Conference Speakers
LANGUAGECONF
Keynote Speaker
Dr. George Cremona
Senior lecturer and Coordinator for German programmes offered by the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta.
Topic: Multimodal Elements in The Language Classroom – Shedding Light on What Is Already Invisibly There
He lectures in German language teaching methodology and gives lectures about Multimodality. He also coordinates the Media Literacy VET Programmes of the Faculty of Education. Dr. Cremona is also the Faculty of Education Erasmus Coordinator.
He has been a member of the faculty since 2009. In 2015 he completed his PhD at the UCL - Institute of Education. In 2007 he was awarded a Masters in Comparative Education from the University of Malta. He collaborates actively with various German schools on a number of projects related to Comparative Education and Foreign Language teaching. He has also participated in an international project on intercultural communication (2009-2011).
Currently (since January 2012) he is also working on a research project series called 'Multimodality in Practice'. This project aims to implement Multimodal concepts and theories in practice particularly in schools and through the media (i.e., radio programmes, tv programmes and the internet). For this, in 2017, 2019 and 2020 he was awarded the prestigious IGM national award.
In 2009 he scripted and published a 13-week German for beginners’ course – for TV and also available online – which later was nationally recognized as the best educational TV series of the year.
LANGUAGECONF
Highlighted Speaker
Prof. Chioma O.C Chukueggu
Chioma Obiageli Chinedu Chukueggu is a Professor of Language Education at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She was a former Head of Department of English Studies and Director of General Studies of the University. She holds a B. A (hons) ED (English) from University of Nigeria Nsukka, M. ED in Language Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria and a Ph.D in Language Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She earned full professorial status in 2014. She is deeply rooted in English Language Teaching and Learning Strategies. She has received many awards and honors.
Dr. Ali Abdallah
Ali Abdallah is a computer engineer who graduated from Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom with a doctorate in computer graphics and animation. Ali works as a faculty member in the American University of Science and Technology's (AUST) Department of Computer Sciences in Beirut, Lebanon. Game development, computer vision, augmented and virtual reality, and 3D modeling and rendering are some of his interests.
Dr. Luis J. Benítez Barajas
Luis J. Benítez Barajas is a PhD and professor at the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico. Specialized in written language from the University of Munich. His research lines move between philosophy, artificial intelligence and educational Physics. Member of the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Dr. Admire Mhindu
Admire Mhindu is a holder of a PhD in Language and Media Studies. She is a lecturer in the Communication and Study Skills Unit at the University of Botswana. Her research interests are in the areas of Language planning and policy issues, Language in Education policy implementation and Higher education.
Dr. Blandina Manditereza
Blandina Manditereza is a lecturer and Early Career Researcher at the University of the Free State in South Africa. She specialises in early childhood education and language instruction, and in her approach, she employs inclusive interactive learning strategies to enhance teaching effectiveness and cater to diverse learning styles. She has previously received multiple awards for her teaching excellence. Dr. Manditereza is recognised for her research interests, which intersect between Early childhood Language Education and Pedagogy.
Dr. Valentina Canese
Valentina Canese, Ph.D. is currently faculty and director at the Instituto Superior de Lenguas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción. Her research interests include bilingualism, language education, ICT and Distance Education. She is the editor in chief of the multilingual journal "Ñemityra: Revista Multilingüe de Lengua, Sociedad y Educación.” She is a funding member and president of the Paraguayan Association for Applied Linguistics and the current President of PARATESOL, Paraguay’s TESOL Affiliate.
Ms. Allison Palacios
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Degree, English Education Teaching from Gerardo Barrios University, and an M.Ed. candidate in education from Universidad Americana de Europa. She currently serves as a Professor, Teacher Trainer, and Study Abroad Advisor, where she leads teaching programs. Ms. Palacios’ professional interests include Special Education, Learning Communities, and Professional Development Program. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, arts, hiking, and participating in community programs related to education. She has been honored with a prestigious academic award from the US State Department named the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a certified interpreter for Salvadorean Sign Language Interpreter.
