• Webinars will be held on Zoom.
• Registrants will receive the link and password the week of the webinar.Registration deadline is the Wednesday before each webinar.
• There will be a one-hour presentation plus an optional half-hour Q&A for those who want to stay.

• $10.00 Reg. Fee or $35.00 for all 4 webinars

Our Presenters:

February 28, 2026 (Saturday) – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET, 9:00 -10:00 a.m. MT

Chewing the Phat: Modelling, Encouraging and Teaching ‘Small Talk’

Description: “Phatic communication” refers to “the nonreferential use of language to share feelings or establish a mood of sociability rather than to communicate information or ideas.” A subset of it is “small talk”. How do we support and foster warmth and good relations inside and outside of the ESL classroom? How do we practice ‘small talk’ with the students, and how do we teach students how to make small talk? This webinar will examine the importance of phatic communication and small talk, show ways of practising them with the students, and describe approaches and techniques of teaching small talk. Come and explore an integral element in any ESL class as well as to share your experience.

Presenter: Jennifer Tong. Jennifer has been the coordinator and a teacher of the ESL program at Parkway Forest Community Church since 2004. She is a TESL Ontario certified teacher and has taught LINC, at a private language school and a factory in the past. Her interests include Non-Western learning styles, reflective practice in ESL and mental health and immigrants. Jennifer currently teaches an Advanced class online, and is the Coordinator for SOCEM.

March 28, 2026 (Saturday) – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET, 9:00 -10:00 a.m. MT

Presenting Good News that Sounds Good

Description: We are all familiar with some method of presenting the Good News of Jesus, all of which are good in their own way. But what if the presentation with which we are most familiar does not mesh with the thought patterns of the person we are speaking to? Are there other ways of expressing the same foundational truth that are biblical and still align with the thought patterns and values of those from other cultures? Yes! In fact, the Bible itself presents this Good News in various ways. Come explore together biblical ways to talk about the gospel to those from different cultural worldviews with different value systems.

Presenter: Tim Noble. Tim is the Director of Mobilization for OMF Canada and the Executive Director for Missionfest Manitoba. He has spent four years teaching English in Mainland China and twenty years serving in Thailand with OMF. Tim is married to Brenda Noble, who ran the Thai language program for OMF Thailand for 10 years and currently serves with Connections East Asia, OMF’s diaspora ministry.

April 25, 2026 (Saturday) – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET, 9:00 -10:00 a.m. MT

The Power of Hospitality to Internationals

Description: One of the greatest overlooked opportunities in evangelism is the desire for new Canadians to be shown hospitality. Anyone arriving to Canada is looking for a place to belong and to learn more about the culture they are entering. So often, they do not end up finding these places within Canadian households and look elsewhere. As Christians, we have an opportunity to fulfill this desire and to share the hope and love of Jesus in the process.

Presenter: Logan Johnson. Logan currently works with University Campus Ministries at the University of Calgary, and as the Youth Pastor at Journey Church in Calgary. Logan is married to his incredible wife Olivia and is a new father to their son Esmond. Logan studied philosophy and religious studies for his undergraduate and has a fascination with understanding the different perspectives of our world. He is passionate first and foremost about people coming to know Jesus and seeing them discipled into faithful followers of Jesus who make disciples of others.

May 23, 2026 (Saturday) – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET, 9:00 -10:00 a.m. MT

Quick! Got 15 minutes to fill or are your students TOO quiet?

Description: Five quick interactive warmups, games or fill-in activities for in-person or online classes for all/ various levels will be introduced. Come share one of your quick good “game” ideas as well. Let’s fill up our ESL teaching toolbox!

Presenter: Sandi Howell. Sandi has been an active missionary member with her husband, Don, for 33 years. As OMF Canada’s Connections East Asia (CEA)’s Coordinator for ESOL, her mandate is to encourage and help other churches reach out to East Asian newcomers. Sandi has 22+ years of ESL ministry at every level: graduate students to literacy. She has used this gift reaching the Diaspora overseas in Singapore; and then in Edmonton, AB; in the Greater Toronto Area and Vancouver, BC. She holds a TESL Ontario certification and is presently serving as coordinator in one church and actively teaching in two. Throughout the years she has found that adapted games can be effective, engaging and a fun way in helping adult learners to practise their conversation skills.