Author: Elana Shyong

Still buzzing from the facilitation intensive course with Julia Slay in London earlier this week. Back in Barcelona now, and feeling full of ideas and reminders about why this work matters! A few key takeaways for me:💡 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. There’s such value in being a participant again, in observing, reflecting, and…

𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚? 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙩𝙝! 🗞️ Day two of the facilitation training with Julia Slay had me reflecting deeply on creativity, inclusivity, silence, and what it really means to hold space for others. One line that stuck with me:“𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦.” Such a simple idea, but so powerful. In facilitation, and in life…

4 a.m. wake up call to catch my flight from Barcelona to London. ✈️ Worth it (and I got to see a beautiful sunrise)! Day 1 of my three-day facilitation training with Julia Slay, and already so many insights, reflections, and sparks of inspiration. As an experiential learner, experiencing firsthand other people facilitating is such…

Last week, I delivered a week long course on #DesignThinking for ERASMUS+ KA1 Staff Trainings for my most diverse group yet – educators, librarians, startup mentors, and business innovators from Denmark 🇩🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Latvia 🇱🇻, Poland 🇵🇱 and Germany 🇩🇪. What struck me most is how #universal this approach truly is. Whether you’re designing…

Last week was one of those ones that that reminded me why I love what I do (and where I live)! From professional milestones to personal moments, it was a beautiful mix of inspiration, connection, and a lot of gratitude. ✨ Coliving Conference 2025: Two days surrounded by visionaries reimagining how we live and connect.…

Today, I wanted to share something a bit different, and honestly, a little vulnerable. It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay today, it feels like the right time to speak out loud about a project idea that’s been sitting with me for a while. And there’s power in saying things out loud!! At the Tzu Chi Foundation TIYA Conference this…

A single moment in a classroom can shape how you see yourself for life. Yesterday was #WorldTeachersDay, and I happened to having a very fitting conversation with Nolwen Attou Izebatene over a cup of tea about how deeply education weaves into our identity. She told me she still remembers, vividly, her first-grade teacher yelling at…

I’ve always loved what I do for work. But that doesn’t mean I’ve always chosen the right projects. For years, I said yes to things just because I felt like I had to. I chased opportunities that looked practical, or safe, or that I thought would “lead somewhere.” And while they kept me busy, they…

𝙄𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 – 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠 (resource in the comments). Last week I had the pleasure of leading a workshop in Denmark on AI in language teaching and education as part of a day-long conference that brought together over 80+ teachers from all over West Denmark. We explored…

Thrilled to be invited as a keynote speaker for the 11th International Conference on Innovation in Education held by the EEPEK (Scientific Association for the Promotion of Innovation in Education) next month! 🎉 A special thank you to Angelos Kostaras for the invitation. From joining one of my early Drama in Education courses in Barcelona…