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Program

View the conference schedule and click on session titles and speaker names for more details.

15:30 – 18:00

Board Meeting (2023 Board members only)

17:00 – 19:00

Exhibitors set up

19:00 – 21:00

“Meet and Greet” and Early Registration
Snacks and light refreshments served

DIAMOND SPONSOR
7:30 – 8:45

Breakfast

Products & Services Exhibit Area opens

8:45 – 9:30

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

President’s Welcome and Conference Launch

Cath D’Amico, President, and Gonzalo Peralta, Executive Director, Languages Canada

Welcome to Vancouver

Introduction of Languages Canada Board, Conference Committee and staff

Highlights from 2023 activities

Overview of conference program

With simultaneous interpretation

9:30 – 9:45

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Virtual Address and Q&A with Minister Marc Miller,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

With simultaneous interpretation

9:45 – 10:45

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Facing 2024 – Canada’s Language Education Sector

Gonzalo Peralta, Languages Canada
Anthony Stille, English School of Canada
Stéphane Lemelin, Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière
Christopher Mediratta, ILSC Education Group

With simultaneous interpretation

10:45 – 11:00

Refreshment Break

11:00 – 12:00

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Keynote Panel

International Education Leadership Panel

Randall Martin, BCCIE (Moderator)
Carole St.Laurent, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Cyndi McLeod, Global University Systems
Cath D'Amico, Trent University

With simultaneous interpretation

12:00 – 13:00

Lunch

13:00 – 14:00

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 1
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Beyond Words: The Value of Languages in Soul Bilíngue's Mission for Change

Ariane Noronha, Soul Bilíngue

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Assessing the Impact: An Analysis of Student Outcomes in Public Sector English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Programs – an Update on Current Research

Danielle Freitas, Fanshawe College
Julian Inglis, Brock University
Dr. Julie Peters, Academica Group

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Understanding and How to Set IELTS Scores

Okokon Odiongenyi, IDP IELTS

14:10 – 15:10

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 2
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Navigating the Future of Recruitment: Insights from the 2023 ICEF Agent Voice & IRCC Data

Chris Paredes and Monèle Schrot
ICEF

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Current Trends in International Language Programs for Juniors: A Dynamic and Evolving Landscape

Melanie Alter, ILSC Education Group and Nadine Baladi, Oxford International Education Group

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Improving Wellbeing and Engagement: Regaining Connectivity, Certainty, and Control

Christina Furtado, guard.me International Insurance

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Implementation of Human-AI Hybrid Tools for Responsible Content Development

Michael Holaday and Jennifer Flasko,
Prometric

15:10 – 15:30

Refreshment Break

15:30 – 16:30

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 3
(Concurrent Sessions)

Building a Sense of Community Within the School through Good Times and Bad

Mardy Arenas and Sonia Fantauzzi,
ILSC Education Group

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Environmental Scan of EAP Program Providers at English-Medium Universities Across Canada: Insights for EAP Program Leaders and Academic Managers

Karen Burkett, Queen's University

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Best Practices in Setting Score Requirements for Academic Language Proficiency

Spiros Papageorgiou (Lead Presenter) and
Matthew Stiegemeyer (Moderator),
Educational Testing Service (ETS)

Panelists:
Lindsay Brooks, University of Toronto School
Danielle Freitas, Fanshawe College
Charles Voth, Niagara College

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

The International, Sustainable, Bilingual Education Model at Universidad Tecnológica El Retoño

Mtra. Dulce Liliana Chávez García and Lic. Natalia Covarrubias Olivares,
Universidad Tecnológica El Retoño

16:30 – 18:00

Sector Interest Group Meetings and Professional Development Workshop
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Private sector LC members' meeting
(English and French)

Informal interpretation available

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Public sector LC members' meeting
(English and French)

Informal interpretation available

18:00 –

Free evening
7:45 – 8:30

Breakfast

Products & Services Exhibit Area opens

8:30 – 9:30

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 4
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Academic Stream Keynote Presentation

Helping Students Become Successful International Communicators

Chia Suan Chong,
National Geographic Learning

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Trends Shaping the Future of Global English Language Teaching

Sarah Verkinova, BONARD
Diego Sanchez, Languages Canada

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Peer-Reviewed Validity and 7 Things to Ask All Test Providers

