Yals Annual Conference 2024

Reported by Mirjana Grandov Lacić

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,  foreign language school owners, and others involved in language services.

This year’s conference was entitled ’’Dynamic Methodologies for Effective Teaching’’ and the programme included five sessions: two plenaries delivered by Ana Đorđević, PhD, Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade and Danica Jerotijević Tišma, PhD, Faculty of Philology and Arts, University of Kragujevac and three presentations  / workshops delivered by Yals teachers and school owners, Nina Stojanović and Dragana Božić (Language Centre  Oskar – Belgrade), Ljubomir Vasojević (Blackbird Language School – Čačak),  and Jelena Spasić and Marija Pejatović (Oxford School – Leskovac).

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’ managers.  The Conference 2024 covered a range of topics. In the first session Ana Đorđević 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 Jerotijević Tišma showed us that it takes just a little effort and creativity to turn pronunciation activities, usually neglected,  into effective communication practice. Nina Stojanović and Dragana Božić 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 Vasojević delivered a presentation on two most popular Cambridge English exams – 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 Spasić and Marija Pejatović 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.

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  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.

Click on the links to see the presentations.

ELT Methods Revisited : Takeaways and Throwaways Ana Đorđević

A Spectacularly Particular Pronunciation Practice Danica Jerotijević Tišma,

Success at B2 First and C1 Advanced: Cambridge English for Teachers and Schools Ljubomir Vasojević

You’ve Got the Write Stuff Nina Stojanović & Dragana Božić

Critical thinking in the classroom Marija Pejatović & Jelena Spasić