The five lessons of trust

Elena Sarnavskaya is an English teacher, teacher trainer (DELTA), and methodologist with 18 years of experience. She specializes in methodology courses for teachers and materials design. Her professional interests include teaching complete beginners, working with teenagers, and project-based learning.

Theory behind what you do

This talk explores how theories in language teaching are manifested in today’s classrooms. Participants will see how everyday activities, from lead-ins to freer practice, are not done because of “fun” or “that’s how everyone does it”, but are grounded in decades of research. This session will help teachers understand the principles behind what they might be doing intuitively and connect theory to practical decision-making.

Alevtina Popova is a third generation language teacher, language school co-founder and CEO, book author and TEDx speaker.

Fluency is not a Language Skill

Fluency is often treated as a language skill to be trained through practice and repetition. Yet many advanced EFL learners know enough English and still fail to speak freely. This talk reframes fluency as a 'mode of language use', not a linguistic skill. Drawing on language coaching and applied linguistics, it explores why fluency breaks down despite competence, and what teachers can change to stop blocking it in the classroom.

PhD in Education (language testing), a speaking exams expert, an exam trainer ( B2–C2), a holder of Cambridge TKT, CELTA, CPE and NILE TEA certificates, a speaker at ELT conferences (Yarconf, SMART Teach, Wiseman Skills, КРУК).

The school of evidence-based effectiveness: where learning meets assessment

Tired of tests that interrupt teaching? Let's make them work for you instead. In this hands-on session we will discover how to put the Integrated Learning and Assessment model into practice. You'll learn to weave simple, ongoing assessment into your daily ELT routine, using real-time evidence of learning to instantly guide your instruction. We'll explore practical strategies to adapt your teaching, make progress visible, and close the loop between learning and evaluation – all without creating extra tests or pressure.

Freelance tutor with 20 years of teaching experience. She helps young teachers to find their way to a successful career, holds workshops for educational centers and provides methodological guidance.

Motivational challenges: how to increase learners' involvement via reasonably challenging tasks

Motivation is the driving force of learning. We'll take a look at reasonably challenging activities to: *provide a sense of purpose *ensure deeper engagement *create a desire to achieve more *boost overall productivity The thrill and satisfaction of overcoming a challenge provide a strong, intrinsic reward. Let's make a step towards dream motivation-driven learners.

ELT methodologist and exam expert with over 20 years of experience. She works with adult learners, focusing on exam preparation, course design, and psychologically safe learning environments.

One Exam, Many Brains: Neurodiversity in Exam Preparation

Exams are standardised by design, but learners are neurologically diverse. In exam preparation courses, differences in attention, processing speed, anxiety, and cognitive endurance become especially visible and are often misinterpreted as low motivation or lack of discipline. This talk explores exam preparation through the lens of neurodiversity and examines how common teaching practices can unintentionally increase cognitive and emotional overload. Participants will gain practical ideas for creating safer, more inclusive exam preparation environments without lowering academic standards.

A passionate English teacher with over 13 years’ experience and a methodology enthusiast, running her own teaching community. She uses her expertise in reflective practice and lesson observation to help teachers grow, gain confidence, and embrace self-development.

Watch. Reflect. Grow: turn self-observation into inspiration

Observing lessons can be incredibly valuable, yet the word alone often sparks fear in teachers. In this session, I’ll show how to start with gentle self-observation and embrace the process. You’ll discover what to focus on before, during, and after an observation, and I’ll share personal inspiring examples of how it boosted my confidence and developed valuable soft skills. Walk away feeling empowered, not anxious, about being self-observed.

PhD, has 18 years of experience teaching English and teacher-training. She is a TESOL member, NATE Experts Board member, head of Language center “Hi Time”, presenter at international conferences, organizer of annual soft-skill workshops for teens since 2015.

A safe drive through English: 4 wheels of SEL in your classroom

Is it possible to focus on social emotional learning and develop language skills at the same time? After all, the lessons are limited in time and we want to use it effectively. The speaker will show how to introduce simple SEL tools (such as emotions and feelings, self-care and wellness wheels) and use them regularly in a fun and communicative way to develop language skills. The participants will learn practical tips and activities to use four internationally recognized SEL wheels.

Director of Studies of the online school ‘Teachers Teach Teachers’. The lexical approach is her area of expertise which she is truly passionate about. She helps teachers to switch from intuitive lexical teaching to meaningful one.

Turning Emergent Language into Group Learning: A Feedback Framework

In this talk, I will introduce a framework for making emergent language - the spontaneous output of individual learners - a meaningful resource for the entire group. Through a lexical lens, we will explore practical techniques to correct, rephrase, and upgrade this language. The goal is to transform isolated feedback moments into structured, collective learning, ensuring that insights from one student’s output become valuable for all.

