High- & Low-Tech Strategies for Meaningful Independent Work for Input (pre-tasks) & Practice (task rehearsal)

In this video Iván Suazo, explores four options where teachers and students might put their attention when faced with difficult situations in class or in a professional contact. In those moments when you are trying to understand what is happening or what has been said or done. Through these explorations we will learn about making healthy choices to build mutually beneficial relationships. In this session, the ideas of the relationship between feelings and needs and the impact the use of the lenses of blame, judgment, curiosity, empathy and compassion will also be discussed. This session is based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication (NVC).

What do you do when you have 15 minutes. and you don't know what to do with your students? In this session Mary shares "back-pocket" activities that can be done in the virtual or f2f classroom without having to do any preparation or with minimal preparation. We talk about what might be meaningful, fun or creative and look at the concept of a "generative" activity. We share some games, speaking activities and community builders. Come ready to participate and try them out! 

Gratitude is so much more than saying "thank you!"  In this session Mary & Iván explore what gratitude is, how it impacts both the giver and receiver. We look at how gratitude is expressed in the paradigm of compassionate communication and consider how that can enrich our lives. Finally we offer a few practices that can be done on a regular basis so that you and your students can receive the benefits offered by creating and sustaining a gratitude practice. 

In this session Kristine explores the use of Real Life Situations with the Action Oriented Approach (AOA). Participants identify the components of real life situations and the impact of using them in learning English. Kristine also uses and shares resources that might be useful for participants when planning and delivering lessons.

I4CL alumna Kristine Gamboa is a public school teacher in Costa Rica. She has been teaching English to Elementary and University students for the last 26 years. She has participated in two Exchange programs, one in Georgia and the other one in North Carolina. She also took the SIT-TESOL certificate course with the I4Cl in 2018. She describes herself as a pragmatic teacher creating simple and effective ways to enhance her students’ language learning skills. She enjoys using games, songs, and interactive activities for her students to bring joy into her classroom. She believes that children learn better and enjoy learning when they get along well with each other

In this session Karla explores the role of culture in the classroom based on her experience as an English teacher and as an exchange program participant in Montana, USA. We will look at what culture is and how and when to teach it. Karla will also share some experiences and information about the JEEM Scholarship program 2023.

Karla Rodríguez  is and I4CL alumna and teaches English at an Elementary school of the Ministry of Public Education in Costa Rica. She has been a teacher for the last 20 years. She took the SIT-TESOL Certificate course at the Institute for Collaborative Learning in 2018 where she became passionate about teaching culture. In 2022, she was given an award for studying American education and culture with the JEEM scholarship program.

In this session Max explores the role of creativity in the classroom as an opportunity to make learning happen in a meaningful and  fun way.

I4CL alum Max Arias is the Regional English Advisor to the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) in Liberia, Costa Rica. He is a passionate educator with over 20 years of teaching experience who enjoys creativity. Max frequently speaks at national and international conferences.  He also works for the University of Costa Rica and Universidad  Técnical Nacional.