MELTA

Using AI in the humanistic language classroom
2026-02-21 15:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Berlin)
The true power of AI in ELT lies in hyper personalisation, which allows us to stop teaching ‘classes’ and start teaching individuals by creating unique, real-time learning pathways for every single student. AI has the ‘potential’ to be an enormous force for good within education. It also has the ‘potential’ to do enormous harm. How that potential is realised depends on our ability to help our students understand and negotiate how to use it wisely. As educators this isn’t a process we should abstain from but a responsibility we should engage with. Or should we be concerned that our profession is sleep walking towards an AI induced crash in human values? How can we ensure we use AI to promote our humanistic approaches in English language teaching and training?
To join please send an email to info@pilgrims.co.uk and they will send you the zoom link to join the panel discussion.

HELTA SWAP SHOP: BESIG HIGHLIGHTS
2026-01-31 10:00 - 12:00

Annual Christmas Party - This year with show’an’tell
2025-12-06 19:00 - 22:00
Where: VHS Rosenkavalierplatz.16
Underground: Arabella Park
Start: December 6, at 7 p.m.
We’re hoping you’ll flex your muscles and bring along some great Christmas ideas to charm and entertain your colleagues, classes and family in the Festive Season!
If you plan to come and (we hope!!!) present an activity,
please drop a line to info@melta.de
Have a wonderful Golden Autumn and TALK SOON!
Your MELTA committee

Canva ELT branding: create smarter, reach further
2025-11-29 14:00 - 16:00
Click here to register

Webinar: Working humanistically – Seven practical activities
2025-11-22 10:00 - 13:30
To register, please send an e-mail to info@melta.de
Working humanistically – Seven practical activities
We live in an increasingly technological world with all its wonderous gadgetry. Kahoots, Quizlets, Mentimeters, Padlets etc are everywhere, and, of course, they offer teachers many exciting options. However, over-reliance on such tools can lead to gimmickry and “edutainment” at the expense of real person-to-person engagement. In this workshop you will participate in seven creative activities which ensure that you are at the very epicentre of the learning process.
Simon Marshall has worked as an ELT teacher, trainer, and academic manager for more than 40 years for various organisations, including York St. John University, Pilgrims, International House and the British Council. He is particularly interested in the principled application of Humanistic Approaches to language teaching and teacher development. He is also a keen etymologist and reader of philosophy and psychology.

Online Workshop: Teacher Well-Being with Christine Muir Sat 15th Nov 10am-12pm
2025-11-15 10:00 - 12:00
How do you define good teacher well-being?
What does good teacher/professional well-being mean or look like to you?
This two-hour workshop will support you to articulate your own answers to these questions – and going a step further, it will also help you to develop tangible and immediately actionable steps to increase your professional well-being.
We will begin by exploring key conceptualisations and definitions of well-being, building on this to support an initial well-being health check up. Developing understandings about exactly what we mean when we talk about ‘well-being’ is key to maximising positive change.
The workshop will support you in developing a personalised job demands ‘resource-model‘ by considering both the costs of your role and the physical, social, organizational and psychological resources available.
We will finish by exploring possibilities of ‘job crafting’ – how you can craft task, relational and cognitive aspects of your role to better align with your personal strengths, needs and interests.
As experts in your professional context, this highly participatory workshop will facilitate opportunities to both share your experiences and to learn from others.

Bio
Christine Muir is an Assistant Professor in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Nottingham. Drawing on her broad background as an English language teacher, her research interests remain highly applied. They are rooted in the broad field of language learning psychology and focus particularly on language learner motivation and language teacher well-being.
Christine has published widely, in handbooks, edited volumes and journals. She is also an active member of the international teaching and research community. She currently sits on the Executive Board of the International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning.

How to join:
ELTABB members: free. Please RSVP on the Ning.
Other ELTA members: free. Email events@eltabb.com to get the link.
Non-members: €10. Email events@eltabb.com to book your place.

