Rob Howard
Rob Howard is the owner of the Online Language Center and Business Language Training Institute. He is a teacher, trainer, ELT author and frequent worldwide speaker on Business English, Teacher Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, teaching online, and using or not using technology and AI. He is the current IATEFL Poland president, past Joint Coordinator of the IATEFL BESIG and IATEFL BESIG Web and Online team, member of the EdYOUfest Academic Team, founder of the Independent Authors & Publishers and EFLtalks and has presented for Gallery Teachers Masterclasses, iTDi TOEFL training, ELI Publishing, Macmillan Publishers, and IATEFL LTSIG, to name a few.
Plenary talk: THE 'Y' IN HYPE: AI vs. A-why
In an era where AI is transforming the landscape of education, EFL teachers are navigating a world of rapid technological innovation. However, as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, it raises a critical question: is it truly the future of language learning, or is it merely part of the latest hype? In this session, we will delve into the powerful capabilities of AI in the EFL classroom and examine the "why" behind its increasing prominence. Through insightful discussions and real-world examples, we will explore both the promises and the potential pitfalls of incorporating AI tools into language learning. Teachers will walk away with a clearer understanding of when AI can enhance teaching, when it may fall short, and how to leverage these technologies meaningfully, ensuring that we don’t just chase the buzz but thoughtfully consider the “why” behind the integration of AI in EFL education.
Aleksandra Jevtovic
Aleksandra Jevtovic holds a Master’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Novi Sad and is a certified CELTA teacher. With over 30 years of experience in English language teaching, Aleksandra has focused primarily on preparing students for Cambridge English exams at all proficiency levels. She has also mentored English methodology students at the University of Novi Sad and has been actively involved in teacher development. Her contributions include delivering talks and leading workshops at various international ELT conferences. Her professional interests include fostering a love of reading through extensive reading projects and exploring the use of drama in English language teaching.
Plenary talk: Is There Room for Poetry in the AI-Powered Classroom?
As AI transforms how we teach English, poetry remains essential for fostering creativity, emotional literacy, and deep language engagement. This session explores how poetry supports English learning even in tech-driven classrooms, and how AI tools can enhance—rather than replace—poetic expression. Discover practical strategies and activities that blend tradition with innovation, proving that poetry still belongs at the heart of English education.
Svetlana Dimitrova-Gyuzeleva
Svetlana Dimitrova-Gyuzeleva is an associate professor in Pedagogy at the Foreign Languages and Cultures Department of New Bulgarian University. She is a Sofia University graduate, who holds an MPhil degree in English and Applied Linguistics from the University of Cambridge and a PhD degree in FLT Methodology. She has long and varied experience of teaching English as a foreign language, as well as of teacher training in both pre- and in-service contexts. Some of her most notable publications include the Pedagogical Portfolio for Foreign Language Teacher Trainees (2004), The Professional Training of Foreign Language Teachers (2007), Practical English Grammar (2008), etc. She is also an experienced ELT materials writer who has contributed to the creation or revision of many English coursebooks (e.g. Hopscotch (for grades 2-7), English in Motion (for grades 5-7), Close-up (for grades 9-12), etc.), and also an expert ELT test-designer and evaluator, whose services are often enlisted by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Plenary talk: Aligning our Teaching and Assessment Practices with the Multimodal Dimensions of Language Behaviour
The Companion Volume to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2020) has not only enriched our understanding of the essence of communicative competence and language behaviour, but also underlined the importance of adopting a more functional, pro-active approach to the teaching of the target language which goes beyond the traditional practice of the four skills (reading, listening, speaking and writing) for their own sake, zooming in on what learners can actually do with the acquired linguistic competence when they communicate in a variety of contexts, constructing and conveying meaning multimodally, through all channels of communication (verbal, visual, auditory, kinesthetic), i.e. the focus is now on the four modes of communication: reception, production, interaction, and mediation.
The presentation briefly outlines the content of this new concept of foreign language communicative competence and goes on to illustrate how it reflects on our classroom practices and assessment techniques when developing the modern learners' multimodal literacy in the foreign tongue.
Sylvia Velikova
Sylvia Velikova holds a PhD in Psycholinguistics and is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Modern Languages at the University of Veliko Tarnovo (UVT), Bulgaria. She has been involved in both initial English language teacher education and continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers for over 20 years. Currently, she is Deputy Head of the Department of Continuing Education and Additional Qualification at UVT, which offers CPD programmes for teachers, including courses leading to a Professional Qualification Degree (ПКС).
Sylvia has been involved in a wide range of national and international projects, including initatives of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML, Council of Europe) and the British Council Bulgaria. From 2010 to 2014, she served as President of the Bulgarian English Teachers’ Association (BETA). She is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes (FIPLV), an NGO of UNESCO and the Council of Europe, where she serves as Publications Officer.
Sylvia has authored and co-authored publications in the areas of applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, and teacher education and development.
Plenary talk: Small questions of great impact: Teacher research for CPD
How often do we pause and ask ourselves: What’s really happening in my classroom? How can I enhance my expertise as a language teacher? This talk will explore how enquiry or asking simple questions about our own practice can lead to great insights, more effective teaching, and better learning for our students. We’ll look at how research isn’t just for academics and why it should be seen as a natural part of what teachers do every day. We’ll consider examples from Bulgarian teachers of English who have used classroom research to transform their classroom practice and to boost their continuous professional development (CPD). This session will also offer practical ideas for starting your own classroom research, tips on writing about your findings, and ways to use research to share best practice with colleagues. What could you discover about your own teaching? How could small questions grow into powerful tools for professional growth and positive classroom change? Let’s find out together.