In 2005, my husband and I embarked on our first adventure in Latin America. We started with a monthlong stay at a friend’s in Ilhabela, Brazil. Our next stop was Montevideo. Needless to say, this city will always hold a special place in my heart. 

If you’d told me then that I would return 20 years later to speak at a conference, I probably wouldn’t have believed you! But this year I returned and delivered a workshop on making learning accessible in the mixed-ability classroom. 

The content of my session was in some ways a sneak peek at the pre-recorded input I created for Rachel Oner’s Learning Differences and Inclusion course for Nile ELT. I discussed barriers to learning and made suggestions of simple ways to make lessons accessible for diverse abilities and learning needs. 

Montevideo

Montevideo in winter reminded me of Scotland. Walking along the seafront, I felt like I was in a Scottish coastal town. Even the architecture was reminiscent of Glasgow! 

I didn’t have a huge amount of time for sightseeing, but I knew that I wanted to eat choripán at the Mercado del Puerto. On our first visit 20 years ago, this was my first introduction to a chorizo roll. I have dreamed about it ever since. 

The sessions

Ben Goldstein

Ben Goldstein’s opening plenary asked "Where do I fit in now?" He explored post-pandemic teacher roles and how teachers fit in the age of AI. It focused on how teachers can offer their empathy, understanding, and human touch to connect with learners. The session was engaging, thought-provoking, and reassuring. 

Emily Bryson

I got lucky and had the second slot. My workshop gave teachers the opportunity to explore simple ways they could make learning accessible. I was delighted that many teachers enthusiastically approached me at the end to say how helpful and inspiring it had been. Even Jeremy Harmer said it was "absolutely brilliant." You can’t beat a review like that from an ELT great!

Susan Hillyard & Claudia Rey

Next up were Susan Hillyard and Claudia Rey, who share 90 years of collective teaching experience. They took us on an entertaining journey from the era of tapes and developmental psychology to the current era of social-emotional learning, inclusive practices, and AI. They also shared their top tips for how to stay enthusiastic, inspired, and resilient. 

Juan Maria Segura

Juan Maria Segura then presented in Spanish. "Que hacemos con el aula?" or "What can we do with the classroom?" This pushed my Spanish to the limit, but I think I got the gist: We need to embrace technology to reach learners, especially from younger generations. The session was provocative and ensued in much animated discussion. 

Ines Stefani

Ines Stefani’s workshop on reading made some important points. The crucial takeaway was that reading comprehension activities can kill the creativity of reading books in class. She offered various alternatives to inspire learners and maintain the simple pleasures of reading in class. 

Lorena Estefanell

The penultimate session was Lorena Estefanell on "45 habitos mentales para bienestar" or "45 mental habits for well-being." The session was in Spanish again and I admit that I snuck out! I’m not sure my brain cells had the energy for a session in English, let alone rapid Rioplatense. I took the opportunity to seek out coffee and cake, then felt the FOMO when everyone came out raving about how amazing it was! 

Jeremy Harmer

The closing plenary was given by the legendary Jeremy Harmer. It was every bit as memorable as you’d expect. He talked about the benefits of singing in class and as a means of developing social connections. To this end, he got us to all sing a wonderful song he’d written. The song was a welcome to people resettling into a new community. It really resonated with me as the majority of my learners have been from refugee backgrounds. 

Sketchnotes

As usual, I created some sketchnotes of the sessions. These help me to focus during the session, and they serve as a visual reminder of the key takeaways. 

You can view my sketchnotes here.
 

How to get involved 

If you’d like to attend next year, you can find more information at: 
www.anglo.edu.uy or follow them on socials @InstitutoAnglo. I certainly hope to be back!

You may like these conference-themed posts: 

• Peru TESOL 2024:  Reflections & Takeaways
• How to Get the Most Out of an ELT conference
• Speaking at an ELT Conference: Demystifying the Application Process
• Speaking at an ELT Conference: Top Tips for Successful Presentations
• Sketchnoting 101: Supercharge Professional Development with Visual Notes
• 10 Practical Ways Teachers Can Excel with AI
• Developing Learner Autonomy with AI

Have you been to the Anglo Congress before? What were your experiences?