Discovering a new education landscape in a beautiful Albanian landscape

A Report on the 15th ELTA Albania International Conference

by Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz

When my proposal was accepted, and IATEFL Poland nominated me to represent our association at the 15th ELTA Albania International Conference, I was thrilled. I had never been to Albania before, nor had I attended any ELTA Albania conferences. As indicated in the title of this report, the conference was a reflection on the educational landscape, beautifully mirrored in the warm Albanian setting.

The conference took place in Tirana (30-31 May 2025) and was hosted by the Polytechnic University of Tirana. This year’s theme, “Moving Forward: A New Education Landscape,” reflected the dynamic and evolving nature of education, emphasising innovation and new approaches to teaching and learning. Key areas of interest included: – Innovative Methods and Strategies in Language Teaching – Cultural Competence and Intercultural Communication – Language Learning in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) – Technology and Digital Tools in Language Education – Inclusive and Special Needs Education in Language Learning – Teacher Professional Development and Training – Language Learning for Specific Purposes (LSP) – Language Assessment and Evaluation – New Challenges and Opportunities in Language Education.

 Day one was filled with plenary talks. Before they began, Dr Elona Mehilli Kolaj, the president of ELTA Albania, opened the conference. The first speaker was Marjorie Rosenberg, who delivered a talk titled “Getting Unstuck – Stretching Out of Our Comfort Zones.” She concluded her talk with the message to “try something new.” Some examples she provided included writing or contributing to other materials, learning to be an examiner or items writer, translating or interpreting, creating a new curriculum, or presenting at conferences. This last idea resonated with me as it reflected my own journey of expanding my professional capabilities a few years ago. And there I was, presenting internationally!

The next presentation, “Rethinking Assessment in ESL: Moving Beyond Standardized Tests” by Nick Anagnostou, aimed to explore the significance of understanding assessment in the new educational era. He highlighted the importance of formative assessments and learner-centred evaluation, listing useful tech-enhanced assessments such as Flip, Padlet, Google Forms, and Seesaw.

The final presentation on day one was by Daniella De Winter, titled “Innovative Approach to Teaching Reading: Research Affirmed.” It examined the concept of intelligence with a focus on dyslexia and reading challenges, as well as neuroplasticity. The audience received effective strategies to support diverse learners.

Day two began with a plenary talk by Tatjana Slijepcevic, who facilitated an open discussion on “Ethical Perspectives of Using AI in Education.” Following this, we had three parallel sessions, totalling twelve sessions overall. One of them was my mini-workshop: “The Power of a Pop Song to Master Present Tenses and Beyond: A Complete Lesson Plan,” which aimed to teach grammar in an engaging way. The audience took an active part, and I appreciate that very much.

The conference concluded with a final plenary talk by Dr Beatrix Price titled “Voices, Values, Visions: Redefining ELT in Times of Change.” She shared insights on how to refresh our practices to become more adaptable, emphasising the importance of creating a supportive atmosphere, fostering a safe space for developing new skills, volunteering, finding future leaders, and pursuing grassroots initiatives.

The conference wrapped up with a raffle, and I was delighted to win one of the prizes. I also felt happy for two teachers who won summer courses sponsored by Sharing One Language. Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the ELT methodology course in Devon sponsored by SOL, which I highly recommend.

Overall, 15th ELTA Albania International Conference  featured speakers from Albania, the UK, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Israel, Greece, the USA, and beyond. As stated on the ELTA Albania Facebook page, “This conference made a real difference for teachers, empowering them with ideas, practical tools, and a renewed passion for education.”

I would like to extend my gratitude to IATEFL Poland for the grant and to ELTA Albania for their hospitality, and kindness. Dear ELTA Albania, I also appreciate your reflections and feedback about this year’s presentations, including mine, posted on your Facebook profile (https://www.facebook.com/eltaalba). Your kind words brought a big smile to my face. I am very happy that we could strengthen our collaboration.

            A million thanks to the organisers, speakers, guests,  and conference participants for establishing an international learning network in a beautiful summer setting.

BIO:

Dr Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz holds a PhD in Linguistics, an MA in English, and an MA in Polish and Journalism. She is a researcher, English teacher, and teacher-trainer, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Modern Languages at Zielona Góra University. Additionally, she teaches English at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Bolesława Krzywoustego in Głogów. Since 2016, Ula has been a speaker at IATEFL Poland international conferences and has conducted numerous live online lessons for IATEFL Poland. Together with Magdalena Kaźmierkiewicz, she is a co-founder and coordinator of the IATEFL Poland project „From Pre-Service into In-Service: Professional Development for Professionals-to-Be.” Ula has represented IATEFL Poland at several prestigious events, including the ETAI Summer Conference in Israel (2022), the 45th TESOL Greece Convention (2024), the 43rd TESOL France Annual International Colloquium (2024), and the 15th ELTA Albania International Conference (2025). Throughout her career, she has presented 50 times at linguistic congresses and TEFL conventions, both in Poland and abroad, and has published 2 academic books and 36 papers. To learn more about Urszula’s research and publications, visit her ORCID: 0000-0002-3004-082.  She is most proud of her latest research book titled „Recenzja muzyczna jako gatunek wypowiedzi. Ujęcie kontrastywne,” Zielona Góra 2024 („A Contrastive Genre-Based Music Review Study,” published by Zielona Gora University Publishing House).