Course Category: 2021 NEAS Management Conference

Experiential Approaches in Online Language Assessment Training

Conference 21.20

Presented by

Dr Marie Yeo

Regional Language Centre Singapore

The use of classroom-based formative assessment (CBFA) has become increasingly common, even more so now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers may have to implement formative assessment practices such as peer-assessment, self-assessment and reflection or use e-portfolios to assess their learners, yet they themselves may never have experienced these activities.
Approaches, such as Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, have been shown to be highly effective for adult learning, especially in sustaining changes in beliefs and practices. In this presentation, I describe the experiences of teachers of English from the ASEAN region enrolled in an online language assessment course as they engage concretely in activities related to “feedback and feedforward”, Assessment as Learning, and Formative Use of Summative Test (FUST). Through these concrete first-hand experiences, the teachers were able to gain a deeper understanding of formative assessment concepts and principles, and the benefits and challenges of applying them in their specific teaching contexts.
This presentation offers insights into CBFA and teacher professional development in online and face-to-face contexts and is intended to enhance both the assessment literacy of language teachers and the training delivery of teacher educators, especially those working in the ASEAN context.

Presenter Bio

Marie Yeo is a Senior Language Specialist at the SEAMEO Regional Language Center (RELC) in Singapore, where she teaches on a range of teacher education programs. For the past 30 years, she has taught English, trained teachers and trainers and managed educational projects in countries including Australia, China, Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam. Her current areas of interest are Language Assessment, Teacher Professional Development and Blended Learning. Marie is currently Editor-in-Chief of the RELC Journal and her most recent publications include a guidebook on teacher professional development, a chapter on blended learning and a journal article on academic publishing.

CPD points: 1

Finance Workshop

Conference 21.19

Presented by

Steven Forgione

Steven Forgione, Client Director, Bentleys NSW will present a workshop on understanding financial statements & financial ratio analysis.

Presenter Bio

With nearly 20 years’ professional experience in this sector, Steven specialises in providing accounting, tax and general business advice to private clients and small to medium sized businesses. Steven works with a broad spectrum of clients and individuals throughout the entire business lifecycle of planning, structuring and growth. Steven also has expertise in delivering a range of accounting and financial management training courses to help clients enhance their knowledge of financial principals.

CPD points: 1

Transformational Technology in Thai Education

Conference 21.18

Presented by

Dr Alexander Nanni

Associate Dean for International Affairs, Mahidol University

Transformation is difficult. The education system of Thailand is in transition, and individual universities are undergoing their own organizational changes in response to an evolving economic and demographic landscape. Students embarking on their educational journeys face daunting uncertainty, particularly regarding the acquisition of marketable skills and eventual employment; however, these same students also have access to unprecedented opportunities. In this highly unsettled context, Mezirow’s (1991) framework of transformative learning is a valuable lens through which to understand the role of disorientation, dissatisfaction, and experimentation in effecting meaningful change. This presentation explores the interplay between the reform of higher education in Thailand, the internationalization of a specific government university, and the transformative journeys of students enrolled in an English-medium liberal arts program within the university, emphasizing the ways in which managing crises can enhance sustainability. The students’ experiences are discussed in relation to transformative learning theory. For teachers aiming to equip students for their journeys, understanding the transformative potential of adversity is a key to fostering student success.

Presenter Bio

Alexander Nanni is the Associate Dean for International Affairs at Mahidol University International College (MUIC), which is located in Salaya, Thailand. He began teaching English in Thailand in 2005. From 2012 to 2018, he was the director of the Preparation Center for Languages and Mathematics at MUIC. During this time, he and his team applied for quality assurance through NEAS, becoming the first program in Thailand to do so. Alexander holds an M.Ed. in Teaching English as a Second Language from Rhode Island College and an Ed.D. in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership from Northeastern University in Boston.

CPD points: 1

From Teaching to Leading the Learning: A Transformational Perspective

Conference 21.17

Presented by

Steven Happel

Vietnam USA Society English Centres

In this presentation, Steven weaves a personal and professional story that relates a shifting understanding of education and learning both for himself and the institution he works for – VUS. The story starts with a humble K-12 experience, moving on to university and then the ELT industry in Vietnam. Along the way, Steven touches on models of learning and an institution wrestling with traditional conceptions of education common to Vietnam. Steven ties this into a discussion of leadership, arguing for a more distributed, bottom-up model that sees teachers not just as leaders, but learners.

