboration emerges as the common theme throughout the collection, with researchers, teachers, and learners working together to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Link publication |
APRIL
ReSIG Pre-Conference Event (PCE) 2023: ‘Teacher Research and inclusion and social justice in language education’
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As part of the celebration of the 56th IATEFL International Conference and Exhibition – Harrogate 2023, the IATEFL ReSIG organised its Pre-Conference Event (PCE) on Monday, 17 April 2023. This year, the PCE focused on exploring various aspects of Teacher Research and inclusion and social justice in language education. The main goal of the conference was to share practical classroom-research tools (e.g., how-to-do strategies), showcase collective and individual projects and initiatives in different teaching and learning contexts worldwide, and discuss innovation, challenges, and paths forward within this emerging and dynamic area.
Programme |
ReSIG Showcase Day - Harrogate 2023
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The IATEFL ReSIG Showcase Day was held on Thursday, 20 April 2023 as part of the program of the IATEFL International Annual Conference and Exhibition Harrogate 2023. The schedule of the day featured six talks and an Open Forum where attendees could find out more about the ReSIG, its events and meet members of the committee. It was a great opportunity for language professionals to learn more about the SIG and network with each other.
Programme here |
MARCH
IATEFL Re-SIG International Festival of Teacher-Research in ELT: Teachers Research! Online 2023
Teachers Research! Online 2023, organized by IATEFL Research SIG and sponsored by the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust, Decentring ELT initiative, brought together 70+ teachers from the Global South (Argentina, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cote d'Ivoire, India, Iraq, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Thailand and Turkey) sharing their (classroom) exploratory action research projects.
Following on from the very successful 2021 conference on the same theme, this online event was participant-centred, placing teachers’ own inquiries and discoveries at the centre rather than viewing them as receivers of expert knowledge. The innovative format of the sessions promoted interaction among presenters and participants by allowing ample discussion time in break-out rooms after brief poster presentations. The programme also featured plenary sessions which placed groups of teachers and mentors at centre-stage.
The event took place online on Friday 17th March and Saturday 18th March 2023 and used Zoom to deliver the sessions.
Participation was free for IATEFL members and non-members alike thanks to generous sponsorship from the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust.
Proceedings
Following on from the very successful 2021 conference on the same theme, this online event was participant-centred, placing teachers’ own inquiries and discoveries at the centre rather than viewing them as receivers of expert knowledge. The innovative format of the sessions promoted interaction among presenters and participants by allowing ample discussion time in break-out rooms after brief poster presentations. The programme also featured plenary sessions which placed groups of teachers and mentors at centre-stage.
The event took place online on Friday 17th March and Saturday 18th March 2023 and used Zoom to deliver the sessions.
Participation was free for IATEFL members and non-members alike thanks to generous sponsorship from the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust.
Proceedings
FEBRUARY
New ReSIG publication: ELT Research, Issue 38
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ELT Research, the annual publication of IATEFL Research SIG (ReSIG), has released its latest issue, Issue 38. This issue features a variety of contributions from teachers and teacher educators around the world, covering a range of topics in English Language Teaching (ELT).
The issue begins with two articles that challenge the notion of a theory-practice divide in ELT. These articles provide both theoretical and practical perspectives on the subject. Following this, an interview on humanising materials development is presented. The main section of the issue consists of research reports on diverse topics. These reports include the development of online ELT materials, the use of peer observation and self-assessment, and the importance of student mental wellbeing in language learning. Continuing a tradition started in Issue 36, the issue also features short reports from the MA ELT Quick Fire Presentation Event, organized by the Applied Linguistics Department at the University of Warwick and supported by ReSIG. These reports explore teachers' perceptions of the shift to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, aspects of spoken production and assessment, and motivational and emotional processes in language learning. Additionally, the issue includes conference reports on IATEFL 2022, specifically the ReSIG Pre-conference Event and the ReSIG Showcase Day, as well as a report on ELTRIA 2022. Issue |
IATEFL ReSIG Supported Event: Cameroon Teacher Research Group: 'Teacher Research Webinars Series 1'
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On Sunday, 12 February 2023, members of the Cameroon Teacher Research Group, led by Dr Eric Ekembe, presented the results of their Teacher research projects in an online event where they identified an area of teaching and learning in their own classroom that they wanted to investigate and develop.
This was the first of a series of poster presentations after the 'ELT in the Global South Conference 2022' organised jointly by CAMELTA Research Group and Dep't of English ENS Yaounde and supported by ReSIG. |
JANUARY
IATEFL ReSIG Supported Event: EVO 2023 project: 'Mentoring Teacher Research'
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In January and February 2023 Seden Eraldemir Tuyan (Cağ University, Turkey), together with Ana Garcia Stone, Ruben Mazzei, Mariana Serra and Richard Smith, led a series of weekly input sessions and discussions on how to mentor teacher-research, as part of the TESOL CALL-IS Electronic Village Online (EVO) initiative.
