Technology as the key to empowering the global community of English language professionals: pre- and in-service professional development opportunities

An IATEFL Learning Technologu Special Interest Group online event, hosted also by Bridge Education Group (Bridge) (recorded September 2023)

This online event aims to share ideas and best practices in professional development in empowering teaching by implementing technology. This event was an excellent opportunity for attendees to exchange practical ideas on creating synergy between technology and language learning. Speakers talked on the following topics:

• Past and more recent research supporting practitioners' experience that, teachers motivated to become better at teaching, inspire their students to progress in learning.
• Current teacher self-assessment tools that can guide teachers' decisions and selections on professional development paths.
• Demonstrating that English language professionals should take advantage of the opportunities provided by technologies, planning innovative learning pathways and environments where webtools, multimedia platforms, repositories and digital resources are considered an added value to face-to-face lessons. Therefore, pre-service and in-service professional development on this topic is crucial.
• Teacher-powered and technology-supported Business English involves the teacher actively supporting and enriching the learning experience with the help of the technology while still valuing the input and engagement of the learners. In this approach, the teacher acts as a facilitator, offering support and feedback, while also empowering the learners to take an active role in their language development and application in real-world business contexts.
• The time is now to harness technology’s full potential, increase your teaching impact, and meet the growing demand for online English education. Discover how the confluence of pedagogy and technology is reshaping education, and equip yourself with the tools to not only navigate but also revolutionize the online teaching sphere.