To mark the British Council’s 90th anniversary, the ELTons Festival of Innovation - a celebration of excellence and innovation in English language teaching - is delighted to announce that renowned lexicographer, etymologist, author and broadcaster Susie Dent will be a special guest speaker at this year’s event.
Taking place between 19 – 20 November 2024, the ELTons Festival of Innovation will feature three headline sessions, as well as a further eight interactive live sessions led by experts from the British Council and the 2024 ELTons Awards Finalists, where cutting-edge innovations in English language teaching will be presented live.
Interested attendees can register now using this link here.
The three headline sessions are:
Session 1: The evolution of English – exploring innovation through language
Featuring: Susie Dent, renowned linguist and lexicographer; Dr. Barbara McGillivray, expert in language and technology from King's College London, and Mina Patel, Head of Research for Future of English at the British Council.
This session will explore 90 new words added to the English language, in celebration of the British Council’s 90th anniversary, and the stories they tell about societal, cultural and technological change. We’ll also look into the Future of English and how the language we use will define the next generation.
Session 2: The great AI debate: ‘a force for good in language education?’
Featuring: Elena Oncevska Ager, Co-Founder of Noticing Network; Guy Zaslavsky, Founder and CEO of Mindojo and Neenaz Ichapria, EdTech Lead at British Council.
This debate will explore whether AI is a force for good in language education by exploring: what aspects of language education can AI help with and how? And what are the limitations and risks of AI in language education? Listeners can have their say in the public vote.
Session 3: Mastering meaningful conversations: why is authentic speaking practice so important and can AI help?
Real-life speaking practice is essential but often hard to access. Can AI help learners achieve more meaningful conversations without losing the richness of real-world interactions?
All sessions will be recorded and available on demand for 48 hours post-event. Attendees can also access seven pre-recorded sessions, allowing for a more flexible experience. For more information on the other festival sessions, please sign up/visit the website using this link here.
Susie Dent, renowned lexicographer, etymologist, author and broadcaster said: “I am delighted to be part of the ELTons festival headline session, marking the British Council’s outstanding contribution to language celebration and exploration over nine decades. Our selection of 90 words added to the dictionary over that time show how language can distil a period and place as powerfully as any photograph. I’m looking forward to sharing those choices and to anticipating those that might define the next 90 years.”
Mark Walker, Director English & Exams at the British Council said: “For 90 years, the British Council has been helping people around the world access life-changing opportunities and build meaningful connections through the arts, education and the English language. As we mark our 90th anniversary this year, this is a timely moment to reflect on the evolution of English as a global language and explore the latest developments in English language teaching and assessment.
“The ELTons Festival of Innovation will feature a wide range of sessions aimed at engaging our increasingly diverse, global audience of English language learners, teachers, and organisations. We're excited to welcome leading experts who will explore important topics like the future of English, the evolving landscape of English language education, and the hotly debated role of AI in shaping the next generation of English language learning.”
On the second day of the ELTons Festival of Innovation, the winners of the 22nd ELTons Innovation Awards will be announced, including eight Outstanding Achievement Award winners, representing regions and continents across the globe. This year the British Council received a record number of over 200 ELTons Innovation Awards entries from 60 countries around the world.