Blog Archives

With sustainability being one of IATEFL’s main strategic focuses, we include environmental impacts in all areas of decision-making and planning within the association. Here’s what IATEFL is doing, as well as new initiatives, to address the impact of the association on the environment. We share this information, and encourage additional ideas and suggestions, in order to give other organisations and individuals ideas of what they might do, and also to learn from others ourselves.

Practical initiatives IATEFL has taken as an association

1. New this year All individual members of IATEFL now receive the association’s bi-monthly magazine ‘IATEFL Voices’ digitally, with institutions receiving printed versions for sharing around their institution. This has a considerable impact on paper and ink usage, as well as the carbon impact of not sending thousands of magazines around the world each year.
2. New this year The IATEFL Membership Card is now sent to all members in digital format. Not only does it contain more useful information, but more importantly it has removed the use of plastic cards and the carbon impact of postage.
3. We have significantly reduced the amount of paperwork, forms and letters we print and post to members. This includes member registration and renewal, membership renewal reminders, invoices and receipts.
4. All committee meetings are run online, or face-to-face at the annual conference. This reduced the amount of IATEFL-related travel, as well as making the most of the opportunity presented by the annual international conference.
5. We have very significantly increased the ratio between our online events and our face-to-face events throughout the year.
6. Delegates and exhibitors register for all IATEFL events online.
7. The limited printing we still do is on forestry commission assured sustainable paper and using natural (as opposed to synthetic) inks.
8. We have a programme of regularly reviewing our online and digital footprint, and removing from the internet and archiving content and files wherever and whenever possible.

Practical initiatives at IATEFL’s annual international conference

1. Our delegate badges are printed on hard-wearing paper cards, without needing clear plastic badge holders.
2. We have recycle bins for delegate badges and programmes, as well as around the venue for all other waste.
3. We use recycled cardboard signage for delegate information where appropriate / possible. This is also reused for future events wherever possible.
4. Delegates are invited to bring their own water bottle and refill it from the free water fountains around the venue.
5. We distribute IATEFL pens made from recycled cardboard.
6. Our printed conference programme is supplemented by a digital version containing additional information on events and sessions, thus reducing the impact of printing, transporting and distributing a larger, heavier printed programme. The programme is printed using a company in the same town/city as the conference venue to reduce unnecessary transportation.
7. New this year We are asking delegates whether they require a printed version of the programme at the point they are signing up to cut down on over ordering printed programmes and minimising wastage.
8. We promote the use of public transport (negotiating discounts for delegates wherever possible) and car shares as ways for delegates to travel to and from the conference.
9. We encourage speakers to share their handouts and PowerPoints online, rather than printing out lots of copies in order to give to delegates.
10. We encourage exhibitors to think and be more environmentally aware, celebrate the steps they have taken, and share our environmental objectives with them.
11. Many exhibitor offers for delegates are provided through a QR code on a combined ‘member offer leaflet’, to avoid unnecessary printing.
12. Our delegate bags are sourced with environmental credentials, and reusability, in mind to avoid them being single-use items.
13. Delegates are sent a digital certificate of attendance for the conference, which they can choose to print out if they wish, or store digitally. 
14. We engage with the venue to identify their sustainability credentials, making clear this is part of our decision-making process. We share and celebrate where significant steps have been taken.
15. We request that the catering provider offers a range of options for delegates, including white meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan options, but avoiding red meat due to its higher carbon impact.
16. New this year Any excess food is passed on to local homeless charities.
17. New this year The venue has a ‘zero to landfill’ policy for any waste generated by the conference.
18. New this year All energy used for the conference comes from renewable sources.

