My approach to English Language Teaching policy, pedagogy, and materials centres these principles:
reality has variety
representation matters for everyone
power distribution includes folx who need it
Current roles
2024 – Present: USWA Representative on New College Council, New College. University of Toronto.
2013 – Present: Assistant Academic Director, International Programs, New College. University of Toronto.
Book & Journal publications
Seburn, T. (Forthcoming, 2025). An examination of how anti-queer ELT materials normally are, then queering them. In E. López-Medina, G. Beacon, M. Quinterno, & X. Sotelo (Eds)., Queer Studies in English Language Education. Brill.
Seburn, T. (2023). International perspectives on taboos in foreign language education. In C. Ludwig & T. Summer (Eds)., Taboos and Controversial Issues in Foreign Language Education: Critical Language Pedagogy in Theory, Research and Practice (pp. 325-340). Routledge.
Seburn, T. (2021). How to Write Inclusive Materials. ELT Teacher 2 Writer. https://eltteacher2writer.co.uk/our-books/how-to-write-inclusive-materials/
Saumell, V. and Seburn, T. (2018). Teaching presence in Edmodo and Facebook Groups in Argentinian and Canadian blended language learning contexts. In A. Palalas (Ed.), Blended language learning: International perspectives on innovative practices (pp. 329-358). China Central Radio 7 TV University Press Co., Ltd.
Seburn, T. (2017). Learner-sourced visuals for deeper text engagement and conceptual comprehension. In K. Donaghy and D. Xerri. (Ed.), The Image in English Language Teaching (pp. 79-88). Malta: ELT Council. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/image-english-language-teaching
Seburn, T. (2016). Academic Reading Circles (Print Ed). the round. http://bit.ly/arc-book
Seburn, T. (2015). R is for racism. In PARSNIPS in ELT: Stepping out of the comfort zone (Vol. 3). Digital Platform: Smashwords. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/669186
other publications
Seburn, T. (2024, September). Heartstopper vibes for ELT. The Newsletter of the IATEFL Literature Special Interest Group, Volume 52.
Seburn, T. (2021, August). Teach the rainbow: Queering our ELT materials and practices so everyone belongs. ELTABB Connections. https://eltabbjournal.com/teach-the-rainbow-queering-our-elt-materials-and-practices-so-everyone-belongs
Seburn, T. (2019, November). This post will make you gay (or your materials anyway). IATEFL Materials Writing Special Interest Group [blog]. https://mawsig.iatefl.org/mawsig-in-malta-this-post-will-make-you-gay-or-your-materials-anyway/
Seburn, T. (2018, August). Using LGBTQ+ for ELT debate topics is not inclusive practice. The Newsletter of the IATEFL Inclusive Practices & Special Education Needs Group, Issue 3. https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=a2b6e7bc-ff42-4e9c-a801-7e3d7f6b34d2
Seburn, T. (2018, May). LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the language classroom: attitudes and considerations. TESL Ontario Contact 44(1). https://contact.teslontario.org/issues/spring-2018/
Seburn, T. (2017). Up for debate. EL Gazette.
Seburn, T. (2017). Critical readers in a misinformation age. EFL Magazine. https://eflmagazine.com/critical-readers-misinformation-age/
Seburn, T. (2016). Beyond the comprehension question: perspectives on using Academic Reading Circles for deep reading. English Language Teachers’ Association of Stuttgart [blog].
Seburn, T. (2015, Summer). Because grammar (and cats). TESL Ontario Contact.