BC TEAL is proud to present our 2025 Annual Conference: Disruptive Educational Practices: Strategies for Transformation.
Educators shine in times of change to face unexpected challenges. This is when creativity flourishes by combining proven practices with fresh and innovative ideas. These times call for transformation which can be rooted in tradition or experience, or it can arise through unexplored approaches. The synthesis of old and new ideas drives meaningful progress. Join other insightful and creative educators as we flourish within the power of our community.
In this session, we will explore how storytelling and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can disrupt traditional language teaching practices by addressing both the emotional growth and language learning of adult immigrant learners. Through storytelling, learners can share their living experiences, fostering emotional resilience and confidence while simultaneously improving their language skills. Using UDL principles, we will demonstrate how multimodal storytelling—through podcasts, videos, writing, and other creative expressions—provides diverse learners with multiple pathways for engagement, expression, and representation. This session will equip educators with practical tools to validate learners' unique experiences, empowering them to recognize the challenges they face in learning a new language and adjusting to a new life. The ultimate goal is to create an inclusive, supportive classroom where language learners feel heard, valued, and empowered in their journey as newcomers to Canada.
EAL Instructor, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Parisa Moghaddam is an EAL Instructor at Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia, holding a master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Educational Linguistics.
