TESOL-Ukraine 2026 Summer Institute

The TESOL-Ukraine 2026 Summer Institute took place in Odesa from June 29 to July 3, running under the theme “Classrooms of Courage: Teach On. Teach Strong. Teach Through.” The five-day program delivered intensive professional development focused on trauma-informed pedagogy, AI integration, and core language frameworks.

Instructional Program and Trainers

The sessions were led by a team of educational specialists and international scholars who delivered practical, classroom-ready strategies:

• Social-Emotional Learning & Resilience: Olena Iaburova (Donbas State Pedagogical University / “Prime Time” Private Language School) targeted intercultural competence through SEL. Dr. Oksana Chugai (KPI / TESOL-Ukraine Executive Committee) focused on mindfulness and coping mechanisms for ESP and Business English environments. Dr. Hanna Podosynnikova and Vlada Homolia (Sumy State Pedagogical University / University of Alberta) demonstrated multimodal digital storytelling for emotional resilience in teacher training.

• AI & Educational Innovation: Dr. Natalya Watson (Northeastern University, USA) led workshops on AI-mediated simulated interviews to foster critical AI literacy. Dr. Ganna Gusieva (V.N. Karazin National University / TESOL-Ukraine National Coordinator) focused on enquiry-based digital storytelling. Dr. Serhii Petrenko (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv / TESOL-Ukraine International Coordinator) covered the transition to gamified speaking and writing.

• Inclusion & STEM: Mariya Tykhonovska (ABCLAND Language Schools / Popasna Lyceum No. 25) conducted sessions on classroom inclusion and cross-curricular STEM integration, linking English with physics and anatomy.

• Persuasion & Career Skills: Dr. Maryna Tsehelska (Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University) and Dr. Olena Ilienko (O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy) co-facilitate a masterclass on structured thinking frameworks using the And-But-Therefore (ABT) and PREP models. Iryna Zuyenok (Dnipro University of Technology) presented on linking academic language to 21st-century transversal skills.

• Focus on Narrative Identity: Dr. Lyudmyla Hnapovska (Head of the TESOL-Ukraine Training Center) directed specialized workshops focused on narrative identity. Her sessions instructed participants on using first-person creative writing and place-based learning methods to anchor language acquisition directly to personal memory and local environments.

• Assessment: Oleksandra Yakovenko (Cambridge Club Odesa) delivered strategies to mitigate exam anxiety and utilize Cambridge assessment pathways.  

Day-by-Day Event Recount

• Day 1 (June 29): The institute opened with registration and introductory sessions addressing inclusion and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies within international and ESP environments.

• Day 2 (June 30): Sessions shifted toward technology and narrative structures, featuring workshops on AI-mediated student interview simulations, non-formal English learning systems, digital storytelling, and interactive participant platforms.

• Day 3 (July 01): The curriculum focused on developing 21st-century transversal skills, academic language proficiency, and structured persuasion frameworks (including the And-But-Therefore and PREP models). Participants also engaged in workshops on first-person creative writing and narrative identity.

• Day 4 (July 02): Training covered cross-curricular STEM integration (combining English instruction with physical science and anatomy), gamified strategies for speaking and writing, and place-based learning methods.

• Day 5 (July 03): The final day concluded with strategies for reducing exam anxiety via Cambridge assessment pathways, followed by the “TESOL Talks” presentations and a structured “Voices from the Journey” evaluation block.

Participant Registry and Certification Numbers