Practical initiatives taken at IATEFL Head Office

1. New this year We have a Sustainability Champion as part of our Head Office team, and sustainability is a key agenda point on every staff meeting.
2. Head Office staff have moved to partial working from home. This has substantially reduced the carbon impact of travelling to work, as well as energy usage at Head Office.
3. We use one communal printer/photocopier at our Head Office for the limited printing we do, rather than individual printers each with their own consumables.
4. We have an ongoing strategy of digitising information and data wherever possible, to avoid printing and unnecessary use of paper.
5. Old computer equipment is donated to relevant charities.
6. We recycle paper, boxes, containers and soft plastics, with our shredded organisational paperwork being used locally as beddings for animals.
7. We use tea towels, Tupperware pots and plates, cups, glasses and cutlery to avoid disposable and throw-away alternatives.
8. Our heating is set on timers to ensure no energy is wasted overnight, on working from home days, at weekends, and in areas of the building and times of the year when heating is not required.
9. Our staff car share and use public transport for work travel where and whenever possible.

If you have an idea or suggestion for how IATEFL can further reduce its carbon footprint please email your idea to:  [email protected]

The Simon Greenall Award 2024 is now open for applications.

Macmillan Education and International House kindly offer this award for a project that builds community through learning English. The award is in memory of the distinguished author, ELT professional and IATEFL Past President Simon Greenall, OBE.

The purpose of this Award is to support a language project which brings people together through learning English. Winners will receive dedicated advice and guidance from an expert mentor tailored to your project, help in promoting your project by making it more visible, e.g. through publications, conference participation, networking etc., and up to £1500 for resources (eg equipment, printing, attending courses or workshops).

Who can apply?

Teachers with a project that brings people together in a wider community, local or global, face-to-face or online, through the development of English language skills. A wider community involves bringing people together from outside a school through conferences, events, festivals, performances and shows etc. These may be local, global, virtual.

How to apply

For the guidelines and application go here: https://www.macmillanenglish.com/simon-greenall-award-2024

Closing date: Friday 10th May 2024

On behalf of the IATEFL Board of Trustees I am delighted to announce that Jan Blake has agreed to become the new Patron of IATEFL, following on from the amazing Professor David Crystal who stood down after many years of service to the association at our Harrogate conference last year.

Jan Blake is a storyteller, consultant, mentor & plenary speaker who has been performing world-wide since 1986. Born in Manchester, UK to Jamaican parents, Jan specialises in folktales and myths from the Caribbean, West Africa, North Africa, and the Arab regions.

Always innovating within the form she has a well-earned reputation for dynamic and generous storytelling appearing at most major international storytelling festivals, leads storytelling workshops for schools and universities and has been a contributor to BBC Radio programmes.

Jan’s career highlights include storyteller in-residence at Hay Festival, the Viljandi International Folk Music Festival in Estonia and TEDx Warsaw & Tedx Manchester. 

She has developed relationships with several major organisations, including the National Theatre, where she spent a decade as the Storytelling Consultant, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Geographical Society, Natural History Museum, UNHCR, the British Council, and now with IATEFL.

In 2011, Jan was the recipient of the biannual Thüringer Märchen Preis, awarded to scholars or performers who have devoted their lives to the service of storytelling, the first non-German to be awarded the prize.

As part of the World Shakespeare Festival in 2012, she was the curator for Shakespeare’s Stories, a landmark exhibition that explored themes of journey and identity, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

In 2013, The Old Woman, The Buffalo, and The Lion of Manding created and performed with musicians Kouame and Raymond Sereba toured to acclaim winning a British Awards for Storytelling Excellence (BASE).

IATEFL had the pleasure of having Jan as a plenary speaker at the IATEFL International Conference in Birmingham in 2016.

In 2021 she launched her own online storytelling school, the Akua Storytelling Project. The school is devoted to developing a new generation of international storytellers, as well as helping teachers to become great storytellers in the classroom.

We are very much looking forward to working with Jan as our Patron as we continue to take the Association forward.

With very best wishes,

Aleksandra Popovski-Golubovikj
IATEFL President

Quick link: watch Jan Blake’s plenary at the 2016 IATEFL International Conference in Birmingham 

I have always believed in learning from peers and sharing experiences. Noone would understand our position better than like-minded professionals who almost always, as I have seen, feel the same. The pressure that teachers and lecturers feel from administration, educational policies, parents, students… has grown.

Our PLN as support is invaluable in that respect. That is why I have become a firm advocate of national and international teachers’ associations. I feel grateful to be given the opportunity to share my professional journey as a volunteer with you.

