us English

Welcome to the 5th annual Global Teachers’ Festival from Macmillan Education! Boy oh boy, have we cooked up something very special for you this year…

With 21 talks delivered by 25 international speakers, this year’s programme is our most eclectic and unique so far with topics like understanding the iGeneration, board design, conversation skills, critical reading, neurodiversity, AI tools review, the K-12 language learning journey, characters & colour in learning and loads more! Join us from 10th to 21st February 2025 for THE annual online event of the year for teachers of English.

 

World-class Speakers

Some of the most impactful education professionals from around the world.

Flexible Programme

All sessions run 3 times per day so you can see the sessions that are important to you.

15h Teacher Training

An epic programme of talks, all accompanied by attendance certificates and free teaching resources.

For All Teachers

No matter your experience, there is something for every teacher, just take a look at the programme!

Festival Programme

Week One

  • Let's Talk Together: Face-to-Face and Screen-to-Screen

    (For teachers of all ages)

    How does English conversation work? We look at some of the strategies we use when we talk to each other, and explore how things change when we have conversations online.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Ben and David Crystal

    Creative Journeys into the (HE)Art of Teaching

    (For teachers of all ages)

    In this mother-daughter presentation, Susan and Sarah will share their personal journeys into acting and singing, demonstrating how their artistic talents have influenced the way they teach and their love of developing creative classrooms in ELT.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

    Register now

    Sarah and Susan Hillyard

  • The Art of a Great Conversation

    (For teachers of all ages)

    How can we facilitate engaging conversations in our classrooms and beyond? Join Harry, Laura and Will in this live podcast session to unpack the essentials that make conversations meaningful and memorable.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Laura Wilkes, Harry Waters, Will Rixon

    Think Big, Speak Better: No-Prep Activities for Primary Learners

    (For teachers of young learners)

    Discover no-prep speaking activities that inspire deeper thinking in primary classrooms. Learn how to engage students in meaningful tasks, foster reflection, and develop problem-solving skills while enhancing language fluency.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

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    Paula Asad

  • Take a Moment - Meditations for Busy Teachers

    (For teachers of all ages)

    In this 30-minute session, mindfulness expert Emma Reynolds, will lead you in some easy meditations aimed at lowering stress and which can be used in your busy school day.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Emma Reynolds

    Calm Classrooms, Happy Learners, Happy Teachers

    (For teachers of young learners)

    Are you looking for ideas to create a calm and joyful classroom where your very young learners can thrive while learning English? In this session, I’ll share practical wellbeing activities you can implement in your classroom right away. See you there!

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

    Register now

    Lorena Peimbert

  • Reading Between and Beyond the Lines: Critical Literacy in the Language Classroom

    (For teachers of adults)

    By encouraging students to analyse hidden meanings and societal implications in everyday texts, we can transform reading practices into a powerful tool for social awareness and advocacy. Come along to find out how!

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Rose Aylett

    Developing Critical Thinking Skills for the Future

    (For teachers of adults)

    Helping our students develop critical thinking skills is a must and the language classroom is in a particularly good position in which to do so. This session looks at practical ways to develop critical thinking in our students.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

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    Chia Suan Chong

  • Building Blocks of Grammar and Vocabulary: Forming Strong Foundations in the Young Learner Classroom for Later Mastery

    (For teachers of young learners)

    Teaching vocabulary and grammar to young learners means laying the groundwork, brick by brick, for their future language learning.In this session, we’ll explore the ways to build scaffoldings that support language growth and engagement.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Anna Parr-Modrzejewska

    Building Blocks of Grammar and Vocabulary: Achieving Mastery in the Teenage Classroom Based on Strong Foundations

    (For teachers of teenagers)

    Teaching vocabulary and grammar to preteens and teenagers is a bit like building a bridge - you’re constantly connecting what they’ve already learned to what’s just ahead. In this second session, we'll explore how to use what students already know as the foundation for introducing more advanced concepts.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

