When you focus on language, you invite opportunity, connection, and meaningful impact.
Explore curricula, workshops, and training services designed to strengthen teaching, learning, research, and institutional success.
AI for Educators: Tools & Strategies
Evidence-Based Professional Development for Faculty & Staff
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This workshop introduces educators to AI tools reshaping classrooms and research. Participants will gain hands-on strategies to integrate AI ethically and effectively into their teaching and scholarship. You’ll leave confident in applying AI to enhance learning, streamline research, and strengthen your professional impact.
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This workshop focuses on how educators can use AI ethically to support research and research writing. Participants will explore tools like Consensus, Perplexity, and citation managers through guided demonstrations. You’ll leave with clear strategies to accelerate research, improve academic writing in English, and align your projects with career goals.
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This workshop introduces participants to the AI tools most educators are using today to support teaching and learning. You’ll explore how these tools can be applied in different contexts—from K-12 to higher education—and learn to make informed decisions about when and how to use them. The focus is on practical strategies you can apply immediately to enhance teaching, student engagement, and learning outcomes.
Your faculty are already encountering AI in classrooms, research, and administrative work. Give them the frameworks to engage strategically, ethically, and effectively—before policy questions become crises.
This professional development series builds institutional capacity for responsible AI integration while reducing faculty anxiety and workload, without undermining faculty expertise or academic integrity.
What Your Institution Gains
The AI for Educators Workshop Series
AI Tools in Education & Research
Faculty gain hands-on experience with AI tools reshaping teaching and scholarship. Through live demonstrations and guided practice, participants learn evaluation criteria, ethical integration strategies, and discipline-specific applications—from course design to research acceleration.
Outcomes: Immediate tool implementation, evaluation frameworks, institutional ethics guidelines
Using AI for Research & Writing in English
Particularly valuable for international faculty navigating publication. Demonstrates how AI can accelerate research and strengthen academic writing while maintaining scholarly integrity. Explores tools like Consensus, Perplexity, and advanced citation managers through actual research scenarios.
Outcomes: Reduced publication timelines, enhanced research productivity, clear ethical boundaries
Popular AI Tools Used by Educators
Survey of current AI landscape in K-12 and higher education. Faculty explore practical applications, learn informed tool selection, and understand when, how, and critically when NOT to use specific technologies.
Outcomes: Shared institutional literacy, classroom-ready strategies, future-proofing criteria
Flexible Implementation
Individual workshops or complete series
Department-specific or university-wide rollout
New faculty orientation integration
Professional development week intensive
Multi-week series with reflection/practice time
Custom combination based on institutional priorities
Why This Works
Designed by a linguist and curriculum specialist who understands how adults acquire professional competencies. Not a tech vendor pitch—this is educator-to-educator guidance grounded in pedagogical principles, tested with international faculty cohorts, and aligned with institutional values around integrity and student-centered teaching.
For Administration:
Proactive institutional positioning on AI (leadership vs. reaction)
Risk mitigation around academic integrity
Faculty recruitment/retention tool
Evidence of strategic institutional vision
For Departments:
Shared vocabulary for AI policy development
Consistent approaches to student AI use across courses
Documented professional development for promotion/tenure
Reduced time spent on individual trial-and-error
For Faculty:
Practical skills to streamline course preparation
Research acceleration through ethical AI use
Confidence navigating rapidly evolving technology
Community of practice around shared challenges
For Students:
Faculty equipped with current technological literacy
Clear, reasonable policies around AI in coursework
Learning experiences preparing them for AI-integrated careers
Modeling of responsible, critical technology use
💡 Individual Educators: Browse our self-paced courses for independent professional development you can complete on your own schedule.
Client Reviews
“The most useful course in recent memory. Thank you!”
— Senior Lecturer and participant in Popular AI Tools for Educators
“The teaching and presentation of materials is top-notch.”
— Senior Lecturer and participant in Popular AI Tools for Educators
“We love seeing how you’re integrating critical thinking and hands-on exploration of AI tools into your training. Empowering scholars to understand both the strengths and limitations of these technologies is such an important skill. Excited to see the impact of this series!”
— UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education
English Development for Growth in Academic Careers
Professional Development Series for International Faculty & Scholars
This series empowers multilingual educators to strategically develop their English skills for research, teaching, and leadership in international and U.S. academic contexts. The workshops in this series are designed for international scholars, educators, and researchers who want to strengthen their English while advancing their academic and professional goals. Each program blends practical language development with real-world applications in research, teaching, and professional communication. From mastering AI tools and publishing strategies to building confidence in networking and presenting, our trainings provide the skills and strategies scholars need to thrive in multilingual and global higher education.
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This series is designed for educators who are developing English language skills for professional development related to research, leadership, and teaching. This series guides multilingual educators working in international schools or across diverse linguistic landscapes to strategically develop their English language skills in alignment with professional goals in education careers. This series is tailored especially for those seeking opportunities with English and academic settings in the United States.
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This workshop helps educators share their research with global audiences, connect across disciplines, and establish a strong professional presence in English. Participants will practice strategies for clear and impactful communication that fosters collaboration and recognition. By the end, you’ll have the tools to grow your network and professional opportunities.
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This workshop equips educators with practical strategies for research planning and publication success. Participants will learn how to strengthen academic writing, set clear research trajectories, and pursue publication opportunities aligned with career goals. You’ll also receive guidance on tailoring English development to support long-term research and teaching impact.
Your international scholars are exceptional educators and researchers—and English shouldn't limit their professional impact or your institution's global reach.
This professional development series equips multilingual educators with strategic English language skills for research, teaching, leadership, and professional networking in U.S. and international academic contexts.
Institutional Benefits:
Retention: International faculty feel supported in their professional development
Research Output: Accelerated publication timelines and increased visibility for institutional research
Global Partnerships: Strengthen capacity for international collaboration and student recruitment
DEI Goals: Demonstrate commitment to supporting multilingual faculty success
Competitive Advantage: Attract and retain top international talent
Series Components:
Strategic English Language Development
Tailored for educators seeking opportunities in English-speaking academic settings or advancing within international schools. Participants develop targeted language skills aligned with specific career goals in research, teaching, and academic leadership—from preparing job materials to navigating promotion processes in English-medium institutions.
Outcomes: Clearer career pathways, stronger application materials, increased confidence in professional English contexts.
English Communication & Networking
Faculty learn to present research compellingly, build international collaborations, and establish professional presence across global academic networks. Practical strategies for conference presentations, interdisciplinary communication, and relationship-building that opens doors to research partnerships and career opportunities.
Outcomes: Expanded professional networks, increased conference participation, stronger cross-institutional collaborations.
Research Roadmaps & Publication Strategies
Accelerate your faculty's path to publication with targeted strategies for academic writing in English, research planning, and navigating peer review processes. Includes guidance on leveraging AI tools ethically to support research productivity while maintaining scholarly integrity.
Outcomes: Faster time-to-publication, increased acceptance rates, strategic research trajectory development.
Delivery Options:
Full series or individual workshops
Virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats
Cohort-based learning with peer support
Custom scheduling to fit institutional calendars
Asynchronous modules with live Q&A sessions
Proven Approach:
Curriculum developed through work with UC Davis's Bolashak Scholars Program supporting Kazakh educators. Research-informed methods grounded in second language acquisition, adult learning theory, and 15+ years of experience with multilingual faculty across career stages.
💡 Individual Educators: Prefer self-paced professional development? Focus on Language on-demand courses offer the same research-informed content with the flexibility to learn on your schedule.
Language Matters
Ideologies, Student Success, and Persistence
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Words aren't just words: Language Awareness, Attitudes, and Ideologies
This series offers educators, academic leaders, and student support staff tools to examine how language ideologies influence communication, opportunity, and outcomes in academic settings. Participants will gain awareness of the subtle ways attitudes toward language impact relationships and student experiences. Through guided strategies, you’ll leave with actionable tools to foster stronger trust, build inclusive learning environments, and engage more effectively with multilingual colleagues and students.
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Recognizing and Redirecting Exclusionary Language in Student Support
This series guides educators and student support staff in recognizing how everyday communication can unintentionally reinforce hierarchies of belonging and exclusion. Participants will learn strategies to redirect language in ways that are inclusive, strengths-based, and student-centered. For advising cohorts, this session includes hands-on methods to audit student communications, helping offices improve engagement, strengthen student self-perception, and foster positive advising relationships. You’ll leave with clear, actionable approaches to language that uplift and empower students.