An EFL teacher, teacher trainer, founder of "Teacher-Switcher" and "Hungry Teacher" Teaching Communities , CEO of UcanEnglish Language Centre, creator of "The school we love" Vk community for kids. Author of children books and props for teaching.

No More “What Should I Ask?”: Turning Video Game Mechanics into Real-Life Question-Driven English Lessons

In many English lessons, students struggle to ask questions because teachers must first create artificial situations, which leads to repetitive topics and limited use of grammar in questions. In this talk, I will show how mechanics from computer games can be adapted for the classroom, turning question-asking into a motivating activity. This approach encourages students to ask a wider range of questions using different tenses. Teachers will leave with practical techniques that make students eager to ask more questions.

Devoted teacher trainer, online school owner, blogger and author of the book «Легко учить(ся)». More than 5000 teachers succeeded at work thanks to her courses. Tatiana's expertise lies in making teachers’ and their students' lives easier.

East or west - team is the best: building a strong team in both group and one to one classes

We, teachers, tends to underestimate the value of team work when working with groups, not to mention one to one classes. But team work brings every single bright individual to much higher results and creates long-term relationships in all learning contexts. In my session I’ll share a staged plan how to build a strong team (even of 2 people: you and your student) in your classes in order to get outstanding leaning outcomes and exceed your students' expectations.

My name is Victoria Lorents. I’m a multilingual language teacher. Andragody is my passion - I’ve been teaching adults for 25 years. Creating meaningful contexts to help adults learn is my focus. Online and in-person bookclubs are my pet projects.

Pseudostorytelling in adult ELT: When coursebook stories block learning

Adult learners often disengage from coursebook texts not because they dislike stories but because these stories rarely connect to their real lives. This talk explores pseudostorytelling in adult ELT: narratives that look engaging yet block transfer and limit speaking development. I will show how non-reproducible contexts reduce motivation and behavioural practice and offer practical reframing strategies that help teachers turn existing coursebook materials into tools for real-life speaking - without rewriting course plan or abandoning textbooks.

English teacher and PhD in Philology working with learners 14+ in exam, academic and professional contexts. CAE C2 and TKT holder. Uses an eclectic mix of iCLT, SEL, Dogme and emerging language, connecting real-life communication with motivation and AI-supported teaching.

From Brain Fog to Brain Jog: COVID, AI and a Bit of Mind‑Fitness

The presentation examines a WHO-identified trend of cognitive decline in recent turbulent years, with symptoms such as brain fog, reduced focus and motivation, and increased procrastination. It explores the current dual and ambiguous role of AI, which is both a tremendous help and a risk factor for cognitive offloading, overload, and the Google effect. The workshop part offers mind-fitness exercises for teachers and students to sharpen attention, memory, and enhance general well-being in the long run.

English teacher with more than 20 years of experience, teacher trainer at B-Smart Britannia educational centre in Perm. Partipant of Yarconf19, speaker of Yarconf24 and Yarconf25. My area of expertise is teaching adults. TKT, CAE C2.

Taking them out of their comfort zone

"Yes, I can!", our students say at the end of their course. My talk is about a big language school's project for adult groups, combining soft skills, language skills, creativity and assessment. It involves non-judgmental approach and feedback, skills upgrade and student-friendly assessment. Adult learners can benefit from leaving their comfort zone to become more confident in English.

25 years of teaching experience in different contexts from technical university to freelance. PhD in Sociology, full Cambridge Delta Diploma, CPE, author of successful textbooks of English, creator of the course on Practical Methoddology for teachers (47 teachers have completed it).

Peer Observation: Fast-Track CPD Without the Fear

Many believe that lesson observation is Golgotha. Four years ago, I saw it at a different perspective when despite prejudice, I sent my lesson to a colleague and gained rich feedback, plenty of ideas, confirmation of my professionalism and a mindset shift. Delta Module 2 sealed it. Now, I'll persuade you: it's the easiest and cheapest way to grow. It is not about “fear” or “assessment". It is about focus, reflection and exchanging experience.

Holder of two bachelor’s degrees in two different languages- Pedagogical (Russia) and Business management (Finland and Belgium). Has been teaching since 2009. Teaches online YL and VYL. Speaker at the conferences. Works with Non-Neurotypical students. Founder of StP Teachers.

Mnemonic techniques for children

Teaching young learners and very young learners, I know how difficult it can be for children to memories different aspects of a foreign language. Therefore, I came up with different ways how to help them! Now I want to share some of my techniques with you. Some of them are not conventional, but they work! They help my students with reading, with grammar rules and with learning new words.

An experienced English teacher for YLs. She uses Shaggy puppet to create a safe learning environment. Victoria’s the author of Shaggy Phonics, a storyteller, a course creator. She holds Master's degree in Linguistics, Celt-P and TKT YL certificates.

