- Record-breaking number of applications for first ever hybrid ELTons ceremony hosted by BBC Radio 4’s Lauren Laverne
- Outstanding Achievement Awards presented to inspiring ELT individual and organisation in ELTons first
- Special commendations awarded to projects excelling in diversity and climate action
Yesterday (15.11), the British Council ELTons Awards for innovation in English language teaching (ELT) were presented in a hybrid ceremony hosted by award-winning broadcaster Lauren Laverne and introduced by British Council Chief Executive, Scott McDonald. In a year of firsts, two Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented, one to an individual and one to an organisation, while one finalist was commended for their commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. This year, the awards were held in partnership with IELTS.
For the past 10 years, the ELTons Outstanding Achievement Award has recognised a member of the ELT community who has made a major contribution to the field of language learning and teaching. This year was no different, with Professor NS Prabhu honoured for his contribution to task-based language teaching (TBLT) in his native India and at universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Brazil for over 40 years.
In response to feedback from the global ELT community and the ELTons judging panel, this year a second Outstanding Achievement Award was presented, this time to an impactful organisation. The A S Hornby Educational Trust, which has supported the professional development of hundreds of ELT professionals, particularly from developing countries, was given the honour on its 60th anniversary.
Upon receiving the award, Caroline Moore, Chair of the Board of Trustees for The A S Hornby Educational Trust, said: “Thank you British Council and ELTons judges for this great honour, we’re incredibly appreciative…A S Hornby was an innovator himself…We’re 60 years old, and we’ve issued 470 scholarships. We’re involved in supporting special teacher research and education projects, many in partnership with the British Council in various countries and regions. The British Council remains an important partner in recruiting scholars to our scholarships.”
In another ELTons first, one finalist was awarded the ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action. Sensations English, an online and app-based resource, offers global news-based lessons covering world issues like climate change. The special commendation was introduced in recognition of the British Council’s global programme, The Climate Connection, focussed on engaging young people around the world in the fight against climate change during and beyond COP26.
Ten entries, including a ‘vlogger academy’ and toolkit for teachers of refugees, were presented with the ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), introduced in 2020 to celebrate finalists whose resources bridge educational inequality, reflect diversity and promote the inclusion of typically underrepresented groups.
The independent judging panel selected the five category winners from a highly competitive field of 31 finalists. Entries were submitted from over 55 countries across six continents, breaking previous ELTons application records. Winners in the awards’ 19th year included an app designed to support children with dyslexia, Facebook Live English lessons for children in Occupied Palestine Territories and innovative educational resources which put the learner first.
Mark Robson, Director English and Exams, British Council, said: “Each year, the ELT sector goes above and beyond to pioneer innovative resources for students and teachers, and it is an honour to continue to recognise their achievements through the ELTons. I am proud that our awards have evolved into a celebration of those projects making waves in global issues like equality and climate action. The talent on display in these areas reveals the vital role English language has to play in navigating our shared future - a role the British Council remains committed to championing. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners!”
Building on last year’s virtual ceremony, the ELTons 2021 was a hybrid event, welcoming around 200 innovators and leaders from the global ELT community to the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in London and over 400 online, with almost 10,000 viewers on Facebook. Those joining virtually were invited to engage with finalists in interactive booths and connect with industry guests in one-on-one video calls. The ELTons TV went live from London, allowing online guests to tune into the event with their hosts Callie Massie and Chia Suan Chong. The ceremony was streamed live to the public via the Teaching English – British Council Facebook Page.
A worldwide call for applications for the ELTons 2022 will be made in the coming months.
ENDS
Images here: https://we.tl/t-4OsqLwJBX4
For more information, please contact: Vicci Nelmes, Media Relations Officer: +44 (0)7933 386075; vicci.nelmes@britishcouncil.org
The full ceremony can be watched here from Wednesday 17 November: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/eltons-innovation-awards-2021-live-online
Search #ELTons for updates.
Winners and finalists of the British Council ELTons Awards 2021
The Award for Digital Innovation
Winner: CIELL-Comics for Inclusive English Language Learning (Lancaster University (UK); AKTO Art & Design College (Greece); Innovation in Learning Institute, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany); Language Centre, University of Cyprus (Cyprus))
An app designed to support students with dyslexia by offering an inclusive, gamified approach to learning how to plan essays at B2+/C1 level.
Finalists:
- BOOKR Class (BOOKR Kids; Hungary)
- Immerse Virtual Language Experience Platform (Immerse VR; USA)
- LearnCube Homework Application (LearnCube; UK)
- Link Online Learners (LOL) (hundrED; Finland)
- Literatu Scribo for IELTS Writing Success (Literatu Pty Limited Australia; Australia)
- Vlogger Academy (Digital Learning Associated Limited with The Weirdos and Creatives Collective; UK)
The Award for Local Innovation
Winner: Facebook Live Team Teaching for the Palestinian English Curriculum (The Hands Up Project (UK); UNRWA (Gaza))
Palestinian English Curriculum sessions held daily via Zoom on Facebook Live in response to Palestinian school closures.
