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Reflecting on my first IATEFL Conference
The best part of my time at the IATEFL conference was on the journey back home. Yes, you read that correctly but not for the reasons you might think.
I threw my hat into the ring as a speaker at the IATEFL 2023 conference in Harrogate. I really didn’t think much of my chances of being selected. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to get an email on the first few days of December telling me that they were pleased to inform me that my presentation had been selected for inclusion in the 2023 IATEFL Conference programme!
Months went by and I started to wonder what on earth I had to share with the intelligent and successful people that graced these conferences year after year. My topic of creating learning material for social media platforms was surely something everyone knew about. Looking back, I realise that I myself am too chronically online for my own good. I am surrounded by people who do know it all in relation to marketing and creating online. So, I felt like a fraud rocking up to this international conference with the guise that I was going to teach something.
My talk was on the first day of the conference. After it took me until midnight to get to Harrogate through planes, trains and automobiles, I was far too tired to worry. However, you better believe I was up early, running through my presentation and sneaking into the room I was due to give my talk to make sure the tech was working before the plenary speaker had finished. I also semi-convinced myself that I would be speaking in an empty room.
The time had come and the room filled up. I was now about to give my talk to a full house. Maybe I did have something to share? Teacher mode came on and the nerves disappeared and the next thing I knew my talk had finished. My biggest takeaway from giving a talk at IATEFL is not to doubt yourself and your knowledge. Everyone has something to share. Even me! Being on the internet a lot and forming a community of learners has allowed me to understand how to engage audiences in an online environment. I can say that I really appreciated the well-respected members of the IATEFL community taking the time to tell me so. Overall, the people that attend the conference are passionate about what we do and want to see others succeed as well. If you haven’t been before and worry that you aren’t good enough to go, I´m here to tell you to change that perspective. The word community is an important one and that is exactly what IATEFL is – a community.
The conference gave me a new outlook on teaching and learning as an educator. Let me share with you the key things I took away from the conference in a very bullet-pointy kind of way.
Keep Growing
I realised how important it is to keep developing myself professionally. The conference hammered home the idea that staying up-to-date with the latest research, teaching methods, and technology is vital. The internet will continue to grow and English will be the fuel in which it drives forward.
Connect and Collaborate
Networking was a big deal at the conference and honestly, a big reason why I wanted to go. It can be hard being a freelancer when your only interaction in the ELT sector can be between you and your students. I met some amazing educators, researchers, and authors. We had some great discussions, shared ideas, and even talked about collaborating on future projects. It’s incredible how much you can learn and grow when you connect with others who are passionate about teaching. Collaboration ftw! (for the win)
Get Innovative
One of the coolest things I learned was the importance of embracing innovative teaching approaches. I also got to speak to people on my topic social media and learning a language. Educational chunks are a great way to learn with a busy life. Seeing how we can bring the language to students in easy, digestible ways was very eye-opening.
Teach for All
The conference also stressed the importance of catering to diverse learner needs. I discovered inclusive teaching practices that make sure every student can thrive, regardless of their abilities, background, or learning style. I picked up some practical strategies for differentiation, scaffolding, and creating a supportive environment where everyone feels included and can excel.
Think Critically and Be Independent
Another big takeaway was the importance of fostering critical thinking skills and promoting learner autonomy. Something that I already do with my online community is asynchronous learning. It’s all about empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey and become independent thinkers. That’s what leads to long-term success.
Open Your Eyes to the World:
Attending the IATEFL conference really broadened my horizons. I met educators from all over the world, and it was amazing to see the different cultural, linguistic, and educational contexts in which English is taught and learned. I gained a greater appreciation for diversity and learned how to incorporate global perspectives into my teaching. It’s all about being culturally responsive and respecting the backgrounds and identities of our students. Something that I feel we need to continue to develop.
Always Keep Learning
The conference reminded me that learning is a lifelong journey. It made me realize the importance of continuously improving my skills, staying up-to-date with the latest trends, and being open to learning from both successes and challenges. I also felt motivated in my own learning journey with Spanish. The importance of being a student too!
Closing thoughts
These lessons have really fueled my passion for teaching and my commitment to giving my students the best learning experience possible. It also made me more aware that we are heading into an online world of learning. People are more open than ever to learning on the internet and using new technologies to do that. We need to think of how educating the next generation will look and how digital natives want something new when it comes to learning a language.
Lastly, a little story to end on. I mentioned that my favourite part was on the way home. I was on a bus heading from Malaga airport to the city centre. There was a family with two small children sitting in front of me. Another group wasstanding nearby. They were smiling and waving to the two adorable kids. One of the group members asked the mother how old they were in Spanish. The mother said very quickly in English “Oh I am sorry I don´t speak very good Spanish” to which the group member replied in English “No problem! How old are they?” There was a brief sigh of recognition of a connecting language and the mother responded 2 and 4. The family went on to say they were from Slovenia. The group shared they were from Puerto Rico but had just come from living in the United States. I thought at this moment what a privilege it was that I could understand this interaction. The beauty of having a language to connect us all.