More Than a Teacher: Becoming a Trusted Partner for Parents. A Practical Guide to Parent Loyalty

In her talk, Vika will share how to turn parents into a supportive “dream team.” Based on her unique perspective as a teacher, teacher trainer, and a parent, she will reveal the two key ingredients for success: clear, consistent communication and a genuine human connection. Teachers will learn practical, ready-to-use strategies to build lasting trust and loyalty, moving parents from a role of control to one of collaboration for a much calmer and more rewarding teaching experience.

25 years of teaching experience - self-employed for 5 years - CELTA, CPE holder - author and coauthor of 3 textbooks - course designer - online projects on CPE speaking and writing, with #CPEakingClub running for 5 years.

Effective communication: How not to be a 'difficult' speaking partner

What makes an effective communicator is a set of interactive strategies that they successfully implement in conversations, be it exams or real-life communication. In the talk, we will analyse what exactly is not effective in the communicative strategies of the “difficult speaking partners”. I will share a number of tips as to how one can deal with difficult speaking partners if we come across ones. Finally, we will discuss how to be effective communicators based on Paul Grice’s Conversational Maxims.

A Teacher of High-Levels, internationally certified Teacher Trainer and Course-Developer with 25 years of experience in teaching adult students, most of whom are teacher-learners.

Translanguaging: the What and How

Translanguaging is a buzz word in modern ELT, an educational approach that is challenging the current status-quo in class. It encourages students to use their full linguistic repertoire, validates their identity, boosts confidence and deepens learning, among other significant advantages for students and teachers alike. So, what is the core of translanguaging? How different is it from translating and code-switching? And, most importantly, how can we use it in class for the maximum benefit of all those concerned?

CLIL-methodologist at Pavlovo school, founder of CLIL project HappyMe and author of HappyMe CLIL program. I hold MA in TESOL and MSc in Chemistry. I’m also a cello-player. My interests are CLIL and holistic development in English classrooms.

English beyond the classroom: child-initiated home play

In this talk, I explore child-initiated play as a dynamic driver of second language acquisition (SLA) in young ESL learners, building on key research findings. We'll unpack the concept of self-initiated play within ESL context, review key studies, and discuss practical tips to extend English play beyond the classroom – into joyful, self-led home games.

A senior methodologist at the "Ankor" School in Cheboksary. I've been working as a teacher since 2008. I've conducted over 250 workshops for teachers at our school, have spoken at conferences - online and offline (Yoshkar-Ola, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Volgograd).

On the Other Side of the Desk

My talk, "On the Other Side of the Desk," proposes a vital mindshift: true classroom management begins with managing our own reactions. See disruptive behavior as a student's unmet need - for attention, safety, autonomy. Shift from "How to punish?" to "What is this behavior saying?" I provide practical tools: self-regulation techniques, supportive scripts to act, not just react. The key principle: a teacher's calm is contagious. We build better classrooms by building our resilience first.

Teacher, teacher and exam trainer. She holds an MA in Linguistics and the Cambridge DELTA, CELTA, and CPE qualifications. Her professional interests include pragmatics and intercultural communication.

A Hidden Layer of Language: What We Must Teach Apart from Skills and Systems

This workshop explores why even proficient language users sometimes struggle in real-life communication and how pragmatics helps explain this gap.
It focuses on how meaning is shaped not only by grammar, but by context, relationships, and intention.

The session invites teachers to rethink how they approach rules and consider a shift from teaching rules to teaching choices — helping learners make decisions about how to use language in different situations.

It also looks at how this supports learners’ identity and agency in communication.

Finally, the workshop highlights why this is essential not only for real-life interaction, but also for exam success, where appropriacy matters as much as accuracy.

CELTA-certified expert & IELTS/USE specialist. Mentored 150+ teachers through 80+ coached lessons. A speaker at major forums. A passionate poet and singer.

From Bias to Belonging: A Teacher's Guide to Driving Inclusive Change

This practical workshop equips you to build an inclusive mindset. We explore the neuroscience behind bias and identify personal blind spots in both 1-on-1 and group classes. Learn actionable strategies to effectively support students with ADHD, bipolar, dysgraphia, and PTSD, and prepare them for academic success, including exams.

Over 6 years’ experience teaching children of all ages, holding TKT 1, 2, 3, and YL certificates. Regularly attending online and offline conferences, giving talks at ELT events (Trendy and Teachers’ MeetUp) and running a Telegram channel for colleagues.

Your Students Won’t Remember the Unit — They’ll Remember You: How To Build Learning That Stays

What makes your students remember the unit? The stories inside — or the way you bring them to life? In this talk, blending personal stories with practical teaching techniques, I show how to find common ground with learners, open your “personality box” without compromising leadership, and build stronger classroom connections. You will leave with a fresh way of seeing your role — not as a performer, but as the most powerful learning tool in the room.

