3rd edition
Hybrid Event
In-Person & Online
Presenter
Alice
Istrate
Teacher Trainer
SPEAKERS
Penny
Ur
Author and
Teacher Trainer
Chaz
Pugliese
Author and
Teacher Trainer
From Teachers to Button-Pushers:
Is Digital Learning and Technology Deskilling Teachers?
Date: 05.04.2025 | 9:00-14:00 | Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Bucharest
Fischer ELT Masterclass is back with its third edition, bringing together Romanian teachers and some of the most influential voices in English Language Teaching (ELT).
This year’s event is truly special — Penny Ur is returning to Romania after 27 years! Renowned trainer and author Chaz Pugliese will join her to tackle a big question in education today:
From Teachers to Button-Pushers: Is Digital Learning and Technology Deskilling Teachers?
Join us on Saturday, 5 April 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Bucharest (in-person) or on Zoom (online) to hear their insights, share your thoughts, and connect with fellow teachers.
This exclusive event series has brought some of the biggest names in ELT to Romanian teachers. The first edition featured Alan Maley and Paul Dummett, while the second masterclass—an exclusive online event—hosted Scott Thornbury and Adrian Underhill.
At the end of the event, Penny Ur and Chaz Pugliese will be waiting for you at the autograph session, ready to personally sign your books, exchange a few words, and make this experience even more special.
199 lei
- 1 copy of Penny Ur’s 100 Teaching Tips book, published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment
- 1 copy of Chaz Pugliese’s Creating Motivation: Activities to Make Learning Happen, published by Helbling English
- Certificate of participation
- Conference goodie bag
- 2 coffee breaks
- The opportunity to interact with the two trainers and authors and receive an autograph directly from them.
129 lei
- 1 copy of Penny Ur’s 100 Teaching Tips book, published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment
- 1 copy of Chaz Pugliese’s Creating Motivation: Activities to Make Learning Happen, published by Helbling English
- Certificate of participation
- Conference goodie bag
* The package (2 signed books, the certificate, and the goodie bag) will be shipped via courier free of charge.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
(Click on each name for details about the speaker and their presentation)
Alice Istrate
Teacher Trainer
Alice Istrate graduated the University of lasi, Romania, with a BA in English and Romanian. She works as a freelance ELT professional and is involved in teaching, teacher-training and assessment. She has been a Teacher of English for over 20 years and has worked with a range of students, from children and teenagers to adults and corporate students.
She has worked with different employers and partner organisations, from state schools to private language centres and NGOs and has had different roles. As an English Lead for British Council Bucharest, she liaised with teachers, Romanian authorities in the field of education and teacher training, as well as British organisations and assessment bodies. As a trainer, Alice delivered a range of courses on ELT methodology and contributed to many national conferences for Teachers of English with plenary speeches and workshops.
PENNY UR
Author and Teacher Trainer
Penny Ur has extensive experience as an English teacher in primary, secondary and tertiary education and has taught courses for teachers at Oranim Academic College of Education and Haifa University. She has also lectured extensively at conferences worldwide. She is particularly interested in practical aspects of effective English language teaching, and the place of research as a source of professional knowledge. She was for ten years the editor of the Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers series. Her books include Grammar practice activities (2nd Edition) (2009), Vocabulary activities (2012), A course in English language teaching (3rd edition) (2024), published by Cambridge University Press.
In 2013 she was awarded the OBE (Officer of the British Empire) by Her Majesty the late Queen for services to English language teaching, and in 2022 the ELTons Outstanding Achievement award by the British Council.
Does the use of digital technology deskill teachers?
The answer to this question is, in my view: it could, but it rarely does. In my talk I’ll be looking first at some potential dangers: the over-use, or inappropriate use, of digital tools – which may indeed result in unskilled, or ineffective, teaching. I’ll then go on to explore ways in which digital tools can contribute to good teaching, and how they can be combined with low-tech materials to enhance learning outcomes and learner motivation.
CHAZ PUGLIESE
Author and Teacher Trainer
Chaz Pugliese
is an author, trainer and lecturer with 30+ years experience working out of Paris. Formerly director of Education and Training at Pilgrims, UK, he now runs his own consultancy offering training in Intercultural Mediation, Motivation issues, Creativity and Public Speaking skills.
His last book, ‘Creating Motivation’ was published by Helbling in 2017. He’s currently working on a new title.
Why are they not paying attention? Helping our students regain their ability to focus.
Attention is key in any learning endeavor, we all know that. We also know that in this tech-riddled world, attention has become a scarce resource. We multitask too much (but our brain isn’t wired for it), we let ourselves get distracted too often, too easily, and it is a fact that our capacity to focus has greatly diminished over the last 20 years or so. Can this be changed? Clearly we can’t roll back the years and magically parachute ourselves to a pre-tech world. There’s clearly no silver bullet solution to this status quo, but there’s definitely hope! In this talk, I will highlight a few macro-strategies and will illustrate a few practical, road-tested ideas that may help your students take control of their distractions, gain a sense of agency and redirect their attention.
Relevant text: Pugliese, C. Creating Motivation (Helbling, 2017).
Masterclass Agenda
09:30 – 10:00 – Registration & Coffee
10:00 – 10:10 – Alice Istrate, Welcome Word
10:10 – 11:00 – Penny Ur: Does the use of digital technology deskill teachers?
11:10 – 12:00 – Chaz Pugliese: Why are they not paying attention? Helping our students regain their ability to focus.
12:00 – 12:30 – Coffee Break & Bookstall Visit
12:30 – 13:30 – Debate and Q&A: From Teachers to Button-Pushers: Is Digital Learning and Technology Deskilling Teachers?
13:30 – 14:00 – Autograph Session
Masterclass-ul a fost un eveniment foarte bine gandit, cu speakeri de la care avem ce invata. A fost un flux foarte mare de informatii, asa ca astept cu nerabdare sa ne trimiteti inregistrarile intalnirii. Felicitari pentru idee si pentru organizare!
Toate cele bune si un weekend de poveste!
Alecsandra P.
Multumesc și felicitări pentru masterclass, colegii mei au venit ffff încântați! 👏
Irina T.
Congrats for your effort!
Adriana D.
Thank you for everything !
❤️❤️❤️
Mihaela C.
Congratulations! Keep up the good work!
Andreea V.
Very nice experience!
Anca L.
Alaturati-va comunitatii Fischer English HUB!
Impreuna vom fi mai creativi si mereu la curent cu tendintele noi in predarea limbii engleze!
