China-UK ELT partnership set

Two prominent organizations in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT), China's 21st Century English Education and the UK's International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), have forged a significant alliance by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This landmark agreement signals a pivotal moment in their joint efforts to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster international collaboration.

The signing ceremony took place on April 17, set against the vibrant backdrop of the 57th annual IATEFL conference, which was held from April 16th to 19th in Brighton, UK. This ceremonial occasion solidified the official collaboration between the two entities, aimed at empowering English educators, enhancing teaching practices, and promoting cross-cultural appreciation.

This collaboration aims to stimulate meaningful dialogue and cooperation among English educators both in China and across the globe. It offers English teachers opportunities for professional development, including participation in international conferences and engagement in collaborative projects. Teachers from diverse backgrounds can leverage both IATEFL's annual conference and 21st Century's Global English Education China Assembly (TCA) to exchange ideas, share best practices, and draw inspiration from each other's experiences.

Zhang Haigang, deputy editor-in-chief at21st Century, hailed the signing of the MoU as a milestone in global English language education collaboration. He expressed optimism about the prospects for increased dialogue, joint training projects, and resource sharing between the two organizations, believing that this partnership will enhance the quality of English language teaching in China and foster greater interaction and exchange among Chinese ELT professionals with their peers worldwide.

Alex Popovski-Golubovikj, president of IATEFL, emphasized the significance of international collaboration in advancing educational goals. "IATEFL is thrilled to collaborate with 21st Century to offer more opportunities and benefits to English teachers in China and beyond," she stated. "We look forward to partnering with TCA to raise teaching standards and enhance learning experiences globally."

The signing event was attended by representatives from 21st Century and IATEFL, as well as language experts from the British Council, an advisor of the Global English Education China Assembly. The British Council played a pivotal role in facilitating this collaboration, with British Council China joining forces with 21st Century to bring a group of English teachers to participate in this year's IATEFL conference.

IATEFL's annual international conference stands as one of the premier events in the English language teaching calendar worldwide. According to Jon Burton, chief executive at IATEFL, this year's conference has attracted approximately 2,000 international delegates from over 100 countries. The four-day event features a diverse range of presentations, workshops, forums, as well as an exhibition and dynamic social programs.

The 2024 Global English Education China Assembly (TCA 2024), an international conference aimed at fostering dialogue and exchanges in English education between China and the global community, is scheduled to take place from July 25th to 28th in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. English teachers are encouraged to visit the Assembly's website at tesol.i21st.cn to submit proposals and access additional information.