Giving Feedback in English – that motivates and supports learning
12 Oktober | 9:00 ‒ 13:00
Practical Strategies for motivating next steps and further student development
The workshop focuses on feedback as a communicative skill: not only what we say, but how we say it to support understanding, motivation, and trust…to feed FORWARD!
Inhalt
Giving feedback is one of the most influential — and often most challenging — aspects of teaching. When feedback is delivered in a second language, it can be a challenge to balance clarity, professionalism, and encouragement. Messages may unintentionally sound too direct, too vague, or less supportive than intended.
This interactive workshop helps lecturers develop practical communication strategies for giving constructive, motivating feedback in English. Participants learn how to express expectations clearly, address problems respectfully, and foster student learning and confidence through effective feedback conversations.
The workshop focuses on feedback as a communicative skill: not only what we say, but how we say it to support understanding, motivation, and trust…to feed FORWARD!
Ziele & Nutzen
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to …
1. Communicate Feedback Clearly and Constructively
- Use precise and supportive language for academic feedback
- Formulate strengths and areas for improvement effectively
- Avoid unintended harshness or ambiguity in English
2. Increase Confidence in Feedback Situations
- Develop phrases and structures for common feedback scenarios
- Manage difficult conversations calmly and professionally
- Respond to emotional or defensive reactions from students
3. Support Student Motivation and Learning
- Deliver feedback that encourages growth rather than discouragement – feed foward!
- Balance honesty with encouragement
- Promote student reflection and responsibility for learning
4. Adapt Feedback Across Contexts
- Differentiate between written and oral feedback approaches
- Adjust tone and style for intercultural learning environments
- Provide feedback in individual and group settings
Methodik
The workshop is practice-oriented and interactive, combining reflection with immediately applicable tools:
- Short expert input on feedback principles and communication strategies
- Analysis of authentic teaching scenarios
- Language toolkits and feedback phrase banks
- Role plays and guided practice conversations
- Peer exchange and collaborative problem-solving
- Reflection on participants’ real feedback challenges
- Micro-practice exercises using participants’ own examples
Participants leave with practical language resources and strategies they can apply directly in their teaching.
Participants work with their own course material wherever possible, ensuring immediate transfer into practice.
Advice:
- Participants are invited to bring a short example from their own teaching practice
- Recommended English proficiency level: B2 or higher.
- Please bring a laptop if possible.
Referentin
Michelle Gilluly-Beham, MA, founder of Target Language Communication (www.targetlanguage.at), is a communication trainer, university lecturer, and language coach specializing in English for professional and academic contexts. She works with business professionals, academics, and leadership teams to strengthen confident, clear, and human communication in English.
With extensive experience teaching at a university of applied sciences and training B1–C1 level professionals, she combines linguistic expertise with didactic competence and a strong focus on student-centered interaction. Her workshops are known for being practical, engaging, and psychologically safe — enabling participants to develop confidence without pressure for linguistic perfection.
Her work centers on one core belief:
Effective communication is about human-to-human connection. Express yourself. Reach your audience. Be clear, authentic, and connection oriented.
