An Important Milestone for EFL Teacher Training
Our annual conference “Navigating Change: Reimagining Possibilities in Education”, which took place last Friday 10th October at the FAST Conference Centre, achieved an extraordinary result: for the first time we exceeded 200 participants, marking a record attendance that confirms the importance of continuous professional development for English language teachers.
Thank You to Those Who Believe in Professional Development
Our heartfelt thanks go first and foremost to all the teachers who chose to dedicate their day to professional development. The outstanding attendance and the positive energy they brought to the room demonstrate how much English teachers from state and private schools of all levels care about their professional growth and the quality of teaching they offer their students. Seeing over 200 colleagues gathered to exchange ideas, learn and share experiences in an atmosphere of genuine collaboration is the truest testament to the passion that drives our EFL teaching community.
International Speakers of Excellence
The 2025 Milan English teacher training conference featured presentations from internationally renowned speakers who addressed the most current challenges in English language teaching.
We would like to warmly thank all the speakers who shared their experience and expertise:
Evelina Galaczi (Cambridge University Press and Assessment), Director of Research for English with over 30 years’ experience, opened the day with “GenAI is here: What’s next for language assessment?”, offering a balanced overview of artificial intelligence in language assessment and education.
Fleur Yerbury-Hodgson (Oxford University Press), Managing Editor specialising in professional development for teachers, explored the theme “Compassion in education: how to create a better future for learners and teachers”, reflecting on the purpose of education and the benefits of a compassion-based approach.
Donatella Fitzgerald MBE (Pearson), awarded the Member of the British Empire in 2024 for services to English education, presented practical strategies for cultivating a love of reading and supporting students’ emotional wellbeing through inclusive and collaborative reading projects.
Katherine Stannett (National Geographic Learning), an author with over twenty years’ experience specialising in materials for children and teenagers, discussed soft skills and 21st century competences with “What’s in the frame? Preparing our students for an uncertain future”.
Chris Roland (Macmillan Education), trainer and methodologist based in Seville, conducted a genuine “methodological salvage operation” for classroom activities that don’t work, offering practical solutions for common problems in classes with teenagers and adults.
Sarah Ellis (Cambridge University Press and Assessment), Senior Manager based in Bologna and expert in assessment literacy and digital skills, concluded the day with “Empowering Learners for the Age of AI”, exploring how to develop AI literacy in language students.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
The conference was made possible thanks to the invaluable support of our sponsors, who each year believe in the importance of English teacher training and support our educational mission. We warmly thank:
- Cambridge University Press and Assessment
- Oxford University Press
- Pearson
- Gruppo Editoriale ELi and National Geographic Learning
- Macmillan Education
In addition to the international publishers, the day was enriched by the presence of partners such as Moovy Educational Adventure Maker, who presented innovative solutions for language learning.
Artificial Intelligence, Innovative Methodologies and Networking
The conference programme, which ran from 9.00 to 16.15 entirely in English, alternated plenary sessions with networking opportunities during the coffee break and lunch. The energy and enthusiasm that characterised the entire day created a positive and stimulating environment, encouraging effective professional exchanges amongst colleagues.
Teachers had the opportunity to visit the sponsors’ stands, consult updated teaching materials and network with colleagues from across Lombardy and other regions, with participants travelling from as far as Turin and Piedmont, creating significant professional connections that will continue beyond the event.
The topics covered ranged from the integration of generative artificial intelligence in teaching to ethical language assessment, from strategies for developing a love of reading to the soft skills needed to prepare students for an uncertain future. Particular attention was paid to practical methodologies that can be immediately applied in the classroom and to the specific challenges of teaching teenagers.
MIUR-Recognised Certificate
We issued all participants with a certificate of attendance valid for recognition of teacher training. International House is a member of AISLI (Italian Association of Language Schools), an accredited body for school teacher training (Decree 177/2000 and Directive 90/2003 of the Ministry of Education).
Upcoming Events: Saturday Workshop for Teachers
English teacher training in Milan continues with our free Saturday Workshops, monthly seminars dedicated to EFL teaching led by Cambridge CELTA and DELTA qualified trainers. The workshops represent an accessible professional development opportunity for all teachers interested in exploring innovative teaching methodologies, classroom management techniques and strategies for teaching grammar, vocabulary and language skills.
International House Milan: Quality and Experience in Language Teaching
The success of the annual conference is part of the tradition of excellence that has characterised International House since 1953. Our English school in Milan offers courses for adults, teenagers and children, Cambridge and IELTS exam preparation, as well as internationally recognised teacher training programmes such as CELTA, DELTA and IH VYLC (Very Young Learners Certificate).
The IH Milan teaching staff is composed of qualified teachers with Cambridge CELTA or DELTA certification and years of experience in EFL teaching. The quality of teaching is based on updated communicative methodologies, authentic teaching materials and a learner-centred approach.
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For information about the next conference and free workshops:
Teacher Training International House Milan