Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Location: TBC, nearby member college
Cost: $40 for English Australia members; $100 for non-members.

Facilitated by the English Australia Post-entry English and Academic Language SIG, with Christopher Nuttall (Senior Academic Manager, UQ College) and Andrew Sankey (Embedded Language Support Officer, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, University of Queensland)

Interactive oral assessments (IOAs) are increasingly used in higher education as secure assessments that evaluate students’ ability to think critically, respond in real time, and engage in dialogue. However, these assessments present challenges for students from EAL and CALD backgrounds due to linguistic, cognitive, and cultural demands. This interactive workshop invites participants to unpack the complex competencies required for success in IOAs, including real-time reasoning, discourse management, and interactional competence. Participants will experience an IOA firsthand and analyse the challenges through an EAL/CALD lens. Working collaboratively, they will then design practical, context-specific support strategies across four domains: adjunct workshops, curriculum design, self-access resources, and professional development. Participants will have the chance to apply their insights through interactive and engaging activities.

Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00pm
Location: TBC, nearby member college
Cost: $40 for English Australia members; $100 for non-members.

Facilitated by the English Australia Ed-Tech SIG.

This pre-conference workshop, hosted by the EdTech Special Interest Group (SIG), focuses on using artificial intelligence more effectively in English language teaching. As AI tools become increasingly accessible, many educators are using them to generate isolated classroom materials such as worksheets and activities. While efficient, this approach often replicates existing practices rather than enhancing learning. This workshop will challenge this approach by shifting the focus from generating lesson materials to designing learning. Through practical examples and a live demonstration, participants will explore how AI can support intentional lesson design, alignment with learning outcomes, and meaningful student engagement. Participants will be introduced to a simple, practical framework to guide their use of AI, helping them move beyond “prompting for content” to designing learning with clear outcomes in mind. The session will be highly interactive, with opportunities to apply these ideas to real classroom contexts and redesign familiar activities. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and adaptable approaches they can immediately implement in their teaching. This workshop is designed for English language teachers and educators interested in using AI more effectively in their practice. No advanced technical knowledge is required.