Innovate ELT Conference
May 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
About InnovateELT
InnovateELT is an annual conference inaugurated in 2015. True to the name, our aim is to discuss the role of innovation in language education and celebrate some of the most exciting things happening around us. The event attracts ELT professionals from around the world, from fields including teaching, training, leadership, materials writing, publishing, EdTech and more!
What can I expect?
As an attendee of the InnovateELT conference, you can expect a dynamic event that will leave you bursting with ideas and ready for Monday! These are just some of the reasons why our attendees keep coming back, year on year:
đ©đ»âđ Attend innovative talks and workshops from ELT experts
đđ»ââïž Contribute towards important discussions which will shake up the ELT industry
đ Network with ELT professionals from around the world
đđ» Participate in competitions to win some top prizes
đŽ Enjoy our sunny garden (an oasis in the city!)
Theme in 2025:Â Your ELT Toolkit!
The theme this year is âYour ELT Toolkitâ and we will be providing an abundance of opportunities for you to share your ideas with others and fill your own toolkit at the same time.
This could be, for example, a new ELT product which is being developed, a teaching or training technique which has proven to work wonders, or innovative practices in leadership and mangement. There is no limit to what may be found in the ELT toolkit at the Innovate ELT conference this year.
Featured Talks &Â Speakers 2025
First and foremost, the InnovateELT conference would be nothing without itâs speakers. Our speakers will deliver a mix of dynamic plenaries, workshops and Q&As that will get you involved and leave you brimming with ideas.
The conference will have three pathways: Â teaching, teacher training and management/ teacherpreneurship. Delegates will be able to focus on one area or dip into a mixture of sessions. This will be a great opportunity to delve into many toolkits, whatever context you are working in!
Duncan Foord
Director of Teacher Training
Jamie Keddie
Teacher trainer, storyteller, author
Andréia Zakime
Trinity DipTESOL Course Director
Lindsay Clandfield
ELT writer and editor
About Duncan
Duncan Foord
Director of Teacher Training
Qualifications: MEd in TESOL, Trinity Licentiate Diploma in TESOL (DipTESOL).
Duncan Foord is a Coach and Mentor for ELT. He is the Director of OxfordTEFL, Barcelona. He has 35 yearsâ experience in language teaching, teacher training and school leadership and management. He is the author of âFrom English Teacher to Learner Coachâ (with Dan Barber, The Round 2014) The Developing Teacher (Delta Publishing, 2009) and The Language Teachers Survival Handbook with Lindsay Clandfield (Its Magazines, 2008). He is lead trainer on the OxfordTEFL Leadership in ELT course.
About Jamie
Teacher trainer, storyteller, author
Jamie Keddie is a renowned teacher, trainer, Oxford University Press author and storyteller who has inspired educators across more than 40 countries. He is well-known for his innovative story-based lesson plans, featured on his platform LessonStream. Jamie is the author of âImagesâ and âBringing Online Video into the Classroomâ (both with Oxford University Press), as well as âVideotelling: YouTube Stories for the Classroomâ (LessonStream Books, 2017). He is also an affiliate trainer at Norwich Institute for Language Education (NILE) in the UK.
He is the founder of LessonStream â a community of teachers with a passion for story and storytelling.
About Andrea
Andréia Zakime
Trinity DipTESOL Course Director
AndrĂ©ia Zakime has worked in the field of language teaching for more than 15 years. She has taught young learners and adults, and worked with course design and teacher training. She is currently a Cambridge CELTA tutor based in Barcelona. She is also the co-founder of What is ELT?, a a blog dedicated to teacher development and education. â
After many years as a tutor on our Trinity DipTESOL course, she is now our Trinity DipTESOL course director.
About Lindsay
Lindsay Clandfield
ELT writer and editor
Beginning his career on Onestopenglish and iTâs for Teachers magazine, Lindsayâs first big published work were the popular photocopiables for New English File (OUP). He was also the author of courses such as Global, Straightforward (Macmillan) and Studio (Helbling). Lindsayâs writing for teachers includes Dealing with Difficulties (co-written with Luke Prodromou) and Teaching Online (co-written with Nicky Hockly). Both are published by Delta Publishing, and Lindsay is the series editor of the Delta Development Books for Teachers Series.
Event location
The InnovateELT Conference takes place at Oxford TEFL, an accredited teacher training school in a great central location in Barcelona â moments away from the Ramblas or Passieg de Gracia, a long avenue with two of most famous GaudiÌ landmarks, “Casa BatlloÌ”and “La Pedrera”.
Oxford TEFL, Carrer DiputaciĂł, 279
08007 Barcelona. Spain
Get involved, get connected, get inspired!
Be a part of InnovateELT 2026!
TestimonialsÂ
The presenters and topics are well chosen
“InnovateELT is an event I look forward to every year. The presenters and topics are well chosen and offer something for all language teachers, from veterans to beginners. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to chat and meet other attendees during the breaks. See you next year!”
â Maria Tinel
InnovateELT attendee, 2024
 A great opportunity to meet other teachers
“This has been a great opportunity to meet other teachers from around the world and to share ideas about the way the sector is moving in this time of great technological and social change. It was really well organised and has inspired me to think about what changes I can make to my own teaching to stay relevant. Thanks!”
â Ruth Mulloy
InnovateELT attendee, 2024
The conference has brought much more new things than I can take
“I canât believe Iâve done it! I came to meet fellow trainee teachers and to say hello to the school that feels like home of my ELT journey. Being here at the conference has brought much more new things than I can take in on this sunny weekend in late May but thatâs how it should be. Thanks to everyone whoâs expanded my mind this weekend.”
âRowan Walker
InnovateELT attendee, 2024