JALT2025 - Tokyo

Utilising ‘critical friends’ for professional development

31 Oct 2025, 16:00

1h

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Practice-oriented Workshop (60-minutes) Teacher and Professional Development Room 306

Speaker

Natalie Donohue (Volda University College)

Description

This workshop offers practical ideas for an alternative approach to continuing professional development, centred around the concept of ‘critical friends’. ‘Critical friends’ work together in a mutually-beneficial relationship to reach common goals by sharing advice, resources, and constructive criticism. Drawing upon an intervention carried out on a language teacher training programme, this workshop provides advice and practice in how to establish and build critical friend groups, identify shared goals, and give quality, constructive feedback.

Summary

This workshop offers practical ideas for an alternative approach to continuing professional development, centred around the concept of ‘critical friends’. ‘Critical friends’ work together in a mutually-beneficial relationship to reach common goals by sharing advice, resources, and constructive criticism. Drawing upon an intervention carried out on a language teacher training programme, this workshop provides advice and practice in how to establish and build critical friend groups, identify shared goals, and give quality, constructive feedback.