38TH ANNUAL IATEFL BESIG CONFERENCE
2025-11-07 - 2025-11-09
38TH ANNUAL IATEFL BESIG CONFERENCE
Location: President Hotel, Kifisias 43, Athens, Greece
Date: November 7-9, 2025
Theme: Business Unusual – Rethinking Business English for a Changing World
Registration at: https://www.iatefl.org/event-details/#/?id=674
(Early bird registration until September 15, 2025)
Hotel reservations: Delegates can book rooms at the President Hotel at a discounted rate by using the code IATEFL25 on the hotel’s website
Further information is available at: www.iateflbesig.org

ELTABB online workshop: Cut the Noise: Turning your clients into clear communicators with Vicky Margari
2025-10-11 10:00 - 12:00
In today’s hybrid workplaces, even highly skilled professionals can struggle with unclear emails, endless back-and-forth and miscommunication across channels. We trainers often try to address these challenges by telling, explaining and teaching. But real transformation takes more than that. In our role, we are in a unique position to give our clients more than just language lessons. We can empower them with insights and tools to work better together.
In this online workshop, you will:

try out practical activities for building clarity in digital communication, including helping clients identify and cut noise in their daily work,
discover strategies to help clients choose the right channels and habits, so messages are delivered and received with greater impact and efficiency,
collaborate with fellow trainers to address real workplace communication challenges, sharing ideas and adapting approaches for different contexts.

You’ll walk away with a toolkit of ideas and approaches to partner with your clients as they reflect, challenge assumptions and transform how they communicate at work.

Bio:
Vicky Margari spent two decades in hospitality, customer service and insurance, leading teams, before moving into business English training. Although she was steeped in language rules from an early age and is still a bit of a language nerd, her business background taught her that the real communication issues professionals face go far beyond language. Vicky’s mission is helping virtual teams communicate more clearly and confidently across digital channels in today’s multi-communicating, fast-changing work environments.

ELTABB members: free. Please RSVP on the Ning.
Other ELTA members: free. Email events@eltabb.com to get the link
Non-members: €10. Email events@eltabb.com to book your place

GMF conference 2025
2025-10-10 - 2025-10-11
GMF Bayern e.V.
Gesamtverband Moderne Fremdsprachen Bayern
Save the date: GMF conference 2025, at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität in Nuremburg on October 10-11, 2025
GMF is an association dedicated to modern language teaching. This year’s conference is focused on the topic “Quality assurance in foreign language teaching in times of teacher shortages”.

There will be keynote speeches, workshops and plenty of opportunities for exchanging ideas and networking

Updates on the programme will be published in due time at: https://gmf-bayern.de

Melta Summer Beer Garden Social
2025-07-19 18:00 | Braunauer Hof am Isartor, Frauenstr. 40, München, 80469, Germany

Show'n'Tell Workshop
2025-06-28 14:30 - 18:00 | VHS Arabellapark (first floor), Rosenkavalierplatz 16, München, Germany

Talking pictures with Robert Kirstein
2025-06-14 10:30 - 12:00
Activities revolving around texts and audios are commonplace in language classrooms. But do we really exploit the full potential of the many great visuals available in our materials? In this webinar we’ll be taking to heart the old saying ‘A picture is worth a 1000 words’ by exploring the various possibilities pictures and illustrations provide. We’ll be focussing on ways in which you can use images to help consolidate and expand your students’ vocabulary and grammar. You’ll have the chance to try out a range of activities based on photos and illustrations in various course books, and which you can adapt for use with other materials. Come along, enjoy English, enjoy pictures and enjoy yourselves!
To register: https://eltaf.de/future-events/

Canva ELT materials: create smarter, teach better
2025-05-24 11:00 - 13:00

Think like Leonardo Da Vinci and teach your students too!
2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:00
In this interactive, experiential webinar we will study and practice the seven Da Vincian principles so that you can try them out yourself with the intention of taking them into your language classroom to help your students develop their own creative thinking in English. The session will be largely interactive with very little theory. We will be DOING!!!!
To register: https://eltaf.de/future-events/