First, on a national level. ELTA Serbia is an association for English language teachers with membership stemming primarily from teachers in primary and secondary schools. My colleagues face numerous challenges which may be typical of our country, and as it turns out, beyond it, and feel the need to be given a voice. What better way to do so than to publish and share ideas in a newsletter by peers for peers. I was an editor of the bi-monthly e-publication
ELTA newsletter for several years. Then I became the editor-in-chief of the publication. Colleagues from Serbia, the region and beyond, submitted articles for publication including lesson plans, book reviews, their research and team projects, experiences from teachers’ conferences they had attended, works from their students… and whatever else they found meaningful, practical and useful to be shared among their peers. I have become more aware of
the circumstances in the working lives of my colleagues in contexts I was not familiar with. I have learned a lot about various types of classrooms which were not the same as mine, but still similar, as well as important. I have grown to respect my colleagues more and more. I have also learned how to be encouraging and understanding, since it is not easy to write to be published. It has never been. I have learned a lot about myself and how to manage a team of like-minded professionals who were willing to dedicate hours of their free-time to edit articles. To this end, I would always support everyone who has not had the courage to share their experience and views. It is valuable and important. It will be read. And you will feel acknowledged and encouraged. You will feel heard. You should go for it!

On an international level, I have been a member of IATEFL for years. After some self-reflection and serious thought, I applied for a scholarship to attend the ESPSIG PCE 2019 in Liverpool which I then won. I will always remember that day. That was an evet focused on a singular topic with international professionals who shared their experiences, who attended my talk and gave me feedback. And ones who showed me that my work and research was good. Invaluable! I still feel the need to thank the committee for giving me that opportunity. What comes next after you have been given such an honour? To give back. So, I have been serving as a joint-events coordinator for the ESPSIG committee for three years and have just started my second term. What has happened since? Numerous webinars which I have hosted with the help of my colleagues (do apply to become a webinar presenter if you work in the field of ESP), the annual Open Forum online events, the annual PCE for the ESPSIG, as well as the Showcase days during the IATEFL international conferences. All of them took place during challenging times, due to the Covid 19 pandemic. And there are still more events to come.

What do teachers’ associations need? Networking and connecting with teachers’ associations on national, regional and international level through international events, for example, such as the Fifth International Conference on Languages for Specific Purposes which was hosted by the LSP SIG of the Serbian Association for Foreign Languages and Literatures Studies in 2021. It was such a challenge to organize that event. When the Serbian Association needed help and assistance, the ESPSIG got involved and co-organized the event. It became a huge success, with six plenary sessions, over 60 talks and more than 100 participants. It is worth mentioning it was held online, which was a stress for most of us on the organizing committee since it was the first event of that kind for us. What came next? After that event, the Serbian Association of Foreign Languages and Literatures became a sponsor for the ESPSIG PCE2023. There will be more joint events to come.

Associations need help and assistance. Cooperation is the key. Each one of us matters. Never doubt that. Get involved to the level and degree you feel is possible for you. Become a member. Write to be published. Apply for a scholarship. Present at an event. Volunteer. You will be heard. And it will matter.

About Milena Tanasijevic

Milena Tanasijevic has been working in the field of ELT for more than twenty years. She is an assistant professor in English at Belgrade Metropolitan University where she has been preparing and implementing EAP, as well as ESP courses for students of IT, management and design related majors. Her research interest are second language acquision, online language teaching pedagogies, curriculum development, assessment.

Contribute to the blog

If you are a member of IATEFL and would like to contribute to the blog, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. We’re looking for stories from our members, news about projects you’ve been involved in, and anything else you think those connected to English language teaching would be interested in reading. We look forward to hearing from you! If you’re not a member, why not join us?

See blog guidelines and ideas

The IATEFL Conference in Harrogate last month was delighted to welcome a Turkish delegation for the second year running. The delegation of 22 members included representatives from the British Council and the Ministry of National Education Teacher Training and Development General Directorate, as well as English language teachers. Teachers from across Turkey were selected based on their success in a competition where they shared their best practices and applications of new methodologies learned through the ‘English Together’ project. They delivered three presentations on different topics in English language teaching.