Alyson Murray and Maria Kostromitina,
Duolingo English Test

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

EAP Teachers' Assessment Literacy: Raising Awareness and Guiding Development in Assessment Practices

Dr. Fatma Ismail Mohamed,
University of Saskatchewan

9:45 – 10:45

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 5
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Global Affairs Canada Update / Meet the Trade Commissioner Service

Oussamah Tamim, Deputy Director, EduCanada Brand and Mission Support
Alexander Leon (Costa Rica)
Anne-Marie Leclerc (Vancouver)
Xavier Rodriguez (Iceland)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Using Digital Resources to Reduce Carbon Footprint

John Friel and Jon Chodarcewicz,
EC English Language Centres

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Globally Networked Learning: Internationalization at Home in English Language Classes

Francesca Boschetti, York University

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Aligning an International Test of English to Multiple Frameworks/Standards: The Case of the LanguageCert Concordancing Studies Programme

Yiannis Papargyris, LanguageCert

10:45 – 11:00

Refreshment Break

11:00 – 12:00

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 6
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Housing and International Students: Navigating the Current Public Dialogue

Nathan Speedie, 4stay
Steven Sinclair, City of Calgary
Sunand Sharma, Sheridan College
Melissa Nisbet, CCTB
Nadine Baladi, Oxford International Education Group (Moderator)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Putting Tech to Work for Language Schools: Engage and Enroll More Students at their Critical Stages of Decision-making

Scott Cross, Higher Education Marketing
Rania Ghaly, Apex Language and Career College

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

ChatGPT in the Classroom: Students' Ranking of Argumentative Papers Using ChatGPT in the Writing Process

Julie Lee, University Canada West

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

The Promise and Precarity of Critical Pedagogy in English for Academic Purposes

Jennifer Walsh Marr, University of Toronto

12:00 – 13:00

Lunch

GOLD SPONSOR

13:00 – 14:00

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 7
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Enhancing Education through Collective Insight: Leveraging Negative Feedback for Student Experience Improvement

Martha Delgadillo, EC Vancouver
Elisa Gazzola, EC Montreal
Mardy Arenas, ILSC Education Group, Vancouver

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Increasing Student Engagement Through 'Mandatory' Opt-Out Meetings

Steven McWilliams, Queen's University

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Making Star Language Learners

Melanie Goode, Atlantic Canada Language Academy

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

How English Language Skills Support Student Wellbeing and Success

Dahlia Younan and Philip Rylah,
British Council

14:15 – 15:15

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 8
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Voices of Evolution: The Dynamic Careers of ESL Educators Turned Managers

Ishmael Johnson, Matilda Vincent and Ayse Sezgin,
Bayswater Calgary

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Learner Identity: Helping Students Find their Voice in English

Chia Suan Chong, National Geographic Learning

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Learning Journeys: English Language Teachers and the Calls to Action

Simone Hengen, University of Regina

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Designing and Aligning a New Computer-Based English Language Test for Canada to the CLB

Rose Clesham, Pearson

15:15 – 15:45

Refreshment Break

15:45– 16:45

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Professional Development Workshop Session 9
(Concurrent Sessions)

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Inclusive Leadership: Strategies to Foster DEI Culture in a Language School

Hannah Pyo and Helen Chaikovskaya,
The Language Gallery

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

The Arrival of AI and Online Selling: Student Recruitment in the Digital Era

James Cowan, Edvisor

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Practical Applications of AI in ESL Classrooms

Ali Noori, Mardy Arenas and Livia Wolffenbuttel,
ILSC Education Group

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Beyond the ELT Classroom: Preparing Students for University Success

David Emery, Cambridge University Press

18:00 – 21:00

Closing Reception

DIAMOND SPONSOR
8:00 – 8:30

Breakfast (LC members only)

8:30 – 11:30

COMMONWEALTH BALLROOM A

Annual General Meeting and Elections (LC members only)

Election of 2024 LC Board members

Review of committee priorities

Sector groups report back to membership

Strategic Plan and Budget approval

With simultaneous interpretation

12:15 –

Board Meeting (2024 Board members only)

Thank you to our 17^th Annual Conference supporters!

DIAMOND SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

We would like to acknowledge that this meeting will take place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We express our gratitude to the traditional caretakers of these lands and waters and respect the graciousness of their welcome. We acknowledge that we are here as uninvited guests on their territories.