Svetlana is a passionate English teacher and neuropsychologist with 20+ years’ experience. She inspires children, adults, and fellow teachers, sharing practical, fun ways to make English learning relaxed, confident, and enjoyable for every student in any classroom.

Safe and Sound: 10 ways how to make your students feel comfortable while studying English

In this talk, I will share 10 easy and practical ways to help students feel safe, confident, and happy while learning English. You will learn simple strategies to create a friendly classroom, reduce stress, and encourage students to speak, listen, read, and write without fear. Real-life examples and tips will show how to make lessons more enjoyable and effective. This session is perfect for teachers who want their students to feel comfortable and motivated every class.

A Cambridge certified English teacher and teacher trainer with more than 15 years of working experience. An author of 10+ methodology courses, a blogger and a methodology podcast host. I specialize in practical and actionable tips for teaching adult learners.

Engaging and motivating adult learners through communicative and realistic lesson aims

At times we might think that adult learners do not need any extra motivation as they willingly attend lessons and pay for them with their time and money. But there is a great divide between how adult learners formulate their goals and how we, as teachers, formulate lesson aims. The talk will attempt to bridge this gap with meaningful and actionable tips that will ensure any learner’s increased motivation during any lesson and throughout the whole course.

Teacher, translator, and ed-tech enthusiast specializing in teaching adults, including experts in finance, IT, oil and gas, metals and mining. My mission is to help people communicate freely anywhere, be it a Q&A session or a coffee break.

Will AI take your teaching job? (And why that is not the question we should be asking)

Whether you use AI or try to stay away from it, you can’t help but wonder if a machine will replace you some day. In this talk, we are going to give an overview of the current state of affairs and examine possible futures of the ELT industry. To do that, we will consider what language learning is, what machines can and cannot do with it, and, most importantly, the role of a teacher in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Techniques to control emotions and avoid burnout in the classroom

Julie Stolyarchuk is a teacher of high-level learners and teacher trainer specialising in C1/C2 levels, speaking clubs and methodology. She has co-authored several courses on methodology and the book "Reinventing your continuing professional development journey".

Working with students you don't like

Teachers aim to give their learners a positive learning experience. But what if the experience isn't so positive for the teacher? We all have that moment: you open your laptop, check the class list, and think…'Ah. them.' Or you walk into the classroom and a student’s face says, 'Not you again.' This session is a practical, research-informed look at what to do when you don’t 'click' with a student – or when the relationship has become tense.

We are a unique ELT project of 6 English teachers who practice playback theatre. Together we rehearse and improvise to play your stories in a fun, authentic and respectful way. All of us are female, Moscow-based and ELT savvy.

My Great Teaching Failure

You are not alone in your teaching journey. Our English-teaching ensemble offers a unique Playback Theatre performance: "My Great Teaching Failure." Teachers share unscripted stories instantly enacted by actors. This immersive experience transforms vulnerability into collective wisdom, reducing professional isolation. Educators witness their struggles reflected onstage normalizing imperfection and sparking laughter. Ideal as a conference closing event, it provides emotional release while strengthening community. By reframing failure as growth, we help teachers reconnect with their humanity.

The author of the early foreign language learning system I love English. For over 30 years she has been working on the creation and improvement of this methodological system. The MirGovorit website is an educational platform that brings together teachers, students and their parents.

Competition in the classroom: pros and cons

How effective are competitive games in the classroom? Are there any pitfalls to using competitive games in the classroom? How can they be developed and what can replace them? Let's look at this in detail using the games we use in our system.

Worked as a legal translator for 10+ years, have been working as an English teacher for almost a decade now. Main interest: modern English spoken discourse and successful transitioning from academic language to real life communicating skills.

From Grammar Rules to Spoken Discourse: How to Work with Movies for Educational Purpose and Wow Effect

I plan to show how working with movies can enhance understanding of different linguistic material, mainly grammatical. Movies provide social context for grammar structures helping to create an important link between structures and situations. The results are impressive: – students get to see how “boring” grammar is used by native speakers, which helps boost their motivation and their trust in their learning process; – students get to observe new meanings & functions that were never discussed in their books.

Teacher trainer and course designer at Trendy English, mentoring English teachers in the "Teacher for Everyone" program. An experienced English teacher Co-author of the courses focused on teaching adolescents and group dynamics. Passionate about invisible learning.

From Fear to Fluency: A 9-Step Framework for Teaching Reluctant Learners

Does your student freeze when it's time to speak? They might have avoidance motivation. This session moves beyond theory to offer a practical 9-step framework. Learn how to build psychological safety, use "low-risk" activities to make mistakes harmless, and guide your learner from silence to confidence. Walk away with actionable techniques and scripts to help your most hesitant students finally find their voice.