IATEFL Conference - The Brighton Experience

IATEFL Conference - The Brighton Experience

• 
• Editor / City & Guilds
  http://www.cityandguildsenglish.com
• June 20 2011

Besides the famous Pier and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton had another powerful attraction in April this year, at least for the world of English Language Teaching: the IATEFL Conference, now simply referred to by teachers as Brighton 2011. Brighton - the scene of pleasure-seeking and the hub of the English world of artists - has now enticed a multitude of English teachers from all over the world who were flooding the conference venue - the Brighton Centre - with a keen interest to find out about the recent developments that will define English teaching for the future to come.  

City & Guilds, as one of the main certificate-providers in English language, was duly represented with an impressive stand. The inclusion of City & Guilds on the list of the UK Border Agency approved exam providers had been hot off the press literally a few days before the conference started and this important piece of news attracted a host of visitors to our stand. Teachers are always eager to provide their students with the best possible choice of an English exam that is both friendly and provides outstanding opportunities for mobility and this made City & Guilds stand an excellent hot-spot of interest. Besides the UK Border Agency recognition., visitors could learn about our new support website for IESOL www.cityandguildsenglish.com, about the range of new support materials as well as some new recognitions recently released.

Not even the promenade and the beach - the chief competitors of the conference venue for the participants' attention - could diminish the enthusiasm of English teachers in serving their professional development goals. Vincent Smidowicz, City & Guilds professional teacher trainer, was continuously available at the stand to shower interested teachers with practical ideas for the English classroom, tries and tested methodology tips, guidance on exam preparation for City & Guilds IESOL and not the least his witty puns that broke the serious routine of the day for a moment and made visitors laugh.

We will heartily welcome you at our stand at IATEFL UK in the future as well.