1-Day EAL Symposium in Kobe

Everyone is a Language Teacher: Building Bridges Across Content and Language

Venue: Marist Brothers International School
Dates: November 7, Saturday, 2026
Time: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

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Become a Sponsor | Other Locations: Puchong (Oct 17), Shanghai (Nov 21)

Date & Time

Saturday, November 7, 2026
8:00AM - 5:00PM

Location

Marist Brothers International School, Kobe Japan

🐦 Early Bird Price 🐦

USD 218 JPY 160
Bulk discount available

Audience

EAL Specialists, Homeroom Teachers, and any teaching staff

About this EAL Symposium

This Symposium brings together EAL specialists, homeroom teachers, and subject-area experts to dismantle instructional silos. We are here to ensure that every educator feels confident and equipped to support language development alongside content knowledge.

"It's a must attend PD to have an update of things you could have been doing already or to learn new things."

— EAL Symposium Shenzhen Attendee

Essential Questions

Participants will explore practical strategies, share classroom experiences, and learn from colleagues across disciplines. Together, we will ask:

How do content-area teachers integrate language learning into their practice?

What does it look like when language and subject knowledge grow side by side?

How can schools create environments where every teacher feels confident supporting language development?

This symposium is far more than a listening experience. It is a space for active participation, professional exchange, and taking immediate action. You will leave with concrete strategies tailored to your classroom, a renewed sense of inspiration, and a regional community of peers to support your journey long after the event ends.

Learning Strands

Our sessions move beyond theory to provide concrete, classroom-tested solutions for every educator, from Early Years to High School. Whether you are navigating transdisciplinary units in the PYP or specialized inquiry in the DP, these strands offer actionable strategies for your specific context:

Inclusive Instruction for All Multilingual Learners

Assessment & Data-Informed Practices

Belonging, Inclusion, Identity, & Multilingual Culture

Collaboration & Systems for Supporting Language Growth

Innovation in Language Learning

Early Bird Pricing until Oct 1, 2026

Individual

USD 218

USD 160

Register Now

Bulk (4+)

USD 198

USD 140

Register Now

Group of 10+

We love hosting large, cross-disciplinary teams! Reach out to us directly if you are sending 10 or more staff members so we can coordinate the best rate for your school.

Get in touch

This event is graciously sponsored by Renaissance.

About Renaissance

Since 1986, Renaissance’s mission has remained the same: To accelerate learning for all children and adults of all ability levels and ethnic and social backgrounds, worldwide. Today, more than 40 percent of US schools rely on Renaissance solutions for data and insights to equitably move learning forward. As technology continues to change, and as teachers and students connect in new ways, their commitment to accelerating learning is unwavering—both inside and outside the classroom.

Learn more →

Core Format

Our symposia are designed to be interactive, collaborative, and action-oriented. The event follows this structured flow:

Keynote & Interactive Networking

Connect with a diverse network of educators to share experiences and build community.

Presentation Sessions

Attend multiple breakout sessions focused on disciplinary language development, homeroom strategies, and literacy routines across subjects.

Table Topics Café

Engage in small-group discussions over refreshments to share classroom practices and explore innovative tools.

Innovation Lab

Participate in collaborative "Ideation & Action" sessions to identify concrete, actionable steps to bring back to your school.

"I would recommend this symposium to anyone looking for practical advice and ideas on EAL teaching and learning which can easily be incorporated into lessons, planning and assessments."

— Leanne Rees, Secondary EAL Teacher at The British School of Guangzhou
"It's a must attend PD to have an update of things you could have been doing already or to learn new things."
"I was delighted that colleagues from St Bees, Dongguan were able to attend the recent EAL Symposium event in Shenzhen and share their insights and some practical tips with the St Bees staff when they returned. Looking forward to more opportunities for peer learning in the region in the future. Thanks for all the hard work in arranging the event."

— Zining Zhu, Head of House & Biology Teacher at St Bees School Dongguan
"I have learned some ideas which are enlighting. The form of the training is quite differnt from what I've attended before. The atmosphere is quite relaxed; communicating with other teachers always gives me chances to learn."

— Attendee from St Bees School Dongguan
"It was a great opportunity to connect with other professionals who are passionate about helping language learners succeed."
"Lots of ideas and opportunities for reflection - day well spent!"

— Satya Sasongko, Psychology Teacher / Head of Humanities & Social Science at Beijing Etown Academy
"You will have a chance to talk to people from different background and gain some new sights."
"Very welcoming, compassionate group of talented educators who understand the real world challenges that teachers face. I really enjoyed the table talk to share experiences with other teachers."

About the Series Host

Celina Mathews

Founder of Fluency Compass

Celina Mathews is the founder of Fluency Compass, a language assessment and data platform built for international schools. Previously an EAL Program Lead at Shekou International School, she brings a practitioner’s perspective to the design of assessment systems that are both rigorous and practical for classrooms.

Her work centers on supporting multilingual learners through data-informed instruction and empowering all teachers to see themselves as language teachers.

About
Fluency Compass

Fluency Compass is An English language assessment, data analysis, and instructional guidance system designed for international schools. Fluency Compass assesses multilingual learners across Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking - delivering actionable insights and instructional guidance foreducators, students, and families.

Learn more →

Learn with Peers at
Marist Brothers International School

1-2-1 Chimori-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0072, Japan

Marist Brothers International School (MBIS) is a welcoming and diverse international school located in the beautiful city of Kobe, Japan. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School, MBIS offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), providing students with a seamless, globally focused education from Early Years Learning through to Grade 12. Grounded in academic excellence, personal growth, and strong community values, the school nurtures internationally minded learners who are prepared to thrive in an interconnected world. With modern facilities, spacious learning environments, and a commitment to developing the whole child, MBIS provides an inspiring setting for learning, collaboration, and professional development.

Shawn Hutchinson

Head of School
Marist Brothers International School

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