- When: 21 May 2026, 9.20am -1pm
- Where: Online (MS Teams)
- Fee: £10 (free of charge to University of Nottingham staff)
- Booking deadline: 18 May 2026
The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Nottingham is pleased to host the fourth workshop in the Back to Basics in Language Teaching and Learning series. The series aims to foster the exchange of ideas and best practices, encouraging participants to rethink approaches to language teaching, learning, and assessment.
This workshop, entitled “The CEFR - Beyond descriptors: mediation, plurilingualism, and the action-oriented approach” invites participants to engage critically with the CEFR beyond proficiency descriptors, with particular attention to mediation, plurilingualism, and the action-oriented approach in language teaching and learning.
We are delighted to welcome Dr Brian North, one of the creators of the CEFR and current President of the Action-oriented, Plurilingual and Intercultural (API) Education Forum, an international community of academics, teachers, teacher educators, curriculum developers, administrators, and policy makers in the field of language and literacy education. His presentation will set the stage for group discussions in which participants will reflect on and expand upon the key themes introduced. The session will conclude with an interactive, task-based activity, during which attendees will collaboratively design action-oriented scenarios that reflect the full pedagogical potential of the CEFR, applying the insights gained throughout the day. Download the Workshop 4 draft programme [PDF].
Book your place for Workshop 4
Purposeful assessment
Date: Thursday 22 May 2025
Time: 9.20am - 1pm
Venue: Online
Fee: £10 (free of charge to University of Nottingham staff)
Keynote speaker: Dr Wissia Fiorucci, University of Kent
About the workshop
Back to basics 3: purposeful assessment - what and how we assess
The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Nottingham is pleased to host the third workshop in the "Back to Basics in Language Teaching and Learning" series. The series aims to foster the exchange of ideas and best practices, encouraging us to rethink approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment.
This workshop, titled "Purposeful Assessment: What and How we assess" invites participants to explore and critically evaluate current assessment strategies in British higher education.
We are excited to welcome Dr Wissia Fiorucci (University of Kent) as our guest speaker. Her presentation will set the stage for group discussions, where participants will reflect on and expand upon the key points presented. The session will conclude with an interactive, task-based activity, during which attendees will collaboratively design assessment activities for specific teaching scenarios, applying the insights gained throughout the day.
Book your place
Workshop 3: Keynote Abstract and Biography
Programme
How we teach workshop
Date: Wednesday 17 April 2024
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Venue: Online using Teams
Fee: £10
Keynote speaker: Dr Marion Grein, University of Mainz
Download keynote speech abstract and Marion's biography
About the workshop
The workshop will invite delegates to reflect on:
- Methodologies and approaches
- Language learning strategies
- The role of teachers and learners
Programme
The day will start with an invited keynote speaker who will present on challenges, and approaches to modern foreign language teaching. This will be followed by a question and answer session and reflections in groups on specific key points developed during the talk and on delegates’ own practice. The session will conclude with a workshop to put into practice ideas discussed during the morning.
See full programme
This event is now closed.
What to teach workshop
Date: Wednesday 17 January 2024
Time: 10am to 4pm
Venue: University Park, University of Nottingham
Fee: £20
Keynote speaker: Dr Leticia Yulita, Professor, University of East Anglia, UK
Download keynote speech abstract and Leticia's biography
About the workshop
The workshop will invite delegates to reflect on:
- Content and topics currently taught
- Curriculum design
- The role of grammar
- (Co)creation of learning materials
- Accessibility, inclusivity and gender-fair language
- Decolonization of the curriculum
- Language variation
- Employability skills through language learning
- CLIL and interdisciplinarity
Programme
The day will start with an invited keynote speaker who will present on curriculum design, followed by a discussion in groups about specific key points developed during the previous session. Afterwards, there will be time dedicated to the delegates’ presentations on 'WHAT’ they teach, based on a proforma that we will send in due course with the aim of sharing best practice and new ideas. The afternoon session will continue with a workshop, led by the keynote speaker. Coffee breaks and lunch will be provided.
This event is now closed.