This April, with support from British Council Viet Nam, a number of Vietnamese teachers and academics joined well over 2000 English language teaching (ELT) practitioners from around the world, to participate in the 59th edition of IATEFL 2026, the premier global ELT conference, held in Brighton, UK. In addition to the British Council delegation, Viet Nam’s ELT community was well represented with, among others, Hornby Trust scholars plus two of the 27 IATEFL Scholarship winners were from Viet Nam. In addition, there was a presentation about our successful Teacher Activity Groups (TAGs) programme in Viet Nam.
Below, we learn how three of the participants supported by British Council Viet Nam felt about participating in this flagship conference, what they learnt and how they feel other Vietnamese ELT practitioners could benefit from participating in future editions of this annual conference.
What the participants said…
'The conference was a valuable opportunity to expand my knowledge, strengthen my pedagogical skills, and engage with the global ELT community, bringing together professionals from different backgrounds to share challenges and explore solutions for the future of ELT.
Two key themes stood out: EMI and ELT career pathways. As Vice President of UEF, where English is the primary medium of instruction, I found the EMI discussions especially relevant. While EMI is growing rapidly in Vietnam, there is still a shortage of lecturers who can teach specialized subjects in English. The conference provided insights that can be applied to enhance teaching and curriculum development. The sessions on ELT career pathways also broadened my perspective beyond traditional roles, highlighting more diverse opportunities for graduates.' – Dr Do Huu Nguyen Loc, Vice President University of Economics and Finance (UEF) and Chairman of HCMC TESOL Association
'IATEFL 59, was a powerful reminder that at its core, English language teaching is about human connection. As Jeremy Harmer poignantly shared, while technology evolves, it is our investment in 'human-to-human' care that truly defines our impact, something AI can never replicate. This conference is a vibrant Community of Practice that fuels continuous professional development by bridging theory and the classroom and through learning opportunities in presentations, workshops, and meet-up events with almost 2000 participants.
I was inspired by Scott Thornbury’s practical shift toward teaching grammar through high-frequency chunks and Alan Maley’s profound insights into the cognitive role of silence in the classroom. Seeing the legendary Penny Ur deliver a plenary was the ultimate testament to our profession as a lifelong learning journey to enrich our social and pedagogical competence to thrive.
For those considering joining future IATEFL events, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) can offer more information and financial support. It is an unparalleled opportunity to rediscover your teacher wellbeing and grow alongside the very authors who shaped our profession.' – Associate Professor Vu Thi Thanh Nha, Faculty Dean, VNU-ULIS
'Attending IATEFL 2026 gave me space to reflect on where English language teaching is heading globally, and more importantly, how these developments connect with our work at HCMUE. The themes I found most useful were AI in language education, EMI/CLIL, teacher professional development, and creativity in language teaching.
The discussions on AI, including insights from leading practitioners such as Nik Peachey and Penny Ur, helped me think more critically about how digital technologies can support teaching, feedback and learner autonomy without replacing teachers’ professional judgement, creativity and care.
The sessions on EMI and CLIL were highly relevant to Vietnam’s current direction of strengthening English use in schools and higher education. They offered useful ideas for how we can better prepare future teachers to support both language development and subject learning in bilingual and English-medium contexts.
What I appreciated most about IATEFL 59 was the way it connected global conversations with local priorities. I returned from Brighton with practical ideas for curriculum review, teacher professional development and AI-supported teaching at HCMUE, as well as renewed motivation to contribute to English language education in Vietnam.
For colleagues considering future editions, I would say that IATEFL is a powerful space for professional renewal, meaningful exchange and international engagement.' – Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh, Dean of English Faculty, HCMC University of Education
What’s next?
Over the next few months, British Council in Viet Nam, with the support of Drs. Binh, Loc and Nha plan to disseminate further learnings from IATEFL 2026, explore how some of the themes and content could support Viet Nam as it embarks on implementation of the English as a Second Language policy agenda and also encourage more members of Vietnam’s ELT community to consider participating and presenting at IATEFL in future years.
For further information, please contact englishprogrammes@britishcouncil.org.vn.