Finalists:
- Booklet of basics grammar in ASL and pictures for deaf and hard hearing (General Directorate for special education and continuous education, Ministry of education in Sultanate of Oman with AI ROYAA NEWSPAPER; Sultanate of Oman)
- Converse Across the Universe: Managing Cross-Cultural Communication (Yelena Golovatch, Margarita Kochan, Yauheni Radzetski; Belarus)
- Mosaik Dogme Toolkit (Mosaik Education with Scott Thornbury; UK)
- Talk about China with Oxford (Oxford University Press Ltd with Jingban Beijing Education Culture Media Co., Ltd; China)
- Volunteers, English Language Learners and Conservation Clubs (Learning and Work Institute with Learning Unlimited; UK)
The Award for Excellence in Course Innovation
Winner: Our Languages (StandFor / FTD Educação (Brazil))
Educational resources that encourage students to ‘own’ their textbooks as they learn, with exclusive digital features, multimedia content and an interactive workbook.
Finalists:
- English Code (Pearson English; UK)
- Fun Skills (Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment English; UK)
- Helping Matters (Perceptia Press; UK / Japan)
- Oxford Discover Futures (Oxford University Press – English Language Teaching; UK, Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, Spain and the Middle East)
The Award for Innovation in Learner Resources
Winner: Fiction Express (Fiction Express (Boolino SL; Spain / UK))
A literacy resource designed to improve all areas of English language learning by creating a student-centred approach through an online glossary, audio version, author forum and other activities.
Finalists:
- Days Crossing (Chasing Time English; New Zealand)
- Escape the classroom (Perceptia Press; UK / Japan)
- Online English Pronunciation Course (Luke Nicholson, Improve Your Accent; UK)
- Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary App (Oxford University Press; UK with Paragon Software; Germany / Russia)
- Para Powerlifting English Competency Course (World Para Powerlifting; Germany with International Paralympic Committee)
- Sensations English (UK)
The Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources
Winner: Teaching English to Pre-Primary Children (DELTA Publishing (Germany))
A book combining theory, practice and professional development to ensure the first early language learning experience is a positive one.
Finalists:
- Communicating Identities (Routledge; UK / New Zealand)
- Engaging Language Learners in Contemporary Classrooms (Cambridge University Press; UK)
- Teacher Wellbeing (Oxford University Press; UK)
- Teaching in Challenging Circumstances (Cambridge University Press; UK)
- The Teachers’ Classroom App (PeacheyPublications Ltd.; UK)
The ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action
Winner: Sensations English (UK)
Global news-based video and article lessons with subtitles, transcripts and interactive activities to extend the learning experience.
The ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Winners:
- Para Powerlifting English Competency Course (World Para Powerlifting; Germany with International Paralympic Committee)
- Sensations English (UK)
- Communicating Identities (Routledge; UK / New Zealand)
- Teaching in Challenging Circumstances (Cambridge University Press; UK)
- Booklet of basics grammar in ASL and pictures for deaf and hard hearing (General Directorate for special education and continuous education, Ministry of education in Sultanate of Oman with AI ROYAA NEWSPAPER; Sultanate of Oman)
- Facebook Live Team Teaching for the Palestinian English Curriculum (The Hands Up Project; UK and UNRWA; Gaza)
- Mosaik Dogme Toolkit (Mosaik Education with Scott Thornbury; UK)
- Our Languages (StandFor / FTD Educação; Brazil)
- CIELL-Comics for Inclusive English Language Learning (Lancaster University; UK, AKTO Art & Design College; Greece, Innovation in Learning Institute, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg; Germany and Language Centre, University of Cyprus; Cyprus)
- Vlogger Academy (Digital Learning Associated Limited with The Weirdos and Creatives Collective; UK)
The Outstanding Achievement Award
Winners:
- Professor NS Prabhu
- The A S Hornby Educational Trust
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. In 2019-2020 we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 14.5 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.britishcouncil.org
About IELTS
IELTS is the world’s most trusted English Language test for higher education, work and global migration. It’s recognised globally by over 11,000 organisations and is the only test that’s accepted by all immigration authorities that ask for an English test. IELTS is delivered at over 1,600 locations in over 140 countries and offers choice to people to take the test either on paper or computer.
The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English jointly own IELTS. https://www.ielts.org/
About the ELTons
The ELTons Awards for innovation in English language teaching are the British Council's own international awards. Now in their nineteenth year, the ELTons aim to find the latest, most original ways to learn and teach English from around the world, with awards for courses, resources for teachers and learners, digital innovations and for projects which bridge educational inequality. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-events/eltons-innovations-awards