HUPE PROUDLY PRESENTS
PLENARY SPEAKER
31st Annual International HUPE Conference
20 – 22 October 2023
Valamar, Poreč 

Anne Wiseman: The future of English: implications for teachers

Biography:

Dr Anne Wiseman has worked in the field of English and education for over 20 years and is currently Regional English Lead for the British Council in EU Europe. Her areas of focus are measuring the impact of English projects and developing language education projects to support teachers working in a multilingual context. Anne has vast experience of teaching, teacher training and managing education projects in countries across the world, including Egypt, China, the Middle East, Italy, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Peru, Lebanon, and most recently Sudan and Ethiopia. She has published various books and articles on the topics of inclusive education and teaching in multilingual classrooms. Anne has an MA in Applied Linguistics and a Doctorate in Education which focuses on evaluating the long-term impact of education interventions.

Abstract:

We are living through a period where the pace of change seems relentless. This changing world has implications for the use and the teaching of the English language. Change creates opportunities. Opportunities to reflect, to be in the moment and also to think about the future. We will briefly reflect on where we think we are very generally in the area of English language teaching now. Then, importantly, we will suggest implications for English language teachers to think about as we move forward into a world where the education space and the stakeholders have changed. To frame our presentation, we will discuss the findings of the Future of English programme initiated by the British Council in 2020. The Future of English (FoE) is a multi-phase research project with the aim of identifying key trends that will define the role of English as a global language in the coming decade, and the issues and opportunities for countries around the world in achieving their goals for the use of English in their contexts. This is not the first time work has been done on trying to foresee the future direction of the English language and its role in teaching and learning. Existing studies (Graddol, 1997 and 2006) have been reviewed and findings from these reviews form the basis of the Future of English project. Teachers and learners have been at the forefront of discussion and debate as education systems have attempted to navigate new learning environments to ensure the continued provision of high-quality, effective teaching and learning. This presentation will discuss findings from the project which illuminate the role of the English teacher in a world that has recently seen dramatic change and disruption. Together, we can create an environment that nurtures our growth, leading to enriched language learning experiences for our students and ourselves.

HUPE is proud to announce that our friends at the Embassy of Ireland in Zagreb will support our work by joining us at the 31st Annual International Conference in Poreč with a special treat - an exhibition about the life and work of Seamus Heaney.

Join us in Poreč from 20 - 22 October!

HUPE PROUDLY PRESENTS
PLENARY SPEAKER
31st Annual International HUPE Conference
20 – 22 October 2023
Valamar, Poreč 

Nathan Meyer: Navigating the Digital Landscape: Empowering Teachers as Media Literacy Advocates

Biography:

Nathan Meyer is an associate professor of writing and rhetoric at the University of Utah's Asia Campus in South Korea.  From 2014-17 he was a US State Department English Language Fellow in Serbia and Moldova where he lectured at universities, developed curriculum, trained teachers, and promoted post-conflict resolution through arts projects in former Yugoslavia.  As a higher education instructional consultant, he has built media literacy programs throughout Eastern Europe, developed public speaking curriculum in Turkey, and developed nation-wide pedagogy programs in Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Hungary.  At the University of Utah Asia Campus, as chair of the Faculty Development Committee he promotes student-centered pedagogies and his current research focuses on media literacy through written and visual rhetoric.

Abstract:

In the digital age, media literacy is no longer an optional skill; it is a fundamental competency necessary to thrive in a world saturated with misinformation and digital manipulation.  To meet this challenge, the role of educators must extend beyond traditional pedagogical boundaries by teaching the next generation to understand, analyze, and evaluate media content. This presentation addresses that challenge by providing educators with tools and strategies to foster media literacy skills in students and help them navigate the Information Age’s rapidly evolving media landscape. Together, we can create an environment that nurtures our growth, leading to enriched language learning experiences for our students and ourselves.