World Teachers' Day – Friday 10 October
The theme for our World Teachers' Day conference 2025 is 'Global voices, future focus', inviting you to join English language professionals worldwide in shaping the future of English language teaching.
Our second day focused on the themes of multilingual approaches in the classroom and 21st-century skills.
About Friday's sessions
Multilingual approaches in the classroom – a panel discussion
Speakers
Amol Padwad, Yiviri Rasifatu Tombir and Adrienn Szlapak with Kim Beadle
About the session
In this panel discussion, expert educators from around the world come together to explore what a multilingual approach means in the English language classroom today and what it could mean in the future. Panellists Amol, Yiviri and Adrienn will share practical insights grounded in research and classroom experience. They discuss how we can move beyond monolingual or English-only teaching and embrace practices that include and benefit from learners' other languages. Guided by our British Council host, Kim Beadle, the session also highlights the role of professional development in this area and invites participants to reflect on their own perspectives.
Watch 'Multilingual approaches in the classroom – a panel discussion'
Session 2: Classroom management in multilingual classes
Speaker
Aung Min Paing
About the session
This webinar gives you practical ideas for creating a harmonious and productive learning environment in your multilingual classroom. First we explore how to establish clear expectations for an inclusive environment and how to celebrate diverse linguistic backgrounds. Next, we discuss how to manage communication barriers and encourage collaboration among learners who speak different languages. Finally, we look at ways to evaluate and adapt these strategies.
Watch 'Classroom management in multilingual classes'
Session 3: Using design thinking in projects
Speaker
Ana Lucía Castells Ruíz
About the session
This workshop starts by defining what a design thinking project is. You discover this through my experience working on a project called 'What can we do to stop wildfires in Patagonia?'. You learn how to follow the steps of a design thinking project, while getting practical ideas for making your own project successful. This session with give you fresh ideas for your next project in the English language classroom.
Watch 'Using design thinking in projects'
Session 4: Integrating 21st-century skills into everyday learning
Speaker
Sherly Hephzibah
About the session
This webinar explores how teachers can embed essential 21st-century skills into everyday classroom activities. We will explore how to design projects that encourage teamwork, develop communication techniques for diverse contexts and promote creative problem solving through real-world scenarios. By integrating these skills into both academic and life settings, educators can nurture well-rounded, adaptable learners prepared for the challenges of the modern world.
Watch 'Integrating 21st-century skills into everyday learning'
About the speakers
Professor Amol Padwad is a A.S. Hornby Educational Trust trustee and a former national president of the English Language Teachers' Association of India (ELTAI). Amol has been a teacher, trainer, consultant, researcher and community leader for over 40 years. He pioneered 'English Teachers Clubs', teachers' self-help groups promoting self-initiated professional development in some rural towns of India.
Adrienn Szlapak is an experienced EAL/ESL specialist from Hungary who now lives and works in Malaysia. She is involved in teacher training and academic management. She blogs both on her personal blog, ealdiaries.com, and on the IATEFL YLTSIG blog, where she is the current editor. In 2024, she co-authored a book Supporting EAL learners: Strategies for inclusion, for DELTA Publishing. Adrienn also gave a webinar L1 in the young learner classroom at our Valuing multilingualism event last year.
Yiviri Rasifatu Tombir is an English teacher in a high school in Cameroon. She was the recipient of a Hornby Educational Trust Scholarship to study an MA (TESOL) in the UK. She is interested in collaboration between teachers focusing on the effective integration of multilingual approaches.
Kim Beadle is on the British Council’s global Teaching Excellence team supporting the British Council teaching network with thought leadership projects and activities. She has 18 years’ experience and a range of qualifications related to teaching, training, leadership, skills development and evaluation. She has presented regularly for many years at international conferences on topics including phonology, assessment, teacher development and using learners’ languages in English language teaching.
Aung Min Paing is a passionate teacher and teacher educator with years of experience in teaching English to teenage learners in Myanmar. He has expertise in working with multilingual classes, using interactive teaching methodologies, curriculum design and fostering learner autonomy. Aung is also an active advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and enjoys creating safe, inclusive spaces for learners.
Ana Lucía Castells Ruiz is an English teacher from Buenos Aires, Argentina. With 13 years of experience, Ana teaches in a primary and secondary school, where she incorporates literature, films and interactive projects into lessons. Ana is known for fostering a love for learning, reading and writing in learners. Ana Lucía was mentored by TeachingEnglish in 2024 and was part of our panel discussion How can you break down barriers in your classroom? as part of our Breaking down barriers webinar event.
Sherly Hephzibah is an experienced English teacher and academic coordinator from Chennai, India. A passionate advocate for active learning, she integrates literature, critical thinking and sustainability themes into her teaching. Sherly is also a TEDx speaker and she organises international cultural programmes, inspiring learners to embrace diverse perspectives.