{"id":10863,"date":"2024-10-28T11:07:16","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T10:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yals.rs\/yals-annual-conference-2024\/"},"modified":"2024-10-29T00:09:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T23:09:13","slug":"yals-annual-conference-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yals.rs\/en\/yals-annual-conference-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Yals Annual Conference 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Reported by Mirjana Grandov Laci\u0107<\/p>\n

Yals Annual Conference 2024 took place on 12 October in the Palace Hotel in Belgrade and gathered a large number of language teaching professionals from both the private and the state sectors. For many years it has been one of the most significant CPD events for English language teachers, \u00a0foreign language school owners, and others involved in language services.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s conference was entitled \u2019\u2019Dynamic Methodologies for Effective Teaching\u2019\u2019 and the programme included five sessions: two plenaries delivered by Ana \u0110or\u0111evi\u0107, PhD, Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade and Danica Jerotijevi\u0107 Ti\u0161ma, PhD, Faculty of Philology and Arts, University of Kragujevac and three presentations \u00a0\/ workshops delivered by Yals teachers and school owners, Nina Stojanovi\u0107 and Dragana Bo\u017ei\u0107 (Language Centre\u00a0 Oskar – Belgrade), Ljubomir Vasojevi\u0107 (Blackbird Language School \u2013 \u010ca\u010dak),\u00a0 and Jelena Spasi\u0107 and Marija Pejatovi\u0107 (Oxford School \u2013 Leskovac).<\/p>\n

Yals conferences are organized with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of high quality in language teaching and learning and the significance of continuous professional development of teaching staff and education centres\u2019 managers.\u00a0 The Conference 2024 covered a range of topics. In the first session Ana \u0110or\u0111evi\u0107 questioned the need to teach English language and literature students, some of them prospective English language teachers, about ALL the ELT methods found in textbooks. In the second session Danica Jerotijevi\u0107 Ti\u0161ma showed us that it takes just a little effort and creativity to turn pronunciation activities, usually neglected,\u00a0 into effective communication practice. Nina Stojanovi\u0107 and Dragana Bo\u017ei\u0107 discussed developing early writing skills with ESL students focusing on practical advice and activities that teachers can implement in the classroom with little preparation time and resources. Ljubomir Vasojevi\u0107 delivered a presentation on two most popular Cambridge English exams \u2013 B2 FCE C1 CAE: motivation as a factor of success, strategies in planning an exam preparation course, hig- quality materials and resources to prepare students, and new formats of these two exams. In the last session, Jelena Spasi\u0107 and Marija Pejatovi\u0107 presented activities that can be used with learners of different ages and levels of English to teach them one of the most important 21st-century skills, to think critically.<\/p>\n

Once again the conference was an excellent opportunity to share experiences and best practices, exchange professional ideas, discuss projects at national and regional levels, and socialize with colleagues thus strengthening existing networks or creating new ones. The attendees enjoyed the wonderful panoramic view of Belgrade from the terrace of the conference room while sipping coffee during the coffee breaks and a delicious meal at the hotel restaurant on the ground floor. The raffle which was organized at the end of the conference, generously contributed with select gifts by RELO (Regional English Language Office Belgrade), gave the final touch to this wonderful event. Over 80 attendees attended the conference and in the evaluation form they filled out at the end they spoke extremely highly about it. The majority rated the event as excellent\u00a0 and said it was very likely that they would attend it in the future or recommend it to a colleague. Also, the event was rated as very well organized with the right duration, engaging speakers and useful content.<\/p>\n

Click on the links to see the presentations.<\/p>\n

ELT Methods Revisited : Takeaways and Throwaways<\/strong> Ana \u0110or\u0111evic\u0301<\/a><\/p>\n

A Spectacularly Particular Pronunciation Practice <\/strong>Danica Jerotijevic\u0301 Tis\u030cma,<\/a><\/p>\n

Success at B2 First and C1 Advanced: Cambridge English for Teachers and Schools <\/strong>Ljubomir Vasojevic\u0301<\/a><\/p>\n

You’ve Got the Write Stuff <\/strong>Nina Stojanovic\u0301 & Dragana Boz\u030cic\u0301<\/a><\/p>\n

Critical thinking in the classroom <\/strong>Marija Pejatovic\u0301 & Jelena Spasic\u0301<\/a><\/p>\n