Custom Curricula for Educator Training Programs
Your institution has unique goals, student populations, and contexts. Off-the-shelf solutions rarely align perfectly with your needs—so why settle?
Focus on Language designs original curricula tailored to your specific objectives, whether you're launching international partnership programs, supporting incoming scholar cohorts, or building faculty capacity in specialized areas.
Recent Custom Work:
Professional English development curriculum for UC Davis's Bolashak Scholars Program (Kazakh educators)
AI integration training for international faculty cohorts
Discipline-specific academic writing programs
Cross-cultural communication curricula for global partnerships
Custom Curriculum Design Process:
Discovery Phase
Initial consultation to understand institutional goals, learner profiles, desired outcomes, and existing resources. We discuss English proficiency levels (CEFR, TOEFL, IELTS), timeline constraints, and delivery preferences.
Design & Development
Curriculum development aligned with your learning objectives, including:
Scope and sequence documentation
Asynchronous learning materials (video demonstrations, exercises, activities)
Synchronous session plans (virtual or in-person)
Assessment frameworks and progress tracking tools
Facilitator guides (if you'll deliver internally)
Implementation Support
Flexible delivery options including:
Full facilitation by Focus on Language
Train-the-trainer model for internal delivery
Hybrid approach (I launch, you sustain)
Ongoing consultation during rollout
Curriculum Licensing
Purchase licensing rights to deliver programs independently with your own facilitators. Licensing includes complete curriculum materials, facilitator training, and implementation support.
Curriculum licensing available starting 2026. Contact for details.
What Makes Focus on Language Different:
Rather than teaching English in isolation, our curricula integrate language development with professional contexts that matter to educators:
Research writing, presentation, and publication
AI tool integration and digital literacy
Professional networking and collaboration
Career advancement in international academic contexts
Participants don't just improve English—they gain strategies, tools, and confidence to thrive professionally on international stages.
Investment & Timeline:
Custom curriculum projects typically range from 8-16 weeks development time depending on scope. Pricing varies based on program length, learner cohort size, and delivery model.
Why Institutions Choose Focus on Language
Research-Informed Practice
Every program is grounded in Dr. Swift's PhD research on second language acquisition, language ideologies, and educational equity—plus 15+ years of practical application with diverse learner populations. This isn't theoretical; it's evidence-based practice proven in real institutional contexts.
International Expertise
Extensive experience designing programs for international educators, including curriculum development for UC Davis's global partnership initiatives. Deep understanding of the unique challenges multilingual faculty face navigating U.S. academic systems.
Scalable Solutions
From single workshops to comprehensive multi-year programs, we design for sustainability. Whether you need immediate faculty support or long-term capacity building, solutions scale to institutional needs and resources.
Cultural Responsiveness
Programs honor participants' linguistic and cultural backgrounds while building capacity in English-dominant academic contexts. Strengths-based approaches that position multilingualism as asset, not deficit.
Measurable Outcomes
Clear learning objectives, assessment frameworks, and outcome tracking. Institutions receive documentation demonstrating program impact for internal reporting, accreditation, and continued funding justification.
Institutional Partnership Approach
We don't sell cookie-cutter programs. Every engagement begins with understanding your specific context, challenges, and goals—then designing solutions that align with institutional priorities and integrate with existing structures.
Meet Your Instructor
Meet Dr. Marinka Swift
I've spent 15+ years helping international educators navigate the exact challenges you're facing right now - from publishing in English to presenting research confidently to integrating AI tools without losing your authentic teaching voice.
Through my work designing professional English curriculum for UC Davis's Bolashak Scholars Program and training educators across diverse international contexts, I've learned what actually works for busy faculty juggling teaching, research, and professional development in a second (or third, fourth, fifth!) language.
My approach is grounded in real experience: I'm a language learner myself (C2-level Italian, intermediate Spanish), I've taught everyone from high schoolers to university faculty, and my research on language and belonging directly informs the practical strategies I teach.
These courses distill everything I've learned into actionable frameworks you can implement immediately - whether you're preparing for your next conference presentation, drafting a research paper, or building your professional network in English.