Upcoming CPD Opportunities - Autumn 2026
Upcoming CPD Opportunities: Autumn 2026
Image credit: British Council
In this corner of the globe, the nights are drawing in and it’s starting to cool (thank goodness). Teachers are preparing for the start of the new academic year, which is usually accompanied by a wealth of free CPD content provided by publishers and teachers’ associations.
I started keeping track of these learning opportunities in September 2023, initially for my own benefit (call it an age thing!) and then to share with other teachers who might be interested. It turned out to be quite popular so – three years on – here’s the latest edition. Thank you to all of you who have followed (and encouraged) me in that time. For those of you new to this blog, it’s a simple list of events coming up in date order, with links and a little info on each.
I update the posts as new events are published, but – as ever - if I’ve missed anything you think might be useful, please let me know in the comments.
Jessica
TITLE: Engaging your learners without the extra workload
PRESENTERS: Miranda Hamilton
DATES & TIMES: Wednesday, 2nd September 2026 – 10:00, 15:00 & 21:30 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: Macmillan
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Back to school can be exciting, but it also comes with its challenges, such as engaging large groups of students and managing a heavy workload. This session explores practical digital tools and techniques to hook your learners and keep them engaged right from the first minute. We'll also explore strategies for saving time, such as planning lessons in a smarter, more efficient way. Don't miss this essential session before you return to the classroom after the summer break.
TITLE: Planning for learning: transforming planning through Backward Design
PRESENTER: Leonor Corradi
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 5th September, 2026 11:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL, TTEdSIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Too often, lesson planning becomes an exercise in turning coursebook pages, rather than driving meaningful learning. While following teaching materials can offer structure, the ultimate learning destination can easily get lost. This webinar introduces the core principles of Backward Design as a practical framework to rethink and reshape how we approach lesson planning and materials adaptation.
We will explore why starting with clear learning objectives is essential for effective teaching and learning, examine the three key stages of backward planning, and discover how this approach enables teachers to design and adapt activities that deliberately guide students toward their learning goals.
TITLE: Why Climate‑Only Sustainability Fails Our Learners
PRESENTER: Cecilia Lemos Harmer
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 5th September, 2026 15:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Many ELT ‘sustainability’ lessons focus solely on environmental topics. But there are other aspects such as social sustainability, which considers the skills needed for ensuring healthy and equitable communities for present and future generations. By exploring key issues like social justice and inclusivity, we can positively impact learner engagement and motivation. This session, using the Cambridge Sustainability Framework for ELT, reframes sustainability through the human lens, and will offer practical ready-to-use activities that explore how socially sustainable teaching creates more inclusive and empowering classrooms. You will leave with concrete strategies and activities for making sustainability relevant to your learners.
TITLE: The Human Touch in Digital Age: Reimagining Connection in ELT
PRESENTER: Serpil Öz
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday. 8th September 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology are now woven into almost every aspect of education, shaping how we teach and learn. As language teachers, we are responsible for both embracing and fostering new literacies, digital skills, and emerging concepts such as prompt literacy, and AI output evaluation in our students. Yet amid this innovation, an essential question arises: how can we ensure that the deeply human essence of teaching — bonding and connection — remains central In an age dominated by screens and algorithms, genuine communication continue to grow through trust, empathy, and authentic interaction. This session explores practical ways teachers can maintain — and even strengthen — the human touch in digitally enriched classrooms. Through real examples and activities, we will reflect on how teacher–student relationships, emotional presence, and genuine dialogue drive engagement and learner growth. Together, we will look at the current realities of ELT in a digital world and reimagine how motivation can be co-created through connection, empathy, and care — ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, what makes teaching truly meaningful.
TITLE: ESPSIG Joint Symposium 2026 with St Andrews LSP Hub: Applying ESP Research to Practice
PRESENTERS: Various (see link)
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 12th September, 2026 13:00 - 17:30
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL ESPSIG (English for Specific Purposes)
TYPE OF EVENT: Free online event
SUMMARY
This symposium explores how research can be effectively translated into ESP teaching practice across diverse academic and professional contexts. Featuring invited speakers from different areas of ESP, including EAP, Medical English, Business English, and professional/workplace communication, the sessions will highlight evidence-based approaches to course design, materials development, assessment, technology integration, and learner-centred pedagogy. Each presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, providing opportunities for discussion and exchange among ESP practitioners.
