ÌÇÐÄVlog

Department of Language and Linguistics

Language Teaching Conference 2025

An English language teacher writes on a chalk board.

Stay up to date with the world of language teaching

The Language Teaching Conference, previously the ÌÇÐÄVlog Language Conference for Teachers (ELCT), is an event for teachers of modern foreign languages to share ideas and be inspired about language teaching! 


 

Our 2025 conference will be held on 2 July 2025, 4pm - 7pm.

Meeting ID: 910 2235 4522

Are you a language teacher looking to inspire your students and spark their curiosity about higher education and the world of languages?

We are thrilled to collaborate with schools and colleges in ÌÇÐÄVlog, Suffolk, and East London! Our mission is to promote the joy of language learning through fun and informative activities such as:

  • Language taster sessions
  • Inspiring Talks on multilingualism and careers in languages
  • Practical language learning techniques

We’re passionate about showing that language learning is for everyone and we are excited to work together!

Get in touch with us for further information: chiara.fiori@essex.ac.uk

Session 1
16:00 - 16:15  Introduction Chiara Fiori
16:15- 16:45 The new GCSE: opportunities and dangers
The new GCSE has given us a chance to make our teaching more coherent and focused. At the moment, hopefully it feels as if pupils are accumulating a repertoire of language they know and can use. As we get closer to the exams, will this all disappear and turn back to rote learning? In this talk we will look at the opportunities and possible dangers of the new GCSE as we near the end of the first year of teaching it to Year 10.
Mr Vincent Everett
16:45- 17:15   Integrating Translation Beyond GCSE Preparation Level: Unlocking New Possibilities
In recent years, translation has experienced a remarkable resurgence in modern language education, challenging its long-standing marginalisation in favour of more communicative approaches. This renewed interest, coupled with the new technology available, acknowledges the significant cognitive and practical benefits that translation activities offer. By integrating translation in a scaffolded manner at higher levels of language learning, educators can create a more balanced learning experience that fosters not only linguistic competence but also critical thinking, cultural awareness, and mediation skills.
Ms Ignazia Posadinu 
17:15- 17:30
Break  

 

Session 2
17:30- 18:00 Harnessing ChatGPT to Enhance Student Writing: Practical Strategies for Teachers
This study explores how teachers can use ChatGPT to enhance students' writing skills, boost autonomy, and increase enjoyment in EFL classrooms. 
Over a 12-session IELTS writing course, students who used ChatGPT showed greater improvements in writing accuracy, complexity, and confidence compared to those who did not. The study highlights several practical methods for integrating ChatGPT into lessons, suggesting that it is a valuable tool for helping students become more confident and independent writers. It also provides classroom strategies and guidelines for effective implementation.
Mr Seyyed Pedram Allah Veysi
18:00- 18:30 Gamification for maximising engagement and creativity
In language teaching gamification is usually used as a playful way of enacting rote-learning practices, e.g. memory games for vocabulary building, grammar quizzes etc. If we were truly to harness the power of gamification and its motivational potential, we could go beyond that. Besides, languages are more than their words, grammar, and syntax. Languages are about expression, discovery, and creativity. In this talk, we explore ways in which we can use gamification to advance storytelling and foster socio-emotional engagement of learners.
Dr Stamatia Savvani
18:30- 18:50 Exchange of ideas and discussion: sharing teaching practices
 
18:50- 19:00
Conclusion, feedback  

Previous conferences

2024

2024 Conference Agenda
  10:00 - 10:10  Registration and refreshments  
Session 1  10:10 - 10:20  Introduction to the day Chiara Fiori
10:20 - 11:00 Getting to grips with the new GCSE Helen Myers
11:00 - 11:30 Advancing Language Education: Harnessing Corpora and AI Texts Dr Antonio Da Silva
11:30 - 11:45 Refreshments (coffee, networking)  
11:45 - 12:15 Extending Language technologies and AI models to the world's languages Dr Charles Redmon
12.15 - 12:30 Exchange of ideas and discussion: sharing teaching practices  
  12:30 - 13:30 Lunch and campus tours  
Session 2 13:30 - 14:00  Bringing literature and film into the classroom: Why, what, and how? Dr Neophytos Mitsigkas
14:00 - 14:30 Communication Matters: Building toolkit for students in PSHE classes Dr Rebecca Clift
 14:30 - 14:45 Refreshments (coffee, networking)  
Finish 14:45 - 15:00 Conclusion, feedback  

2023

Time Session Academic
10am - 10.15am Welcome Chiara Fiori
10.15am-10.25am Introduction to the day Chiara Fiori
10.25am - 10.55am The use of new technologies for differentiation purposes Dr. Antonio Da Silva
10.55am - 11.25am Workshop: Designing Differentiated Teaching Materials with Technology Dr. Antonio Da Silva
11.25am - 11.45am Refreshments and networking
11.45am - 12pm Exchange of ideas and discussion: students transitioning into Higher Education
12pm - 1pm Lunch and tour of campus
1pm - 1.30pm Language development in school-aged children Dr. Laurel Lawyer
1.30pm - 2pm Action for language: encouraging the new generations to become multilingual (.pdf) Daniela Carboni
2pm - 2.15pm Refreshments and networking
2.15pm - 2.45pm Developing growth language learning mindsets to facilitate L2 motivation among secondary students (.pdf) Dr Claudia Tapia Castillo
2.45pm - 3pm Exchange of ideas and discussions: How to improve students' engagement of learning Languages
3pm- 3.10pm Conclusion and feedback


2022

Time Session Academic
10am - 10.15am Welcome Chiara Fiori
10.15am-10.25am Introduction to the day Chiara Fiori
10.25am - 10.55am The use of new technologies for differentiation purposes Dr. Antonio Da Silva
10.55am - 11.25am Workshop: Designing Differentiated Teaching Materials with Technology Dr. Antonio Da Silva
11.25am - 11.45am Refreshments and networking
11.45am - 12pm Exchange of ideas and discussion: students transitioning into Higher Education
12pm - 1pm Lunch and tour of campus
1pm - 1.30pm Language development in school-aged children Dr. Laurel Lawyer
1.30pm - 2pm Action for language: encouraging the new generations to become multilingual (.pdf) Daniela Carboni
2pm - 2.15pm Refreshments and networking
2.15pm - 2.45pm Developing growth language learning mindsets to facilitate L2 motivation among secondary students (.pdf) Dr Claudia Tapia Castillo
2.45pm - 3pm Exchange of ideas and discussions: How to improve students' engagement of learning Languages
3pm- 3.10pm Conclusion and feedback


2020

Presentation

The 11th ELCT 2020 took place on Tuesday 30th June 2020 between 6pm and 7pm BST. The 2020 conference was a short evening event in form of a Zoom workshop.

‘A taster in Sophrology: bringing calm and balance in daily life’ with Sandrine Singleton Perrin.

Sophrology is a mind-body training system based on a realistic attitude to the challenges of modern everyday life, which can help us to increase our sense of wellbeing and relieve stress and anxiety, even during crisis times such as the current one.

Sandrine is a former ÌÇÐÄVlog colleague in the Department of Language and Linguistics. She taught French at university level for many years, but has decided to hang up her 'teaching shoes' to train as a sophrologist.

2017

Programme

Workshops

2016

Programme

Workshops

2015

Workshops

Contact us
Conference Organiser Chiara Fiori
ÌÇÐÄVlog
Department of Language and Linguistics ÌÇÐÄVlog
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, ÌÇÐÄVlog, CO4 3SQ
Telephone: 01206 872083