Ali is a skilled presenter who delivers dynamic, evidence-based professional learning for teachers of all languages. She combines language acquisition theory with her knowledge of local and international curricula to deliver tailored professional learning to schools, faculties and teachers. She is a regular presenter both at home and abroad and has assisted hundreds of teachers to improve their students’ learning outcomes via her extensive knowledge of languages pedagogy and curriculum design.
Dr Gianfranco Conti
CPD provider/ consultant
Founder and Owner of The Language Gym
Ali's presentation and workshop today were excellent. She has a relaxed and friendly approach and her incredible knowledge, experience and passion for language teaching are truly inspiring. She has an outstanding grasp of curriculum reform, so was the perfect person to guide us around the aligning of our current programs with the new NSW Framework. I highly recommend her services.
Bronwen Calcraft
Head of Languages
Ravenswood School for Girls
Alison approached this PL with warmth and encouragement. I was grateful for her calm reassurance and positivity, which in turn helped our team to feel optimistic about the task ahead. Alison has extensive experience with the new syllabus, together with current leadership in Languages, so she understands the task at hand. My hope was to gain a deeper understanding of the rationale and outcomes, and this was delivered thoughtfully and with helpful activities. Alison answered our questions with patience and kindness.
Melinda Rundle
Head of Languages
Roseville College
The content of the workshop was clear and well-organised and therefore easily followed. The resources were generous and will prevent us from beginning from scratch. The workshop was very helpful and worthwhile.
Margaret Gray-Weale
Head of Languages
St Clare's College, Waverly
The workshop with the students gave them the confidence they needed to tackle the HSC speaking exams. The students and I all took copious notes and felt like Ali lifted the lid on what is required and provided wonderful resources to go through in preparation for these exams. Her warmth and skills helped Ali immediately establish rapport with the students which is necessary for them to open up and showcase their best language skills. I can't praise this workshop highly enough- Gold class!
Gemma McWhirter
Head of Languages
Shire Christian School
Thank you for your role in the curriculum review process. I have just completed the sign off on the Languages report and want to thank you for your detailed and precise feedback.
The report is very well done!
Thank you, Alison, your time and expertise is very much appreciated.
Rose-Marie van Raad
Head: Learning, Teaching and Wellbeing
Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst
Alison is a knowledgeable and engaging presenter who has expertise in a range of teaching and learning areas. Her approach to learning design is innovative and effective. I would highly recommend Alison's work to all educators.
Raelene Maxworthy
Director of Teaching and Learning
Calrossy Anglican School
Alison is a passionate languages educator who draws on her considerable classroom and leadership experience to provide professional learning support to teachers and schools that is targeted, contextual and evidence-based. The professional learning programs that she has designed and delivered are innovative, engaging and have been evaluated highly by participants.
Merryl Wahlin
Deputy Director
Sydney Institute for Community Languages Education (SICLE)
Sydney School of Education and Social Work
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Ali is such an expert and really knows the content she presented. A practitioner who is still teaching so understands real time teaching and learning. The whole session was well - sequenced and content was relevant. Ali was generous with sharing her resources and knowledge, thanks!
Ken Wong
Coordinator Professional Practice
Ravenswood Institute
We very much enjoyed Alison's professionalism. She was very calm and explained the material in a clear and understandable way. She accommodated all our questions and gave us practical solutions.
Hagit Bar-on | Head of Hebrew
Emanuel School
Alison has expert knowledge pertaining to IB assessment protocols, and in particular, understanding assessment criteria and rubric development. Alison is an effective communicator, insightful in her contributions to discussions surrounding educational theories and pedagogy. Her wealth of experience in education allows her to draw on personal experiences to inform her own practice, where her commitment to prioritizing best outcomes for the individual learner is evident.
Sally Davis
Lecturer, Master of International Education, MGSE
Alison has been a member of the Experienced Teacher assessment panel during her time as a consultant at AISNSW. Alison has been invited to assess applications from German and French teachers who submitted programs and student work samples written in these languages.
Alison has a deep knowledge of the Experienced Teacher descriptors and how these can be demonstrated by language teachers. She is able to determine whether applicants meet the requirements for Experienced Teacher accreditation. I have sought Alison’s advice on several occasions, and she has always been obliging in assessing and reviewing evidence outside school hours.
Alison has mentored teachers applying for accreditation and in this context she has used her experience to support applicants to achieve success.
Estelle Lewis
Former Head of Accreditation at the Association of Independent Schools
This workshop surpassed my expectations, with Alison’s wonderfully practical suggestions and guidance still playing in my head some months after the two-day course. One of the best teaching workshops I have ever attended.
Raija Chapman
The Armidale School
In Ali Dean's valuable presentation, her profound expertise shone brightly as she effortlessly guided the audience through the understanding and implementation of the new Modern Languages K-10 Syllabus into existing programs. Her straightforward and grounded approach made the complex concepts simple and easily digestible. The follow-up activities she proposed were both intriguing and practical, leaving the attendees excited and empowered to embrace the new syllabus with enthusiasm.
Shelley Xie
Pymble Ladies' College
Very helpful course. Ali explained the syllabus using practical examples that we could apply in our classroom. She responded to each one of our questions and led a very productive session.
Juliette Bates
Randwick Girls High School
The energy, knowledge and detail Alison provides are invaluable. My team and I now know what is needed to implement the new languages syllabus. Better still we know how to do that efficiently due to Alison's unparalleled generosity and insight.
Merci Ali.
Tracey Ellem
Head of Languages, St Luke's, Dee Why
I highly recommend this workshop to language teachers. The approach was clear and easy to understand. The supporting materials provided a wealth of resources for ongoing learning. The relaxed atmosphere fostered open discussions and a comfortable environment. A valuable workshop.
Sheila Ibarra
Head of Languages
Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
Ali's expertise is second to none, in addition to this her passion and dedication to languages is incredible and her knowledge of the new framework as well as her impressive ideas and examples of tasks are invaluable! I highly recommend Ali's services!
Isabella Falconi
Arndell Anglican College
The most practical-orientated PD done by myself on this area of syllabus change. Other PD sessions presented big-picture 'whys' and 'whats', but very little 'hows'. Thanks for filling in the vital 'hows'.
Martyn Jacka
Southern Cross School of Distance Education
Alison Dean is a fantastic presenter and so knowledgeable.
The most valuable thing I took from a PL on the new Modern Languages Syllabus was how in-depth and proactively she approached the PL and her expert sequencing of information to allow for deep understanding. I now feel confident to discuss the content of the PL with my faculty and can easily apply my learning!
She also is so approachable and very clear in her presentation. I can’t wait to attend another PL by Alison again, such an effective use of PL time!
Georgia Slager
St Augustine's College
Assessment and Task Design in Languages was a worthwhile professional development. Alison Dean is knowledgeable in her field. I can highly recommend this course .
Alan Blake
Macarthur Anglican School
I recommend this course to language teachers looking to extend their knowledge and skills around AI. Alison's expert choice of resources and the hands-on approach offered plenty of opportunities to experiment with useful sample prompts for different purposes. Practical and fun!
Martin Koester
NSW School of Languages
This professional learning experience has significantly improved my understanding of AI integration in LOTE education. Any beginning LOTE teacher who takes this course would be setting themselves up to be a responsive, dynamic educator.
Lachlan Bryan
Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus
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