Julia Aliverti Plenary Promo
Description: Empathy in the classroom can prove more than a useful tool, when dealing with conflicting emotions in today’s changing world. Teaching with empathy and focusing on the cross-cultural competency of our students creates a judgment-free zone in the classroom, which allows dialogue, and challenges personal biases. The empathetic teacher inspires proactive engagement beyond the classroom, and becomes an agent of change. Learners take agency over their learning and goals, and their emerging confidence is enhanced. Empathy in education forms the bedrock of democratic intercultural citizenship, as it informs the learning experience with sensitivity, cultural awareness, and willingness to adapt.
Bio: Julia has been an EFL teacher for 30 years. She holds a BA in ELT, Greek language and literature, and a M.Ed. in TESOL. She has worked both privately and as a state school teacher/ trainer in Greece and abroad. She is a member of IATEFL and TESOL Greece.