Are you an Ontario certified English language teacher (OCELT) and currently teaching? Are you interested in enriching your professional development by exploring other ways of completing your PD requirements? If so, consider giving back to the TESL community by being a practicum mentor. Look forward to a satisfying experience that will add more diverse skills to your resume.
This session will be a panel discussion format. Hear from TESL trainers and program coordinators from accredited TESL training institutions in Ontario. They may be joined by instructors who will share their experiences of being practicum mentor teachers.
After the presentation from the panel members, there will be approximately 20 minutes for attendees to participate. We welcome both those who are aspiring practicum mentorscurious, unsure, and questioningas well as experienced practicum mentors who are happy to share their professional experiences and tips.
Learn about:
Webinar Type: Career Development
Categories: Professional Development, Careers, Employment
Teaching Sectors: All sectors, LINC
Participant Level: All levels
Antonella Valeo is an associate professor at York University where she teaches TESOL and graduate courses in Applied Linguistics. Her research examines language teacher education and classroom-based interaction. She currently coordinates the TESOL Certificate Program at York and is a member of the Research Committee and the Accreditation Standards Committee of TESL Ontario.
Carmen Valero (she/her) has been the dean of Canadian College of Educators since 2001. She is a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP), an Ontario Certified English Language Teacher (OCELT) and Certified TESL Trainer. She holds degrees in Linguistics, Modern Languages, and Translation from McMaster University and the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation of the University of Ottawa. Her experience also includes being a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, terminologist & translator for the Translation Bureau of Public Works and Government Services Canada. She has taught high school and university English, French, and Spanish. Much of her work in the field of terminology and translation has been published by the Canadian Federal Government in TERMIUM®, our government’s linguistic databank. She has been involved in educational leadership, language education, and teacher training for nearly 30 years. She has a passion for helping other educators achieve their potential and goals.
Ghazal Lotfi (she/her) holds a PhD and MA in English Language Teaching and is a TESL Ontario certified teacher trainer and English language teacher (OCELT). With 29 years of experience in the field of TESL, she has held a range of academic and leadership roles, including TESL trainer, coordinator, practicum supervisor, and mentor. Ghazal is currently serving as a professor and curriculum and post-secondary studies coordinator in English Language Institute at Fanshawe College. She views mentorship as a dynamic partnership; one where mentor and mentee inspire one another, embrace challenges, and grow together.
Irene Kosmas (she/her) is an OCELT-accredited English language educator with 20+ years in post-secondary education. As the current EAP and TESL program coordinator at Humber Polytechnic, she specializes in curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and program innovation. A PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics at York University, her research focuses on mentorship in TESOL practicums, reflecting her commitment to advancing language teaching excellence.
Anjum Karimi (she/her) a passionate and experienced OCELT and TESL Methodology instructor. Recipient of Sparks of Excellence award by TESL ON 2024. At present working at Polycultural(since 2007) in the capacity of LINC 2 Instructor and PBLA lead Instructor. Published author of ‘An ELT Experience’, a training manual for instructors and new immigrants to Canada. Have delivered many well received workshops on Personality Dimensions, Mindfulness and Meditation and Self-care for Educators at TESL ON annual conferences, Tutela, for Amazon employees in the USA and at the international conference for English language instructors in Qatar. Experienced at providing TESL Methodology sessions for Canadian College of Educators and Humber College on various topics related to teaching strategies and de-stressing techniques for educators.
Volunteered with the P/H/E chapter of TESL ON for a period of 10 years, as their membership secretary and Affiliate Representative.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNsLcpscAzjjFcpvXORephg
www.linkedin.com/in/anjumkarimi
Tracy Crewson (she/her) transitioned into teaching adults as a second career and currently teaches a LINC Youth Media class (CLB 1/2) at Mohawk College. She is a graduate of Humber’s TESL program and has mentored Humber students for the past 5 years. She recently completed a Master of Education in Special Education with a focus on literacy / literacy intervention and trauma-informed classroom spaces.
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jpl23HwFTHCPYevpIM12rQ
* Members must be a member of the TESL Ontario group on Tutela.
Please note: TESL Canada and TESL Ontario are separate entities. Your TESL Canada membership does not include free access to TESL Ontario webinars. To learn more about TESL Ontario Standard Membership, please click HERE.