Calling all English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutors and coordinators.

Join us at our upcoming ESOL Conference on Thursday 9 October 2025 at The Richmond Centre, Smithfield, Dublin 7. This year’s conference will focus on Innovative and practical ideas for ESOL literacy teaching and learning.

Cost: There is no fee for attending this conference.

We will have 4 ESOL guest speakers, plus a choice of 8 ESOL workshops.

Each participant can attend two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

You can view the full list of speakers and workshops below and please select 1 Morning and 1 Afternoon workshop when you are booking online. There will also be networking opportunities.

ESOL 2025 Programme

9.30 Registration: tea and coffee.

10.00 Welcome and opening remarks. Chair: ESOL student.

10.10  NALA update. Colleen Dube, CEO of NALA.

10.15  SOLAS ESOL report and FET guidelines. Dr Mary Quirke, School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. Alan McGrath, Director of Funding, Strategy and Performance Alignment, SOLAS.

10.45  English Literacy Programme (ELP): A phonics-based programme designed for ESOL and ESOL literacy learners – Which comes first? (reading or speaking). Why we went with both. Michelle McGrane, English Literacy Programme, Programme Coordinator, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB, South-West Dublin.

11.05  Refugee language learning: Approaches to ESOL and literacy programme development and methodology in the Ballaghaderreen Reception Centre. Darragh O’Brien, Adult Literacy Organiser, Ballaghaderreen Reception Centre, Galway and Roscommon ETB.

11.25  Questions and answers.

11.40  Go to workshops.

List of morning workshops (11.45am to 1.15pm)

A. Building our words: A Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Lego journey in ESOL literacy. Trudi Barnett, Education Consultant and Professional Learning Facilitator, Asymmetry ETQA (Education, Training and Quality Assurance) Solutions Ltd.

Discover how UDL and Lego serious play can transform ESOL literacy practice:

• Sparking engagement
• Nurturing creativity
• Amplifying learner agency in diverse adult learning environments.

B. How it works: Phonics-based teaching for ESOL and ESOL literacy learners.
Michelle McGrane, English Literacy Programme, Programme Coordinator, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB, South-West Dublin.

C. Making grammar work:A practical guide for teaching grammar to ESOL literacy learners.
Grainne Stafford and Laura Canton Dwyer, ESOL tutors, Cork ETB.

D. A human library by ESOL literacy learners: Engaging with literacy and language learning. Catriona Warren, Literacy Development Centre and Department of Education, South East Technological University.

A human library allows learners to share their stories with a real audience by creating identity texts. In this workshop we will:

• Explore the potential for a living library with your ESOL literacy learners
• Discuss the steps to create a living library and plan a scheme of work for it.

1.15 – 2.00pm Lunch break

List of afternoon workshops (2pm to 3.30pm)

E. Play to learn: Unlocking ESOL literacy through games. Grainne Stafford and Laura Canton Dwyer, ESOL tutors, Cork ETB.

F. Bringing social and emotional learning to life in the ESOL classroom. Simon McLoughlin, Adult educator, Ballaghaderreen Reception Centre, Galway and Roscommon ETB.
A practical, reflective workshop, exploring how social and emotional learning can strengthen connection, confidence and classroom culture.

G. The pros and cons of AI in the ESOL classroom. Anne McSorley and Claudia Belloni, ESOL tutors, Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC).

H. Brainstorming session for teachers new to autonomous learning. Suzette Bedard, ESOL Teacher, Wheatfield Prison Education Unit, Dublin.
Create and assess the effectiveness of activities for adult beginner ESOL students with broken or no education. In this workshop, we will introduce the theory and practice of autonomous learning. Tutors will create classroom materials in groups, and they will also receive some materials to take home.

Parking: There is no parking for attendees at The Richmond Centre.

To register to this event please click the “Register now” button below.