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Episode Summary:

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, we sit down with Isadora Costa, Founder and Director of Stars English School and Finance Director for BRAZ-TESOL, to explore innovative approaches to teaching English in Brazil. She shares her insightful journey from starting as a young teacher to creating her own school with a unique immersion methodology. Learn more about BRAZ-TESOL’s efforts in providing professional development, fostering community, and advocating for teachers. Plus, Isadora shares her thoughts on the role of AI in modern teaching. If you’re an educator who wants to be inspired to chart your own path in supporting multilingual learners, tune in now!

RBERNing Questions for this Episode:

1- BRAZ-TESOL has over 2000 members. What role do you think the efforts of the executive board have played in attracting so many members?

2- What seem to be the most pressing needs of the community of TESOL Professionals in Brazil, and how have you addressed those needs as an organization?

3- How do you see the organization developing in the coming years?

Guest BIO:

Isadora Pereira Costa wears many hats in the world of education and ELT. She holds B.A. degrees in both Mass Communication and Pedagogy, a Postgraduate Degree in Bilingual and Multilingual Education, and a TESOL certification from Anaheim University. Her professional development also includes certifications such as LPACTE, ACTE, and IH COLT from the British Council. In addition, she is Cambridge certified, having achieved both the CAE and CPE.

Isadora is the founder of Stars English School and the creator of the Stars Methodology. With a wealth of international experience in English-speaking countries, her journey in education began early—she started teaching at just 13 years old in England. Today, she is recognized as a young learners expert, teacher trainer, speaker, and ELT materials writer.

Beyond the classroom, Isadora serves as the Finance Director for BRAZ-TESOL, leads the Santa Catarina Chapter, and is a former Event Coordinator for the Young Learners and Teens Special Interest Group (SIG).

Resources:

Websites/Social Media:

www.starsenglish.com.br

www.braztesol.org.br

https://www.linkedin.com/in/isadorapereiracosta/

@sixstrarsedu

@starenglishschool

Other Published Media:

https://www.youtube.com/@starsfunlearning https://www.youtube.com/@starsenglishschool/videos https://editoraboc.commercesuite.com.br/livros-de-ingles/livro-colecao-knock-knock-10-livros https://www.amazon.com.br/Pr%C3%A1ticas-Ingl%C3%AAs-Inf%C3%A2ncia-teachers-ebook/dp/B0B671MD1C

To find out more about Mid-State RBERN at OCM BOCES' services, listen to season 1 of the show with host Collette Farone-Goodwin, or to receive CTLE credit for listening to episodes, click here: https://midstaterbern.org/

***For CTLE credit, click here***

Episode Summary:

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, Dr. Okon Effiong, the incoming President of TESOL, sits down to talk to us at the TESOL Convention in Long Beach, California. Dr. Effiong shares his inspiring journey from aspiring genetic engineer to prominent educator in the field of English Language Learning. He recounts his first TESOL convention, his transition into leadership roles, and his efforts in founding the Africa English Language Teachers Association. Dr. Effiong also discusses the challenges and underrepresentation faced by African teachers, as well as his views on current political issues affecting language teaching. With a vision to advance TESOL's mission of promoting academic excellence and research, as the President Elect 2025, he emphasizes the importance of flexibility, advocacy, and global membership engagement in the rapidly changing landscape of education.

RBERNing Questions for this Episode:

1- As the incoming President of TESOL, what is your mission for the organization? What is your vision in terms of its development?

2- What was your personal reaction to the news about the executive order designating English as the official language of the U.S., and what did it motivate you to do as a leader in our field?

3- Given the current anti-diversity and anti-multi-lingual climate here in the US, in which providing advocacy for our English Language Learners and our immigrant students is facing excruciating resistance, what advice do you have for the educators out there to keep them motivated?

Guest BIO:

Okon Effiong is an English lecturer at Qatar University. He holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Okon is the Founder of the African English Language Teachers Association and the President-Elect of TESOL International Association. He is also the winner of the British Council ELTons Outstanding Achievement Award 2024. Okon held several leadership positions in TESOL International Association, and has given numerous international presentations. His publications include Cultivating positive reading attitudes with Grade 8 (Routledge,2024), Global Efforts in Advocacy for English Language Teaching and Learning: Conclusions and Futures (Michigan Publishing, 2024), When visible minorities lead visible majorities (Macmillan, 2023), and Continuing professional development in the Foundation Program at national university in the State of Qatar (Springer, 2023). He is the lead editor of Hybrid Learning in English Language Teaching: Motivation, Challenges and Opportunities (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024), and co-editor of Decentering Advocacy in ELT: Perspective and local practices (Michigan Publishing, 2024), and The role of language teacher associations in professional development (Springer 2018).

To find out more about Mid-State RBERN at OCM BOCES' services, listen to season 1 of the show with host Collette Farone-Goodwin, or to receive CTLE credit for listening to episodes, click here: https://midstaterbern.org/

***For CTLE credit, click here***

Episode Summary:

In this episode, co-teachers share their secrets on how to prepare your ELLs and MLs for a PBL culminating event in which they showcase their civic-minded projects to a myriad of education specialists, field questions, and discuss possible solutions and future pathways to explore on their chosen topics. Ms. Davi and Ms. Frontino provide a comprehensive, start to finish guide that can be easily implemented by any educator with an interest in developing more structured, student-driven Project-Based Learning. If you’re looking for a way to breathe more life into your PBL projects, this is a must listen!

RBERNing Questions for this Episode:

1- Can you tell us about the implementation of your PBL project for this event from start to finish?

2- What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in implementing the project?

3- What were the biggest benefits for the students who participated in the PBL with ELLs in Mind collaborative culminating event on May 28th?

Guests' BIOS:

Luisa Frontino

This is Ms. Frontino’s tenth year teaching English as a New Language (ENL) at Brooklyn Studio Secondary School in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Prior to becoming a teacher, she was an NBC Page (like Kenneth on 30 Rock) and worked in book publicity at Little, Brown and Company for five years. Her experience in publicity definitely prepared her for teaching in a myriad of ways!

As a teacher, she has worked primarily in high school, supporting English language learners in ELA and US History classes. For the last four years, she and Francesca Davi have co taught high school English to sophomores and juniors. In the last two years they have focused on project based learning in their classroom to leverage the rich experiences and backgrounds of their students, and the results have been impactful. They look forward to continuing their work with PBL next year too!

Francesca Davi

Ms. Davi started her career 17 years ago in Italy, teaching English and Spanish to high school students. She attended Fordham University as an undergraduate student and graduated in 2006 with a double major in Italian Language and Literature and International Intercultural Studies and a minor in Spanish Language and Literature. She earned her Master’s degree in TESOL in 2017 from ACE.

In 2015, she began teaching at Brooklyn Studio Secondary School and has taught 7th grade science, high school nutrition, and middle and high school Italian. Recently, she has taken on the role of the 10th Grade ENL teacher and this is her first year also co-teaching 11th grade ELA/ENL with Ms. Frontino.

She recently won a grant to create an Exploring Italy class for her high school students. This course gives them a unique opportunity to virtually explore major cities in Italy in real time with local tour guides via Zoom. Students also learn about the culture and history of the country.

Resources:

Contact Information:

Email: fdavi@schools.nyc.gov

PBL Pamphlet:

Amplifying Multilingual Voices and Learning in K-12 Education Through Project-Based Learning

To find out more about Mid-State RBERN at OCM BOCES' services, listen to season 1 of the show with host Collette Farone-Goodwin, or to receive CTLE credit for listening to episodes, click here: https://midstaterbern.org/