Author: Katherine Reilly

Author & Educator, University Lecturer, English Language & Literature | Public & Motivational Speaker Katherine Reilly is an ELT Teacher Trainer and Author of numerous publications in children’s literature, teaching materials and ICT. Katherine has taught at numerous academic venues and professional events, including the University of Athens, the University of Limassol, the Malta ELTC Conference, and the Innovate ELT Conference at the Oxford TEFL training center in Barcelona. She has also contributed to British Council training sessions, spoken at multiple IATEFL SIGs events, and has delivered a TEDx talk focused on inclusivity, respect, and acceptance in educational settings. Her expertise includes training school faculties in inclusive teaching methodology and diverse educational materials adaptation. Katherine has also contributed to the field as a voiceover artist for various ELT publishers and as a regular contributor to ELT NEWS magazine. She has authored a range of educational materials and creative works, including ‘The Show Must Go On,’ ‘The Adventures of Ben & Friday,’ her guidebook ‘The Road to Femininity,’ and her academic handbook ‘Breaking Barriers – Inclusive Approaches to Modern Language Teaching.’ Katherine has collaborated with Express Publishing to create the Short Tales Series, a collection of 18 readers for young learners designed to enhance language acquisition through engaging stories. Her contributions to Prime Press Publishing include numerous publications, 20 in total, under the alias ‘Catherine R. Jones’, focusing on ELT pedagogy and teaching materials for educators. She has provided training to employees in both public and private organizations, advocating for workplace diversity. Her contributions extend to humanitarian efforts, including teaching underprivileged children and serving as vice principal at the Refugee School of Athens. These experiences inform her research and advocacy for equity in education, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and representation. She has spoken on behalf of organizations which empower and support women, namely ‘Mexoxo’ and ‘Women on Top’ in internationally known conferences such as the ‘Delphi Economic Forum’, ‘Live a Legacy’ and ‘Be an Ally Forum’. As an ambassador of ‘Worldplaces’, an initiative supported in Greece by the Generation Red 2.0 organization, she has strived to promote the rights of all women in today’s workplace. Katherine has collaborated with the Greek National Opera as Production Consultant and has scripted short films and videos for independent filmmakers. She has hosted events such as the annual ‘I’m Positive’ at the Onassis Cultural Centre of Athens promoting HIV visibility, the ELT Excellence Awards in Education, and the award ceremony at the Animasyros Film Festival in Syros. In her free time, she collaborates with a modelling agency as a part-time model for concept photography and is a member of the HUMAN CAST organization which promotes the artistic endeavors of marginalized individuals. In 2023, Katherine starred in Pantene’s advertising campaign for promotion of diverse and inclusive workspaces.
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The End Times Are Here AI Chatbots and the Dismantlement of the Authorial Structure

by Katherine Reilly, originally published in ELT NEWS

Perhaps one of the most controversial topics I have ever been called upon to examine is that of the thinking machine. The dominant fear amongst skeptics is one of an artificial takeover via physical altercations, of technology over man. The imagery of science fiction may flood our minds; graphic depictions such as those featured in the popular Terminator film franchise, in which a dystopian future was brought about by our dependence on an entity of our own creation. Look no further fellow educators, for the future is dawning upon us. Whether we realize it or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already paved the way to restructuring our lives and the course of events that will follow. No, we are not referring to the potential physical dominance by AI, but rather our compliant cognitive subjugation to it.

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Plenary Speaker, Foreign Languages Forum Athens

When teaching a class, one must bear in mind a plethora of elements associated with cultural and social diversity. The special educational needs and abilities of each individual student must also be taken into account. Modern textbooks cater to a general audience and must be adapted accordingly to provide an inclusive lesson which can be accessible to all. Special thanks to the Foreign Languages Forum for organizing this prestigious event at the Royal Olympic Hotel. Registration is free and the attendees will receive a special gift I will be offering at the end of the presentation. Looking forward to seeing you all. Happy summer!

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Speaker for the TEFL Development HUB

English Language Teaching (ELT) has made tremendous strides through the ages and this is also reflected in the corresponding materials offered to us by publishers. It has been proven, however, that relying solely on the curriculum resources handed to us, is in no way a sufficient approach to meeting the demands of a linguistically diverse audience. Prospective educators and experienced ones alike, must also bear in mind the cultural diversity as well as the special educational needs of students. The implications of failing to do so will be examined through educational scenarios, evaluating strategies to properly accommodate, enhance and facilitate said materials to the ELT learning environment.