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Make Your Classroom an International Hub

Do you want your students to interact with students from other countries but don’t know how to organize that? Do you want your students to not only use English as an “academic” language but to use it in real-world communication? If the answer is “yes” then join this workshop! The phrase "Global community" is used a lot but experienced by few students studying EFL. The International Virtual Exchange Project (IVEProject) is changing that. Over the last 8 years more than 60,000 students from 29 countries interacted with each other online via this project. These students now have a better idea of what it means to communicate with people around the world. This experience puts them in good stead to feel more confident in future international interactions. Students have authentic communication with non-native speakers and thus develop intercultural communication skills. Students often have to negotiate meaning and acquiring this skill is essential to developing better communication. Employers appreciate students with a better understanding of non-native English writing and speaking as non-native speakers will be the majority of people they will be communicating in English with in the coming century. In this workshop, the project will be outlined and some results from research done on participating students presented. The research shows students with low levels of English ability increase their interactional confidence, intercultural sensitivity, knowledge of their own culture, gain motivation to learn English, and are more interested in other cultures after participating in simple virtual exchange. The IVEProject is sponsored by the Japanese government and is therefore free-of-charge to participate. Participants in this workshop will then have a hands on session to learn how they and their students can participate. This session will showcase IVEProject features and extra tools developed to help teachers and students gain the intercultural understanding and communicative competence that comes with active participation in the IVEProject.

Multimodal AI tools for developing language skills

This workshop explores the potential of multimodal Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in transforming English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction. Moving beyond text-based AI, the workshop focuses on tools integrating various modalities, such as voice, image, and video, to create more engaging and immersive learning experiences. Participants will examine how these cutting-edge technologies can enhance all four language skills - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The workshop will address the opportunities and challenges of incorporating AI into EFL pedagogy. It will provide practical demonstrations of various multimodal AI tools and offer guidance on effectively integrating them into different teaching contexts. Additionally, the workshop will discuss ethical considerations, strategies for addressing potential issues like plagiarism, and the importance of balancing AI with human interaction in language learning. By attending this workshop, participants will: 1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of multimodal AI and its applications in EFL. 2. Explore a range of innovative AI tools and resources suitable for different learning levels and language skills. 3. Develop strategies for effectively integrating multimodal AI into their teaching practice. 4. Engage in critical discussions about the ethical implications and pedagogical considerations related to AI in language learning.