The ’English Together’ project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education Teacher Training and Development General Directorate, British Council, and Sabanci Foundation, aims to support the professional and personal development of English language teachers in Turkey. Its intention is to create a sustainable continuous professional development system for English language teachers in the country reaching all English teachers in Turkey by 2024.  The delegation shared the achievements and the learning points from this large-scale national project at the IATEFL Conference and presented three joint papers on the following topics;

• Creating and Sustaining a Large-Scale Continuing Professional Development Model
• How do we know that Communities of Practice work?
• Empowering the teacher: the growth from teacher to an ‘expert’’

The delegation was led by senior representatives from the Ministry of National Education, including the Press Advisor Yildiz Aktas Ozdogan, General Director of Teacher Training and Development Directorate Cevdet Vural, Head of Research, Development, and Projects Department of the Teacher Training and Development Directorate Ilkay Aydin, and Director Education at the British Council in Turkey Aysen Guven.

Cevdet Vural, General Director of the Teacher Training and Development Directorate at the Ministry of National Education said:

“The success achieved with our Continuous Professional Development model designed for English language teachers is truly remarkable, and the success stories of our teachers in the field are truly inspiring. We are thrilled to share our success stories and project experiences with experts and English teachers from different countries at an international conference. This year, we have reached 24,145 English teachers from 81 provinces through our project. Our teachers have worked collaboratively to develop solutions that are tailored to local needs using our applied training model and have shared their best practices in innovative language teaching approaches with their colleagues. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all the teachers who have been diligently working in the field and actively participating in the implementation of Professional Development Communities. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the British Council and the Sabanci Foundation for their tireless efforts and unwavering support to us, especially to our teachers in the field, throughout the duration of the project.”

Aysen Güven, Director Education at the British Council and former IATEFL SIG Coordinator, described the current state of the project as follows:

“As part of the ‘English Together’ project, we had the opportunity last year to take our English teachers to the IATEFL Conference, which is considered one of the most important events in global English language teaching, and connect them with their British and international colleagues. Connecting state school English language teachers with the UK English language teaching sector has been one of the key principles of our project. Participating in the IATEFL Conference has become one of the highlights of our project. We are delighted to have shared our project, which we are carrying out with the Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Teacher Training and Development, with English language teachers and officials from other countries. Our goal is to further enhance this international professional interaction.”

Jon Burton, Chief Executive of IATEFL added:

“It was wonderful to welcome the delegation from Turkey to the IATEFL International Conference for the second year. This time our delegates had the opportunity to learn more about this impressive and impactful project ,and see how it might have aspects and outcomes which could be transferable to other teaching contexts in other countries. Such collaboration and exchanges are so valuable and ensure shared learning and shared development across our profession.

This past year has seen an extensive consultation process carried out to address concerns about the use of the IATEFL name and logo by Associates. The Trustees and Chief Executive Officer have undertaken an in depth investigation of  the history of IATEFL and the Associates; held individual meetings with each of the IATEFL-named Associates; held further meetings with all Associates; held a meeting with a group of interested members; and provided an opportunity for all IATEFL members to voice their opinions. Following the consultation process, the Trustees are very happy to announce that a solution has been found which we feel is mutually beneficial to all concerned. 

The decision has been taken for IATEFL-named Associates to retain this name should they wish. However, in light of the Trustees’ concerns, an agreement will be introduced for IATEFL-named Associates and this will form part of the current Associate Agreement which is signed by Associates every three years. The new agreement includes a number of requirements which aim to minimise confusion between the IATEFL-named Associate and IATEFL, and to increase communication and collaboration between the two. 

Individual meetings have already been held with each of the IATEFL-named Associates to introduce and explain the agreement. The response has been positive, with one Associate already in the process of changing its name and another considering it. These Associates have embraced the opportunity to create their own identity and bring renewed life into their Associations. All IATEFL-named Associates are in the process of deciding the best course of action for their Association and members and will communicate the changes they may need to make in the coming year.

