May 2025
PD Update
The Latest Professional Development Events and News
Upcoming PD Events
Unlocking First Languages in the Classroom: Making Space for Linguistic Inclusion in ELT
Webinar: 8 May, 3.30pm-4.30pm (AEST)
This webinar explores how drawing on learners’ own languages can enhance inclusion, foster collaboration, and strengthen communication skills. This session makes the case that embracing linguistic diversity helps students engage more deeply, build confidence, develop stronger plurilingual skills, and take pride in their linguistic identities. Teachers will learn how to apply practical strategies to create a more supportive and effective learning environment.
Neurodiversity in the Language Classroom – Creating Inclusive Environments
Webinar: 14 May, 2.00pm-3.00pm (AEST)
Hosted by the Direct Entry Programs SIG, this webinar will discuss what neurodiversity looks like in the language classroom, including how neurological differences may manifest in classroom behaviour, emotion, and language acquisition. It will explore the essential aspects of fostering an inclusive and equitable environment that supports the success of all students.
VIC and NSW PD Fests
VIC: 17 May and NSW: 24 May
English Australia will hold its final PD Fests for 2025 in Melbourne on 17 May and Sydney on 24 May. PD Fests are mini conferences held in our state branches which showcase practical presentations by teachers, for teachers. They are also an invaluable opportunity for ELT professionals to network and collaborate. Hurry, today is the last day to register for VIC PD Fest and NSW PD Fest registrations close on 14 May.
Teaching TOEFL iBT® Skills Workshop
Live online sessions: 27 & 28 May, 4.00pm-6.00pm (AEST)
TOEFL iBT® invites you to this practical, hands-on training program designed especially for English language teachers working in EAP programs, test preparation, or academic English instruction. This live, interactive workshop will equip you with practical tools and classroom-ready activities to help students succeed in academic English—and on the TOEFL iBT® test. Attendance at both sessions is required.
For access to all of our upcoming PD events please visit our events webpage.
English Australia Journal – new edition now live!
The English Australia Journal Team is delighted to release the latest issue of the English Australia Journal, for your reading and PD pleasure!
Issue 41.1 heralds the end of one era yet the start of another: with deep gratitude, we farewell our outstanding Executive Editor, Dr Michael Burri, who has led the team with discernment and humility for the last four years. Mike, thank you for your service, and we wish you all the very best in your next chapter!
We are delighted, however, to welcome Dr John Smith from Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) as our new Executive Editor. John has been a steadfast member of the Journal team for the last four years, holding the Reviews Editor role, followed by the ‘A Matter of Practice’ Editor role. John, we very much look forward to your guidance and leadership as the Journal’s new Executive Editor!
As for Issue 41.1, we are pleased to offer you a range of insightful and practicable peer-reviewed articles, reports and reviews. Many thanks to all our contributors to this edition — your articles are extremely valued.
Finally, English Australia offers its sincere gratitude to the rest of the formidable English Australia Journal team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes on every edition: Copy Editor Kaylee Downing, Reviews Editor Benjamin Carkagis, Contributing Editor Sandra Pitronaci, and Designer Derek Trow.
English Australia Conference Registration Open
- ‘What are students doing when they use AI and how can I help them?’ (Hosted by the Post-entry English and Academic Language SIG)
- ‘Intercultural Competence for ELICOS’ (Hosted by Value Learning)
- ‘Empowering teachers: Practical strategies for building assessment design capacity in ELICOS’ (Hosted by the Assessment SIG and Dr Phuong Tran)
Congratulations WA and SA PD Fests
PD West in Perth
SA PD Fest in Adelaide
Congratulations to the WA and SA branches of English Australia that both held successful PD Fests over the past month.
On 11 April, over 100 passionate educators came together for English Australia WAs’ PD West, hosted by the wonderful team at University of Western Australia Centre for English Language Teaching (UWA CELT). It was a fantastic day of learning and connecting — with staff from English colleges across Perth presenting their ideas. Events like this are what build strong, collaborative communities in our sector.
Then on 3 May, University of Adelaide’s English Language Centre hosted SA PD Fest bringing together a vibrant community of English language teachers. The program opened with a powerful plenary on ‘Resilience through Change’ and the rest of the day featured engaging sessions by teachers, for teachers, covering topics ranging from learning differentiation, warmers and fillers using GenAI, giving feedback on emergent language, and the AI Ambassadors Program, among others.
Thank you to our generous sponsors for PD West and SA PD Fest – Pearson, Language Cert and IELTS. Thank you also to Pearson for sponsoring Bright Ideas, which supports teachers from PD Fests around Australia to attend and present at the English Australia Conference.
We hope to see you at a PD event soon. Feel free to reach out to Sophie O’Keefe with any questions or suggestions about upcoming PD.
Regards
English Australia
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