Reflecting on an Inspiring IH AMT Conference 2025
The IH Academic Management & Trainers (AMT) Conference 2025 brought together language teaching professionals, school owners, and IH members from around the world for a truly enriching experience. Held at the stunning 10 Union Street in central London, this year’s event provided invaluable opportunities to network, explore cutting-edge innovations, and gain practical insights to elevate language education.
A Gathering of Experts and Innovators
From the moment attendees arrived, the venue buzzed with conversations as old colleagues reconnected and new friendships were formed. Over coffee, delegates shared stories of classroom triumphs and challenges, swapping ideas on how to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of language teaching.
The conference kicked off with an inspiring welcome, setting the tone for a weekend filled with stimulating discussions, engaging workshops, and plenty of “aha!” moments. Attendees left sessions feeling energised, with fresh ideas to take back to their schools and institutions.
Key Takeaways from the Conference
Each day of the conference delivered insightful discussions, practical tools, and innovative ideas to enhance teaching and leadership in language education.
Day 1: Hands-on Workshops and Innovation
Day 1 started with two workshops, “The Art of Giving Good Instructions” by Lindsay Clandfield and “A Toolkit for Trick Conversations” by Hannah Youell. With Lindsay, the audience re-examined best practices for giving instructions for activities, both spoken and written and online (and why this is a great skill for students to learn too). Hannah followed with a fantastic session where she provided hands-on exercises, role-play and real-world scenarios to give the audience strategies to improve communication with teams, students and peers. Later we had sessions on innovation in the IH network and the language education industry in general.
Day 2: A Day of Dynamic Duos & Thought-Provoking Conversations
Day 2 was filled with engaging sessions from our IH Directors of Studies (DoSes) and Trainers, many of whom teamed up to share their experiences with the audience. It was inspiring to be part of such thought-provoking conversations, covering a wide range of topics, from spheres of influence and cognitive biases to the art of listening and teacher recruitment. The audience was treated to an incredible mix of research, personal experience, and even a sprinkle of entertainment from our ever-vibrant IH community.
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Day 3: Plenary Sessions & Transformative Ideas
The final day of the conference featured powerful plenary sessions that left a lasting impact:
- Emma Gowing provided practical steps for teacher wellbeing, offering tangible strategies to support educators in maintaining balance and motivation.
- Richard Chinn inspired attendees with insights into trying and testing new ideas in teacher development, encouraging innovation in training practices.
- Dr Ben Beaumont from Trinity College London spoke about empowerment through the development of teacher cognitions, offering a fresh perspective on teacher education and professional growth.
- Joanna Szoke delved into the crucial topic of AI literacy, presenting activities that can help both teachers and students improve their understanding of artificial intelligence in education.
Rose Aylett closed the conference with an engaging and interactive session on transformative theatre in education, which had the audience moving, acting, and reflecting on the power of drama in the classroom.
Innovation in Language Teaching: The Launch of TeacherMatic
One of the most exciting moments of the conference was Avallain’s launch of TeacherMatic—an innovative tool designed to streamline lesson planning and resource creation. Attendees were abuzz with excitement, recognising its potential to revolutionise lesson preparation. “This is a game-changer,” one school director commented. “I can’t wait to try it with my team.”
Networking and Community
One of the most cherished aspects of the IH AMT Conference is the sense of community. Whether it was catching up with familiar faces over lunch or diving into deep discussions during breakout sessions, the event provided countless moments for meaningful connections. “I always leave this conference feeling inspired and supported,” shared one long-time attendee. “It reminds me why I love what I do.”
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A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors
A special thank you to our partners and sponsors who helped make this event possible:
- GuardMe Canada, our official partner, for their continued support.
- Avallain, for choosing the IH AMT Conference as the launchpad for TeacherMatic.
- Trinity College London, for their invaluable insights into teacher education.
- Oxford University Press, for shedding light on the Oxford Test of English.
- Macmillan Education, for sharing their latest ELT solutions.
- The Bournemouth English Book Centre (BEBC), for helping delegates expand their book collections.
- LANGUAGECERT, for connecting with the IH audience and sharing their expertise.
Relive the Best Moments
If you missed the event or want to revisit the highlights, check out our social media channels for videos and photos from the conference. We look forward to welcoming you to the next IH AMT Conference—until then, keep the conversations going and continue to inspire one another in the world of language education!