The British Council today announced the shortlist for the ELTons 2015, the annual awards celebrating innovation in English language teaching (ELT) from around the world.
Now in their thirteenth year, the awards which are run by the British Council and sponsored by Cambridge English Language Assessment, are the only international awards to recognise innovative ELT products, services and research in English language teaching globally.
The awards are organised into six categories: Excellence in Course Innovation, Innovation in Learner Resources, Innovation in Teacher Resources, Digital Innovation, Local Innovation and The Macmillan Education Award for New Talent in Writing. (The full list of nominees is below.)
There will be one winner in each category and all the winners will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 4 June 2015.
Anna Searle, Director English Language at British Council said: “The British Council, along with our sponsors, Cambridge English Language Assessment and Macmillan Education, are pleased to announce the ELTons 2015 shortlist. This year, we have once again been impressed by the high-standard of the applications and through these awards, we are delighted to be recognising innovative ELT professionals making a significant contribution across many English language fields. The short list also includes some outstanding applications in the areas of young learners, technology for ELT, EAP and life skills, among others.
“The demand for English across the world continues to grow and we are seeing changes in learner demands, both for new technology to support learning and in expanding market segments. The UK ELT sector remains well placed to respond to this growth in demand, developing innovative approaches to support language learning and teaching needs.
“The ELTons recognise new innovations and the impact these can have for English language learners, meeting demand and reflecting new learning styles. These awards are a great way to support and showcase the creativity in the sector, and to help to bring new ideas to the wider ELT community. We are looking forward to the awards ceremony in June to celebrate the new ideas that will shape English language teaching in the years to come.”
Nominees in the Macmillan Education Award for New Talent in Writing are aspiring ELT authors who may have chosen to self-publish or make their voices heard through different media such as blogs, eBooks or within their own institutions.
The British Council Lifetime Achievement Award, now in its fifth year, awards an ELT professional who has made a substantial contribution to the ELT profession throughout their career.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, and builds relationships for the UK through English, education and the arts. It teaches English in more than 80 countries through face-to-face contact and innovative methods including radio, the internet and mobile technology.