Presenter Bio

Steven Happel has been teaching English professionally for more than 17 years. His experience varies from tutoring foreign exchange students in the United States to the ESL classrooms of Vietnam. He has worked at VUS for the last fifteen years, first as a teacher and later becoming a senior teacher and then academic advisor. He specializes in both curriculum design and teacher training, running in-house workshops for professional development. He also works as a freelance teacher trainer for the British Council, specializing in IELTS and language assessment.

Steven received his B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Latin from the University of Minnesota where he graduated with honors. He later obtained teaching certificates in TEFL and TESOL and is currently obtaining a Masters in Applied Educational Leadership and Management through the University of London.

CPD points: 1

Teachers of Speakers of Languages other than English – a Journey to Trust and Professionalism

Conference 21.16

Presented by

A/Prof Klaus Veil

Australian Council of Professions

Ruth Ferraro

Australian Council of Professions

Trust in and regard for teachers as professionals is high but differs across countries and cultures. As teachers of non-English speaking background students, we are privileged to join doctors and scientists as the third-most-trusted profession. Ruth Ferraro and Klaus Veil from Australian Council of Professions will reflect on how as leaders, teachers, practitioners, professionals and students our unique professional journeys nurture, maintain and merit this privileged position.

Presenter Bios

With 30 years professional experience and significant contributions, Klaus is internationally recognised as an expert educator in Health Informatics, Health Information Technology, Healthcare Systems Interoperability and eHealth Standards Development. A Adj. Associate Professor at the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics at Western Sydney University, Klaus has also taught at Sydney and LaTrobe universities as well as to industry and governments in the USA, the UK, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Germany and Bulgaria. Klaus currently serves as president of the Australian Council of Professions and led his professional association, the Australasian College of Health Informatics from 2009 to 2017.

With her early educator career in second language and ESL teaching and program management with TAFE and the NSW AMEP, Ruth’s interest in professions commenced in her two-year role as Executive Officer for the Australian Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ATE-SOL). She furthered her enquiry into the phenomenon of professions and professionalism between 2000 – 2015 alongside her 25 years in executive roles in education in membership bodies across multiple professional environments (education, medical specialisations, accounting, law and financial planning). Ruth brings a deep insight into the transformational nature of professional life.

CPD points: 1

Welfare and Guidance for Under 18’s in the Current Landscape

Conference 21.15

Presented by

Michael Bos

The Morton Bay Colleges

Bear a thought for our international students under 18 years old. Not only are they navigating study and life in another country, they are also working through their teenage years as they mature to adulthood. And they are currently experiencing all of this during a global pandemic in another culture, far from home. For those students living in Australia, many have not been home for over a year now. As you can imagine, this is having not only an impact on the students and their families, but also on the institutions supporting them. This session explores the challenges and corresponding responses in the care and support of international students under the age of 18 years old. We examine the regulations, concessions and ways to ensure the welfare of these students.

Presenter Bio

Michael is an experienced International Director with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Michael is a strong business development professional skilled in Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Teaching English as a Second Language, Adult Education, and English as a Second Language (ESL).

CPD points: 1

The Role of the Education Agent as a Bridge Between Institution and Student

Conference 21.14

Presented by

Melanie Macfarlane

VETA

In this presentation, Melanie will provide an insight into the world of education agents and their impact on the ELT sector. Agents don’t simply place students and process paperwork – there’s a lot more to the job! Melanie will discuss agents as the conduit between education providers and students, highlighting their value and necessity. She will dispel several myths, discuss dispute resolution strategies and discuss the future path for agents, as international students prepare to travel post-COVID.

Presenter Bio

Melanie Macfarlane is a registered and practising Migration Agent with over 17 years’ experience securing visas for migrants to live, work and study in Australia. She has worked with individuals, families and employers from small to large-scale businesses, all with the same common goal – to explore new opportunities and create a happy world, one migrant at a time.

Melanie founded MMMigration & Recruitment and VETA Education & Migration in 2007 and has since grown the company to offices across 3 states in Australia as well as Colombia, Chile and Mexico. She’s built a passionate, like-minded team who embody her positive values, setting them apart as leaders in the migration industry. From MMMigration’s and VETA’s vibrant offices to their professional service, the team reduces the stress and confusion from the migration process, ensuring peace of mind and positive outcomes. To date, MMMigration and VETA have helped over 10,000 people with a 99% success rate in helping migrants gain visas and permanent residence in Australia.

A migrant herself, Melanie was born in Freetown, West Africa and grew up in Vanuatu and Indonesia where her diverse circle of friends gave her a good understanding around equality and opportunities to succeed. Her experience as an English language teacher in Indonesia, an education consultant and a recruiter in bringing chefs over from Peru, has created for her a solid network, particularly in her focus areas of childcare, hospitality, aged care, IT, engineering and agriculture.