As in 2020 and 2022, this event was supported by ReSIG. The EVO ran from 9th January to 12th February, with the first webinar happening on Saturday January 7th. Project website |
2022
SCHOLARSHIPS
During 2021-2022 the Research SIG has offered different scholarships for its members to attend diverse academic events in the U. K. and across the world:
* Funds provided by the A S Hornby Educational Trust
** Funds provided by an anonymous donor
See the complete list of the IATEFL Re-SIG scholarship recipients here.
- ELT in the Global South Conference 2022 Scholarship (20 scholarships*)
- ReSIG PCE-IATEFL Conference 2022 International Scholarship (1 schoalrship)
- ReSIG PCE-IATEFL Conference 2022 Global South Scholarship (5 scholarships**)
- PCE-IATEFL Virtual Conference, 2021 (1 schoalrship)
* Funds provided by the A S Hornby Educational Trust
** Funds provided by an anonymous donor
See the complete list of the IATEFL Re-SIG scholarship recipients here.
DECEMBER
TRIBUTES
A Tribute to Zoltán Dörnyei (1960-2022)
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IATEFL ReSIG paid a small tribute to Professor Zoltán Dörnyei (University of Nottingham), who sadly passed away this year, by sharing a workshop he led in 2012 on Questionnaire design and analysis.
The workshop was organised by ReSIG and was held at Coventry University in the UK, addressing five issues in designing a questionnaire:
Videos |
EVENTS
IATEFL ReSIG Supported Event: International Conference for Teacher-Research 2022 Chennai, India, 2–3 Dec
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IATEFL Research SIG supported the organisation of the ‘Seventh International Conference for Teacher-Research 2022’ which took place on 2-3 Dec, 2022 in Chennai, India. This conference was organised by the Department of English, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering, a private autonomous institution affiliated to Anna University Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Overall, the conference aimed at promoting teacher-research among the English language teaching community and served as a platform for teachers to share their knowledge, learn from the experience of others, and enjoy the give-and-take of creative ideas. Keynote Speakers Prof Richard Smith (University of Warwick) Prof Rama Mathew (University of Delhi, India) Plenary Speakers Dr K Elango (Anna University, Chennai) Dr Amol Padwad (Ambedkar University, Delhi) Dr T Shrimathy Venkatalakshmi (Anna University, Chennai) Dr Ravinarayan Chakrakodi (Regional Institute of English South India, Bengaluru) Conference website here |
AUGUST
MA ELT /TESOL Quick Fire Hybrid Event 2022
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On Tuesday, August 16th 2022, MA students from different universities across the UK presented their dissertation work to peers and supervisors in the MA ELT /TESOL Quickfire Hybrid Event 2022 co-organised by the Centre for Applied Linguistics of the University of Warwick and the IATEFL ReSIG.
The event took place in person and online (i.e. in a hybrid format), representing an opportunity for the presenters to discuss their findings and get feedback before submission. Conference programme and visual record of the event here |
MAY
Book Launch Event: 'Teachers Researching Their Classroom Questions: Reports from Africa' (IATEFL ReSIG & Africa ELTA joint publication)
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On Thursday, May 26th, the launch of the IATEFL ReSIG/Africa ELTA joint publication "Teachers Researching Their Classroom Questions: Reports from Africa" was celebrated online. The book was edited by KuchahNnam Kuchah, Amira Salama and Ana Ines Salvi.
Attendees to this event had the opportunity to listen to the African teacher-researchers, their mentors and the editors share their experience in this project. Watch the event here Download the book here! *IATEFL Research SIG has now published 14 books since 2015, most of them reports of teacher-research from around the world. All available here |
IATEFL ReSIG Supported Event: ELT in the Global South Conference (Hybrid In Person/virtual event)
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IATEFL Research SIG supported the organisation of the 'ELT in the Global South Conference', a hybrid in person/virtual event celebrated on Wednesday , 25 May 2022, at 12:30 p.m. (BST). At least 100 participants attended the event, both online and in person. The conference was jointly organised by the CAMELTA Research Group and Dep't of English ENS Yaounde and had as a goal to open new spaces for dialogues on ways of bridging the gap between teacher preparation, practice, and professional development in the Global South.
