South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026

South Asia Online Conference 2026

As English teachers and teacher educators, we work within educational systems shaped by institutional structures, prescribed curricula and assessment requirements – contexts that can leave limited space for creativity. Yet creativity remains essential to meaningful teaching and learning. This year’s conference theme, Creative teaching, creative learning: Embedding creativity in teaching, inclusive practice and digital integration, invites you to reimagine your classroom practice by embedding creativity purposefully across all dimensions of pedagogy. Together, we will explore how creative approaches can foster inclusive, engaging and digitally enriched learning experiences that support learners at every level.

This is a three-day online conference, and participants are welcome to attend one, two or all three days. As each day has a separate programme and registration process, participants must register for each conference day they wish to attend.

Use this video tutorial to help you register.

You can also watch the event live on our Facebook page. No registration is necessary to watch on Facebook.

Day 1: Thursday 23 July

About Thursday’s sessions

Session 1: Plenary: Creativity matters: Reimagining English classrooms where every learner has a voice

Speaker

Anju Moses (Sri Lanka)

Time and date

14.30–15.30 (Sri Lanka time) Thursday 23 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

This interactive plenary explores how creativity can transform English language teaching, even within the constraints of exams, large classes and prescribed curricula. Drawing on the belief that learners learn differently, it positions creativity as a core element of effective and inclusive pedagogy. The session will examine how creative approaches build learner confidence, collaboration and meaningful language use while supporting language development. Participants will engage with practical, adaptable classroom ideas through polls, reflection and activity demonstrations.

Session 2: Webinar: Teaching English creatively: What's your secret ingredient?

Speaker

Huma Hasna Riaz Ahmed (India)

Time and date

16.00–17.00 (Sri Lanka time) Thursday 23 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

This practical webinar explores how creativity in English language teaching can emerge from the resources, experiences and languages that learners already bring to the classroom. Participants will discover ways to increase learner engagement, participation and meaningful language use using everyday classroom and community resources.

Session 3: Teachers share: How can we engage our learners through creative activities?

Speakers

Mithila Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka), Shobha Bhattarai (Nepal) and Dr Md. Mostafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)

Time and date

17.30–18.30 (Sri Lanka time) Thursday 23 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

Watch and interact with three expert teachers from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka sharing practical activities that build critical thinking, creativity and learner autonomy in the English language classroom.

Day 2: Friday 24 July

Register for Friday's sessions on Zoom

About Friday’s sessions

Session 1: Plenary: Adventure trips or guided tours? – Creativity in multilingual classrooms

Speaker

Dr Amol Padwad (India)

Time and date

14.30–15.30 (Sri Lanka time) Friday 24 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

This plenary session critically examines common misconceptions about creativity in English language and multilingual education. It explores both the conceptual foundations of creativity and the practical challenges of fostering it in diverse classroom contexts. Drawing on examples from different teaching environments, the session highlights how creative approaches can enrich learning and address classroom challenges.

Session 2: Webinar: Designing for voices: Creative pathways to inclusion, gender equity and multilingual participation

Speaker

Rabia Shafi (Pakistan)

Time and date

16.00–17.00 (Sri Lanka time) Friday 24 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

Focusing on everyday classroom interactions, this webinar examines how multilingual approaches and inclusive practices can amplify learner voice and support equitable participation. Participants will identify barriers to engagement and discover strategies that promote gender equity and diversity. The session offers adaptable techniques for creating more inclusive and responsive learning environments.

Session 3: Teachers Share: How can we foster creativity in inclusive classrooms?

Speakers

Nisar Shaikh (India) and Astha Kumari Chaudhary (Nepal)

Time and date

17.30–18.30 (Sri Lanka time) Friday 24 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

Two experienced teachers from Nepal and India share creative strategies for building more inclusive classrooms. These are approaches that you can use to value your learners’ linguistic diversity and encourage more equitable participation.

Day 3: Saturday 25 July

Register for Saturday's sessions on Zoom

About Saturday’s sessions

Session 1: Plenary: Integrating digital technologies to enhance language learning

Speaker

Dr Fauzia Shamim (Pakistan)

Time and date

14.30–15.30 (Sri Lanka time) Saturday 25 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

This plenary explores how digital technologies can enhance language learning when thoughtfully aligned with sound pedagogical principles. The session considers the evolving role of AI, highlighting its potential as a learning assistant rather than a replacement for teachers. Drawing on classroom and teacher education examples, it emphasises the importance of using technology to amplify creativity, interaction and effective teaching practice.

Session 2: Webinar: Low-resource, mobile-first approaches to multiliteracies and authentic production

Speaker

Dr Md. Mohib Ullah (Bangladesh)

Time and date

16.00–17.00 (Sri Lanka time) Saturday 25 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

This webinar challenges traditional uses of digital technology in English language classrooms and advocates for learner-centred, creative digital production. Introducing the CREST framework, it demonstrates how teachers can design authentic, technology-integrated tasks that engage learners as creators rather than consumers. Participants will explore practical, low-resource activities suited to South Asian classroom contexts, using everyday digital tools.

