From English Teacher to Learning Experience Designer: Open Lecture at BSPU

On 30 October 2026, the Department of Foreign Languages and Teaching Methods of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Berdiansk State Pedagogical University held an open lecture for students. The department’s guest speaker was Valentyna Dunaiska, a senior teacher-methodologist of English at Lyceum No. 3 in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Vinnytsia Region. The lecture took place on Zoom.

The lecture was titled “From English Teacher to Learning Experience Designer: How to Teach the Game-Changing Generation.” Ms Dunaiska opened with a question every teacher should reflect on: if our learners’ world has changed so dramatically, can we continue teaching exactly as we were taught?

The speaker outlined five key shifts that define today’s learners:

• constant access to information: a shift from receiving knowledge to evaluating it;
• interactive multimedia: a shift from passive listening to active engagement;
• demand for purpose: a shift from abstract rules to relevant application;
• need for agency and feedback: a shift from compliance to ownership of one’s own learning;
• the rise of AI: a shift from basic generation to critical verification of information.

Ms Dunaiska paid special attention to the Ukrainian context. War, displacement and uncertainty mean that learners especially need learning environments that offer clarity, flexibility and a sense of belonging.

She showed how a teacher can become a designer of learning experiences. Learners should take part in meaningful action, such as projects, investigations and collaborative problem-solving. Formative assessment also matters, including peer feedback, self-assessment and observation. In her words, assessment is not merely assigning a mark; it is evidence that learners can transfer their knowledge to new situations.

At the end of the lecture, Ms Dunaiska talked with the students in a warm and professional way. She answered their questions and shared practical advice from her own experience. Her tips will help future English teachers during their teaching practice and throughout their careers.

The Department of Foreign Languages and Teaching Methods sincerely thanks Valentyna Dunaiska for an insightful and inspiring lecture, for her openness and for her willingness to share her experience. We look forward to further cooperation!