Teacher and director of studies Carmen Lopez Jiménez from Oviedo, Spain talks about her experience as a delegate at The Image Conference.
1. What did you enjoy about The Image Conference?
The talks, the nice conversations with the people we met, the beautiful building where it was held, Barcelona … everything!
2. How was The Image Conference different from other conferences you’ve been to?
I think creativity played a much more important role than it usually does. Most of the talks I attended were about all the stories that there are out there waiting to be told and how to get our students to tell them.
Also, its practicality. We were presented with lots of resources and tools we can use in order to work with our students with video and photos. Most conferences I have attended focus on the ‘why’ we should do this or that with our students while the Image Conference was more about the ‘how’ we can sparkle their creativity. And ours!
3. What were the main discussion points to arise in The Image Conference?
How the use of short films and pictures in our classes can benefit our students and whether this is in any way better for language learning than traditional textbooks. Gamification applied to teacher training and language learning. I found this a very interesting concept I would like to explore further.
4. Are there any practical activities you saw in The Image Conference which you’re going to use in your classes?
I have been using Kieran Donaghy’s Film-english.com and Jamie Keddie’s Lessonstream.org for at least a couple of years now. I love their materials and in fact that was my biggest motivation to attend. At the Image Conference I have broadened my spectrum: Steve Muir, Ian James, Paul Braddock, Gerard McLoughlin and many others. I just wish I could have attended all the talks!
5. Would you like to see a second edition of The Image Conference?
Absolutely, it has been a wonderful experience that I would be delighted to repeat.