ASEAN TeachingEnglish online conference 2026

From 19 October to 30 October, English language teachers, teacher educators and researchers from across East Asia will explore the theme, ‘Teaching with purpose: Quality, equity and human connection in English education’. From using AI with professional judgement to creating more inclusive classrooms, rethinking assessment, strengthening teacher well-being, and navigating policy change, every session is designed to offer meaningful strategies that you can apply in your context. The conference celebrates the expertise of classroom practitioners, showcasing grassroots innovation, collaboration through Communities of Practice, and the collective knowledge of educators across the region.

This is a two-week online conference, and you are welcome to join any or all sessions you choose. Each week has a separate programme and registration process; you must register for the week you would like attend. 

Registration will open on September 15. 

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

Please note that due to specific legislative requirements, this service is currently restricted in Russia and Iran. Please read further information about Russia or Iran.

Week 1 

Registration will open on September 15

About the sessions

Plenary session: Global Englishes, AI and the case for innovation in assessment

Speaker

Luke Harding

Time and date

16.00–17.10 UTC+7 (10.00–11.10 UK time) Monday 19 October 2026

Session information

In this talk, Luke maps out the challenges for language assessment raised by a Global Englishes paradigm and by the GenAI revolution of the past four years. He then discusses how these changes must influence how we reconceptualise English language proficiency. Then the focus turns specifically to how classroom language teachers might respond in more localised assessment practices. Luke will provide some concrete examples regarding speaking and listening assessment and will also discuss a new open-access resource developed at Lancaster University that could be used in the design of writing assessments: the EMI (English Medium Instruction) Corpus. Finally, he will highlight the importance of teacher–researcher partnerships in developing useful materials and methods for classroom language assessment in the future.

Plenary session: Teaching with Care: Supporting learner and teacher well-being

Speaker

Yongfeng Liu

Time and date

18.00–19.10 UTC+7 (12.00–13.10 UK time) Monday 19 October 2026

Session information

Teachers play a vital role in creating safe, inclusive and supportive classrooms, but they are not expected to be mental health specialists. This practical session introduces Teaching with Care, a UNESCO–UNICEF–WHO guide, and explores classroom strategies for fostering learner well-being, building positive relationships, responding appropriately to signs of distress and knowing when to seek additional support. You will leave with practical, adaptable approaches that strengthen both learner and teacher well-being while maintaining clear professional boundaries.

Plenary session: How to make feedback inclusive

Speaker

Marie Yeo

Time and date

16.00–17.10 UTC+7 (10.00–11.10 UK time) Tuesday 20 October 2026

Session information

Teacher and peer feedback can be powerful drivers of language learning, but only when learners understand, value and act on the feedback they receive rather than focusing solely on grades. This session introduces the concept of learner feedback literacy and shares practical, classroom-ready strategies, including both non-AI and AI-supported approaches, to help learners engage with feedback, build resilience and take ownership of their learning. 

Indonesia country spotlight: Scalable models for teacher professional development

Speakers

Genta Ulina Hutagalung, Harry Ramadan Putra, Rabbania Zaikalina and Muhammad Said

Time and date

18.00–19.10 UTC+7 (12.00–13.10 UK time) Tuesday 20 October 2026

Session information

Learn about two evidence-informed, scalable models for effective teacher professional development, and see how innovative approaches—including Communities of Practice, e-moderators and the InClass App—supported inclusive, equitable and effective online teacher development. The session will highlight key programme components and impacts alongside resources that help teachers in Indonesia make the most of TeachingEnglish materials for their ongoing professional development.  

Panel discussion: Purposeful AI for language teaching

Speakers

Tran Quang Ngoc Thuy and Daniel Widhiatama

Time and date

16.00–17.10 UTC+7 (10.00–11.10 UK time) Wednesday 21 October 2026

Session information

This is a practical ‘Turbo Talk’, where speakers share their insights with you in a series of short, focused talks, showing how AI can support visual communication, vocabulary noticing and speaking rehearsal, while keeping teacher judgement central.

Webinar: Lessons for building a community of practice

Speaker

Jennedy (Ned) Pungawon

Time and date

16.00–17.10 UTC+7 (10.00–11.10 UK time) Thursday 22 October 2026

Session information

Professional learning is most powerful when it is collaborative, teacher-led and embedded in everyday practice. Drawing on the experience of a Malaysian Community of Practice in the rural area of Sabah, this session explores how teacher agency, trust, AI-supported collaboration and accessible digital platforms can sustain meaningful professional growth. You will leave with practical ideas for building and nurturing collaborative learning communities in your own schools and contexts.