TITLE: Preparare esercizi con Canva e Genially
PRESENTER: Irene Campari
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 15th September 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: Italian
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Nel corso di questo webinar verrà illustrato l’utilizzo di due piattaforme basate sull’intelligenza artificiale per la progettazione di esercizi didattici, impiegabili sia come compiti sia come attività di preparazione o consolidamento. L’attenzione sarà rivolta alla definizione degli obiettivi formativi e alla corretta pianificazione del prompt, elementi essenziali per ottenere risultati efficaci con Canva. Verranno inoltre presentate le potenzialità di Genially per la creazione di lezione interattivi. Si tratta di un webinar a carattere pratico, pensato per offrire agli insegnanti nuove possibilità nella creazione di attività didattiche.
During this webinar, two platforms powered by artificial intelligence will be presented to explore how to create activities that can be used as homework, lesson preparation, or supplementary exercises. The focus will be on defining learning objectives and planning effective prompts, which are essential elements for achieving good results with Canva. In addition, the potential of Genially will be demonstrated for creating interactive lessons. This will be a practical webinar designed to offer teachers new possibilities for developing teaching activities.
TITLE: Teaching English to Professional Football Players and Managers
PRESENTER: Daniele Canepa
DATES & TIMES: Wednesday, 16th September – 16:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: Trinity College London
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
This webinar explores the design and delivery of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses, drawing on the experience of teaching professional footballers as a practical case study.
It examines how ESP differs from general English, the importance of needs analysis, and effective approaches to sourcing, adapting, and creating relevant materials.
The session also considers the role learners play in shaping course content, whether subject-matter expertise is necessary for ESP teachers, and how feedback can be used to evaluate and improve courses. Additional topics include learner motivation, flexible scheduling, homework practices, target language needs, and key lessons learned from working in elite sports environments.
TITLE: Social-Emotional Learning: A Three-Phase Approach
PRESENTERS: Miria Munoz, OCELT & Juliana Freire
DATES & TIMES: Wednesday, 16th September 2026 – 19:00-20:00 (EDT)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TESL Ontario
TYPE OF EVENT: Free for TESL Ontario members. Non-members – 30 dollars + taxes.
SUMMARY
How can ESL students feel more confident when working in groups?
What strategies help them overcome isolation and cultural differences?
How can Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) support collaboration in post-secondary classrooms?
This webinar explores a three-phase Social-Emotional Learning approach designed to support ESL students in group work. Participants will learn how SEL strategies can help students build self-awareness, understand peers, and collaborate more effectively. The session highlights practical classroom activities and tools that promote confidence, accountability, and positive group dynamics.
Key points to be covered:
- Understanding Social-Emotional Learning in ESL contexts.
- A three-phase model for improving group work.
- Strategies to build self-awareness and peer understanding.
- Tools to promote accountability and reduce group conflict.
TITLE: Teaching speaking skills – webinars
PRESENTERS: Feruz Akbarov & Sherly Hephzibah
DATES & TIMES: Friday 18th September 2026 - 12.00–13.00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: British Council
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
In the third in our series of webinars on the English language and how to teach it, two expert teachers present practical ideas for improving your learners’ spoken English. The first session explores how using AI and activities involving emotional intelligence development can boost speaking in class. The second session shows you how to design speaking activities that move beyond memorised answers towards meaningful communication.
Session 1: Using AI and emotional intelligence strategies to help learners speak
Feruz Akbarov 12.00–13.00 (UK time) Friday 18 September 2026
How can AI help our learners overcome speaking anxiety and communicate with confidence? This interactive webinar examines just this, the powerful intersection of artificial intelligence and emotional intelligence in ELT speaking instruction. You’ll learn strategies for integrating tools such as automated speech feedback and AI chatbots while keeping empathy, motivation and human connection at the heart of your lessons. Join to find out how blending tech with emotional awareness can boost your learners’ fluency and communicative competence.