We are grateful to all Associates and IATEFL members for their input during this consultation period. This has been a complex and multifaceted issue and IATEFL appreciates the effort, thought and patience of those who have joined us to make this process exhaustive and considered, and helped to ensure that the outcome is equitable.

The nominees in alphabetical order:

Gerhard Erasmus

Having been a committee member of the Membership Committee, I have insight into the running of the committee and the overall responsibility of the committee. I have worked directly with the membership surveys and IATEFL blog and have contributed ideas and support to the webinar selections and delivery as well as the Facebook group. I was directly involved in the committee’s work with early career teachers and one of my initiatives led to an increase in ECTs of around 200 new members. Both as a coordinator of LAMSIG and as a director of an ELT organisation, I have experience with strategic planning and decision making to ensure the smooth running and growth of an organisation. I have a track record of valuing the people around me and ensuring that we work together as a team to ensure that objectives are met. As Membership Committee Chair, I hope to contribute by following a data driven approach to membership and member benefits to ensure that our membership benefits reach all our members. This would mean looking critically at where different members are based, where we could be attracting new members, and how to cooperate with different special interest groups to arrange events to serve our membership and the ELT community globally. I hope that by the third year of my term we have better collaboration between Associates, SIGs, and the executive committees to deliver on the values and vision of IATEFL as an international organisation.

Kariman Mohsen

Before going through the process of nominating myself for the position of Membership Coordinator, I started searching for successful candidacy procedures. I read about the association goals along with the membership benefits to connect between these objectives and my goal for the organization which is having an effective beneficial communicative association. I would plan to increase the scheme of members by putting plans for welcoming new members not only by approaching associations but by having advertisements in other associations’ conferences, PD events and webinars. IATEFL can have a representative in each of its affiliates to promote its membership. We can approach teachers in schools and universities by proposing IATEFL membership offers. This could be by sending emails or making offers on Facebook. Members who decided to withdraw from IATEFL membership should be sent a survey to know the main reasons behind their withdrawal and discuss solutions for their retention; whether financial reasons or lack of interest. On Facebook, members need to be involved more by opening weekly discussions while leaving the members to participate and share their voices. A poll could be created to check the latest members’ interests to design highly demand webinars with hot chair topics. Novice teachers should be welcomed and encouraged to participate in IATEFL webinars by providing them with PD events on how to become effective presenters and then welcoming their proposals; online mini courses could be designed for IATEFL members. Members could be involved more by having the chance to attend the webinars while volunteering as technical moderators for the sessions. In general, there are always different and creative plans for engaging the members and attracting new ones to be discussed through the year with IATEFL Board.

Syke Annamma Kumaran

I have been working as an ELT professional for over 20 years in schools and colleges in India and the U.S.A.   I started my career as an Assistant Professor in English and later I switched over to schools. Currently I am working as a High School teacher in Kerala, India. I was a Fulbright Fellow at Claremont Graduate University, California. After my post graduation in 2002, I have been exchanging ideas with individuals, institutions and organizations in many countries. I’m fortunate to work with many ELT experts with multicultural backgrounds and I have experience in designing, planning and conducting novel ELT programmes. English Language Teachers’ Association of India was my gateway to IATEFL. In 2015, I reached Manchester to receive IATEFL Projects Award. That single conference was enough for me to take a decision to become a volunteer of IATEFL, the global diverse community of ELT professionals. Since then, I could attend all other IATEFL annual conferences in different roles. My volunteering experience with IATEFL includes Membership Committee, Moderator of Monthly Webinars, IATEFL Social Media, Webinar Proposals Selection Committee, Digital Committee, Official Photographer, Reporter of three annual conferences and one of the interviewers for IATEFL YouTube channel. If elected, I would work with other trustees and the HO for the fulfillment of IATEFL’s aim and objectives as a charity and I will aim at strengthening of the associates, growth of membership and as a current MemCom member, I will be able to coordinate the activities of Membership Committee as well.