Week 2 

Registration will open on September 15

About the sessions

Plenary session: Inclusion, agency and learner-centred classrooms

Speaker

Annamaria Pinter

Time and date

18.00–19.10 UTC+7 (11.00–12.10 UK time) Tuesday 27 October 2026

Session information

Drawing on her own journey as a teacher-researcher, Annamaria explores what it means to place learners at the centre of English language teaching. This session examines how inclusion, social justice, learner agency and autonomy are interconnected, and why these principles matter in everyday classroom practice. You will leave with practical strategies for creating more inclusive, participatory learning environments that empower learners to take an active role in their own learning.

Teachers share: Adapting for our learners

Speakers

Fajarudin Akbar, Deng Guodong (Nick), Yang Yong (Peter) and Tin Ma Ma Htet (Htet)

Time and date

18.00 –19.10 UTC+7 (11.00–12.10 UK time) Wednesday 28 October 2026

Session information

Get three different perspectives and ideas about adapting your classes and materials for your learners, so that everyone has the best learning experience possible. Our speakers look at adapting materials using AI, helping every learner find the confidence to speak in class, and using differentiation to create different pathways towards meaningful learning, while allowing the class to learn together without labelling learners or lowering expectations.

Thailand country spotlight: The importance of English at primary

Speaker

Suparuthai Sumonwiriya

Time and date

18.00–19.10 UTC+7 (11.00–12.10 UK time) Thursday 29 October 2026

Session information

Learn about Thailand’s ‘PreBoot’ programme, a British Council and Teachers’ Council of Thailand (TCT) initiative that aimed to better prepare undergraduate students to teach English at primary. Dr Sumonwiriya will share evidence on the realities, needs and challenges faced by primary teachers from non-English teacher education pathways who find themselves teaching English, particularly in small, rural and remote schools where specialist English teachers may not be available.  The session will explore how better preparing these teachers contributes to more equitable access to English language education, with a focus on encouraging participants to reflect on Thailand’s realities and how these match or differ from their own contexts.

Panel discussion: How Communities of Practice empower teachers in ASEAN

Speakers

Phuong Hoang Yen, Myo Nyunt Maw, Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, Hasmadani, Kartika Yoga Eka Pratiwi Negara

Time and date

18.00–19.10 UTC+7 (11.00–12.10 UK time) Friday 30 October 2026

Session information

As teachers across ASEAN navigate rapid educational change, Communities of Practice (CoPs) offer a powerful source of collaboration, support and professional growth. In this panel, CoP leaders from Myanmar, Indonesia and Viet Nam share practical experiences of building networks that strengthen teacher well-being, agency and resilience across diverse contexts. You will gain actionable ideas for creating sustainable professional learning communities where teachers learn with and from one another.

Registration will open on September 15 Registration will open on September 15

About the speakers

Read the speaker biographies

Click below to read the biographies for speakers in week 1 and week 2.

Week 1 biographies

Luke Harding is a professor of Applied Linguistics and current Discipline Lead in Linguistics and English Language at Lancaster University (UK). His research interests are in language assessment and applied linguistics more broadly, particularly assessing listening and speaking, Global Englishes, language assessment literacy and the use of digital technology and AI in language assessment. Luke’s work has been published in a range of academic journals, and he served as co-editor of the journal Language Testing from 2017–2022 and as co-editor of the Routledge Handbook of Language Testing (2nd edn). Luke is currently President of the International Language Testing Association (ILTA). 

Yongfeng Liu is a programme specialist in UNESCO’s section of health and education, where he leads work on safe and healthy learning environments, school well-being, and mental health and psychosocial support. He led the development of Teaching with Care, the joint UNESCO–UNICEF–WHO practical guide for teachers, in collaboration with international partners and educators worldwide. His work focuses on strengthening education policies and practices that help create safe, inclusive learning environments where every learner can thrive. 

Marie Yeo is a senior language specialist at SEAMEO RELC, Singapore, with extensive experience in English language teacher education, teacher development and academic leadership across the Asia-Pacific region. Her research and publications focus on language assessment, feedback, academic integrity, generative AI, CLIL/EMI and academic publishing, with work appearing in leading journals. She is currently co-editor of RELC Journal and is recognised for her work on AI-informed assessment and feedback practices in language education. 

Genta Ulina Hutagalung is an English lecturer at Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya in Indonesia. Alongside her university teaching, she has also worked as teacher educator. She has also worked as an e-moderator for the British Council.  

Harry Ramadan Putra is an English teacher and Chairperson of the English High School Teacher Association (MGMP) for Malang Regency. He has extensive experience in instructional leadership, student coaching, teacher professional development and as an e-moderator for British Council Indonesia’s online development initiatives. His interests focus on educational technology, student-centred learning, and sustainable teacher development. 

Rabbania Zaikalina is an English teacher in West Lombok experience across primary, junior high, and senior high school levels. She has participated in professional development programmes by the British Council and Ministry of Religious Affairs. Her interests include English for young learners, classroom interaction and practical approaches to teacher professional development. 

