PD Update for August
Upcoming Events
Back to basics: The fundamentals of Australian Copyright
Webinar: 20 August at 3.00pm-4.00pm (AEST)
In this session, Liesl Fitzpatrick, Senior Manager, Education Licensing at Copyright Agency, will show how English language providers can take the guess work out of copyright compliance. Using real life examples, she will talk through key copyright principles and common myths.
Teaching for tomorrow: Soft skills in the English classroom
1 Sept (Brisbane), 2 Sept (Sydney), 3 Sept (Melbourne) at 3.00pm-5.00pm
This workshop looks at the evidence that soft skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking and leadership, are the transferable skills that employers are looking for today. Attendees will delve into the ways in which soft skills can be integrated into the English classroom, showcasing the latest developments from the Global Scale of English: GSE Soft Skills.
Using Custom GPTs for lesson preparation
Webinar: 9 September, 2.30pm-3.30pm (AEST)
Join the Ed-Tech SIG for its first GenAI Community of Practice session. This session will showcase two Custom GPTs designed to save time with lesson planning (for Reading and CCQs), enable differentiation, and help scaffold and adapt course materials. Participants will have time to experiment first hand with the Custom GPTs.
Upgrading your students’ language by giving feedback that makes a difference
Webinar: 17 September at 3.30pm-4.30pm (AEST)
Focusing on ‘emergent language’, this webinar will guide participants in identifying and using language that arises naturally during classroom interactions. Through real examples, teachers will learn how to notice, prioritise and respond to emergent language to support students’ development.
Integrity, Authenticity & the Future of Assessment
23 September in Melbourne & 25 September in Sydney from 10.00am to 4.00pm (AEST)
Join Professor Phillip Dawson (Co-Director, CRADLE Deakin University), Basim Baig (Head of Security, Duolingo) and Dr Masha Kostromitina (Assessment Specialist, Duolingo) for a dynamic, in-person masterclass exploring how digital assessment design can promote fairness, trust, and resilience — without compromising on innovation.
The latest English Australia Journal is here!
We are delighted to announce the launch of the latest edition of the English Australia Journal, now under the leadership of the new Editor in Chief, Dr John Smith. We also welcome a new team member to the Journal, Reviews Editor Dr Marzieh Sadeghpour.
This issue is packed with thought-provoking content for teachers and practitioners. Highlights include Ryan Phelan’s exploration of GenAI in writing feedback, and Matter of Practice articles about integrating speaking and listening through model texts, and innovative uses of AI in IELTS preparation. You’ll also find a candid 10 Questions interview with Tyson Seburn on identity and inclusive practices, as well as reviews of new books about language assessment and lesson design.
The English Australia Journal editorial team is committed to building on the Journal’s strengths while encouraging contributions from first-time researchers and early-career academics. Teachers interested in becoming more involved are warmly invited to contribute to our Reviews section , or to join our growing pool of peer reviewers. Please submit an expression of interest here: https://forms.office.com/r/UM7i6pDtf1.
Be sure to also connect with the Journal’s brand-new LinkedIn page for more updates.
Join the conversation – Be part of the Ed-Tech SIG’s first AI Community of Practice session
We’re excited to announce the launch of the Ed-Tech SIG’s new AI Community of Practice (CoP) — a dedicated space for ELT practitioners to connect, share ideas, and learn together about the fast-changing world of educational technology. This CoP is designed to keep us all up to date with emerging Gen AI tools and practices and build confidence in using technology critically and effectively.
The first meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 September 2025, 2:30–3:30pm AEST, and will focus on using Custom GPTs to support lesson preparation. Education Program Manager, University of Adelaide English Language Centre Chris Wasow will showcase two practical Custom GPTs (for Reading lessons and CCQs) designed to save time with lesson planning, enable differentiation, and help scaffold and adapt course materials. Participants will then have the chance to experiment with these tools and share their reflections. Whether you’re an EdTech enthusiast or just starting to explore AI in your teaching, this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and shape the direction of the CoP from the very beginning.
Beyond Comprehension: Teaching for Critical Thinking
In today’s classrooms, understanding content isn’t enough—students need to ask questions, evaluate evidence, and form their own judgments. This practical and engaging session delivered by English Australia Corporate Affiliate Circular Learning is designed to help teachers explicitly teach critical thinking across a range of learning contexts.
You’ll explore a clear two-stage approach:
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Comprehension and analysis – identifying patterns, relationships, and purpose
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Synthesis and evaluation – questioning claims, recognising bias, and drawing conclusions
Through hands-on tasks, you’ll discover ways to scaffold thinking and language at the same time. Whether you teach Academic English, general English, or an academic subject in English, you’ll leave with practical tools to build confident, critical thinkers.
August 20th at 7.00pm – 8.45pm (AEST)
Soft Skills in the English Classroom – Free Post-Conference Workshops
The English Australia Conference is just around the corner, and we’re excited to announce free post-conference workshops with our plenary speaker Mike Mayor, Senior Director Global Scale of English Pearson focusing on ‘Soft skills in the English classroom’ in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
As English teachers, we can take some comfort from the fact that English is the lingua franca of international business and that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. But proficiency in English may no longer be enough to secure a dream role. What other skills could we be teaching our students in order to set them up for career success?
This workshop looks at the evidence that soft skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking and leadership, are the transferable skills that employers are looking for today – and which are set to become increasingly important as AI impacts the nature of many roles.
This workshop will delve into the ways in which soft skills can be integrated into the English classroom, showcasing the latest developments from the Global Scale of English: GSE Soft Skills. Attendees will get hands-on experience of using these free resources in their classes to support the teaching and assessment of soft skills.
Pearson will provide networking drinks and nibbles.
Brisbane 1 September, at 3.00pm-5.00pm
Sydney 2 September, at 3.00pm-5.00pm
Melbourne 3 September, at 3.00pm-5.00pm