Session 2: Transforming classroom speaking into real communication
Sherly Hephzibah 13.15–14.15 (UK time) Friday 18 September 2026
In this webinar, we explore practical ways to design speaking activities that encourage authentic interaction, more thinking and active listening – even in large or exam-focused classes. You’ll also learn techniques for using effective questioning, strategies to foster inclusive participation, and low-stakes speaking assessment methods that support growth. Ready to move beyond predictable dialogues and get your learners speaking with genuine purpose? Join us to discover how to make speaking lessons more meaningful and engaging for every learner.
TITLE: InspirELT Almeria
PRESENTERS: See link
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 19th September 2026
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TESOL-SPAIN
TYPE OF EVENT: Face-to-face regional event in Almeria, Spain (see below for fees)
SUMMARY
Join us in Almería on Saturday 19th September for a morning of workshops for teachers. The event is free for TESOL-SPAIN members and English Centre Staff, 8€ for Anglia Members and 10€ for non-members.
TITLE: Connect · Explore · Transform your pronunciation teaching
PRESENTERS: tbc
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 19th September 2026. Time tbc.
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TESOL-SPAIN PronSIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Are you passionate about pronunciation, phonology, and the role of AI in English language teaching?
Join the TESOL-SPAIN Pronunciation SIG (PRONSIG) — a collaborative and dynamic community of ELT professionals committed to professional growth and innovation. See link here: https://www.tesol-spain.org/en/pages/111/pronsig.html
Remember this SIG is free for TESOL-SPAIN members.
TITLE: BESIG: Biz-Wiz Teens: How to Turn Teenagers into Business Experts
PRESENTER: Maria Kitsiou
DATES & TIMES: Sunday, 20th September, 2026 – 15:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL BE (Business English) SIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
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 emphasize communication skills tailored to modern youth aspirations.
By utilizing relatable examples from social media marketing, online entrepreneurship, and digital literacy, this session bridges the gap between academic rigor 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.
TITLE: PARSNIP 2: From Theory to Practice – What Do We Actually Do When Tension Arises?
PRESENTER: Ruba Kallab
DATES & TIMES: Sunday, 20th September 2026 - 19:00 - 20:00 (EDT)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TESL Ontario
TYPE OF EVENT: Webinar. Free for TESL Ontario members. Non-members 30 dollars + taxes.
SUMMARY
What do we actually do when tension arises? For example:
A student says something that shifts the room… and all eyes turn to you. What do you say next?
Do we shut it down, move on, or stay with the discomfort?
What language do our learners actually have when disagreement becomes real?
PARSNIP topics don’t stay outside the classroom, they show up, in real and unexpected ways.
You asked for PARSNIP 2, here it is.
More practical. More real. More powerful.
This session moves beyond theory and into the messy, unscripted moments of teaching, when tension, identity, and language collide. Through authentic classroom scenarios, participants will explore what it means to respond in the moment, not perfectly, but intentionally.
At the heart of this session is a shift: from avoiding conflict to working with it.
Participants will engage with practical strategies, language exponents, and ready-to-use materials that support learners to disagree, set boundaries, express discomfort, and repair communication, without losing the learning, or each other.
Come ready to do the work, and leave with ready-to-use ideas.
Key points to be covered:
- What to say when it matters most: real-time teacher moves in moments of tension.
- Working with, not around, PARSNIP topics in diverse classrooms.
- Teaching language for conflict: disagreement, boundaries, repair, and pause.
- Designing materials that hold both safety and critical engagement.
- Extending the moment: how to sustain learning without escalation.
Part 1 of this webinar was held on April 19, 2026. It is recommended that the video of Part 1 [https://tutela.ca/GroupEvent?organicgroup=8594&itemId=76174] be viewed before attending Part 2.
TITLE: The Power of Silence
PRESENTER: Chantelle Walsh
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 22nd September 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Is silence a part of your communication toolkit? Although often mistaken for the absence of communication, silence is in fact a powerful way of connecting with others, as it carries an important dimension of listening: active listening. This is especially important in a school environment, where relationships, emotional safety, and learning are closely connected, since even without words we can show students that we are paying attention and that we understand them. In this webinar, we will explore silence not as a gap in teaching, but as the space that allows real learning, reflection, and emotional processing to occur.
