South Asia TeachingEnglish online conference 2026
As English teachers and teacher educators, we work within educational systems shaped by institutional structures, prescribed curricula and assessment requirements – contexts that can leave limited space for creativity. Yet creativity remains essential to meaningful teaching and learning. This year’s conference theme, Creative teaching, creative learning: Embedding creativity in teaching, inclusive practice and digital integration, invites you to reimagine your classroom practice by embedding creativity purposefully across all dimensions of pedagogy. Together, we will explore how creative approaches can foster inclusive, engaging and digitally enriched learning experiences that support learners at every level.
This was a three-day online conference that took place on July 23, 24 and 25, 2006. Recordings can be watched below.
Day 1
About the Day 1 sessions
Session 1: Plenary: Creativity matters: Reimagining English classrooms where every learner has a voice
Speaker
Anju Moses (Sri Lanka)
Session information
This interactive plenary explored how creativity can transform English language teaching, even within the constraints of exams, large classes and prescribed curricula. Drawing on the belief that learners learn differently, it positions creativity as a core element of effective and inclusive pedagogy. The session examines how creative approaches build learner confidence, collaboration and meaningful language use while supporting language development. Participants will engage with practical, adaptable classroom ideas through polls, reflection and activity demonstrations.
Session 2: Webinar: Teaching English creatively: What’s your secret ingredient?
Speaker
Huma Hasna Riaz Ahmed (India)
Session information
This practical webinar explores how creativity in English language teaching can emerge from the resources, experiences and languages that learners already bring to the classroom. Participants will discover ways to increase learner engagement, participation and meaningful language use using everyday classroom and community resources.
Session 3: Teachers share: How can we engage our learners through creative activities?
Speakers
Mithila Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka), Shobha Bhattarai (Nepal) and Dr Md. Mostafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
Session information
Watch three expert teachers from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka sharing practical activities that build critical thinking, creativity and learner autonomy in the English language classroom.
Download Teachers share Day 1 handout
Day 2
About the Day 2 sessions
Session 1: Plenary: Adventure trips or guided tours? Creativity in multilingual classrooms
Speaker
Dr Amol Padwad (India)
Session information
This plenary session critically examines common misconceptions about creativity in English language and multilingual education. It explores both the conceptual foundations of creativity and the practical challenges of fostering it in diverse classroom contexts. Drawing on examples from different teaching environments, the session highlights how creative approaches can enrich learning and address classroom challenges.
Session 2: Webinar: Designing for voices: Creative pathways to inclusion, gender equity and multilingual participation
Speaker
Rabia Shafi (Pakistan)
Session information
Focusing on everyday classroom interactions, this webinar examines how multilingual approaches and inclusive practices can amplify learner voice and support equitable participation. Participants will identify barriers to engagement and discover strategies that promote gender equity and diversity. The session offers adaptable techniques for creating more inclusive and responsive learning environments.
Download Rabia’s handout
Session 3: Teachers share: How can we foster creativity in inclusive classrooms?
Speakers
Nisar Shaikh (India) and Astha Kumari (Nepal)
Session information
Two experienced teachers from Nepal and India share creative strategies for building more inclusive classrooms. These are approaches that you can use to value your learners’ linguistic diversity and encourage more equitable participation.
Download Teachers share Day 2 handout
Day 3
About the Day 3 sessions
Session 1: Plenary: Integrating digital technologies to enhance language learning
Speaker
Dr Fauzia Shamim (Pakistan)
Session information
This plenary explored how digital technologies can enhance language learning when thoughtfully aligned with sound pedagogical principles. The session considers the evolving role of AI, highlighting its potential as a learning assistant rather than a replacement for teachers. Drawing on classroom and teacher education examples, it emphasises the importance of using technology to amplify creativity, interaction and effective teaching practice.
Session 2: Webinar: Low-resource, mobile-first approaches to multiliteracies and authentic production
Speaker
Dr Md. Mohib Ullah (Bangladesh)
Session information
This webinar challenges traditional uses of digital technology in English language classrooms and advocates for learner-centred, creative digital production. Introducing the CREST framework, it demonstrates how teachers can design authentic, technology-integrated tasks that engage learners as creators rather than consumers. Participants will explore practical, low-resource activities suited to South Asian classroom contexts using everyday digital tools.
Session 3: Teachers share: How do we integrate technology in low resource classrooms
Speaker
Krishna R.C. (Nepal), Soosai Rathinam (India) and Imalka Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka)
Session information
Three expert teachers from around South Asia share practical activities and ideas for using technology in low-resource settings.
About the speakers
Day 1
Anju Moses is an academic leader, educator, author and speaker with over 20 years of experience in education and leadership. She heads the English & Schools Education portfolio at the British Council Sri Lanka and has held diverse leadership roles across teacher development, digital learning and safeguarding.
Huma Hasna Riaz Ahmed is an English language teacher, teacher educator and researcher with over 20 years of experience across India, the UK and the UAE, including 17 years with the British Council.
Shobha Bhattarai is a secondary-level teacher and teacher educator at QUEST Nepal with experience in teacher training, mentoring and action research-based pedagogy.
Dr Md. Mostafizur Rahman is a lecturer in English in the Bangladesh Civil Service (General Education Cadre) with a PhD in Language Testing from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Mithila Weerasinghe is a teacher educator at the Regional English Support Centre, Sri Lanka, and a curriculum developer with expertise in pedagogy and digital learning.
Day 2
Amol Padwad is an ELT professional with over 40 years of experience as a teacher, trainer, teacher community leader and consultant, and formerly served as Professor & Director, Centre for English Language Education, Dr BR Ambedkar University Delhi. He is President of the AINET Association of English Teachers (India) and a Trustee of the A. S. Hornby Educational Trust, UK.
Rabia Shafi is an ELT consultant, teacher educator and materials developer with over 20 years of experience working with teachers, mentors and school leaders across South Asia and internationally.
Nisar Shaikh is a government primary teacher in rural Maharashtra. He is a British Council scholarship winner with an MA in TESOL (University of Leeds) and works with young learners using multilingual and inclusive classroom practices.
Astha Kumari Chaudhary is a secondary-level English teacher and assistant headteacher from Madhesh Province, Nepal. She actively contributes to teacher professional development projects at the national and international level for promoting inclusive, learner-centred education.
Day 3
Dr Fauzia Shamim is Chief Academic Officer at Durbeen, an NGO focused on improving teacher quality in Pakistan, and serves as Vice President of the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT). She holds a PhD in TESOL from the University of Leeds and has extensive experience as a teacher, educator, researcher and academic leader across Pakistan and internationally. Her current research interests include AI in teacher education, teacher research, and language-in-education policy, with a focus on equity and social justice.
Dr Md. Mohib Ullah is an associate professor of English at International Islamic University Chittagong and General Secretary of Bangladesh English language Teachers Association (BELTA), with expertise in EFL/ESL pedagogy, assessment and teacher development.
Imalka Wickramasinghe is a teacher of English at Thaksala Maha Vidyalaya, Sri Lanka, with a passion for creative, interactive, and inclusive English language teaching and actively contributes to learner-centred educational initiatives.
Krishna RC is a secondary school English teacher at Badakholi, Gurbhakot Municipality, Surkhet, Nepal, with experience in action research, creative pedagogy and technology-supported English language teaching.
Soosai Rathinam is a graduate teacher of English at a government high school in, Melapanaiyur, Tamil Nadu, with over 20 years of experience as a teacher and teacher educator, dedicated to English language teaching and professional development.
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