Next week is IATEFL 2024 (I’m speaking! [Page 80] come and say hi!), so the wonderful world of ELT conferences is very much on my mind. They’re a great opportunity to learn more about English Language Teaching, meet up with friends and colleagues (and make new ones!), and explore new materials and resources.
It’s been a real privilege to have spent the last few years attending (and often speaking at) conferences in different countries, and I love having the opportunity to learn from teachers as well as experts in the field. In many ways, though, it doesn’t seem like that long ago since the first ELT conference I attended back in 2016, and I wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned.
Firstly, go with a plan! The programme is normally available before the start of a conference, so take a look and choose some initial sessions you think look interesting. This doesn’t need to be set in stone (in fact it’s probably better if there’s some flexibility), but it makes it less overwhelming if you have an idea of where you want to go and what you want to see. If you’re attending with colleagues you could attend different sessions and then exchange notes afterwards.
To save any notes you make being filed and never looked at again, share what you’ve learned. We know that our students learn best when there is a genuine reason to use the language. As teachers, I think a lot of us learn and consolidate new things by teaching them to someone else! Can you give a training session at your school to share what you’ve learned with your colleagues? (This was one of the first teacher training sessions I ever did). Why not write a blog post about it? Or if you’d rather share less publicly, use your notes to start (or continue) writing a teaching journal.
It’s also important to take time to reflect on what you’ve learned. I’ve found that I get the most out of conferences if I set some intentions before I go, and structure my learning so that I think about how it relates to my own teaching practice and context. In the light of this I’ve put together a framework that I’ll be using for any conference sessions I attend next week.
Before I attend the session (and the conference overall), I’ll be thinking about what I hope to get out of it. What topics I’m particularly interested in learning about, and any other things I’d like to make sure I prioritise during my time there.
After each session I’ll be reflecting on:
- What? What were 3 great ideas that were presented? What one of those ideas do I want to take away and try?
- So what? Why is that idea important to me and the context that I work in?
- Now what? How can I put that into practice? When will I follow up and reflect on anything I do put into practice?
I also particularly want to make sure I’ve made a note of any additional books, materials or other resources I think look particularly interesting!
If you want to join me and try out this structure too, I’ve added it to a PDF document you can download and print. I’d love to hear if you find it helpful!
Although great fun, conferences can also be a full-on experience. Below are my tips that are more focused on wellbeing and keeping you happy, healthy and sane while attending!
- Check the weather forecast – and dress and pack appropriately! If you’re somewhere where the weather is unpredictable (like the UK!) then layers are a good idea and give you more options.
- Look after your feet! It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you will be spending a lot of time sitting down. However, with moving around between sessions and visiting exhibition stands you can end up doing a lot of walking too. Wear comfortable shoes and put some plasters in your bag just in case!
- Bring a portable charger if you have one. There likely will be some charging points available – but also an awful lot of people trying to charge devices at the same time. A portable charger may well be the difference between being able to enjoy walking around and making the most of the conference and sitting in a corridor trying to charge your phone!
- Eat and drink. If you’re trying to move around between sessions, network, socialise, and make the most of everything else the conference has to offer, it’s easy to get to the end of the day and realise that you have a raging headache due to dehydration and haven’t eaten since breakfast. Ideally take some snacks and a water bottle with you to give you more flexibility and be less reliant on whatever is available at the conference. (Organised tea/coffee breaks often involve very large queues!)
- Don’t be overly ambitious in your schedule. A full day of talks does not mean you need to give yourself a full timetable of things to attend. Fewer talks, and more time to reflect on what you’ve heard and why it’s useful/interesting/relevant, is likely better.
- Lots of conferences, particularly the big ones, have a ‘Quiet Space’ or ‘Calm Space’, where you can take a few minutes to get away from it all and relax. If there isn’t something like this available there’s no shame in finding yourself a quiet corner or even stepping outside the conference venue for some fresh air.
- If you’re attending on your own, and that makes you nervous, look out for social events and meet ups. Remember, if you’re at an ELT conference then you automatically have something in common with every other person who is there: a love for English Language Teaching. Even something as simple as saying ‘hello’ to the person sitting next to you in a session could be the start of a new friendship!
First time conference-goers, is there anything you’d like to know about attending your first conference?
Seasoned conference-goers, are there any other tips or insights you want to share?
The Best Ticher 