About this session
We start this session with two 20-minute talks, followed by an extended Q&A and panel discussion. The first of our talks in this session, by Steven Copeland is titled 'The Future of English: past and future predictions'. The talk presents the findings of the first two phases of a multi-phase research project. The aim of the project is to identify key trends that will define the role of English as a global language in the coming decade and the issues and opportunities for countries in achieving their goals for the use of English in their contexts.
The second talk, by Neenaz Ichaporia, is titled 'What is the role of the teacher in an increasingly automated online educational landscape?'.
In this talk, Neenaz considers the effect of increasing automation on teachers’ roles: how it does, or does not augment, displace, or replace teacher roles. While some see automation as supporting the teacher, others believe it will alter the teacher’s core role, even displacing the teacher. We will critically approach these claims about automation and teachers, considering various technological interventions along the ‘automation spectrum’ such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), chatbots, adaptive learning and intelligent tutoring systems. Finally, we will discuss the need for teachers to actively participate in the process of technological design and development, as a means of empowering teachers to shape learning processes and environments.
Following the two talks, Steven Copeland will chair the panel discussion on the them 'The Future of English' with Neenaz Ichaporia, Mike Solly, Colm Downes and Professor Vuyo Nomlomo.
Watch the recording below
About the speakers and panelists
Neenaz Ichaporia is Head, Academic and Teaching Delivery at the British Council. She is responsible for the design and delivery of our online English language courses, leading on content development, teacher training and quality assurance.
A former journalist, Neenaz has worked in English Language Teaching since 2010. She is currently finishing an MSc in Digital Education from the University of Edinburgh. She also has a Cambridge Delta, a certificate in e-Moderating, and a certificate in ELT Management Skills from International House, London.
Over the years, Neenaz has presented several talks and workshops on themes of online learning and teaching, including at New Directions Uzbekistan 2021 (online), New Directions Yokohama in 2019, IATEFL Liverpool 2019 and IATEFL Glasgow, 2017.
Steven Copeland is Research and Insight Lead for the English Programmes team at the British Council. He was previously the British Council’s Head of Examiner Standards for IELTS, prior to which he spent twenty years as a teacher, examiner, teacher trainer, materials writer and academic director in South-East Asia, South America, North Africa and the UK. He has an MA in TESOL from the Institute of Education in London and the RSA DipTEFLA.
Colm Downes is currently the Director English, Education and Society at the British Council Indonesia. He has been involved in education, specifically language education and professional skills training, for over 20 years across Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. Colm is passionate about equipping future leaders with the specific language skills, network and opportunities they need to drive transformative social economic change and develop solutions to global challenges.
Mike Solly is currently on the writing team of the forthcoming Future of English publication, which aims to identify significant trends likely to influence English Language teaching in the future. Mike has worked in the English language teaching field for more than 30 years, having spent 15 years as a classroom teacher, then as a teacher trainer and materials designer, and then managing both small and large scale ELT projects and networks for the British Council. He has lived and worked in a number of countries and spent many years in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Professor Vuyokazi Nomlomo is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) for Teaching and Learning at the University of Zululand. She holds a PhD in Language and Literacy Studies and is an established NRF-rated researcher who is recognized for her work in the fields of language policy, mother tongue and multilingual education. Her passion is also in teacher education and gender equality in education. She has been able to work across disciplines in exploring the nexus between language, mathematics and science education, and has published extensively in these areas.
Her research is informed by her epistemic stance with regard to social justice and social constructivism in terms of the role of language in enhancing or constraining learners’ epistemological access to learning in different contexts.