A spotlight on working with neurodivergent learners in ELT
Price: FREE
Date: Wednesday 25th November
Speaker: Gemma Williams
Time: 4-5 pm (London time) Not able to join us live on the day? Everyone who signs up will also receive the webinar recording
Webinar description:
Neurodiversity is increasingly part of educational conversation, but what does it actually mean for ELT teachers? With roughly one in five people thought to be neurodivergent, teachers are likely to encounter neurodivergent learners in their classrooms whether or not those learners have a diagnosis or disclose their needs. This webinar introduces key neurodiversity concepts and explores some of the ways everyday classroom routines can inadvertently create barriers to learning.
We’ll consider practical examples relating to sensory environments, instructions, task design, pacing, attention and interaction, drawing on principles from Universal Design for Learning. Rather than asking teachers to identify or diagnose individual learners, we’ll focus on how small changes to the learning environment can make teaching more accessible from the outset.
You’ll come away with a clearer understanding of neurodiversity and neurodivergent learners, a framework for thinking about potential barriers in your own teaching, and practical examples of how you can improve access without lowering expectations, reducing challenge or creating a whole load of extra work.
The MET Spotlight Series shines a light on key topics and themes we’ve explored in MET. In these webinars, our fantastic MET contributors explore their chosen topic in more detail, and share their expertise alongside practical tips, useful ideas and more. Subscribers can read Gemma’s recent article on neurodivergence in the ELT classroom here.
Speaker: Dr Gemma Williams is neurodivergent, with a deep interest in cognitive linguistics and neurodivergent communication; her doctoral research investigated communication between autistic and non-autistic speakers. She is also an experienced EFL teacher with a Masters Degree in English Language Teaching. She has taught beginner level students through to advanced, business English learners to asylum seekers and migrant workers, from summer school groups to one-to-ones. Most recently, she has been involved in the production of digital ELT learning resources.
Gemma is the author of English Language Teaching in a Neurodiverse World from Pavilion ELT. This accessible and practical book offers an understanding of what neurodiversity means and entails. It then provides ELT-specific, neurodivergent-led and evidence-backed insights to help you work with – and not against – the unique strengths and challenges neurodivergent learners offer. By signing up to the webinar, you will also receive a special discount on Gemma’s book!