TITLE: How the role of audio and video has changed in the language classroom
PRESENTER: Anna Whitcher
DATES & TIMES: Monday, 24th September 2026, 17:00 (CEST), 16:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: Helbling English
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Today’s language classrooms look very different to the ones many of us grew up in. We often used posters on the walls to guide us through the mystery of the sounds and words of a new language. There would usually be one or two audio cassettes for the whole year! Now in 2026, audio and video are at the forefront of our students’ learning and teachers can integrate these valuable resources at any point into the lesson or assign them to students to work on in their own time. In this talk, I will be discussing Helbling’s new course American Options and how its rich audio and video content make learning English more accessible than ever.
TITLE: Bridging the North IV
PRESENTERS: To be announced – see website and social media for details
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 26th September 2026
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TESOL Spain and British Council, Bilbao
TYPE OF EVENT: Free face-to-face event in Bilbao, Spain
SUMMARY
Any doubts or queries, please contact us at tesolspain.north@gmail.com Follow us on instagram: @tesolspain_north for updates!
TITLE: Bridging the South II
PRESENTERS: Various – see website and social media for details
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 26th September 2026
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TESOL-SPAIN
TYPE OF EVENT: Face-to-face event in Ronda, Spain
SUMMARY
In a time where classrooms are increasingly diverse, connected and complex, All Together Now explores what it really means to create spaces where everyone can participate, contribute and feel heard.
From inclusive classrooms and student voice to collaboration, student and teacher well being, accessibility and community, we want to explore the realities of teaching today, honestly, practically and together.
TITLE: PronSIG: Global English, Machine English and the New Listener
PRESENTER: Mary Dee
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 26th September 2026 – 13:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL PronSIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
English is no longer spoken only to other people. Phone calls, meetings, voice messages and everyday conversations are increasingly recorded, transcribed, translated, summarised or interpreted by machines. This changes what it means to be understood and raises new questions for pronunciation teaching. This webinar explores how Global English and AI are reshaping spoken communication, and introduces a practical framework that helps teachers prioritise the features of speech that matter most when communicating with both people and machines.
TITLE: Boosting Language Classroom Engagement with Interactive Video Quizzes
PRESENTER: Salma Alamassi
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 29th September 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
To improve language learners’ skills, teaching should focus on communication and gradual progression. Tasks based on real-life situations should be offered to promote spoken and written production, and receptive skills (listening and reading) should be combined with appropriate materials to enrich vocabulary and reinforce grammar through contextualized instruction. Explicit teaching of vocabulary and structures in context is essential. Active learning through projects, role-plays, and collaborative work fosters interaction, fluency, and confidence. Regular formative assessment, constructive feedback, and learner self-assessment are necessary to adjust individual objectives. Differentiated resources and pathways should address diverse needs and learning styles, and technology should be integrated to support autonomous practice.
In this session, the presenter will explain how to implement these methods in language classrooms using several platforms and interactive quizzes. She will place particular emphasis on video quizzes: their creation, pedagogical integration, student production modalities and classroom use, as well as assessment of outcomes. The presenter will share her experience by offering concrete activities illustrated by her own materials and those produced by her learners.
TITLE: TEASIG: Empowering Tertiary Students Through Differentiated AI Curriculum Integration
PRESENTERS: Selda Gümüş
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 29th September, 2026 – 17:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL TEA (Testing, Evaluation and Assessment) SIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Tertiary English language preparatory classrooms often include learners with diverse proficiency levels, learning preferences, and academic needs, making differentiated instruction a continuing challenge. This study explores the integration of ChatGPT into a B2-level curriculum over a fourteen-week period to support differentiated learning across writing, reading, vocabulary, grammar, and speaking. ChatGPT is used to scaffold student learning by providing individualized guidance, adaptive practice, targeted feedback, and graduated support based on learners’ needs, while the instructor plays a central role in helping students interpret AI-generated feedback, make informed learning decisions, and reflect on their progress.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the study examines the impact of ChatGPT-supported scaffolding on student engagement, language development, and learner autonomy through both qualitative and quantitative data. This presentation will share the curriculum design, classroom implementation, and practical strategies for embedding ChatGPT into language teaching in a sustainable and pedagogically meaningful way. The findings aim to demonstrate how AI can facilitate differentiated instruction while reinforcing, rather than replacing, the teacher's role in the learning process.
