What do successful readers do? (30th PARK conference)
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
4d ago
In March 2010, I did my very first conference presentation at a PARK conference in Brno, Czechia, and I’ve been back many times since, so I really didn’t want to miss this special 30th anniversary conference. This was the abstract for my talk: What do successful readers do? As teachers, we’re often guilty of testing our students’ reading abilities through comprehension questions, without actually supporting them to become better readers. But where should we start? How can you move beyond a comprehension focus and help students to become the best readers of English that they can be? What migh ..read more
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How to write better quality materials for your learners (presentation)
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
1w ago
I was very happy to be invited back to ELTABB in Berlin to do a talk as part of their 2024 AGM. The last time I was there was around 2016 or 2017, when I did a workshop on lots of different options for how teachers can develop themselves professionally. This time, I ran a 90-minute workshop based on my competency framework for language learning materials writing. This was the abstract: If you’re anything like me, you’ve produced a lot of materials for your learners, whether that’s a worksheet, a PowerPoint presentation, or a video. You’ve also had very little training in materials writing, an ..read more
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Festival of Freelancing – my upcoming talk
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
1M ago
From 11th-15th March Rachael Roberts is running the third version of her incredibly useful (and free!) Festival of Freelancing, and I’m very happy to say I’ll be presenting at it. While spreadsheets might not seem like the world’s most exciting topic, I think they’re one of the single most useful things you can use to help you manage your business. In the session, I’ll show you various ways I use spreadsheets and you’ll have the chance to try them out as we go along. Here’s the link to sign up to the whole festival: https://earnlearnthriveinelt.com/festival-of-freelancing ..read more
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How I got a Distinction in DELTA M1 within 3 months (guest post)
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
1M ago
In February 2024, I saw a post in the DELTA & DipTESOL Candidates and Survivors facebook group from Ha Truong. She shared how she had prepared for the DELTA Module 1 exam in 3 months and managed to achieve a Distinction. I asked her to write it up as a guest post for my blog to share her tips with the wider world and save them for posterity. Well done to Ha for your Distinction, and thanks for sharing how you got there! Note that I have a page of Useful links for DELTA if you would like more advice / help. Over to Ha… In December 2023, I achieved a distinction in the DELTA Module 1 exam af ..read more
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Introducing a competency framework for language learning materials writing (Educast)
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
1M ago
On 9th February 2024, I presented a plenary at the Educast online conference. It was called Introducing a competency framework for language learning materials writing and was a 45-minute version of the talk I did in January at the IH AMT, sharing the framework I put together as part of my NILE MA. This was the abstract: A competency framework sets out the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to do a job successfully. Frameworks exist for ELT teachers, trainers and managers, but not for materials writing. Inspired by Denise Santos’ IATEFL 2022 talk, I created one for my MA dissertation. I wi ..read more
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The future of teacher development (TDSIG Developod podcast interview)
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
1M ago
IATEFL TDSIG is the Teacher Development Special Interest Group. They have an excellent podcast called Developod (find more podcasts for ELT teachers here). I was very happy to be invited to chat to Christian Ludwig about the future of Teacher Development from my perspective, especially focusing on the power of blogs and social media. You can listen to the 36-minute episode here or by clicking on the link below. https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/developod/episodes/2024-01-31T14_00_00-08_00 Thanks very much to TDSIG for inviting me ..read more
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Delta Conversations: Zhiwen
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
2M ago
This is part of a series of posts showing you all the different ways you can approach the Cambridge DELTA. They are designed to help you find out more about the course and what it involves, as well as helping you to choose the right way to do it for you, your lifestyle and the time you have available. If you’ve done the DELTA (or any other similar higher-level teaching course, including a Masters), and you’d like to join in, let me know by leaving me a comment or contacting me via LinkedIn. If you’re interested in doing DELTA yourself, I run Take Your Time DELTA Module ..read more
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How Girlguiding helps all girls know they can do anything
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
2M ago
On 19th January 2024, I presented at the IATEFL Young Learner and Teenager Special Interest Group (YLTSIG) web conference. The theme this year was ‘Each child, every child and the whole child’. I was invited to speak about Girlguiding. This was the abstract for the session: I’ve been part of Girlguiding in the UK as both a child and an adult, and it’s contributed a lot to who I am as a person. As a girl I was a Rainbow and a Brownie, and as an adult I’m Snowy Owl, a volunteer working with Brownies. Girlguiding improved my confidence, taught me how to work with others, and added extra skills ..read more
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IH AMT plenary day 2024
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
2M ago
On 13th January 2024, I attended the plenary day of the International House Academic Managers and Trainers (AMT) conference, as I was the final presenter of the day. My talk is summarised here, in which I introduced my competency framework for language learning materials writing. These are my notes from the other talks I attended on the day. The wellbeing of educational leaders – Dr Kate Brierton Kate’s website is www.campassionatecambridge.co.uk ‘A psychologist with a passion for compassion’ – if we could be more compassionate, we could all be healthier (a focus on health, rather than happin ..read more
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Introducing a competency framework for language learning materials writing (plenary at IH AMT)
Sandy Millin
by Sandy Millin
2M ago
On 13th January 2024, I presented a plenary session at the International House Academic Managers and Trainers (IH AMT) 2024 conference. When I was the Director of Studies at IH Sevastopol and IH Bydgoszcz, I used to attend the AMT regularly, so it was lovely to be back. Follow this link [I’ll add the link on Monday 15th Jan] for the notes on the talks I attended. My own talk was called Introducing a competency framework for language learning materials writing and was the first official public outing for the framework I put together as part of my NILE MA. This was the abstract: A competency fr ..read more
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