Session 3: Teachers share: How do we integrate technology in low-resource classrooms

Speakers

Krishna RC (Nepal), Soosai Rathinam (India) and Imalka Kumari Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka)

Time and date

17.30–18.30 (UK time) Saturday 25 July 2026

*Click or tap here to see the time in your location

About the session

Three expert teachers from around South Asia share practical activities and ideas for using technology in low-resource settings.

About the speakers

Thursday

Anju Moses is an academic leader, educator, author and speaker with over 20 years of experience in education and leadership. She heads the English & Schools Education portfolio at the British Council Sri Lanka and has held diverse leadership roles across teacher development, digital learning and safeguarding.

Huma Hasna Riaz Ahmed is an English language teacher, teacher educator and researcher with over 20 years of experience across India, the UK and the UAE, including 17 years with the British Council.

Shobha Bhattarai is a secondary-level teacher and teacher educator at QUEST Nepal with experience in teacher training, mentoring and action research-based pedagogy.

Dr Md. Mostafizur Rahman is a lecturer in English in the Bangladesh Civil Service (General Education Cadre) with a PhD in Language Testing from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Mithila Weerasinghe is a teacher educator at the Regional English Support Centre, Sri Lanka, and a curriculum developer with expertise in pedagogy and digital learning.

Friday

Amol Padwad is an ELT professional with over 40 years of experience as a teacher, trainer, teacher community leader and consultant, and formerly served as Professor & Director, Centre for English Language Education, Dr BR Ambedkar University Delhi. He is President of the AINET Association of English Teachers (India) and a Trustee of the A. S. Hornby Educational Trust, UK.

Rabia Shafi is an ELT consultant, teacher educator and materials developer with over 20 years of experience working with teachers, mentors and school leaders across South Asia and internationally.

Nisar Shaikh is a government primary teacher in rural Maharashtra. He is a British Council scholarship winner with an MA in TESOL (University of Leeds) and works with young learners using multilingual and inclusive classroom practices.

Astha Kumari Chaudhary is a secondary-level English teacher and assistant headteacher from Madhesh Province, Nepal. She actively contributes to teacher professional development projects at the national and international level for promoting inclusive, learner-centred education.

Saturday

Dr Fauzia Shamim is Chief Academic Officer at Durbeen, an NGO focused on improving teacher quality in Pakistan, and serves as Vice President of the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT). She holds a PhD in TESOL from the University of Leeds and has extensive experience as a teacher, educator, researcher and academic leader across Pakistan and internationally. Her current research interests include AI in teacher education, teacher research, and language-in-education policy, with a focus on equity and social justice.

Dr Md. Mohib Ullah is an associate professor of English at International Islamic University Chittagong and General Secretary of Bangladesh English language Teachers Association (BELTA), with expertise in EFL/ESL pedagogy, assessment and teacher development.

Imalka Wickramasinghe is a teacher of English at Thaksala Maha Vidyalaya, Sri Lanka, with a passion for creative, interactive, and inclusive English language teaching and actively contributes to learner-centred educational initiatives.

Krishna RC is a secondary school English teacher at Badakholi, Gurbhakot Municipality, Surkhet, Nepal, with experience in action research, creative pedagogy and technology-supported English language teaching.

Soosai Rathinam is a graduate teacher of English at a government high school in, Melapanaiyur, Tamil Nadu, with over 20 years of experience as a teacher and teacher educator, dedicated to English language teaching and professional development.

How to register for a Zoom event

Important information about our events – please read

How to watch the webinar

Our webinars are free. They take place in Zoom events. Click the ‘Register' button to register to join live on Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday. You must register separately for each day. Use this video tutorial to help you register. You can also watch the event on our Facebook page.

Webinar recordings

All TeachingEnglish webinars are recorded, and you will find links to the recordings under the session information on this page between 24 and 48 hours after the live webinar has ended. You can also find the videos on the TeachingEnglish YouTube channel. Recordings will be available to watch for a minimum of six months and up to one year after the live event has ended.

Certificates and handouts

Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees for each webinar. You will receive a 'Thank you for attending' email after the webinar if you registered and watched on Zoom. You should receive this within 72 hours of the live event.

You should download the certificate to your computer. Once the certificate is saved to your computer, open it and type your name on the certificate. We recommend using Google Chrome or Internet Explorer to do this. You cannot do this from a mobile device.

A handout for each session will be provided with useful links and resources related to the session. You can download the handout from this page after the event.

Code of conduct – participants

Please be respectful at all times to other participants and the presenter. Our webinars are freely available to attend by participants in all countries. Please be aware that comments you make in the general chat may have a negative impact on other participants and their enjoyment of the webinar.

Do not use insulting or offensive language or comments towards other participants or the presenter.

Do not make comments that include cultural references or political references that may be offensive or upsetting to other participants or the presenter.

Any offensive or insulting comments will be deleted, and the participant making the comment will be removed from the webinar.

Do not share any personal information in the general chat that may result in other participants contacting you. This includes addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

Do not share links to your website or any websites that you are promoting for the purposes of making money.

Comments that include links to paid-for websites for the sole purpose of promotion will be deleted, and you may be removed from the webinar.

Please use the Q&A to ask the presenter questions that are related to the theme or topic of the webinar only. If participant responses to questions are permitted, you should only make comments that are relevant to the question being asked.

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in our live events are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of the British Council.