Conference Programme |
ReSIG Showcase Day 2022 at the IATEFL International Annual Conference and Exhibition - Belfast 2022
The IATEFL ReSIG Showcase Day was held on Wednesday 18 May 2022 as part of the program of the 55th IATEFL International Annual Conference and Exhibition - Belfast 2022. Below is the schedule of the day featuring five talks and an open forum where delegates were able to find out more about the SIG, meet members of the committee and discuss the future of Teacher Research
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IATEFL Research SIG & Africa ELTA joint publication: 'Teachers Researching Their Classrooms Questions: Reports from Africa', edited by KuchahNnam Kuchah, Amira Salama & Ana Ines Salvi
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ReSIG & Africa ELTA have just published 'Teachers Researching Their Classroom Questions: Reports from Africa, edited by KuchahNnam Kuchah, Amira Salama and Ana Ines Salvi.
Download it here! IATEFL Research SIG has now published 14 books since 2015, most of them reports of teacher-research from around the world. All available here |
APRIL
IATEFL Re-SIG Teacher Research and/for the Global South Online Conference
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Ahead of the IATEFL 55th International Conference & Exhibition - Belfast 2022, the IATEFL Research SIG organised a conference on 30 April 2022 focused on ‘Teacher Research and/for the Global South’. This conference was held online with the purpose of making it as inclusive and accessible as possible, particularly for the Global South participation.
The event featured a plenary session; poster presentations by teachers and teacher mentors involved in teacher research in and for the Global South, and a panel discussion of specialists from countries in the Global South who problematised and debated the concept of ‘Global South’. They also discussed, together with the conference delegates, practices, challenges and possibilities of Teacher in the Global South. Conference Programme, posters and abtracts |
IATEFL Re-SIG Supported Event: ELTRIA Conference 'Working together towards shared goals'.
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IATEFL Research SIG supported the organisation of the third ELTRIA conference which took place, online, on 22-23 April, 2022. This conference, organised by the EIM (Universitat de Barcelona), offered a unique opportunity for researchers and practitioners with common interests to share ideas and apply research to the everyday puzzles faced by teachers and their learners.
Plenary speakers: Dr Neus Figueras Dr Geoff Jordan Prof. Sarah Mercer Dr Brian Tomlinson |
FEBRUARY
Proceedings of the final event in the International Festival of Teacher-research in ELT 2021
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The proceedings of Teachers Research! Online 2021 event, featuring posters, presentation videos and Q&A with 117 presentations by teachers and student-teachers from 15 countries is now published online.
The publication can be accessed here |
JANUARY
IATEFL Re-SIG Supported Events: EVO 2022 projects: 'Classroom-based Research for Professional Development' & 'Mentoring Teacher Research'
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IATEFL Research SIG supported two projects at EVO 2022 on ‘Classroom-based research for Professional Development’ and ‘Mentoring teacher-research’. These projects involved a series of weekly input sessions and discussions led by TESOL experts and participants from around the world who engaged in collaborative online discussions or hands-on virtual workshops of professional and scholarly benefit. The series were part of the TESOL CALL-IS Electronic Village Online (EVO) and ran from 9 January to 13 February 2022.
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Classroom-based research for Professional Development
This EVO project, organised since 2016, aimed at empowering teachers to conduct teacher research to solve situated problems in their classrooms. Experienced mentors guided participants in the implementation of their research projects in their classrooms and in the dissemination of their research findings in the EVO online community. Mentors: Rubén Mazzei, Mariana Serra, Asli Saglam, Erkan Arkın, Sidney Martin Mota, Silvia Severino, Suchita Mahokar, Sudhakar Katare, Aysegul Sallı and Pablo Labandeira. More information here |
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Mentoring Teacher-research
Resources on classroom-based research are now easily available but how to facilitate teacher-research has been relatively neglected. This EVO session aimed to develop a community of teacher-research mentors and to provide guidance to enable mentors and prospective mentors to play what can be a pivotal role in supporting teacher-research. Mentors: Richard Smith and Seden Eraldemir Tuyan More info here |
2021
DECEMBER
IATEFL Re-SIG International Festival of Teacher-Research in ELT: Teachers Research! Online 2021
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On the 10 and 11 of December, the Research SIG organised the Teachers Research! 2021 Online Conference. This was the final International Festival of Teacher-research event in ELT 2021. The conference consisted of poster presentations and Q& A sessions with 32 mentors and 112 English teachers from Argentina, Cameroon, India, Iraq, Israel, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, Turkey and Uzbekistan, who shared their experience conducting Teacher Research.
