Learning, Connection and Celebration in Braga
In November 2025, the IH Young Learner Conference brought IH Young Learner teachers and academic managers from across the network to the vibrant city of Braga, Portugal, for three days of shared learning, fresh perspectives and warm community spirit. Hosted by IH Braga in their 40th anniversary year, the conference was a fitting celebration of everything that makes the IH Young Learner community so special: curiosity, care, collaboration and a deep commitment to quality education for children and teenagers.
From the very start, the setting felt significant. Braga – one of Portugal’s oldest cities, yet known for its youthful energy and growing university population – provided the perfect backdrop for a conference focused on young learners and the futures they are shaping.
Day 1: New perspectives and practical classroom ideas
The conference officially opened at IH Braga with a full day of workshops that invited participants to explore new ways of thinking about teaching and supporting young learners and teens. Sessions covered a wide range of topics, from helping students bridge the gap from upper-intermediate to advanced levels, to preparing learners for exams without losing sight of meaningful language learning.
There was a strong focus on understanding learners as people as well as students. Workshops explored behaviour support, accountability, mixed-ability teaching and ways of connecting with Gen Z and Gen Alpha through inclusion, rapport and empathy.
Throughout the day, sessions balanced theory with practical, classroom-ready ideas that delegates could immediately take back to their own contexts.
The day ended on a social note, with welcome drinks in the city and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections and continue conversations beyond the sessions.
Day 2: Big ideas, bold thinking and shared inspiration
Day two brought everyone together for a series of plenary sessions that encouraged delegates to zoom out and see the bigger picture of young learner education.
Speakers invited participants to rethink linguistic diversity and inclusion, explore how concept-based inquiry can empower young learners as changemakers, and gain deeper insight into how the teenage brain affects learning, behaviour and motivation. Other plenaries focused on CLIL, digital pedagogy and storytelling, offering fresh inspiration alongside practical implications for teachers, trainers and coordinators.
Across the day, a clear theme emerged: supporting young learners means supporting the whole ecosystem around them – teachers, academic managers, families and communities – with understanding, empathy and well-informed practice.
The conference also gave space to celebrate the expertise within the IH network, with speakers from IH schools around the world sharing experiences, research-informed practices and honest reflections from their own classrooms and institutions.
Learning beyond the sessions
As always, the IH Young Learner Conference was about more than the programme alone. Informal conversations over coffee, shared meals and lively discussions between sessions were just as valuable as the scheduled input. These moments allowed participants to compare contexts, swap ideas and remind themselves that many of the challenges faced in YL education are shared across borders.
The social highlight of the conference came with an authentic Portuguese dinner in Braga, where delegates were treated to local cuisine and a performance by traditional musicians Tun’ao Minho. The evening was a joyful celebration of culture, community and connection.
Celebrating 40 years of IH Braga
The conference was also a special opportunity to celebrate a major milestone for our hosts. IH Braga marked its 40th anniversary during the event, a testament to decades of commitment to young learners, families and the local community. As a pillar of both the IH network and the city of Braga, the school’s role as a community hub was felt throughout the conference – from the warm welcome to the pride in sharing local culture with international colleagues.
Looking ahead
The 2025 IH Young Learner Conference in Braga was a powerful reminder of the strength of the IH community when it comes together face-to-face. Delegates left with new ideas, renewed motivation and a shared sense of purpose: to continue improving learning experiences for children and teenagers in diverse contexts around the world.
With old friendships strengthened, new connections made and plenty of inspiration sparked, the conversation is sure to continue well beyond Braga.
Até o próximo ano!
