A Healthy Suspicion: Critical Media Literacy in the Digital Age

This hands-on workshop explores the meaning of literacy in the digital age by providing a range of examples that allow participants to better understand our limits and vulnerability.  We will look at textual and visual samples that acquaint participants with various aspects of U.S. culture in order to help build a critical awareness – or healthy suspicion – of media in our hyper-digitalized age.  This workshop works best with participants who have at least a B1 level of English.  English language teachers, current and future, as well as language learners, will gain something new from this workshop.

Bio:

David Fay is the Regional English Language Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.  His work involves supporting Turkey’s efforts to improve English language instruction as well as to link these efforts to U.S. expertise and resources.  The Regional English Language Office works with Turkish and U.S. specialists in the field, as well as with Turkish and American institutions, including universities training the future cadre of English teachers, professional teacher associations, and instructors in all sectors, including the public K-12 sector.  Before working in Central Asia, Russia and Latin America with the U.S. Department of State, David worked with English language teachers throughout Turkey.