Conference Program Conference session videos |
OCTOBER
IATEFL Re-SIG Webinar: Investigating second language writing processes: Methodological advances and challenges by Prof Andrea Revesz (IOE, UCL)
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On the 16th of October the Research SIG hosted Professor Andrea Revesz from IOE, UCL during a 1hr an online webinar. The well attended event centred on the discussion of methodological advances and developments in investigating writing in SLA. It was followed by a discussion with the audience on questions about research and teaching implications resulting from the studies presented during the webinar.
The recording can be accessed here |
SEPTEMBER
IATEFL Re-SIG Webinar: 'Pedagogical approaches to the teaching of formulaic language' by Dr Ana Pellicer-Sanchez (UCL)
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On Saturday the 25th of September an online webinar took place with Dr Ana Pellicer-Sanchez from IOE, UCL. The talk focused on the pedagogical approaches that can be followed when introducing formulaic language in second and foreign language contexts. The event was attended by practitioners and researchers in the field and very useful directions for anyone wishing to conduct research in this area were also discussed.
The recording can be accessed here |
AUGUST
IATEFL Re-SIG Supported Event: MA ELT Quick Fire Presentation Event 2021
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On Tuesday 3rd August 2021 UK MA English Language Teaching / TESOL students presented their dissertation ideas and work so far to fellow students in the field in an informal way. The MA ELT / TESOL Dissertation Quickfire event was held online and gave participants a great opportunity to interact with their peers from different universities in the UK as well as practise valuable presentation skills, while getting useful feedback to help them finalise their discussion and conclusion chapters.
The format of the ‘Quick Fire’ event was that each presenter gave a short (5 minute) talk with only 15 PowerPoint slides. The content of the presentation was their research area, why they were interested in it, what their research questions were and how they planned to answer them. After the presentation, participants met in small groups for 5 minutes to agree a question to ask. Then there was a short question and answer session with all delegates. The recording of the event can be accessed here |
JULY
ReSIG supported event: Lessons from Teacher Research in Difficult Circumstances
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On Saturday 24 July 2021, the TfT Network* organised a one-day virtual symposium on teacher research. The theme of the symposium is: Lessons from Teacher Research in Difficult Circumstances
Dr. Richard Smith and Dr. Paula Rebolledo were the plenary speakers for the symposium. A panel discussion on the experiences and the future of teacher research in difficult circumstances was moderated by Dr. Prem Phyak. The panelists included: Dr. Ganga Ram Gautam, Dr. Rama Mathew, Dinesh Thapa, Dr. Tasnima Aktar and Anju Lama. Fifteen teachers from Nepal and India shared the process and findings from their research before and during the pandemic. More information: [email protected] * Teachers for Teachers Network (TfT-Network) is a teacher support group where teachers from all levels of education volunteer to share their ideas with their fellow teachers from across the globe. The group promotes teacher research activities through workshops, webinars, mentoring, research, and other forms of professional discussions and collaborations. |
ReSIG supported event: South-South Teacher Research Conference and Panel Discussion
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On Saturday the 3rd of July 2021 our SIG supported the ‘South–South teacher-research conference and panel discussion’ with a focus on the topic of "Possibilities, value, and sustainability of teacher research in the Global South". The event included presentations from Sierra Leone, DR Congo, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon and Mexico, followed by a panel discussion with Rafael Cervantes, Rama Mathew, Paula Rebolledo, Ernesto Vargas and Francis Vernyuy.
The recordings of the event can be accessed here: Video |
JUNE
ReSIG supported event: Inauguration of TESOL BD Research SIG & Workshop on Teacher Research
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On Saturday 26 June 2021, the TESOL Society celebrated the creation of its new teacher research special interest group. This SIG has the expressed aims to promote and develop research knowledge and skills among ELT practitioners of all levels. It also hopes to cater to the needs and interests of post/graduate researchers, new and early career researchers, as well as experienced researchers in the field of ELT in Bangladesh and beyond. To celebrate the occasion, Dr Richard Smith (University of Warwick, UK) and Prof Rama Mathew (University of Dehli, India) conducted a workshop entitled ‘An invitation to Teacher Research’.
The recording of the event can be accessed here: Video |
ReSIG Pre-Conference Event and Showcase Day 2021: 'The role of Research in English Language Teaching and Teacher Education'
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Within the celebration of the 54th IATEFL International Conference and Exhibition (Virtual conference), the ReSIG celebrated its Pre-Conference Event (PCE) and Showcase Day 2021 on Friday the 18th and Saturday 19th of June 2021 correspondingly. Both events were very well-attended by our members. The recorded poster presentations from the PCE have now been uploaded on our website and can be accessed by anyone who would like to catch up with the talks and discussions of this excellent day.
The recordings of the PCE event can be accessed here: http://resig.weebly.com/resig-pce-2021.html |
