• Seven Secrets: Motivating Every Student

Dr. Ken Beatty, Writer and Anaheim University TESOL Professor has a PhD in curriculum studies. He’s worked in Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America, lecturing on language teaching and learning from the primary through university levels. Author/co-author of 67 textbooks for Pearson, he’s given 500+ teacher-training sessions and 100+ conference presentations in 35 countries His research focus is on critical and creative thinking.

Abstract:

Seven Secrets: Motivating Every Student

Motivating students is not just about getting them interested in learning, it’s a way to make classroom management easier and teaching more enjoyable and effective. Students come to class with individual motivations that are both intrinsic (from inside themselves) and extrinsic (pressure from others). But motivation is complex and teachers need to create tasks that feature seven factors:

1. Challenge:Do tasks push students to grow and develop new skills?
2. Curiosity:Do tasks make students want to explore new ideas and solve puzzles?
3. Autonomy:Can students control how they complete tasks?
4. Creativity:Do tasks require problem-solving with many possible outcomes?
5. Collaboration:Do tasks encourage students to work together?
6. Recognition:How do tasks show students that they’ve succeeded?
7. Paths: In the long term, do tasks help students set new, personal learning goals?

In this talk, we will explore how small changes to our tasks can improve teaching and learning.

AUSPICIA:

• «Learner Agency: Tips for Nurturing Active Learning«

Mr. Liñan holds a BA in Foreign Language Education from Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Peru. He has taught ESOL at all levels for more than eight years in Peru and the USA. He recently earned a MA degree in Romance Linguistics from the University of Georgia. Currently, he teaches French at the University of Georgia (USA), and he is also pursuing a PhD in Educational Administration in the department of Lifelong Education at the same university. He co-chairs the GATESOL Applied Linguistics Interest Section and has presented at Peru TESOL, GA TESOL and TESOL France. His research interests are focused on Second Language Acquisition and Active Learning Strategies.

Abstract:

Empowering students to take charge of their learning is one of the most effective ways to promote engagement, motivation, and long-term success. This workshop explores practical strategies to develop learner agency — the ability of students to make intentional choices, set meaningful goals, and reflect on their own learning process.

Participants will discover how to create active learning environments where learners become partners in the classroom rather than passive recipients of information. Through interactive examples and reflective activities, the session will provide concrete tips on fostering autonomy, encouraging self-assessment, and building a growth mindset.

By the end of the workshop, educators will leave with actionable ideas to integrate learner-centered practices into their teaching and inspire students to take ownership of their learning journey.

AUSPICIA: