Category Archives: Activities

Join Us at the 2025 TESL Ontario Annual Conference – Call for Presentations Now Open!


Written by - teslontario

Mark your calendars! The TESL Ontario Annual Conference returns from November 19–21, 2025, and this year’s theme, “Igniting the Future of Language Education,” promises to spark meaningful dialogue and innovation in our field.

We’re excited to announce that the Call for Presentation Proposals is officially open! This is your chance to showcase your knowledge, share your research, and contribute to the evolving landscape of language education.

Presenting at the TESL Ontario Conference offers more than just visibility—it’s a platform for professional growth. Engage with a dynamic audience, gain fresh perspectives, receive constructive feedback, and take part in conversations that inspire future collaborations and ideas.

By stepping into the role of presenter, you’ll enhance your communication skills, expand your professional network, and establish yourself as a leader in the TESL community. Whether you’re an experienced speaker or a first-time presenter, this opportunity can boost both your confidence and career.

Presentation formats include:

  • Papers
  • Individual or Group Presentations
  • Panel Discussions
  • Publisher’s Showcases
  • Technology-Focused Sessions

Why Present? Here are just a few of the benefits:

  1. Complimentary one-day registration on the day of your presentation
  2. A certificate of five (5) hours of Professional Development for your one-hour session
  3. A chance to sharpen your virtual presentation skills
  4. A meaningful way to expand your professional learning network
  5. The opportunity to contribute to and learn from your peers through vibrant exchange

New to presenting? No worries! You’ll have access to a detailed, self-paced training package, plus the support of our experienced organizing team, moderators, and technical staff.
Returning presenters won’t need to repeat training unless they choose to, but a quick “What’s New in 2025” orientation video will be available to keep you up to date.

To learn more about this year’s theme, session requirements, and how to submit your proposal, visit our Call for Presentations page. Be sure to submit by 12:00 PM (ET) on June 13, 2025.

We look forward to your ideas—and to seeing you in November!

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Why Use Kahoot! for Vocabulary Learning? 


Written by - Ozma Siddiqui
Image source: Wikimedia Commons- Kahoot! Image by Alisher Y

There is no doubt that the integrated skills approach to English language learning has become the order of the day due to the success rates. In her article, “Integrated Skills in the ESL/EFL Classroom,” ESL Magazine, Oxford states that “the integrated-skill approach, as contrasted with the purely segregated approach, exposes English language learners to authentic language and challenges them to interact naturally in the language.” However, technology driven instruction for targeted skills has also improved the classroom learning experience significantly.  The advent of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) with an emphasis on gamification has led to more interactive classrooms. Online tools like Kahoot! transform traditional classrooms into dynamic learning platforms with more student engagement and consequently, a higher probability of language acquisition.  Continue reading →

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Engaging students through art


Written by - Jennifer Hutchison
Image by Jennifer Hutchison taken in London, England.

I have zero talent in drawing or painting. My students giggle as I sketch something on the whiteboard, be it a cat, house, fork, whatever. I channel my creativity in other ways. In online classes, for example, I add artistic flourishes to my class presentations by using colourful and playful designs and animations. And since my students seem to like it, I thought, why not use more visual art to teach the course content?

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Your Pre-Conference Checklist: Getting Ready for the TESL Ontario Annual Conference


Written by - teslontario

With TESL Ontario’s annual conference just around the corner, prepare ahead of time to make the most of this enriching event. Whether this is your first time attending or you’re a seasoned conference-goer, this handy checklist will help ensure you are ready to engage, learn, and connect.

 

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Customizing H5Ps 


Written by - John Allan @mrpottz
This image was generated using AI technology.
“This image was generated using AI technology.”

There are thousands of H5P learning objects available online through repositories, open education resources and shared courses.  Many of them have a Reuse button.  By clicking on this button, educators can download an H5P and use it as it is or they can customize the H5P.

