Exploring the EAP to EPIC Transition with Dr. Susie Russak S2 E6
In today’s podcast, I will speak with Dr. Hannah Landes from the Azrieli College of Engineering about how a background as an academic in the field of literature can be beneficial to teaching EPIC (SPOILER: It’s the skills as a teacher that transfer more than the literature itself). I think this is a very important topic because many EPIC teachers come to the profession with backgrounds in academic fields that are not directly related to teaching EPIC. Often these teachers feel ill-prepared and wonder about their abilities to effectively teach EPIC. As you will learn from Hannah, a background in literature can provide tools not only for teaching EPIC, but also for preparing students for life.
Exploring the EAP to EPIC Transition with Dr. Susie Russak S2 E5 Part 3
In our third and final podcast of the miniseries on the topic of pre-academic courses, our wonderful guest, Tal Levy, will give us a close look at her pre-academic course (from zero to Hero). She will share specific lessons and activities that she uses along with the rationale for each one. *Credit for the introductory music goes to the Gal Giberstein Quartet for A Drive To The North from their Vessel Of Love Project.
Exploring the EAP to EPIC Transition with Dr. Susie Russak S2 E4 Part 2
Today’s podcast is the second in our three part miniseries where we explore different aspects of teaching and learning EPIC in the pre-academic setting with Tal Levy from Ruppin College. SPOILER- just about everything that Tal shares with us in this miniseries is relevant for all teachers of EPIC at all levels, tie your napkins around your necks and get ready for part 2, where we will talk with Tal about the mismatch between exit scores in English at the end of high school and the real ability level of incoming students in higher education, just to set the mood (like candlelight in a romantic dinner). Then, for the main course, Tal will share the Ruppin model that she developed, and finally, for dessert in part three, (so make sure to leave room), Tal will dive into a close look at the journey of a weak student in her program. *Credit for the introductory music goes to the Gal Giberstein Quartet for A Drive To The North from their Vessel Of Love Project.
Exploring the EAP to EPIC Transition with Dr. Susie Russak S2 E3 Part 1
Get ready dear listeners for something new and tasty:
Today’s podcast is part of our first mini series where, together with Tal Levy, a Senior Instructor and the Head of the English for Purposes of International Communication (EPIC) Department at Ruppin Academic College, we will explore the pre-academic track (Mechina) for learning EPIC.
For your dining pleasure we have divided this three part miniseries into four courses:
The first podcast will be a yummy appetizer where Tal delineates the history and structure of the pre-academic track, which was initially designed to bridge educational and social divides by helping students without university qualifications gain academic skills and confidence. These programs focused on strengthening the core subjects of Hebrew, English, and Math—and developing study habits for academic success. Tal will then talk about the 2012 reform, which aimed to standardize pre-academic tracks across Israel while emphasizing the original goal: to open academic doors for weaker and underrepresented populations. (SPOILER-for those listeners who may not teach in the pre-academic tracks, and are still wondering WIIFM?? I don’t teach pre-academic English. WELL…. All teachers of EPIC have weak students in their classes and often struggle with meeting their learning needs. And if you are not convinced yet that this min-series is for you, the first course also explores challenges of the shift from EAP to EPIC through the lens of a well-seasoned, highly experienced teacher in the pre-academic track. And the challenges she speaks about are the same as those faced by teachers of EPIC in the academic tracks.
Exploring the EAP to EPIC Transition with Dr. Susie Russak S2 E2
Today’s podcast explores the place of social emotional learning in EPIC, both for the students and for the teachers. Our honored guest, Dr. Luis Javier Pentón Herrera is an award-winning Spanish and English educator and author of books, special editions and articles on subjects including intersection of identity, emotions, and well-being in language and literacy education, social-emotional learning (SEL), autoethnography and storytelling, refugee education, and language weaponization. In 2024, he was selected by the TESOL International Association and National Geographic Learning as the Teacher of the Year. At present, he is a Professor at Uniwersytet VIZJA, Poland. He is also a Fulbright Scholar and Specialist, and an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State. I know that each listener will find something to identify with in this special podcast today. Enjoy! *Credit for the introductory music goes to the Gal Giberstein Quartet for A Drive To The North from their Vessel Of Love Project.
*Credit for the introductory music goes to the Gal Giberstein Quartet for A Drive To The North from their Vessel Of Love Project.
Exploring the EAP to EPIC Transition with Dr. Susie Russak S2 E1
Welcome to Season 2 of the EPIC podcast. We open this season with a chat with Dr. Beatrix Price from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. Based on her recently published study entitled: Collaboration at the Core: Understanding Professional Development and Learning in English Language Teacher Associations (which can be found in the journal Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching) we discuss the importance of teacher collaborations as the basis for professional development and teacher well-being, and the role of teacher organizations in supporting communities of practice. I feel this is a great way to start the year off with a reminder that in our country we have a wonderful teachers’ association in H-INET, which not only serves as a professional development home for teachers of EPIC here in Israel, but also sponsors this podcast series.