The annual International Conference IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) 2025 – from the first day demonstrated extraordinary dynamics, professional exchange and innovative approaches in the field of teaching English.
The conference programme impressed with a variety of events: plenary speeches, workshops, forum discussions, presentations, poster sessions and exhibitions of leading publishers and EdTech companies.
It is worth noting such sessions among the interesting and meaningful events in which Olha Svyrydiuk, associate professor of the Department of Foreign Languages, took part:
- Sara Mercer – Plenary Session: “Compassion-based language education: the what, why and how”. The speaker touched upon the important topic of cultivating sympathy, empathy and compassion through the teaching process. It was deep, meaningful and extremely relevant in the context of modern education.
- Ken Leckman – Forum: “Have we missed the boat?” The focus is a lexical approach. Given the unlimited access of students to constant expressions, the lecturer emphasized the need to form a deeper understanding of the structure, meaning and use of vocabulary, which will allow students to effectively apply knowledge in practice.
- Andreea-Katia Nechifor – Workshop: “Gamification of reading activities”. A real full house! The theme of playful reading caused great interest. The speaker convincingly proved that gamification can be an effective tool for motivating students to read, especially in the context of digital reality.
- Dan Thompson – Talk: “Bridging cultures: empowering international students as integrated scholars”. One of the most sensual and practical performances dedicated to the challenges faced by international students. The lecturer stressed that cultural support plays a crucial role in their adaptation, success and completion of training. I was particularly impressed by the idea of the author's course of acquaintance with the culture of the host country, where the main method is a conversation with international students, which promotes lively dialogue, understanding and integration.
- Louisa Dunne & Daniella di Mambro – Presentation: “Unlocking success: Inside the IELTS Writing assessment process” – IELTS experts shared key insights on how writing tasks are evaluated and offered practical strategies to help students succeed in Task 1 and Task 2.
- Fleur Yerbury-Hodgson – Talk: “Are you teaching HE students the skills they really need?” – A presentation by Oxford University Press focused on the essential transition skills needed by students in higher education and future employment.
Notably, nearly 100 Ukrainian educators participated in the conference, despite the ongoing war in their country. Their presence was marked by a series of impactful sessions where they shared their unique experiences, innovations in crisis teaching, digital solutions, and strategies for supporting learners under extraordinary conditions.
- Iryna Vozna, Valeriia Tsap – Talk: “Lesson plans from Ukraine: how we kept going under fire” – The speakers presented how a quality product, technological innovation, support for teachers, flexibility and quality of care can overcome even the most extreme circumstances, which is undoubtedly relevant and salient for those involved in education more broadly.
Participation in the conference offered valuable opportunities for experience exchange, learning about innovative ELT practices, and networking with international colleagues.