H5P, HTML5 Package, is an online set of tools that facilitates the creation and sharing of interactive, multimedia content.  These are normally used for educational purposes.  They enhance learner engagement with interactivity, immediate feedback and mixed media. H5P offers a variety of content types like quizzes, interactive videos, presentations, and games, which can be easily integrated into online learning platforms such as Canvas, Moodle or Brightspace.  One of the best attributes of H5P is the ability to customize existing H5Ps.  This can save time, energy and development costs. It also saves training time for teacher-developers.   
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Poodll on Moodle 


Written by - John Allan @mrpottz
“This image was generated using AI technology.”
“This image was generated using AI technology.”

I was fortunate enough to have moderated a few Avenue webinars on Poodll technologies in June.  The webinar speaker was Justin Hunt, the founder and CEO of Poodll.  I have since been developing learning experiences for the CanAvenue.ca project using Poodll technologies and would like to share some of the basics with the TESL Ontario community through this blog post and a TESL Ontario webinar. 

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Strategies for Online Learning to Promote Student Engagement and Satisfaction 


Written by - Patricia Patel

From my experience, and the experiences of my colleagues and students, online learning and teaching have gained significant popularity on a global scale in recent years. Hui & Yunus (2023) suggest that teachers could benefit from a revision in curriculum to support modernized online teaching approaches that help foster a motivating, authentic, and satisfying online learning environment with the goal of promoting a sense of student autonomy. Implementing proper strategies could result in better learning.   Continue reading →

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The 2024 TESL Ontario Annual Conference Call for Proposals is Now Open!


Written by - teslontario

This year’s TESL Ontario Annual Conference will be taking place November 13-15, 2024. The call for presentation proposals is now open for this year’s event: Navigating New Routes in Language Education. The TESL Ontario Annual Conference provides an exceptional opportunity to share your expertise and research to a diverse and engaged audience, fostering professional growth and visibility in your field. It allows you to contribute to the collective knowledge of our community, receive valuable feedback, and engage in stimulating discussions that can inspire new ideas and collaborations.

Participating in the TESL Ontario Annual Conference as a presenter enhances your communication and presentation skills, builds your network with peers and industry leaders, and positions you as a thought leader. The experience not only boosts your confidence but also opens doors to future opportunities, both academically and professionally.

Interested presenters can choose from a variety of session types to deliver live or pre-recorded, including Papers, Presentations, Publisher’s Presentations and Technology Presentations.

The benefits of presenting at the TESL Ontario Annual Conference are numerous:

1 – Presenters receive a one-day complimentary registration for the day of their presentation
2 – Presenters receive a certificate for five (5) hours of Professional Development for their one-hour session
3 – The opportunity to hone virtual presentation skills
4 – The opportunity to expand one’s personal learning network within our field
5 – The opportunity to share knowledge and engage in inspiring conversation

New presenters will have access to a comprehensive and self-directed training package with the support of a dedicate conference team of organizers, session moderators and web admin. Returning presenters will not be require to complete training unless they wish to do so. A brief “What’s New in 2024” reference video will also be available for repeat presenters.

Interested presenters can visit https://teslontario.formstack.com/forms/callforpresentations2024 for more information about the conference, this year’s theme, presentation requirements and to submit their proposals. All proposals should be received by June 10, 2024.

We can’t wait to see you in November!

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Incorporating Listening Activities Into Literacy Classes


Written by - Derek Czajkowski
Image source: www.bigstockphoto.com

Literacy teachers emphasize reading and writing because those are the only two skills assessed at the literacy level. However, when does the attention given to those two skills become excessive? And, by devoting the bulk of class time to those two skills, do we do so at the expense of a holistic approach to teaching?

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Raising students’ awareness of the effectiveness of note-taking for vocabulary learning through testing rather than teaching 


Written by - Setareh Dabbagh

Learning new words is a challenging aspect of language learning and the fact that there are numerous methods for vocabulary learning is itself a testimony to its difficulty.

Of all the methods and techniques that exist, I have always found it useful to keep records or take note of new vocabulary words with their English definition and then use them in one single paragraph. Some popular vocabulary books, such as 504 Essential Words and 1100 Words You Need to Know, have endorsed this method of learning vocabulary.

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