In this education-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Fajarudin Akbar, an English teacher passionate about educational technology, who shares his extensive experience with professional development.

Fajarudin offers practical guidance on navigating the overwhelming landscape of online courses and training programs, emphasizing how educators can maintain relevance through strategic continuous professional development (CPD). Through his experience with various educational platforms and emerging technologies, he demonstrates how teachers can balance learning new tools with maintaining strong pedagogical fundamentals.

The conversation becomes particularly valuable when addressing the integration of AI in learning management systems and how educators can overcome the fear of missing out on technological trends while focusing on what truly enhances student outcomes.

Key moments:

• Strategies for selecting quality CPD resources in the digital age
• Balancing affordability with accreditation when choosing professional development
• The role of community and peer learning in professional growth
• How much technical knowledge educators actually need versus foundational skills
• Using AI to personalize learning while maintaining critical thinking focus

A practical conversation for educators seeking to stay current with technology, teachers overwhelmed by CPD options, and educational professionals looking to integrate new tools thoughtfully into their practice.

Fajarudin's contact details:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fajarudinakbar/

Website: MOOC Guru

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Ivan Židov, an AI developer with 7-8 years of industry experience who has achieved top 1% status on Upwork, sharing his journey from neural network enthusiast to successful freelancer.

Ivan offers practical guidance on navigating the AI landscape, from selecting the right tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Gemini 2.5, Claude 4) for specific purposes to managing client expectations around AI implementation. Through his freelancing success story, he demonstrates how technical expertise combined with strong communication skills creates opportunities in the global marketplace.

The conversation becomes particularly valuable when Ivan addresses overcoming language barriers and perfectionism in professional communication, showing how authenticity often matters more than flawless English when building client relationships and delivering high-value services.

Key moments:

• Choosing AI tools based on specific project requirements rather than hype
• Practical strategies for achieving success on competitive freelancing platforms
• Using AI to enhance resume building and professional communication
• Overcoming language perfectionism to communicate authentically with international clients
• Career advice for computer science students entering the AI field

A practical conversation for freelancers looking to leverage AI in their services, computer science professionals considering independent work, and anyone interested in building successful client relationships despite language barriers.

Ivan's contact links:

Upwork: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/ivanzidov

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-zidov/

Email: ivan@textvalue.ai

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interactive live stream episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) answer audience questions in real-time, covering everything from the practicalities of food photography to the surprising ease of starting a podcast.

The conversation jumps organically between topics as viewers submit questions, creating a casual, behind-the-scenes look at the hosts' expertise and personal experiences.

What makes this episode particularly engaging is the spontaneous nature of live interaction, with the hosts addressing everything from business portrait advice to the realities of learning English, while sharing personal anecdotes about living in different countries and navigating cross-cultural experiences.

Key moments:

• Quick tips for capturing appealing food photography
• The realistic timeline and effort required for learning English
• Hidden gems in Croatia beyond the popular tourist destinations
• Behind-the-scenes insights into live streaming challenges

A fun, casual conversation perfect for anyone curious about the hosts' backgrounds, aspiring podcasters looking for practical advice, and viewers interested in photography tips and travel recommendations for Croatia.

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this healthcare-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Reena Mistry, a DEIB-centred Medical English teacher and former community pharmacist, who bridges the gap between healthcare delivery and inclusive communication.

Reena shares her unique perspective as the daughter of Indian immigrants from Yorkshire, England, explaining how her multicultural background shapes her approach to teaching and patient care. Through her dual experience in pharmacy and education, she addresses the critical importance of clear, respectful communication in healthcare settings, particularly for immigrants and tourists navigating unfamiliar medical systems.

The conversation becomes particularly valuable when Reena discusses the practical challenges healthcare professionals face with diverse patient populations and introduces her upcoming course designed to help pharmacists improve their clinical communication skills.

Key moments:

• How multicultural identity influences approaches to inclusive communication
• The dignity-centered approach to patient care across language barriers
• Practical strategies for healthcare professionals working with diverse populations
• The importance of patience and clear explanation in medical settings
• Developing specialized training for clinical communication skills

A crucial conversation for healthcare professionals working with international patients, educators interested in inclusive communication practices, and anyone involved in cross-cultural care delivery.

Connect with Reena on LinkedIn: Reena Mistry

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this business optimization episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome Laura Plantak, Digital Chaos Strategist and founder of Proprium LLC, who specializes in helping entrepreneurs double their client capacity through process automation and no-code solutions.

Laura brings her 12+ years of international experience working across 15+ countries to share practical strategies for transforming business chaos into streamlined efficiency. Through her agency Proprium and her new podcast "Systems with Laura," she helps businesses move beyond generic solutions to create tailored systems that actually work.

