Report written by Mirjana Grandov Lacic

This year’s Yals Conference once again highlighted the central role our community plays in shaping modern ELT trends. Bringing together more than a hundred dedicated language teachers, methodology experts, language school owners, and educators from both state and private sectors, the event provided a vibrant platform for sharing fresh ideas, practical tools, and inspiring classroom methodologies.

Regional Success Backed by Long-standing Partners This year’s conference carried a strong international and regional character, enriched by the participation of representatives and guests from language school associations in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Slovakia, and Greece.

Crucial support for the event was provided by our long-standing partners:

1. The Regional English Language Office (RELO) and the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, who sponsored grants for 24 educators in total — 16 English language teachers from state schools across Serbia and 8 representatives from countries covered by the RELO office (Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Slovakia), covering their travel expenses, accommodation, and conference registration fees.
2. Eaquals (Evaluation and Accreditation of Quality in Language Services), an international association of which Yals is an Associate Member, which has continuously supported YALS conferences for many years through the Eaquals Event Member Fund.

 A Dynamic Programme: From American Principles and Classroom Dynamics to A.I. Focused on modern methodologies, educational leadership, and teaching innovations, the conference featured six engaging sessions alongside three project presentations:

• Welcome Address: Marija Pejatović (Yals Chair) and Denise Lowery (RELO Officer, U.S. Embassy in Belgrade) officially opened the event.
• Session 1: “From History to Action: American Principles at Work” – Ivana Banković and Marica Vukomanović (RELO Assistants, U.S. Embassy) explored a pedagogical framework linking historical American figures with authentic language use and personal values in action.
• Session 2: “The Power of Classroom Dynamics” – Nataša Janković, PhD (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education and Adjunct Professor at FDA, University of Belgrade) addressed rebalancing teacher-student interaction to create dynamic spaces for natural language practice.
• Session 3: “The Future of Education: Current Trends” – Beata Dudzińska (Pearson Sales Director for Western, Central, and Eastern Europe) presented key global educational and demographic trends shaping the future of private language schools.
• Session 4: “Motivating Learners & Teaching Soft Skills Through A.I.” – Nicky Koutalianou (Consulting Strategist, Bourtsoukli Foreign Language School and QLS Association, Greece) showcased hands-on AI tools and strategies to boost learner engagement and soft skills.
• Session 5: “Can grammar practice be fun for students?” – Alegra Nikolova-Ristovska (EFL Teacher, Gotse Delchev Primary School, Skopje, North Macedonia) shared 7 practical and motivating grammar activities tailored for primary school learners.
• Session 6: “How to promote leadership skills in education?” – Marija Pejatović (the Head Teacher of Oxford School – Leskovac and Yals Chair) demonstrated how to foster critical thinking, teamwork, empathy, and decision-making skills to nurture future leaders.

Additionally, participants gained valuable insights from three short project presentations: Debate Festival (QLS Association, Greece), Reading Competition (OPTIMA, Bulgaria), and Erasmus+ Opportunity (Blackbird School, Serbia).

Networking and Excellent Feedback Beyond the formal sessions, the conference served as a vibrant platform for networking and exchanging best practices. Participants made the most of the coffee breaks, lunch, and informal gatherings to build meaningful connections and spark future international collaborations.

The day concluded with a raffle, a photo session, and participant evaluations. Feedback collected confirmed the exceptional quality of the sessions and seamless organization.

Here is what some of the attendees had to say:

• Bravo and thank you. The presentations were all very useful and the organisation was excellent.
• I love everything about this conference, I have been attending it for a few years and will attend it every year!
• Thank you, it was a terrific conference. I will come again next year, for sure.
• Well done! Excellent choice of topics and speakers!
• It was a pleasure! Congratulations to the team!
• The event was great! Coming next year!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all presenters, sponsors, partners, and participants who made this event a resounding success. We look forward to welcoming you again next year!

Presentation materials