The Changing Faces of Teacher Identity within ESP

Building on the success of last year’s event, the IATEFL ESPSIG PCE returns with an engaging and interactive programme. Join us for a dynamic day of inspiring talks, discussions, and practical workshops designed to encourage meaningful exchange and professional growth.
As the field of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) continues to evolve, so does the identity of the ESP teacher. The IATEFL ESPSIG PCE 2026 will explore current trends, challenges, and experiences shaping teacher identity in contemporary ESP contexts, with a focus on: 
  • ESP teacher agency and professional identity
  • Identity as reflected in curriculum design, materials, and assessment
  • Teacher identity in relation to technology and AI
  • Identity and relationships in working with learners
The IATEFL ESPSIG PCE 2026 offers a valuable opportunity to connect, reflect, and contribute to ongoing conversations about what it means to be an ESP practitioner today. Do join us!

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YLT Inclusivity Bootcamp

Come join us for our YLT Inclusivity Bootcamp!

This joint IP&SEN SIG and YLT SIG PCE is dedicated to creating more inclusive and supportive classrooms for young learners. Together, we’ll explore fresh perspectives and practical ideas to nurture every learner’s confidence, curiosity, and sense of belonging. Through inspiring talks and interactive sessions, you’ll gain new insights to celebrate diversity, promote emotional well-being, and build classroom environments where all students—whatever their abilities and backgrounds—can feel supported and reach their full potential. It’s a day to connect, reflect, and reimagine what truly inclusive education can look like. 

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When change is the only certainty

IATEFL LAMSIG Pre-Conference Event this year aims to explore change management in today’s dynamic educational landscape. Through informative sessions, interactive workshops and panel discussions, the participants will have the opportunity to discuss the social-emotional impact of change on individuals and teams, examine how managers can leverage AI to lead change effectively, and explore strategies for leading change proactively to enhance individual and organizational capacity and resilience during times of uncertainty. Sarah Mercer, Beatrice Segura Harvey, and George Pickering, who are each experts in their fields, will lead us for the day. the event aims to foster reflection and knowledge, and provide practical insights into effective leadership and management practices to lead change effectively. 

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Promoting autonomy in, and through, assessment

This jointly organised event brings together practitioners interested in how assessment can actively nurture learner autonomy rather than merely measure achievement. Across four interactive sessions, participants will encounter practical tools, research-informed perspectives, and large-scale institutional examples that reimagine assessment as a driver of motivation, reflection, and self-regulation. The programme introduces an image-based self-assessment routine that shifts attention from test scores to learning processes, alongside an exploration of how CEFR-informed descriptors can make progress visible and support goal setting. It also showcases a university-wide course redesign in which assessment practices were rethought to empower learners and promote agency. Together, these contributions highlight adaptable strategies for fostering autonomy, deeper engagement, and sustainable learning pathways. 

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From Text to Tech: Rethinking Literature in the Digital Culture

Our 2026 PCE examines how AI is transforming the creation, interpretation, and teaching of literature within the wider context of digital media and culture. From hyperfiction to social media, technology has long expanded literary boundaries—AI is the newest frontier. Now integral to publishing, education, and intercultural learning, AI raises questions of authenticity, ethics, and sustainability while offering new opportunities for teachers and learners. The PCE brings together experts from diverse literary fields to explore how AI influences their work and how these insights can enrich classroom practice. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of responsible engagement with literature in the digital age and the evolving role of AI in shaping literary culture.

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Rewind and Fast Forward: Celebrating 40 Years of LTSIG Innovation

To mark its 40th anniversary, the IATEFL Learning Technologies Special Interest Group (LTSIG) invites you to a celebratory Pre-Conference Event, Rewind and Fast Forward: Pedagogical Shifts and Technological Innovation. This special PCE reflects on four decades of innovation in learning technologies while looking ahead to the future of ELT in a rapidly evolving digital world. The event explores how technology can meaningfully enhance pedagogy while maintaining its human and ethical core. We are delighted to

welcome plenary speakers Penny Ur, sponsored by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and Alex Warren, sponsored by National Geographic Learning. Join us in Brighton for a day of reflection, innovation, and collaboration with many surprises throughout the day!