The nominees in alphabetical order:

Alex Fayle

Why do I want to serve on the IATEFL Board of Trustees? Because I can’t imagine not being involved in the community. I was raised with the beliefs of collaboration, consensus and community instilled in me early on. And they have become part of my core identity. I have spent my whole life asking questions and following up to make life easier, smoother and generally better for those around me. So, no matter what industry I have belonged to, my many professional identities have all revolved around this central belief: that life is about helping out. I have brought together my background in records management, professional organizing and freelance writing, with my passion in policy and process and applied them to the different professional associations I have been involved in, either as support staff or in volunteer roles. I see the world in patterns—often patterns others don’t see—and love seeing the dreams of whatever organization I belong to come to fruition because of these skills of mine. Over the years, I have also learned patience and how to see the distant future. Change can be exciting or scary, depending on how you see it, but it’s the only constant in life. The role of Secretary for IATEFL excites me because it’s a role that requires all the skillsets that I have been developing over the past 30 years. It would be an honour to serve IATEFL and the global ELT community as IATEFL’s Company Secretary.

Maria-Araxi Sachpazian

Being a member of IATEFL makes all the difference in a teacher’s professional development, choices made and personal networking. Since 2001 I have benefited from this positivity and by applying for this position I want to reiterate my faith in the mission and vision of IATEFL and to continue volunteering. If I am elected I will use my skills to act as a facilitator for the Board of Trustees and enhance communication between different sectors of our Association. I have long experience of working on different boards and international teams. Having been Secretary General of our local TA for two consecutive terms I have experience in taking minutes, with a special skill for representing different opinions fairly. As Chair I am experienced in drafting agendas and running productive meetings. I am a skilled communicator who listens actively and reflectively. Additionally, I am experienced in the mechanics of organising large-scale events (online or face-to-face conferences). I am also a good negotiator who tries to find the middle ground. If needed, I can use my marketing background to ensure that IATEFL increases its visibility in order to attract an even wider membership and greater sponsorship. As a person, I am patient, eager to learn and share, flexible, good at time management and a natural organiser. Above all, I am hard-working and eager to help. I believe that TAs should have a future in our digital future and volunteering is the best way to actively support this faith.

Zeynep Urkun

I’m writing to apply for the position of IATEFL Secretary. In fact, I carried out the same role about 7 years ago and learned an immense amount from working with all the other valuable members of the IATEFL Board, as well as the members of the association. In my capacity as the TEA SIG Coordinator, and then as the Secretary, I believe I managed to make a contribution to IATEFL as a volunteer, bringing my “international” perspective and experience in English language teaching and assessment, therefore fulfilling one of the main aims of the association of bringing together teachers of English from all over the world, to support one another to make a difference. In 2016, I had to stop volunteering for IATEFL as I changed career paths and became the CEO of Make-A-Wish Turkey, a charity that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening diseases, where I gained more experience in leading the work of a group of more than 350 volunteers around Turkey and active fundraising. During this time, I remained active in ELT by providing regular language assessment-related training to colleagues in Turkey and the UK. For the last 4 years, I’ve been the Assistant Manager of the School of Languages of my current university in Istanbul, helping to manage around 70 colleagues teaching English at tertiary level. Thus, I now feel that I have more to offer to the IATEFL Board, as well as a different set of skills than I did previously. With slightly more time on my hands now, I thought it was time to start becoming more active with IATEFL again and that’s when I came across the nominations for the secretary position. Hence the motivation behind my application.

The Partnered Remote Language Improvement project (PRELIM) supports the development of teachers using English across the world.  Funded by the British Council and run in partnership with IATEFL and English UK, with NILE as managing consultants, the latest PRELIM project supports the development of classroom resources using teachers’ local contexts and curricula in 25 countries. Previous iterations of the project have supported teachers’ language development. All projects are delivered by an Accreditation UK centre who works with IATEFL-associated English Teaching Associations (ETAs) in each participating nation. PRELIM 1 and 2 were a huge success and the 15-month PRELIM 3 will run to March 2024.

