Strategies for Working in Diverse Social and Cultural Classrooms

Friday 14 November 2008, 9am–4pm


Many schools have a mixed student population from diverse backgrounds. Some students come from homes with English fluency, but many do not.

Some of our newer students are refugees from war-torn countries and non-English speaking backgrounds. In most instances, these children are on average one year older than their peers. Having had disruptive or even no schooling, they lack English language fluency and sound literacy levels in their own language. Many of these students are frustrated and disengaged, and experience emotional and behavioural difficulties.

As teachers in this changing landscape we need to be equipped with tools that could help us to alter the dynamics of this challenging learning situation. This workshop will assist you with developing strategies to support active learning and engagement in diverse classrooms.


Presenter
Dora Lafkas
Dora has been teaching and lecturing in the field of TESOL for over 20 years, including 11 years as a secondary school ESL teacher. During this time she participated in DSP projects such as “Write it right”, as team member, team leader, school project consultant and resources developer. In these roles she offered advice and curriculum support re matters of language and literacy across the curriculum, particularly when related to the socio-linguistic backgrounds of the students. Dora has also taught in Intensive English Centres (IEC)

Most recently she has held a full-time teaching position in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. In this position she has coordinated and lectured on courses associated with TESOL curriculum, multilingual classrooms and with catering for diverse social and cultural classrooms; further informing her classroom experiences with past and current research so that she is now able to effectively educate teachers.



Fees & Registration
GST inclusive
Individual – $185 | Group of two or more from the same school – $175 pp.
Download a registration form (PDF)


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