TITLE: The Future of English Language Teaching (FoELT) 2026
PRESENTERS: Various (see programme). Plenaries: John Gray and Katy Kelly
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 3rd October 2026 – 10:00-16:30 (GMT)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: Trinity College London
TYPE OF EVENT: Free online conference
SUMMARY
The Future of English Language Teaching (FoELT) is Trinity College London’s free annual CPD event bringing together ELT professionals from around the world. It’s a space to explore cutting-edge ideas, share teaching innovations, and connect with like-minded professionals shaping the future of language education.
On Saturday 3 October 2026, we welcome Katy Kelly, who brings international experience across early years, primary and secondary education, sharing practical perspectives on learner engagement, classroom creativity and authentic young learner communication. Also joining us is John Gray, Professor of Applied Linguistics and Education at UCL, who will bring research-led perspectives on pedagogic humility, language teacher identity and the wider challenges currently shaping English Language Teacher Education.
TITLE: EAQUALS Online 2026
PRESENTERS: See programme
DATES & TIMES: Friday, 9th October – Sunday 11th October
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Online conference: €30 members; €40 non-members
SUMMARY
Eaquals Online 2026 is a global online event for professionals working across language education. The event brings together teachers, academic managers, assessors, teacher trainers, and educational leaders from around the world.
Taking place from 9-11 October 2026, the event creates opportunities to exchange expertise, discuss current developments, and explore effective practice in teaching and learning. In addition, participants can connect with colleagues working in a wide range of educational contexts.
To make Eaquals Online accessible worldwide, every presentation is delivered live and repeated, giving you multiple opportunities to attend. Be sure to check the schedule and select the session times that work best for your time zone.
Connected Perspectives in Language Education
This year’s theme is Connected Perspectives: Integrating Management, CEFR, Teaching, and Assessment.
The programme will explore how these areas can work together in more connected and practical ways. As a result, attendees will gain insights that are relevant to both institutional leadership and classroom practice.
Sessions will focus on current trends, innovative approaches, and practical applications. Furthermore, discussions will highlight perspectives from different languages and educational settings.
A Global Event for Language Professionals
Eaquals Online 2026 showcases the knowledge, experience, and expertise of the international Eaquals community. Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Exchange ideas and best practice
- Explore developments in language education
- Engage with research-informed approaches
- Build international professional connections
In addition, attendees can take part from anywhere in the world, making the event accessible to a broad international audience.
TITLE: LTSIG- Green Intelligence: AI and Sustainable Paths in Language Learning
PRESENTERS: Various (see programme)
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 10th October, 2026 – 08:30-18:00
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL LT (Learning Technologies) SIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Face-to-face conference, Cyprus. Ticket Price - £13
SUMMARY
This international conference, jointly organized in collaboration with IATEFL LTSIG (Learning Technologies Special Interest Group), the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Cyprus University of Technology, the Limassol Municipality, Cyprus Educational Association, Cyprus Teachers of English Association, Cyprus Association of English Institutes and Express Publishing, explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping sustainable, ethical, and inclusive futures for language learning.
Situated at the intersection of AI, language education, and sustainability, the conference invites critical and innovative contributions that examine how emerging technologies can support environmentally responsible practices, social equity, and long-term educational impact. Key themes include green AI, responsible innovation, AI-enhanced language teaching and learning, sustainable digital pedagogies, teacher education, learner agency, and policy perspectives.
By bringing together researchers, educators, policymakers, and practitioners, the conference aims to foster dialogue and collaboration towards future-ready language education aligned with global sustainability goals.
TITLE: LITSIG: Integrating Multimodal Literacy into the Language Classroom
PRESENTER: Kieran Donaghy
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 17th October, 2026 - 11:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL LITSIG (Literature)
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
This webinar explores multimodal literacy and introduces the Multimodal Approach in English Language Teaching, an innovative pedagogical framework designed to reflect the realities of communication in our digitally and visually mediated world. As learners increasingly engage with multimodal texts—such as short films, social media posts, podcasts and video essays—language education must evolve to integrate not only the traditional skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, but also the equally essential skills of viewing and representing. Grounded in research from multimodal literacy, cognitive science and sociocultural theory, the framework supports deeper, more meaningful learning. Through a structured five-stage process—Expectation, Exploration, Evaluation, Enhancement and Expression—learners are guided to critically interpret multimodal texts and creatively produce their own, reinforcing vocabulary, developing linguistic competence, and fostering empathy.