Mrs. Ruth Verburg
Ruth Verburg is a MLL Teacher with a Masters in the Art of Teaching and ESL Endorsement. She works for Kentwood Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA at the most diverse elementary school in the state. Working with MLL students is a deep passion that resonates with her childhood experience of growing up in different places, strengthening her teaching.
Ms. Robyn Allen
Robyn Allen holds a B.Ed. in Foundation Phase, graduating with distinction. Currently pursuing an honours degree in education specializing in Early Childhood Development, She is passionate about integrating physical education and language development. Robyn Allen is dedicated to fostering inclusive educational practices and has presented research on enhancing language skills through physical movement.
Ms. Anna Rzepecka-karwowska
She has BA,MA, MEd Dyslexia in the ESL Classroom (Pl/Eng) method Creator. specializes in bridging neurodiversity with science and language education. Passionate about enhancing EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teaching for students with dyslexia.
Ms. Haining Meng
Haining Meng is a master’s student in Translation and Interpreting Studies at Shanghai International Studies University. Her research focuses on corpus linguistics, discourse analysis, and interpreting studies. She has presented at conferences and published on contemporary translation curriculum challenges. Currently, she is exploring corpus-based approaches to interpreter-mediated events.
LANGUAGECONF
Past Speakers
Dr. Barbara Łukaszewicz
Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Polish Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland.
Topic: Foreign language and culture learning in crisis: Ukrainian learners of the Polish language in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine
Dr. Barbara Łukaszewicz is a researcher at the University of Warsaw, where she conducts classes in Polish as a foreign language and selected thematic areas of Polish culture (e.g. the course “Jewish Culture in Poland”). Main areas of her scientific and professional interest: methodology of teaching Polish language and culture as foreign ones, developing inter/cultural competence, cultural linguistics. She is an author of the book “Emotions – Culture – Language. Expressing Negative Emotions in Polish Glottodidactics” (University of Warsaw Press: 2022, ISBN: 978-83-235-5718-0), a workbook and exercise book for learning Polish as a foreign language at intermediate level “Rely on Polish!” (START Polish Press: 2022, ISBN: 978-83-957525-8-2) and over 20 published research papers.
Prof. Fawzi Al Ghazali Bio
Fawzi Al Ghazali is a distinguished scholar, currently serving as the Professor of Applied Linguistics at MBZUH, Abu Dhabi, UAE. His research interests encompass Applied Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis, Learner Autonomy, and Language Acquisition. He has received prestigious accolades such as the Abu Dhabi University Research Award in 2015 and The Middle East Educational Leadership Award in 2017.
Asst. Prof. Heléna Stakounis
Fawzi Al Ghazali is a distinguished scholar, currently serving as the Professor of Applied Linguistics at MBZUH, Abu Dhabi, UAE. His research interests encompass Applied Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis, Learner Autonomy, and Language Acquisition. He has received prestigious accolades such as the Abu Dhabi University Research Award in 2015 and The Middle East Educational Leadership Award in 2017.
Ms. Yanru Xin
Yanru Xin is a PhD candidate in the Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh, where she is researching ways to enhance learner experiences in CLIL classrooms and developing pedagogic approaches for bilingual learning after completing her MSc in TESOL at the same institution and gaining extensive experience as a language teacher in China.
Ms. Nichét James-Gray
Nichét James-Gray, EdD, LAUSD teacher, with a research focus on nonstandard English speakers, particularly African American Vernacular English (AAVE). She is committed to fighting for equity in schools, promoting linguistic diversity and ensuring that all students have equal access to quality education. Her work aims to bridge language-related disparities in the educational system and create more inclusive learning environments.
Ms. Ridmi Dasanayaka
Ridmi Dasanayaka, a holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree, specializing in Teaching English as a Second Language, is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Linguistics. She has experienced in over four years in teaching and academic coordination in different learner contexts. Her research interests are teacher education, linguistics, curriculum development, and the integration of education technology.
Ms. Noura Almehaidly
She is a lecturer in Curriculum and Teaching Methods at Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia. She holds an MA degree in TESOL and Applied Linguistics from the University of Sheffield. Currently, she is a third-year PhD student in TESOL at the University of York. Her research interests include the study of speech acts, teaching pragmatics, analysis of EFL textbooks, and materials development.