The conversation covers essential topics for growing businesses, from the fundamentals of building effective SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to pricing strategies that prevent entrepreneurs from undervaluing their services. Laura's insights into working with international clients across different time zones and cultures offer valuable perspective for anyone expanding globally.

Key moments:

• Why generic business solutions often fail and how to create tailored SOPs
• The "magic" of proper file organization and software selection
• Practical pricing strategies that remove emotion from financial decisions
• How mastering English opened global business opportunities
• Managing international client relationships across time zones and cultures

A practical conversation for entrepreneurs looking to scale their operations, solopreneurs struggling with business organization, and anyone interested in pricing strategies that reflect true value rather than fear-based discounting.

Laura's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraplantak/

Her new pricing course: https://www.eduza.hr/od-izracuna-do-n...

Her company website: https://www.proprium.agency/

Her personal website: https://lauraplantak.com/

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this rare solo hosting event, Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) welcomes educator and AI advocate Jon Fila for an in-depth exploration of artificial intelligence bias in education, recorded on November 25th 2024, during LinkedIn's audio event era. Seen and Heard started as an unrecorded LinkedIn audio-only live show, and this was a rare recorded episode.

Jon shares his 26-year teaching journey, from traditional classrooms to online learning environments, detailing his evolution into AI education. Through candid discussion, he reveals early mistakes with AI detection tools and how they disproportionately flagged non-native English speakers and students on the autism spectrum, highlighting the importance of recognizing inherent biases in both technology and ourselves.

The conversation becomes particularly valuable when Jon demonstrates practical prompting techniques for creating more inclusive AI responses, including his emotional prompting strategies and the systematic approach needed to counteract default biases in large language models.

Key moments:

• How early AI detection tools perpetuated educational biases
• Practical strategies for prompting AI tools toward more inclusive responses
• The reality of grading in the AI era: looking for humanity over polish
• Creating accessibility through AI while maintaining critical thinking
• Measuring success through individual student stories rather than metrics

A thoughtful conversation for educators grappling with AI integration, administrators developing AI policies, and anyone interested in using technology tools more ethically and inclusively in educational settings.

Jon on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-fila/

Jon's courses can be found at: inclusiveaistrategies.com.

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer) welcome strategic communication expert Nela Kačmarčik, who shares practical techniques for making authentic and memorable first impressions both online and in person.

Nela provides actionable advice that moves beyond generic networking tips, focusing on how to genuinely connect with your audience by understanding their needs and perspectives. Through real-time demonstrations and audience interaction, she illustrates common mistakes people make when introducing themselves and offers specific corrections.

Darko contributes camera positioning and video presence tips, while Edita adds guidance on English language considerations for international networking.

The conversation becomes particularly useful when addressing online presence, with each host sharing their expertise: Nela on strategic communication, Darko on visual presentation, and Edita on language clarity for non-native speakers.

Key moments:

• The morning routine that sets you up for confident interactions
• How to focus on your audience's needs rather than your own nervousness
• Practical profile picture tips for stronger online presence (Darko's visual expertise)
• English language considerations for international networking (Edita's professional experience))
• Common self-introduction mistakes that hurt rather than help

A practical conversation for professionals struggling with networking, introverts working on their self-presentation skills, and anyone looking to improve their first impressions without losing authenticity - including details about Nela and Edita's workshop for practicing these skills.

Nela on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nela-kacmarcik/

Introduce yourself unprepared in English workshop: https://www.eduza.hr/predstavi-se-nepripremljena-na-engleskom/541/

Nela's website: https://www.nelakacmarcik.com/

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this production-focused episode, hosts Edita Bandur (Business English Teacher) and Darko Mareš (Portrait Photographer), welcome Mirta Jušič, a Croatian documentary producer who shares her practical experience managing international shoots across former Yugoslav countries, revealing the cultural and logistical challenges of cross-border filmmaking.

Mirta talks about how budget constraints have forced production professionals to become "octopuses" - taking on multiple roles from producer to fixer to cultural mediator. Through specific examples, she illustrates how generational differences and cultural nuances affect team dynamics when working with international crews.

The conversation becomes particularly valuable for business owners when Mirta discusses documentary-style marketing content, sharing case studies of how businesses can leverage authentic storytelling to build their brand presence.

Key moments:

• Managing cultural differences between Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian production teams
• How budget cuts have reshaped production roles and responsibilities
• Practical challenges of international shoots (logistics, legal, compliance)
• Using documentary techniques for business marketing content
• Building successful teams across generational and cultural divides

A practical conversation for documentary filmmakers working internationally, business owners considering documentary-style marketing, and anyone interested in how cultural sensitivity affects creative collaboration across borders.

Connect with Mirta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirtajusic/

Her company website: https://mirtaprodukcija.hr/

Portfolio example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Z641JpFpQ

Follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn to comment on live shows and get featured!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.