The session will examine how The Multimodal Approach promotes attention, empathy, inclusion and accessibility, offering diverse learners multiple pathways to understanding and self-expression, and illustrate how the approach makes language learning more authentic and engaging—empowering learners not only to communicate effectively, but to connect emotionally, think critically and express their identities in an interconnected world.
TITLE: BESIG: Write It. Notice It. Say It.
PRESENTER: Lucy Tilney
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 17th October, 2026 – 15:00-17:00
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL BESIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free for IATEFL members, £15 for non-members
SUMMARY
Business English teachers often work with busy professionals who have little time for homework yet still need opportunities to reflect on language, notice patterns and develop spoken confidence. This interactive workshop explores how short learner diaries can become a rich source of authentic language for developing grammar, pronunciation and speaking, while providing highly personalised teaching material that requires little or no preparation from the teacher.
Drawing on almost twenty years of intensive English immersion teaching, where adult professionals live and learn in her Bristol home, Lucy shows how learner-generated language reveals individual needs and creates highly personalised learning opportunities. Through authentic diary extracts, audio recordings, discussion and breakout activities, participants will explore the simple sequence.
Write It. Notice It. Say It. Discover practical ways of adapting this approach for in-company training, online lessons, one-to-one coaching and small groups.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for creating engaging Business English lessons that connect writing, noticing and speaking through language that is authentic, personal and immediately relevant to their learners.
TITLE: TEASIG: Making the invisible visible: AI, item writing and the value of tacit expertise
PRESENTER: Cathy Jones
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 20th October, 2026 16:00 and 17:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: TEASIG IATEFL
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Generative AI can produce language test items remarkably quickly – but producing an item is not the same as producing a good item. What, then, happens when AI-generated assessment content is subjected to the same scrutiny as human-written material?
Drawing on practical experience of using generative AI to support the development of language test items and tasks, this webinar examines not only where AI adds value and where it falls short, but what evaluating its output reveals about human expertise. In particular, I will argue that AI can help make tacit assessment expertise visible: when we evaluate, reject and refine apparently plausible AI-generated material, we are prompted to articulate the principles, judgements and quality criteria that experienced developers often apply intuitively.
The session will consider the implications of this for item writing, quality assurance and the development of assessment literacy.
TITLE: Escaping the digital cage: Balancing tech and talk in the modern language classroom
PRESENTER: Lindsay Clandfield
DATES & TIMES: Thursday, 22nd October 2026, 17:00 (CEST – 16:00 UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: Helbling English
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
While screens and projectors have been around for a long time in language teaching (remember the Overhead Projector, or the Slide projector??), they have become increasingly ubiquitous in the past ten years. This talk addresses how language teaching may have changed as a result of increased 'screen time’. How much screen time is too much? Is technology in risk of dominating too much in today’s classrooms, especially with all the hype around AI?
Drawing on examples from my new secondary coursebook, Potential, I’d like to propose a way of looking at lesson planning that ensures a balance of working styles and appropriate use of technology in the communicative classroom equipped with a projector and a screen. The ideas presented can be adapted to a wide range of teaching levels.
TITLE: IATEFL YLTSIG Web Conference -Teaching today's learners for tomorrow's world
PRESENTERS: Various – see conference website
DATES & TIMES: Friday, 30th October – Sunday, 1st November 2026 – 11:30-18:30 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL YLT (Young Learners and Teens) SIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free online conference
SUMMARY
Children and teenagers are growing up in a world that is changing faster than ever before. Their experiences, identities, expectations and ways of learning continue to evolve, presenting exciting opportunities and new challenges for language educators.
We invite proposals that explore how English language teaching can respond to these changes while keeping learners at the heart of our practice. Whether your focus is classroom methodology, multilingualism, inclusion, AI and digital learning, assessment, wellbeing, creativity, global citizenship or another aspect of young learner and teenager education, we would love to hear from you.
About the conference
This free, online conference brings together teachers, teacher trainers, materials writers and educators from around the world for three days of practical ideas, research-informed practice and inspiring conversations about teaching the learners of today and preparing them for tomorrow.
Call for Papers open until 4th September, 2026.
