Some thoughts behind the scenes
Our teacher events at LanguageCert start with questions and big ideas; we want our teaching community to reflect on big ideas that shape our everyday practice. We are all for practical activities, but we also want to invite teachers to think about key topics in society and honor teaching as an intellectual profession.
So, we usually start with asking big questions and brainstorming with the team: There is a lot of talk – a lot of chatter in classrooms, and often times for good reason a lot of noise, but is there communication?
We all would argue that we instinctively know what communication feels or sounds like. Is it about having a voice? Is it about being heard? Is it about having a message? Possibly all.
As teachers we feel that we have a message, but how many times do we feel that we are in a classroom with an audience that is not a real audience, as they are not willing to listen. Or are we learners whose voice cannot really surface through curricular requirements? And is it perhaps that today we have the most means ever to communicate, but all we want to do is talk? And how can we model that act of what good human communication feels like and sounds like for our students?
In our context, we train in the modalities of ancient rhetorical practice, where Aristotle identified ethos, pathos and logos as the pillars of effective communication. We seem to have it sorted very early on. But we fail.
Communication is an intention we perform in the presence of a receptive interlocutor. The metaphors we use for good conversations evoke water: Good conversation flow, they go deep, they are clear. But with bad ones it is like treading water or drowning in detail; they are stagnant.
With these thoughts in mind, we wanted to start the year thinking deeply and uncomfortably about what real communication sounds like, feels like in a language classroom. And of all the times we have failed to communicate with all our best training, preparation and intentions.
With the LanguageCert team, we have invited teachers with whom we have inspiring conversations about what constitutes good communication or even effective communication, which may be two different things. We’ve decided to host a dialogic event that blends expert voices with teachers on the ground, and big questions with practical frameworks. Join us this November!
Event Title: Voices in Education: Teacher Edition 2025
Theme: Creating spaces for conversations (powered by LanguageCert)
Date: 27 November 2025
At the heart of language teaching lies communication. Teachers don’t just teach words; they help learners discover their voices, shaping how they connect with the world. Just as learners deserve to be heard, so do teachers.
Voices in Education is our way of celebrating teachers’ expertise, creativity, and the unique power of human connection that defines their work. By launching this global event, powered by LanguageCert, we reaffirm our mission: to empower teacher voices, foster dialogue within the teaching community, and create a true sense of belonging among educators worldwide.
Each year, Voices in Education will explore a theme that matters deeply to teachers. For our very first edition, we begin with “Creating Spaces for Conversation.” This theme reflects the essence of effective language teaching; building classrooms where communication thrives, every voice is valued, and teachers themselves feel empowered to lead the dialogue.
What the event is about
In this live and interactive webinar, internationally recognised teacher trainers Anna Hasper and Kieran Donaghy will share practical frameworks and strategies for creating caring classrooms and integrating multimodal approaches that mirror the realities of today’s learners. Through a blend of expert input, teacher reflections, and dialogue, participants will explore how authentic connections and creative pedagogies empower both teachers and students to thrive.
By the end of the session, every participant will receive a Certificate of Attendance (If they attend 80% of the session) along with an exclusive Teaching Resources Pack; a curated collection of materials and ideas designed to extend the webinar’s insights into your everyday classroom practice.
To continue the conversation beyond the event, we’ve created an interactive Padlet where teachers worldwide can share their voices. We invite you to join in by answering one simple but powerful question with just one word. Your contribution will become part of a collective reflection that showcases the diversity and unity of our global teaching community.
“What is the one word or phrase that empowers you as a teacher?”