IATEFL highlights
2025-05-16 17:30 - 19:30

Let’s Talk Business Impact!
2025-05-10 10:00 - 12:00 | MVHS, Rosenkavalierpl. 16, München, 81925, Germany
Speaker: Anna Wilby, English teacher, Business English expert. and teacher trainer
Business Impact is a new and innovative business English course aimed at levels B1 to C1, available in both print and digital form. Its content is up-to-date and relevant, and its modular structure is unique in that it enables trainers to use the material either as a course, or to choose modules flexibly, according to the needs and interests of their learners.
This workshop will introduce you to the material, explore its features, and focus on how you can get the most from it in the context of your business English courses, in order to enhance the learning and enjoyment of your learners.
Code: 6505
Please, click here to register!

PRICING Q & A FOR FREELANCE TEACHERS AND TRAINERS
2025-04-05 14:00 - 16:00
Pricing is a topic that challenges many freelance language professionals. In this webinar, we want to help you with your pricing problems.
To make the session as relevant as possible, we will be addressing your specific questions. When you register for the webinar, let us have your questions on the topic. What do you want to know about pricing? What do you have most difficulty with? What do you want to improve?
We’ll take the most common questions and work together to bring you answers that you can apply to your specific work situation.
In his first career, Mike Allison learned how to consistently quote higher prices than the competition and still book the work. Since switching to business English training, he continues to be fascinated by pricing dynamics and its role in the sales process.
Register here

Melta is marching again in this year’s St. Patrick’s day parade
2025-03-16
There will be 67 groups marching and Melta will be No. 44 in the line!
So, do come and join us to march proudly under that MELTA banner!
Date: Sunday, March 16
Meeting time: 11:30
Meeting place: Wedekind Platz (near McDonald’s)
If you think you’ll be joining us, please drop an e-mail to info@melta.de so we’ll have an idea of how many people to expect!
CU there (in green)!
All good wishes from your
Melta Committee

Business English Evolution - Key takeaways from BESig Malta 2024
2025-03-06 19:30 - 21:00
The 37th Annual IATEFL BESIG Conference, held in Malta from November 22 to 24, 2024, centered on the theme “Business Frontiers – Creating the Future Together.” The conference addressed five key topics:

Business English learning technologies: AI, online teaching, platforms, tools, and resources.
Teaching practices: Transferable activities, learning strategies, and best practices from the
Business English classroom. Future-proofing our industry and our clients’ jobs: Marketability, well-being, and employability.
Sustainability: The role of Business English in promoting positive social change, inclusivity, and sustainable practices.
Global world: Managing multicultural business and classroom environment.

Approximately 20% of the conference content focused on AI and technical skills, while the remaining 80% emphasized human-centered soft skills. This highlights the growing importance of mastering professional communication and intercultural competence—now more essential than ever for trainers.
How do you, as a trainer, integrate these skills into your lessons?
In this webinar, I will provide a concise summary of the key takeaways from the BESIG Malta Conference. This will be followed by a panel discussion, interactive role-playing activities, and shared experiences to deepen our understanding and to solidify our expertise.
Register here

AI fireside
2025-02-20 19:00 - 20:00
Informal online event to learn about, discuss and share practical ideas on AI topics:

Short talk on latest news/developments – James

Q&A – attendees and James. What would you like to know/ understand better/ make better use of?
Our experiences and thoughts – everyone

Thursday 20th February 19:00 – 20:00
Register HERE link. Then you will receive the link to the Zoom call by email.

