IEW24 | Developing Purpose and Meaning-Making With Your Students

Join us for an engaging workshop designed for English language teachers and educational leaders working with youth, focused on integrating purpose-based best practices into language education. This session explores how fostering students' sense of purpose and meaning can enhance engagement, improve achievement, and support long-term development. We’ll connect these principles to global trends in education and explore classroom applications, discussing the role of purpose in meaning-making and motivation.

The workshop will also feature an overview of findings from the Youth Meaning Index (YMI), a survey of over 10,000 youth across nine countries, revealing key drivers of meaning that inform students’ educational experiences and overall perspectives on life paths. Participants will explore actionable strategies based on current research to implement purpose-based learning in classrooms. 

Participants will walk away with a clearer understanding of how purpose and meaning-making can enrich their teaching practice, and some practical activities to do so.

Who is it for? Any teachers

Speaker: Dr. Mark Lane-Holbert is an educational psychologist and faculty fellow at the University of South Florida, whose research focuses on purpose interventions, applied linguistics and cross-cultural learning. He is the primary research consultant for the Youth Meaning Index, a partnership with Voluntas and UNICEF in several countries. Mark was a K-12 special education/ESOL teacher and school counselor for over 15 years before earning his PhD. He served as both a Peace Corps teacher and educational researcher abroad, focusing on second language learners, migrant and refugee student integration. He has also worked with youth and young adults in recovery from trauma and addiction throughout his career. With a passion for helping youth find purpose and meaning in the field of positive youth development, his educational philosophy centers on transforming student challenges through a holistic reframing of success.

International Education Week (IEW) is a celebration of global learning and cultural exchange, designed to expand horizons and foster connections across borders. Held from November 18-22, IEW will feature a diverse array of events, including lectures, workshops, and interactive sessions, where educators and students alike can explore the future of education and innovation.

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ALL AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE / ВСЕ МЕРОПРИЯТИЯ АМЕРИКАНСКОГО ЦЕНТРА В МОСКВЕ БЕСПЛАТНЫ

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To watch these events live, tune in to the American Center in Moscow’s YouTube channel, VK page, and Telegram channel. You can also watch the recordings of these events on the same platforms after the event’s end.

You can register below and leave your valid email address to receive a reminder 30 minutes before the online event begins.

To join other AMC Online programs, please check the American Center’s website and TimePad calendars.