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Shaping Expertise in ELT Materials Writing

Join us for an inspiring day of talks, workshops and discussion exploring the art and craft of materials writing in English language teaching and networking with other materials enthusiasts. Our PCE brings together teachers, writers, publishers and researchers to explore the processes and skills needed to create impactful resources for diverse learners and contexts. From traditional coursebooks to innovative digital tools, our presenters will share fresh insights into how expertise is developed, applied, and adapted in this rapidly evolving field. You will leave inspired, informed, and equipped with new ideas to enhance your own materials creation. 

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Lifelong Voices: Teaching Pronunciation from Childhood to Seniorhood

In 2026, to celebrate PronSIG’s 40th anniversary, our PCE will explore the theme of age, looking specifically at how pronunciation instruction can effectively support learners across the lifespan. Through interactive sessions and expert insights we will examine developmental, cognitive, and affective factors that shape pronunciation learning as we grow and age. Participants will discover how to meet the needs of young learners who are just starting to build their phonological awareness, teenagers navigating identity and intelligibility, adults refining their speech for global communication and professional contexts, and for senior learners maintaining the memory and building fluency and confidence.
Join PronSIG for this very special 40th anniversary PCE where we will explore how pronunciation teaching can truly be for life.

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Teaching the Teachers: Innovations and Challenges in ESOL Pedagogy and Teacher Development

This joint pre-conference event, organised by the IATEFL ESOL Special Interest Group and the Teacher Development (TD) Special Interest Group, addresses current innovations and challenges in ESOL pedagogy and teacher development. Bringing together teacher educators, researchers, and practitioners, the event provides a forum for exploring how teacher development can respond to shifting learner needs, evolving pedagogical approaches, and wider social and institutional demands. Through a series of presentations and interactive sessions, participants will critically engage with emerging practices in ESOL teaching and teacher learning, reflecting on both opportunities and constraints. The day aims to foster dialogue across professional contexts and to generate insights that inform more effective, sustainable approaches to supporting teachers and teacher educators in diverse settings. 

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Gen Alpha, AI and us: A teacher educator's guide to what's next

Our PCE day contains lots of practical advice and suggestions by opening with a short introduction from our SIG Coordinator focusing on how we balance support for teachers in training and use of AI within education.  Dr Fruzsina Szabo’s talk includes a closer look at classroom-based reality and idealistic views with a focus on how pre-service trainees navigate their evolving language teacher identity.  Cristina Gultekin Manea and Anna Hasper will provide an interactive session exploring what digital wellbeing means and why it is important. They will examine how to prevent digital overwhelm and build critical, sustainable digital habits. Joanna Szoke will demonstrate practical suggestions from her book detailing how we can specialise in AI literacy in the language classroom. There will be a network opportunity at the end of the day along with a short reflective task. 

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Celebrating teacher research across contexts: 35 years of teacher-led inquiry and impact

Celebrate 35 years of teacher-led inquiry at the 2026 IATEFL ReSIG Pre-Conference Event in Brighton. This special anniversary PCE brings together teacher-researchers, mentors and project leaders from around the world to explore the principles, practices and impact of teacher research across contexts. Plenary speakers Professor Rama Mathew and Professor Richard Smith will reflect on the evolution of teacher research and mentoring, while Dr Jason Anderson will lead a practical workshop on how teachers can define and shape their own research practices. The day also features a global poster exhibition and a panel discussion showcasing teacher research and mentoring initiatives. Join us for a reflective, inspiring and forward-looking celebration of teacher-led inquiry and community.

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Effective teaching and learning in challenging circumstances 

Join this focused session on Effective Teaching and Learning in Challenging Circumstances, designed especially for English language teachers working across diverse global contexts. Whether you teach in low-resource settings, multilingual classrooms, online environments, or communities affected by disruption, this session will offer practical ideas you can apply immediately. Drawing on real ELT experiences, we will explore adaptable teaching strategies, inclusive and trauma-informed approaches, and ways to sustain learner engagement while protecting teacher wellbeing. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own context, share insights with colleagues, and take away realistic, high-impact practices. This session complements the wider conference by grounding big ideas in classroom reality—supporting the work of teachers across the global IATEFL community. 

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