Is the native speaker still the ideal model, given that English is now used predominantly by non-native speakers? In this workshop, we’ll share our own teaching experiences and examine how to better equip students for global communication. Together we'll review freely available resources to enhance lessons and embrace a flexible ELF approach, shifting from traditional EFL methods to support diverse, real-world English use.

In this workshop we will look at how to enhance our students' conversational skills and how to provide them with the language and strategies they need to communicate effectively in English. How can we teach them the tools to deal with unexpected situations and language? How can we build their confidence and encourage them to focus on fluency rather than accuracy when speaking? How do we develop active listening and peer interaction? We will also look at how to structure a conversation class well, discuss choosing good materials and topics, and keeping our students engaged in activities. You’ll leave with some new strategies to create dynamic and motivating conversation classes that cater to a range of learners' needs and abilities.