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    Małgorzata Kobierzycka

Week Two

  • Leveraging Player Psychology: Learning from Player Motivation in Gaming

    (For teachers of all ages)

    Can educators leverage player psychology to boost engagement in the classroom? Let’s explore what video games do well, and how we can incorporate those tricks into the classroom.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Jeff Kuhn

    Meet The Stars: Using Characters to Teach

    (For teachers of young learners)

    Using characters and puppets transforms English lessons into interactive experiences. This session highlights their role in engaging learners, building confidence, and simplifying vocabulary and grammar for effective, meaningful, and memorable language acquisition.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

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    Myriam Monterrubio

  • From Chaos to Clarity: Top Tips for Effective & Engaging Whiteboards

    (For teachers of all ages)

    Discover simple and creative visual thinking techniques to transform your board work. This inspiring webinar shares practical ideas to you boost organization, engagement, interaction, and understanding in both online and in-person classrooms.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Emily Bryson

    The Link Between Colour & Learning

    (For teachers of young learners)

    Using colour in the classroom is familiar when we teach grammar lessons. But what if we used colour to go beyond that? What if we used colour to engage learners in different ways? What if we used color to create a proactive learning environment in the classroom?

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

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    Ana Caballero Madrigal

  • "It's Not Like In My Day": Understanding Today’s Teenagers

    (For teachers of teenagers)

    Join us for an engaging session that explores how today’s teenagers experience the world differently from those 20 years ago. From the rise of social media to changing cultural trends, we’ll dive into the realities shaping modern youth. Get ready for a fresh, eye-opening look at today’s teen world!

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Usoa Sol

    Navigating Distraction - Classroom Strategies for iGen Engagement

    (For teachers of teenagers)

    This talk equips teachers with practical strategies to navigate classroom distractions empowering iGeneration students to enhance focus and engagement for effective learning in today’s digital environment.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

    Register now

    Alicja Gałązka

  • AI in 2025 - What's Beyond the Honeymoon Phase?

    (For teachers of all ages)

    A little more than 2 years after the public release of ChatGPT and the immense wave of incoming AI tools, let’s take a critical look at how our relationship has changed with AI in education, and whether GenAI has actually revolutionised education as it was prophesied. We’re also going to speak about what’s in store for AI in ELT in 2025.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Joanna Szoke

    A Path to Teaching Entrepreneurship

    (For teachers of all ages)

    This talk will explore how language teachers can become independent entrepreneurs by strategically developing their business, managing pricing, building a client base, and leveraging personal brand through effective marketing and professional growth techniques.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

    Register now

    Polina Venglovskaia

  • Increasing Accessibility for Neurodiverse Students in the Classroom

    (For teachers of all ages)

    In this session, we'll bust some myths about what neurodiverse students are like and I'll share some insights into what it's like to be a neurodiverse learner. Then we'll look at some simple changes you can make in your classroom to help neurodiverse learners to thrive there.

    10:00am, 2:00pm & 9:30pm (UK time)

    Claire Hart

    Your Lazy Students Might Not be Lazy At All. This is Why...

    (For teachers of all ages)

    20% of the population has a neurodiverse brain. Teachers often classify them as lazy, disruptive, and troublemakers. But by knowing how to teach them effectively, we can turn this into an opportunity.

    10:40am, 2:40pm & 10:10pm (UK time)

    Boelo van der Pool

    Including and Supporting Learners with ADHD in the English Language Classroom

    (For teachers of all ages)

    This talk provides an overview of ADHD characteristics in learners as well as research-backed ways to create a fair and inclusive classroom, which is beneficial for everyone.

    11:20am, 3:20pm & 10:50pm (UK time)

    Register now

    Wiktoria Allen

If that wasn’t enough, all attendees will benefit from:

PERSONALISED
CERTIFICATES

MACMILLAN EDUCATION
COURSE WALKTHROUGHS

FREE GOODIE BAGS
EVERY DAY

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