From 18 to 20 September 2026, Warsaw hosted the 35th IATEFL Poland International Conference, held at Vistula University. This year’s event, entitled The Changemakers’ Revolution, brought together English language teachers, researchers, educational experts and innovators from around the world. The conference encouraged educators to rethink traditional teaching practices, explore new technologies and reflect on their role in shaping the future of education. Representing LAKMA, I had the wonderful opportunity not only to attend this international event but also to contribute to its programme as a speaker.
The conference offered an exciting variety of presentations, practical workshops and opportunities for professional exchange. One of the greatest highlights of the conference was to meet educators and experts in English language teaching. Among them were Rob Howard, Jeremy Harmer, Jim Scrivener, Rachel Paling, Hania Kryszewska, Marta Rosińska and Grzegorz Śpiewak. Having the opportunity to visit lectures, workshops and learn from such experienced professionals was particularly rewarding.
A meaningful part of my experience was delivering my own presentation, Beyond Words: The English Classroom as a Thinking Space. In my talk, I explored how English lessons can become much more than opportunities to develop vocabulary and grammar. Through literature, articles, videos and thought-provoking discussions, students can learn to question assumptions, consider different perspectives, evaluate information and express their ideas confidently. Sharing classroom experiences with an international audience was really exciting.
Yet what made the IATEFL Poland conference especially enjoyable was not only its academic programme but also its atmosphere. Conversations between sessions, exchanges of classroom ideas and the enthusiasm of fellow educators were just as valuable as the formal presentations. Both Friday and Saturday evenings had special entertainment events which helped us to relax after intense conference days – I had the opportunity to attend the VIP dinner and see the theatre performance Lady Macbeth – the Rebrand brought by young professionals from English Touring Theatre Company. Both events were fun and inspiring.
I returned to Kaunas with fresh ideas, new perspectives and, perhaps most importantly, renewed enthusiasm for teaching. The conference reinforced my belief that English classrooms should be places where students do not simply learn a language but also learn to think, question, collaborate and grow. Beyond the latest technologies and teaching trends, we should remember that education is ultimately about people. Regardless of where we teach, we share the same goal: helping young people become thoughtful, curious and responsible individuals.
