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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Showing Respect in the Classroom

One of the words that often eludes us, is the word ‘respect’. Respect, however, is not simply a word; it’s a way of life. For this reason, students should be taught the importance of respecting each other, from a young age. This could and should be accomplished in class, as a child’s personality is still blossoming. Share this video with others as we get to see what Kid President has to say about it.

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Amazing Things Happen – What is Autism?

A few months ago, we examined how to teach students with Special Educational Needs (SENs), in an article I had written concerning this matter.

https://katherinereilly.blog/2017/09/20/teaching-students-with-special-educational-needs-sens/

A dear friend and colleague posted this video on his page, which shows us how autistic individuals perceive and cope with everyday situations. It’s definitely worth watching and highly educational, for both students and teachers alike.

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Rote Learning vs Critical Thinking – Memory or Intelligence?

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by Katherine Reilly

Throughout history, numerous methods of teaching have been adopted in class; the most controversial of which, ‘Rote Learning’. Why is this method of teaching despised by modern educators? Does it have any merits? Should it be abolished completely? Below, we will examine the aspects of this teaching method as well as evaluate the benefits of modern teaching techniques such as the development of critical thinking.

Continue reading “Rote Learning vs Critical Thinking – Memory or Intelligence?”