Manchester Programme

SIGNATURE EVENTS
The signature events are hosted by major ELT institutions, publishers and IATEFL. They are designed
to showcase expertise and throw light on state-of-the-art thinking in a key area which is relevant to
the particular institution or publisher. The signature events provide a unique opportunity for delegates
to find out about upcoming trends, learn about new areas of research, and engage with well-known,
international experts in exciting and often controversial topics. The signature events vary in format and
include talks, panel discussions and debates. There are five signature events during the conference:
PEARSON SIGNATURE EVENT - Saturday 11th April
Is ELT setting learners and teachers up to fail?
Educators from all over the world agree that measuring learner progress is essential for English
learning teaching. Publishers and institutions make bold claims about the impact of their courses
and the level that students will reach. But are these claims realistic? Are we making promises that we
cannot achieve and setting learners and teachers up for failure? (See page 69)
BRITISH COUNCIL SIGNATURE EVENT - Saturday 11th April
Identifying and developing the skills and knowledge a teacher needs
Quality of teaching is important in increasing learner achievement. How can quality be improved and
meet the challenges of education in the twenty-first century? An invited panel will discuss how we
identify and develop the skills and knowledge a teacher needs to achieve quality teaching and learning.
(See page 94)
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH SIGNATURE EVENT - Sunday 12th April
The language debate
The Cambridge English Teaching Framework, along with most other ELT professional development
frameworks, includes a focus on the teacher’s own language use. English is generally the medium of
instruction, so the teacher’s own language becomes content and, as usually stated in frameworks, the
teacher needs to be an accurate model. This raises a number of questions:
• Which model? And can the teacher whose own language use is developing be an acceptable model?
• Does more importance need to be given to use of the learners’ L1?
• What sort of syllabus should a language improvement course for teachers focus on?
• How different should such a syllabus be from a language improvement course for learners?
These questions will be explored in a panel session, with experts in the field discussing their views
and experiences. The topic will then be opened up to the audience for further debate. (See page 112)
ELTJ DEBATE - Monday 13th April
This house believes that language testing does more harm than good
A remarkable amount of time is devoted to testing and assessment in ELT – by teachers and learners,
by schools and institutions, and, of course, by test designers and administrators themselves. Whilst
tests are disliked by many teachers and learners, others argue that testing is a ‘necessary evil’, or
even that ‘teachers need testers’. Thus, who gains and who loses from testing and assessment in
ELT? Indeed, does language testing do more harm than good? Our two speakers will debate the issues
surrounding language testing in ELT. Please come along, have your say, ask questions – and join in the
vote. (See page 176)
IATEFL SIGNATURE EVENT - Tuesday 14th April
A question of language with David Crystal
Following the enormous success of IATEFL’s first Q&A webinar with David Crystal in 2013, this year
IATEFL is proud to offer its very own Signature Event featuring our highly knowledgeable patron. During
this session, you decide on the content! David will answer questions on various language issues such
as language use and change as well as grammar and lexis. Questions will be collected in advance on
IATEFL’s various social media sites and at the Meet the Patron events at the IATEFL Stand during the
conference. David will also take questions from the floor. Come join this IATEFL Signature Event and
get those questions answered! (See page 234)
GENERAL INFORMATION
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