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“Language” and “learning” - two functions of the brain at the core of our profession. For centuries all we knew about how the brain does either was based on speculation. But not anymore. Now we can look inside a brain and actually see how it operates. What we are finding can reshape the way we think about language learning: the brain does sensory simulations to make meaning from language; it is a prediction machine and has developed grammar as a tool for facilitating predictions about language and to reduce cognitive load; it is designed to work best in concert with other brains; and it operates in such a way that it is physiologically impossible to learn something that has no emotional valence. Some of these discoveries are surprising and new, some just reinforce our intuitions, but all have the potential to make you a better teacher. Join us in our easy-to-understand, engaging course and find out how understanding the brain can improve your teaching.
This is a hybrid course. You will watch recorded course content and discuss what you learn with your instructors and fellow participants in a private forum. You won't have to worry about time zones because you can work at a time that is convenient for you.
You will also have four live online sessions with your instructors to answer questions and follow up with additional discussion. Don't worry if the time doesn't work out for you to join the live sessions. They are not required, and we will send all registered participants a recording after the session ends.
Four modules will be covered during this 5-week course:
The Social Brain - The Overlooked Dynamic in Successful Classrooms
The Language Brain - Are You Serious? That's How the Brain Does Language?
The Learning Brain - Unlocking the Secrets of Learning
The Language Teaching Brain - Why Some Things Work and Others Don't
Dates: To be determined.
Time for live sessions: To be determined based on participant location.
Cost: 349 USD
We can provide receipts for research funds, if needed.
Registration includes pre-recorded content and resources for each of the four modules, four live sessions and unlimited discussions each week in a private forum. Upon successful completion of the course participants will receive a certificate of achievement.
Scholarships
iTDi believes that all teachers deserve the same opportunity to improve themselves. Therefore, a limited number of scholarships will be available for this course. Please apply through our scholarship application. Scholarship applications will be open two months before the start of this course.
What is a hybrid professional development course and why are we so excited about it?
Until now, many of you have joined our live courses or taken our self-study courses.
Hybrid professional development offers the best of both of these approaches. Instructors pre-record content (in shorter videos) so you can work through modules at a time that works for you. Additionally, you experience social learning with other participants and the instructors in online forum discussions. Finally, each week there are opportunities to meet with instructors and fellow participants in optional live sessions (scheduled to work with participant time zones).
We're excited to be able to offer this type of course because we think it will work well for our participants' lives and learning.
Meet your instructors
Dr. Curtis Kelly
Dr. Curtis Kelly (EdD.) founder of the JALT Mind, Brain, and Education SIG, and producer of the MindBrainEd Think Tanks, has written over 30 books and given over 500 presentations. He was also a Teaching Fellow in Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa’s (Harvard) Neuroscience of Learning Course. His life mission is “to relieve the suffering of the classroom.”
The MindBrainEd Think Tank Team
Dr. Curtis Kelly – Writer, Speaker, and Professor Emeritus of Kansai University in Japan; new at making videos
Julia Daley – Certified teacher who's been teaching writing and EFL for over a decade in high schools and universities in the USA and Japan.
Afon Khari – Brain enthusiast and a master's student in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Amsterdam
Nicky De Proost – Certified English teacher specialising in media literacy, with experience across high school and university in Europe and Japan
Stephen M. Ryan – language teacher, Study Abroad experience creator, currently based in Okayama, Japan
Heather Kretschmer – Experienced teacher, writer and Coordinator of Business English at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in Germany