CPD points: 1

The Quality ELT Professional Initiative

Conference 21.13

Presented by

David Ferguson

Deputy Head of International Operations, John Paul College, Queensland, Australia

NEAS collaborates with community stakeholders to enhance further the interests of the ELT practitioner. David Ferguson, Deputy Head of International Operations at John Paul International College, draws on over a decade of experience in international education. Sharing his personal reflections, David recounts his journey completing a series of targeted online courses as part of the NEAS Quality ELT Professional Initiative.

The apex NEAS Endorsed ELT Professional Badge is achieved by practitioners who finish the capstone course, “Master Practitioner in ELT”. Join us to find out more about this new and growing professional development programme for ELT practitioners.

Presenter Bio

David is the Deputy Head of International Operations at John Paul College in Queensland, Australia.

David has been involved in international education in various capacities for over 10 years from teaching to leading international programmes and teams. He currently oversees all international operations at John Paul College, Queensland, Australia.

CPD points: 1

Enhancing Collaboration With Your Future Students via Transnational Education

Conference 21.12

Presented by

Jason West

University of Technology Sydney

True transformation of the self or the organisation starts first on the inside and works it’s way out. Transformation occurs when you change the way you think, because it’s the way you think, that changes the way you do! In education, simply teaching students to the test, won’t cut it. Our students need the 21st Century skills that enable them to manage complexity, ambiguity and the challenges of a changing world. In a multicultural, plurilingual world, students with the cultural and language skills, will excel as global entrepreneurs and global citizens. UTS Insearch has been on its own transformative journey, commencing with self-reflection, listening to our students and teachers, and observing the changing landscape in English language teaching. This session shares valuable insights into the transformation of our ELT Curriculum, so that we can prepare students for
success now, at university, and into their working lives.

When we started our curriculum review process, we initially thought it was a case of taking our existing curriculum and refreshing the content, a new version if you like. What we’ve discovered, is that the transformation required, has influenced many parts of our organisation and has required some serious introspection; how to bring all parts of the organisation together to deliver best practice (NEAS) pedagogy, through cutting-edge curriculum design principles. We’ve also changed the way we think about our curriculum, explicitly stating the learning outcomes for students, ensuring that these outcomes are met and enhancing the student experience. Specifically, this session will share the salient steps in our transformation, some of the key lessons learned, and offer advice to other educators, on how to approach genuine transformational change, through your curriculum.

Presenter Bio

Jason West is the Director of Studies at UTS College, the college pathway provider of English language courses, for students heading to the University of Technology Sydney. He has more than 13 years’ experience, teaching and leading ESL programs and teams. Prior to joining UTS Insearch, Jason was previously the Head of English at SILC (Shanghai Institute of Language and Commerce) a JV between UTS and Shanghai University.

He has more than 10 years’ experience teaching TESOL courses to predominantly Chinese students in Shanghai, and more generally to international students in both Shanghai and Sydney. He has presented at several international conferences on ESL related topics. Jason is passionate about developing teams, to help our students build their English language skills for success at university and as global citizens.

CPD points: 1

How did I Get Here? From Back-Packer to Rewarding Career in International Education

Conference 21.11

Presented by

Dr Pamela Humphreys

Director, Macquarie University English Language Centre

Dr Pamela Humphreys has worked in international education in five countries for over 30 years. She holds a PhD, is a Senior Fellow of both the HEA and IEAA, a TEQSA Expert, and published author. She is currently the Director of Macquarie University International College and English Language Centre, where she was a 2019 finalist in the Educational Leadership category of the Vice Chancellor’s Awards. But how did she get here? Originally planning to travel the world and avoid a career, how did a back-packer end up with a rewarding career in international education? This presentation will use pivotal moments in Pamela’s professional journey to provide tips to those on their own leadership journey in the sector.

Presenter Bio

Dr Pamela Humphreys is the Director of Macquarie University International College and English Language Centre. She has worked in the English language and higher education sectors for 30 years in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. She was Assistant Principal Examiner for IELTS and exam item writer for many years. She has won multiple national awards for her work in post-entry language support and for educational leadership, and has published widely on academic language and learning. In 2016, her PhD thesis, on the topic of English language proficiency in higher education, was awarded the IEAA award for outstanding postgraduate thesis in international education. In 2018, she became Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and, in 2019, she became Senior Fellow of IEAA and an approved TEQSA Expert in her field. Pamela is passionate about supporting EAL students’ language and literacy needs before and during their university studies.

CPD points: 1