Making grammar teaching enjoyable and memorable with Alan Marsch
2025-01-25 10:30 - 12:00
Learners (and sometimes teachers) often link the teaching and learning of grammar with words such as ‘boring’ and ‘difficult’ and they tend to associate grammar with a heavy focus on memorisation of ‘rules’. This session looks at ways of making the presentation and practice of grammar more engaging, enjoyable and memorable for learners, using (slightly) creative techniques which also contribute towards ‘noticing’ and remembering what otherwise may pass them by and in some cases to ‘deeper processing’ and therefore internalisation of challenging grammatical concepts. Oh yes, we might have some fun, too!
This session is appropriate for any teachers who teach grammar, so teachers of learners aged 10 upwards.
Click here to register

Melta Christmas party 2024!
2024-12-07 19:00 - 23:00
Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat …
And Melta is preparing for its annual Christmas Smash!
If you’d like to present or (try out!) a Christmas activity
that we can share in our classrooms,
just let us know in advance or simply present it then and there!
When: from 7p.m. on December 7, 2024
Where: at the VHS, Rosenkavalierplatz 16,
U-Bahn 4, Arabella Park
Melta will supply the drinks and we can all share
your wonderful culinary specialities …
Motto: caring is sharing!
The evening programme will also include:
Our annual – books, cds, teaching materials contributions – sale.
All contributions welcome!
All proceeds go to Ukraine’s school fund!
And Phyllis will be there to lead the Carols on the piano.
– Should you have any special wish for your favourite Carol – let us know.
As always: please register,
so that we have an idea of how many to expect –
at info@melta.de
CU there
The Folks at Melta

37th Annual IATEFL BESIG Conference
2024-11-22 - 2024-11-24
This year’s IATEFL BESIG will take place at Urban Valley Resort and Spa, Trig Wied Ghollieqa, San Gwann, Malta. The conference will begin at 14.00 on Friday, 22 November and end at 13.00 on Sunday, 24 November.
The conference theme is “Business Frontiers – Creating the future together”. Talks and workshops will focus on business English learning technologies, teaching practices, future-proofing and employability, sustainability and teaching in the global world.
Proposals for talks and workshops are welcome. The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2024. You can find the guidelines and the possibility to upload your proposal here.
Online registration for the conference will close on 18 November, although you can still register onsite in Malta. Follow this link for more information and to register for the conference.
Accommodation in Malta is available for a special rate at the resort. Email address for reservations is: reservations@urbanvalleyresort.com using code “IATEFL BESIG 2024”. The deadline for conference rates is 31/08/24.

Direct learning strategies to support learner skills
2024-11-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Online, Webinar
Summary
After looking at indirect learning strategies in our face -to- face workshop earlier this year, in this webinar we will be delving into direct strategies and looking at ways to help your students learn how to improve skills (such as reading, writing, etc.) and learn vocabulary and grammar as well as looking at effective exam preparation. As always with Rachael, after a lively session, participants will come away with food for thought and something fun and useful for the next class.
To register, please send an e-mail to: info@melta.de

About the presenter
Rachael Harris is a qualified SEN coordinator and teaches ELT, literature, and media studies in a secondary school in Geneva, Switzerland. She has published various materials and articles in these fields, including her latest book, Activities for Developing Learning Strategies with Delta publishing. She is joint coordinator for IATEFL Inclusive Practices & SEN SIG and is passionate about discovering how all learners learn best.

Online HELTA Workshop
2024-11-09 14:00 - 15:30

Online event: TRUE STORY! Winning Hearts & Minds through Storytelling
2024-10-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Online, Webinar
Summary
In this highly practical and interactive session, we’ll explore the why, what and how of storytelling for business and professional purposes. We’ll identify the most effective storytelling technique. And we’ll try out awareness-raising activities based on authentic video clips as well as simple narrative-frameworks that will coax a compelling story out of the shyest speaker!
To register, please send an e-mail to: info@melta.de

About the presenter
Mark Powell has been involved in Business English as a trainer, director of studies, publisher and instructional designer since 1989. He has also been an accredited teacher trainer with both the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Trinity College London, running the Cert TEB and Cert IBET more times than any other individual trainer. A popular keynote speaker at educational conferences all over the world, his bestselling titles include In Company (Macmillan), Presenting in English (Heinle-Cengage Learning), Dynamic Presentations and International Negotiations (both Cambridge University Press). More recently, he has turned his attention to the fertile middle ground between language and soft skills development and is currently setting up a training company to focus on this emerging market – Soft Skill Studio.