PRELIM 3

The PRELIM 3 project partnerships will run from January 2023 to March 2024. It consists of partnerships between accredited language schools and English Teacher Associations (ETAs) in 25 countries working together to create and disseminate bespoke classroom resources. It follows on from PRELIMs 1 and 2, shorter projects (see below) which were designed to improve the confidence of teachers around the world teaching English.

The aim of PRELIM 3 is to support classroom teachers who are teaching in English to create resources to use in lessons with their own students. It also aims to develop the capacity of the UK centres and their ETA partners through creating and distributing contextually-relevant ELT resources, which will have lasting impact and benefit for the teachers who use them. 

IATEFL is looking forward to working with all of those involved in this exciting project once again!

The PRELIM 3 partnerships are:

• Angola (ANELTA) with St Giles International
• Argentina (APIBA/APISE/ASPI & FAAPI) with Professional Language Solutions (PLS)
• Bangladesh (TSB) with Capital School of English
• Bolivia (BETA) with Eurospeak Language Schools Ltd.
• Brazil (BRAZ-TESOL) with Centre of English Studies (CES)
• Cameroon (ELTS-CAMELTA) with Oxford International Education Group
• Cote D’Ivoire (CINELTA) with Stafford House
• Cuba (APC-ELI) with LILA* Liverpool
• Ecuador (UNAE-PINE) with International House Bristol
• Guinea (GETC) with Norwich Study Centre
• Honduras (HELTA-TESOL) with Speak Up London
• Indonesia (TEFLIN) with Peartree Languages
• Kuwait (TEFLK) with International House London
• Lithuania (LAKMA) with Bell Educational Services Ltd
• Mali (MATE) with West London English School
• Mozambique (MELTA) with Celtic English Academy
• Nigeria (ELTAN) with Edinburgh College
• North Macedonia (ELTAM MK) with inlingua Cheltenham
• Palestine (PATEFL) with CELT Centres for ELT Cardiff
• Peru (ASCEI & PERUELTNET) with York Associates International Ltd.
• Thailand (ThaiTESOL) with Lewis School of English
• Turkey (INGED) with The University of Sheffield ELTC
• Uganda (UNELTA) with Wimbledon School of English
• Vietnam (VietTESOL) with Nottingham Trent University
• Zambia (LATAZ) with Hilderstone College

 

Previous PRELIM projects here:

• Read a report on the second PRELIM project: PRELIM 2 project report 2022
• Read a report on the first PRELIM project: PRELIM 1 project report 2021

The Simon Greenall Award 2023 is now open for applications.

The purpose of this Award is to support a language project which brings people together through learning English.

The award offers six hours of mentoring, as well as help in promoting and developing the project and making it more globally visible, and a small grant for equipment and expenses. The winning project could be a new or already running

For the guidelines and application go here.

Closing date: 31st March 2023

The award celebrates the life and work of Simon Greenall OBE, teacher, trainer, materials writer, President of IATEFL, trustee of International House. It is sponsored by Macmillan Education, International House London and International House World.

In the course of his work, Simon travelled around the world, and wherever he went, he made friends. He was a great communicator and in creating the award we decided that it should be about ‘bringing people together through learning English’.

The first mentors were Jill and Charlie Hadfield. Jill has an extensive career in materials writing and teacher training and Charlie has worked with the British Council helping to develop English Language Teaching projects.

The winner of the first award, in 2021, was the Dau Dau project run by Sirhajwan Idek and Nurazilah Othman of Keningau College in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. Their work uses folk tales to bring together the different peoples of Malaysia with their different traditions and languages. Storytelling, dance, puppetry, theatre, and song are all part of the rich mix. Jill and Charlie held virtual mentoring meetings with the Dau Dau project, and during this time the project linked up with the Kuala Lumpur Shakespeare players, the Hands Up Project and David Heathfield’s Storytelling work. The Simon Greenall Award also enabled Dau Dau to present themselves on a more global stage, for example through the 2021 Macmillan Global Festival Conference, with the Ministry of Education, local and national press and broadcasters becoming interested in their work.

> More about the Dau Dau project here.

> More about the Simon Greenall Award Guidelines and Application here.