Muhammad Said is an English teacher serving as Head of the English Subject Teacher Forum in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency. A recipient of the British Council Outstanding Teacher Award, his interests include , teacher professional development, educational technology and the meaningful use of AI in the classroom. 

Tran Quang Ngoc Thuy is a senior lecturer at Hue University of Foreign Languages and International Studies (HUFLIS), Vietnam.  With over 25 years of experience in English language teacher education, she specializes in training pre-service and in-service teachers through various professional development programs. 

Daniel Widhiatama is currently a lecturer at English Language Education study program of Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY). His research interests are in technology-enhanced language learning, AI-assisted language learning, program and materials design, and teachers professional development. He also serves as the director of the Partnership Division in iTELL (Indonesia Technology Enhanced Language Learning) association. 

Jennedy (Ned) Pungawon is a teacher and teacher educator from Sabah, Malaysia, teaching in a rural secondary school. He founded the Northern English Language Collaboration Network Sabah (NELCoNS), a teacher-led Community of Practice supporting collaborative professional learning and teacher agency. A Fulbright TEA alumnus and British Council Community of Practice Seed Grant recipient, his work focuses on teacher collaboration, digital technologies and reflective practice in rural and under-represented contexts. 

Week 2 biographies

Annamaria Pinter is a professor at the Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick, UK, with internationally recognised expertise in teaching English to young learners, language teacher education and child-centred language research. She has published extensively on second language learning, task-based teaching and engaging children in classroom research, including several influential books for teachers and researchers. She is also the series editor of Early Language Learning in School Contexts (Multilingual Matters) and her book Engaging Children in Applied Linguistics Research (Cambridge University Press) won the 2024 BAAL Book Prize. 

Fajarudin Akbar is an English language teacher from Indonesia. He specialises in English for academic and professional communication, Business English, English language test preparation and teacher professional development. Fajarudin regularly works with teachers to explore how technology can be integrated thoughtfully into planning and classroom practice.  

Deng Guodong (Nick) has been English teacher for 24 years, with almost 4000 graduates, most of whom have become English teachers in Yunnan.  

Yang Yong (Peter) has been an English teacher for 14 years, with a track record of excellence in district and municipal teaching competitions, assignment design contests, and assessment development contests, as well as contributions to provincial-level English workbooks as a writer and editor. 

Tin Ma Ma Htet (Htet) is an educator, inclusion advocate, and the Founder and Executive Director of Saya Foundation. She is committed to weaving inclusion into every part of education, including policy, curriculum, teacher development, and organisational leadership. 

Suparuthai Sumonwiriya is Director of the Language Institute at Burapha University, Thailand, with over 18 years of experience in tertiary English language education. She has led teacher training projects funded by the Eastern Economic Corridor and contributes to national education development through roles with ThailandPOD, the Journal of the New Horizon in Higher Education, and Thailand’s education policy bodies. Her work focuses on advancing English language education, professional development, and policy recommendations to strengthen higher education outcomes. 

Phuong Hoang Yen is a scholar in English Language Education at Can Tho University, Viet Nam, with a PhD in Linguistics. Her research focuses on language assessment, teacher beliefs, learner autonomy and English education in Vietnamese higher education, with numerous publications and academic books to her name. 

Myo Nyunt Maw is an ELT educator, teacher trainer, and British Council Community of Practice Leader from Myanmar. A qualified teacher with an MA in TESOL, he works in teacher wellbeing, learner autonomy, educational neuroscience, and evidence-informed language teaching. 

Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh is an English language educator from Viet Nam with an MA in TESOL Australia. As co-leader of the VMOOC Team under VietTESOL, she supports teacher professional development and explores interests including teaching young learners, teacher identity, autonomy, arts in language education and teacher well-being. 

Hasmadani is a West Papua-based English educator, sustainability advocate and British Council Community of Practice Leader in Indonesia. With expertise in curriculum development, assessment reform and teacher capacity building, she works to promote culturally responsive, sustainable and student-centred learning. 

Kartika Yoga Eka Pratiwi Negara is an English teacher from Kayong Utara, Indonesia, with an MA in Educational Leadership. Her work focuses on educational equity, place-conscious leadership, contextualised ELT materials, and the use of technology and AI to support learning in frontline communities. 

Important information about our events – please read

How to watch the webinars

Our webinars are free. They take place in Zoom events. After September 15, click the 'Register for week 1 / week 2 on Zoom’ button to register to join live. You can also watch the event on our TeachingEnglish Asia Facebook page.

Webinar recordings

All TeachingEnglish webinars are recorded, and you will find links to the recordings under the session information on this page after the conference 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. 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 selected session will be provided with useful links and resources related to the sessions. 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.