Working in international teams: what can we do better and how can AI help?
2024-10-12 14:30 - 17:45 | VHS Arabellapark (first floor), Rosenkavalierplatz 16, München, Germany
Please note: This in-person event will be preceded at 2:00 p.m. by a meet and greet session with coffee and cake.

Summary
More and more people work in international teams, whether as leaders or team members, face-to-face or remotely. This can be stimulating but typically involves different working styles and cultures, leading to potential misunderstandings and conflict. Using content from the book Trainingsbuch Business English (Haufe), participants will be encouraged to reflect on how they can encourage clients to develop effective strategies for international collaboration. We will also explore ways in which artificial intelligence — and “intelligent artificiality” — can improve team performance and help to achieve better business results.
To register, please send an e-mail to: info@melta.de

About the Presenter
Ian McMaster is a business communication consultant and author and has been a MELTA member for more than 30 years. He was editor-in-chief of Business Spotlight from 2001-2021 and is a former coordinator of IATEFL BESIG. His latest book (in English with Bob Dignen) is Trainingsbuch Business English (Haufe).

BESIG Online Symposium - Creating Customised Content with the Help of AI Tools
2024-09-28 10:00 - 18:00
Discover how generative AI can revolutionise the way we create customised materials for our learners. Our expert speakers will dive into key questions such as:

How can we effectively integrate generative AI tools in the classroom?
What are the game-changing benefits and potential pitfalls?
How can we leverage these tools to maximize learning outcomes?
What knowledge should we impart to our learners about using generative AI?

Expect practical demonstrations of AI classroom tools that you can start using right away.
Speakers include: Alex Asher, Joe Dale, Kirsten Holt, Melanie Hussell, Parisa Mehran, Nik Peachey, Pete Sharma, Russell Stannard, Rob Szabo, Jo Szoke and Phoebe Tsai
Free for IATEFL members
20 GBP for non-members
Registration closes at 4pm UK time 25 September.
For further information, please contact Silke Riegler at silke.riegler@t-online.de

Melta Beergarden Social 2024
2024-07-20 18:00

Penny Ur: From conflict to complement and games in the language classroom
2024-07-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Online, Webinar
Online, Webinar
Summary
This webinar has two parts.
Part 1: From conflict to complement
A number of controversies in ELT have given rise to hot – sometimes acrimonious – debate: for example, task-based language teaching (TBLT) as against presentation-practice-production (PPP). In this session I will look at a selection of such apparently opposing positions and explore how they might be combined in a principled and adaptable approach to effective English language teaching and teacher courses.

Part 2: Games in the language classroom: A good thing? A waste of time? It depends.
This talk will begin by defining what a ‘game’ is, and will then go on to explore the place of games in the language classroom. It cannot be taken for granted that because a game is connected to English and keeps students happily employed it is therefore worth doing. Many so-called language-learning games simply waste time on fruitless ‘busy-ness’, and may irritate serious students who realize that they are not learning much. I will try to identify some characteristics of genuinely learning-rich games, with examples, and suggest some ways in which routine classroom procedures can be transformed into game-like and enjoyable activities while clearly promoting effective engagement with target language features or providing rich opportunities for fluency practice.

To register, please send an email to: info@melta.de

About the presenter
Penny Ur has extensive experience as an English teacher in primary, secondary and tertiary education and has taught courses for teachers at Oranim Academic College of Education and Haifa University. She has also lectured extensively at conferences worldwide. She is particularly interested in practical aspects of effective English language teaching and the place of research as a source of professional knowledge. She was for ten years the editor of the Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers series. Her books include Grammar practice activities (2nd Edition) (2009), Vocabulary activities (2012), A course in English language teaching (2012), Discussions and more (2014), Penny Ur’s 100 tips (2016), Penny Ur’s 77 tips for vocabulary teaching (2022), all published by Cambridge University Press.
