News from the Business English SIG

‘Take Your TIME: A Framework for Teaching Profession-Related Communication in an AI-Accelerated World’

Join Ioana Crețu and Neil Harris in this interactive workshop to reflect on what recalibrations are required in an AI-accelerated world of work, and to take responsibility for the quality of our educational designs. The session proposes a framework using the acronym TIME to interrogate our clients’ new realities and provide reference points in support of principled, context-sensitive AI adoption that foregrounds human agency. 

Workshop participants will engage in collaborative analysis and practical tasks using a structured workbook to capture insights, test ideas, and adapt the framework to their specific teaching contexts. The session is also an opportunity to come together and be kinder to ourselves as fast-paced change becomes the new norm.

Ioana Crețu is an independent ESP practitioner and OET Preparation Partner with over 20 years of experience in teaching medical and academic English. She holds a PhD in Education and has a background in applied linguistics, medical translation, and scientific writing. Her work focuses on supporting healthcare professionals to communicate effectively in high-stakes clinical and academic contexts. She is particularly interested in process-based approaches, including the judicious integration of AI in professional communications (training). Ioana contributes regularly to international ESP / ELT communities through workshops, webinars, and talks, and she hosts the ESP Unplugged podcast from IATEFL ESPSIG.

Neil Harris is a UK-based teacher, trainer, and materials developer. In recent years he has specialised in online teacher development for low-resource contexts and ESP, and in particular the design and delivery of OET medical English preparation for individuals plus groups of healthcare professionals. His interest in EdTech has led to the creation of a national special interest group which lobbies for the development of clearly articulated principles and AI solutions for the accredited English language teaching sector. Outside the classroom, Neil is a trustee of English UK and speaks regularly online and in person at international teachers’ conferences. Follow this link for further information and to register for the workshop

‘How to Turn Teenagers into Business Experts’

Join us on Sunday, 20 September when Maria Kitsiou talks about ‘How to Turn Teenagers into Business Experts’. Traditional Business English curricula often fail to resonate with today’s tech-savvy, entrepreneurial teenagers. This webinar addresses this critical disconnect, offering educators practical strategies to transform a passive academic subject into an empowering, real-world skillset.

Drawing upon gamification and contemporary teenage interests, the presentation explores concrete methods to inject dynamism into the classroom. Participants will learn how to align content with popular culture, foster interactive environments through collaborative projects, and emphasise communication skills tailored to modern youth aspirations.

By utilising relatable examples from social media marketing, online entrepreneurship, and digital literacy, this session bridges the gap between academic rigour and genuine student engagement. Attendees will leave with actionable techniques to build a learning environment where Business English is embraced as a tool for navigating the modern world. Ultimately, this talk equips educators to ‘level up’ their teaching, empowering teenagers to view Business English as their personal superpower for success. Follow this link for further information and to register for the webinar.

The Break Room

As always, join us on the last Wednesday of the month at 18.00 (UK time) to make new friends and greet old ones at the Break Room. We hope to see you there. Follow this link for log-in details.

BESIG Workshop: ‘Take Your TIME: A Framework for Teaching Profession-Related Communication in an AI-Accelerated World’ on 18 July 2026 15.00 – 17.00 pm (UK Time).

This interactive workshop gives BE and ESP trainers space and time to reflect on what recalibrations are required in an AI-accelerated world of work, and to take responsibility for the quality of our educational designs. Uncritical AI adoption in pursuit of short-term efficiencies risks eroding essential human capacities for judgment, voice, accountability, and ultimately employability. In profession-related communication, where trust is central and nuances matter, such risks are particularly acute.

The session proposes a framework using the acronym TIME to interrogate our clients’ new realities and provide reference points in support of principled, context-sensitive AI adoption that foregrounds human agency. At a time when the deployment of AI agents threatens to make human workers irrelevant, we take our stand and reaffirm our mission to help adult learners exercise ownership of their thinking, their expression, and their professional identities in ways which add to their employability and value.

Workshop participants will engage in collaborative analysis and practical tasks using a structured workbook to capture insights, test ideas, and adapt the framework to their specific teaching contexts. The session is also an opportunity to come together and be kinder to ourselves as fast-paced change becomes the new norm.

Non-member price – £15; free for members of IATEFL. Follow this link for further information and to register for the workshop.

Speakers- Ioana Crețu & Neil Harris

Ioana Crețu is an independent ESP practitioner and OET Preparation Partner with over 20 years of experience in teaching medical and academic English. She holds a PhD in Education and has a background in applied linguistics, medical translation, and scientific writing. Her work focuses on supporting healthcare professionals to communicate effectively in high-stakes clinical and academic contexts. She is particularly interested in process-based approaches, including the judicious integration of AI in professional communications (training). Ioana contributes regularly to international ESP / ELT communities through workshops, webinars, and talks, and she hosts the ESP Unplugged podcast from IATEFL ESPSIG.

Neil Harris is a UK-based teacher, trainer, and materials developer. In recent years he has specialised in online teacher development for low-resource contexts and ESP, and in particular the design and delivery of OET medical English preparation for individuals plus groups of healthcare professionals. His interest in EdTech has led to the creation of a national special interest group which lobbies for the development of clearly articulated principles and AI solutions for the accredited English language teaching sector. Outside the classroom, Neil is a trustee of English UK and speaks regularly online and in person at international teachers’ conferences.

IATEFL BESIG Travel Grants

IATEFL BESIG is currently offering a travel grant for members wishing to participate in the 15th ELT Malta Conference on Friday, 23 October – Sunday, 25 October 2026 in Malta. For further information, please click here. The application form can be found here. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 20 September

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BESIG Conference Selections: Athens

BESIG Conference Selections: Athens is now available. Edited by Kirsten Waechter, the publication features written versions of presentations from IATEFL BESIG 2025 Athens. It can be accessed through the SIG Resources section under My Resources after signing in to the IATEFL dashboard.

We are also inviting members to take part in our ‘Meet a Member’ blog series. To volunteer or to recommend someone who would be a suitable contributor, please contact [email protected].