TITLE: From Tool to Topic: A Practical Framework for Assessing AI Literacy in EAP
PRESENTER: Agnieszka Konturek Turkan
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
How can EAP educators move beyond the “ban or permit” debate and meaningfully integrate AI into assessment? This webinar presents a proven, scaffolded assessment framework from MEF University’s EAP program that integrates AI literacy as an academic skill.
We will showcase a progression of “human-centric” assessments from our ENG 101 and ENG 102 courses. Attendees will see how our pen-and-paper midterms first ask students to perform traditional textual analysis, and then to critically evaluate AI-generated prompts and outputs against course-specific academic standards.
The model progresses in our ENG 102 course, where students critique AI-generated research questions and answers, comparing them to their own human-derived work. Finally, we will share our final presentation rubrics, which include a 10% grade for “Critical Engagement with AI,” assessing the student’s reflective process.
Join this session to acquire concrete assessment designs, rubrics, and a pedagogical model that effectively measures critical engagement, shifting the focus from AI-as-tool to AI-as-topic.
TITLE: IATEFL Themes Online Conference
PRESENTERS: Programme coming soon
DATES & TIMES: Friday, 6th November, 2026 14:00 – Sunday, 8th November, 2026 17:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL
TYPE OF EVENT: Online conference. Free for IATEFL members: Non-members: £15 standard price (£10 for members of 'IATEFL Associate' teaching associations)
SUMMARY
Join us from Friday 6 November 2026 to Sunday 8 November 2026 for a busy programme drawn from some of the most thought-provoking and popular sessions from the IATEFL International Conference in Brighton earlier this year.
If you weren't able to join us in Brighton, or attended sessions which clashed with these ones, then this is the perfect opportunity to join us and enjoy a great professional development event!
Friday and Saturday will see some of the most talked-about and popular sessions from the conference, whilst Sunday sees our Special Interest Groups present sessions from the conference focused on their areas of focus within the profession.
Look out for the programme for this 3-day event coming soon.
TITLE: BESIG: Continuous Needs Analysis in the Age of AI: Designing Learning Journeys That Evolve with the Learner
PRESENTER: Ricardo Bruns
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 14th November, 2026 15:00 PM & 17:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL BESIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Webinar free for IATEFL members, £15 for non-members
SUMMARY
Needs analysis has long been recognised as one of the cornerstones of Business English and ESP practice. We also know that learners' communication needs are a moving target, continually shaped by new projects, changing responsibilities, evolving stakeholders and unexpected professional demands. Yet, in practice, needs analysis is often concentrated at the beginning of a programme, while subsequent decisions rely largely on the teacher's intuition and occasional learner feedback.
This workshop explores how AI can help us bridge that gap. Rather than focusing on AI as a tool for generating lesson plans or classroom materials, we will examine how it can support a continuous needs analysis process throughout the entire learning journey. From initial discovery meetings and proposal writing to session planning, reflective practice and ongoing course redesign, participants will explore practical workflows that enable learning programmes to evolve alongside their learners' professional contexts.
Through discussion, authentic examples and collaborative activities, the workshop invites Business English practitioners to rethink needs analysis not as the starting point of a course, but as the thread that connects every stage of it.
TITLE: On the shoulders of giants: Ideas from the past to shape the future of ELT
PRESENTER: Teresa Bestwick
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 17th November 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
The ELT classroom has developed and evolved over the years and it’s exciting to see where the future will take us. However, progress doesn’t mean abandoning the past so in this hands-on workshop, we’ll try out some time-tested activities which helped to shape what ELT has become so far. These ideas bring together more than just language: motivation, learner autonomy, reflection – a humanistic approach that will still be key in the classrooms of the future.
TITLE: Reading for life: Integrating readers into the English language classroom
PRESENTER: Karen Waterston
DATES & TIMES: Thursday, 19th November 2026, 17:00 (CET) 16:00 UK time.
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: Helbling English
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
In a world of fast content and short attention spans, reading remains one of the most powerful tools for developing thinking, focus and learning. In this session we will look at how teachers can build successful learners through the integration of Helbling's graded readers into daily teaching. It explores reading as a life skill, a cognitive tool, and a foundation for critical thinking, while trying out practical classroom strategies to create a lasting reading culture.
