tesolmth15 |

That time of the year again, when you finally get to see everything you’ve been mentally preparing for, months in advance! After an amazing experience at the 36th TESOLGreece Convention, even though my participation was shorter than I had hoped as I was working that weekend as well, came the time to pack the bags and head off to Thessaloniki. I’ll admit I was really looking forward to some quiet time while there, but as the TESOL Macedonia Thrace Board had honoured me with the proposal to be one of the roving reporters (one of the many yes’s I’ve said and will never regret), ‘quiet time’ just didn’t happen. I got excitement, inspiring discussions, meetings with wonderful people and fun instead.You just have to love the feeling of community in Thessaloniki, that sense of belonging somewhere no matter who you are or where you’re from, which was even more evident throughout the Convention.

Brilliant workshops and plenaries by Marjorie Rosenberg, Ken Wilson, Alec Williams and Andrew Wright and, I have to say, being mentioned in Marjorie Rosenberg’s plenary is no small thing, so a huge thank you Marjorie!
So many excellent sessions and workshops by amazing colleagues, and I have to highlight Danny Singh with his multi-sensory lessons, Vassiliki Mandalou with her truly inspirational session on philosophy and literature and Dagmara Mathes-Sobocinska with her brilliant work on gamification.

And my dear Theodora Papapanagiotou, who gets an extra special treat for being an inspiring colleague, an amazing educator and a wonderful friend (oh yes, special ‘moving’ post coming up!).

Plenary

Is anybody listening? Workshop

Interview with Dimitris Tzouris

Interview with Dr Luke Prodromou

Interview with Julianna Dudas

Interview with Danny Singh

Interview with Despina Vardaki, Elpiniki Psomataki and Elsa Plakida

Interview with Aphrodite Gkiouris

A big thank you to the presenters who sacrificed some of their lunch break to be interviewed (!), you were all wonderful and I’m so happy to have met you, and Lana Lemeshko for being a rocking roving reporter along with Theodora and myself!

What more can I say TESOL Macedonia-Thrace, except ‘thank you’?

This is a really special post, a treat to my great friend Theodora Papapanagiotou, for being such an inspiration ever since we first connected online – well, we got the treat actually, by taking part in an excellent workshop!

#KeepOnMoving was simply amazing. Yes, we worried about the weather, the attendance and all sorts of little things, but in the end we were rewarded. It’s an incredibly inspirational moment when you see your colleagues developing further and you get the chance to be part of it.

Dora, Nikos and Penelope got even me moving! Being the least involved in any sort of physical activity out of all the attendees (I walk miles, but that doesn’t count, apparently), it was a challenge. And I loved every part of it.
A handful of ideas to use with our learners, a clear and precise explanation on the why and how movement assists learning and laughter; learning and having fun, my absolute favourite!