TITLE: BESIG 39th Annual Conference in Vienna- Bridging the Gap: Preparing Learners for Global Business
PRESENTERS: Various. See programme
DATES & TIMES: Friday, 20th November - 12:00 – Sunday 22nd November, 2026 - 13:00
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL BESIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Face-to-face Conference, Vienna, Austria. Fees: Early-bird IATEFL member: £230 - until 30th September; Early-bird non-members: £280 - until 30th September, Standard member: £310, Standard non-member: £360
SUMMARY
Join us from Friday, 20 November to Sunday, 22 November 2026 at Hotel Flemings Wien Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria for the 39th IATEFL BESIG Annual Conference for engaging talks, workshops, and plenaries as well as many networking possibilities.
This year’s theme, “Bridging the Gap: Preparing Learners for Global Business,” invites us to reflect on how business English can more effectively connect education with the realities of today’s global workplace. It encourages us to explore how we equip learners with the communicative competence, intercultural awareness, professional identity, and confidence they need to move successfully between the classroom, training room, and international business environments.
Whether you work in-company, freelance, or in higher education, this is an opportunity to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and help shape the future of global Business English.
We welcome contributions that examine how Business English education can respond to current challenges and foster meaningful intercultural understanding. We are particularly interested in proposals that combine practical experience, innovative teaching approaches, and reflective insights drawn from educational and professional practice.
TITLE: ESOLSIG- Interactive and Learner-Centred Classrooms
PRESENTER: Dr. Nurlana Imanova
DATES & TIMES: Saturday, 21st November, 2026 12:00 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) SIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
This practical and engaging session explores effective classroom approaches that help teachers create more interactive, learner-centred, and motivating lessons for young learners and teenagers. The webinar will focus on simple but powerful strategies that encourage active participation, collaboration, creativity, and meaningful communication in the language classroom.
Participants will discover a variety of adaptable activities that promote student engagement while also supporting language development, critical thinking, and learner confidence. The session will demonstrate how teachers can transform traditional classroom routines into dynamic learning experiences through pair and group work, gamified tasks, communicative activities, movement-based learning, and student-led interaction.
In addition, the webinar will address how teachers can create supportive learning environments that increase motivation and help learners become more independent and responsible for their own progress. The ideas shared during the session are designed to be practical, flexible, and easy to implement in both face-to-face and online teaching contexts.
By the end of the session, participants will leave with ready-to-use techniques and fresh ideas that can immediately make their lessons more effective, engaging, and memorable for young learners and teenagers.
TITLE: Creating a Custom GPT: Designing AI Assistant for Language Classrooms
PRESENTER: İlayda Engin Uysal
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 24th November 2026, 11am - 11:40am (CEST)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: EAQUALS
TYPE OF EVENT: Free Webinar
SUMMARY
Artificial intelligence transforms how we design, deliver, and personalize language learning. This interactive webinar will explore how teachers can create their own Custom GPTs—personalized AI assistants that support students’ language development. Participants will learn step-by-step how to design GPTs that provide instant feedback and context-sensitive prompts aligned with CEFR levels.
The session combines theory with hands-on practice: attendees will design and test their own mini GPTs during the workshop, experimenting with tone, persona, and pedagogical focus.
By the end of the session, participants will understand the design logic behind Custom GPTs and leave equipped to build AI-powered teaching assistants tailored to their learners’ needs.
TITLE: ESPSIG: Let’s ESP!
PRESENTERS: N/A
DATES & TIMES: Tuesday, 24th November, 2026 12:30 (UK time)
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANISED BY: IATEFL ESP (English for Specific Purposes) SIG
TYPE OF EVENT: Free online networking event
SUMMARY
In order to facilitate casual, informal interactions between professionals working in ESP and its allied fields, ESPSIG is organizing virtual sessions where members of this community can get to know each other or talk about their work. Contexts vary and so do needs and challenges. Solutions applied in one context may or may not be applicable to another, but it’s always interesting to know what’s going on in different parts of the world. It’s even more enriching to get to know the people behind that work.
Thanks for this excellent list, Jessica. Perhaps the next one to add is the 6th Online Conference TESOL Associates: 'Shared Visions, Singular Voices', on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November (speakers, programmes and registration to be announced October). Organised by TESOL-SPAIN. Thanks.
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