I recently returned from the 39th Annual APPI Conference in Aveiro, and even though a few days have passed, I still feel that wonderful “warm sensation” the event left me with. Aveiro turned out to be a hidden jewel, a town of canals, beautiful tiles, and a comforting atmosphere that even the gloomy, misty weather couldn’t touch. In fact, the gray skies only seemed to make the warmth of the conference community shine brighter.
The theme this year, “Fostering ELT Communities for a Common Good,” served as a beautiful reminder that the human relationship between teacher and student is at the very heart of the educational process. Everything about the weekend, from the impeccably organized sessions by the APPI team to the shared coffee and lunch breaks, reinforced that sense of unity and purpose.
DramActivating the Auditorium
My own workshop, “DramActivate: Connect through the Power of Drama and Stories,” took place in the “Small” Auditorium. I’ll admit, seeing a 180-seat space for a drama session was a bit daunting. Usually, drama is intimate, but the energy in that room proved that scale is no barrier to connection. My participants were incredibly brave! Many of my colleagues didn’t just watch from the safety of their seats; they were willing to get on stage with me to explore and experiment together.
We worked with a very special “canvas”: the story The Garden Behind The Wall by 10-year-old Nour from Hebron. What made this session particularly moving was the fact that Nour wrote the story herself, giving us a direct window into her world. To bring her words to life, we used a variety of active techniques that can be easily adapted to any ELT classroom:
Rhythm and Repetition: We used call-and-response patterns to build energy and linguistic confidence. There is something primal and grounding about moving and speaking in unison that lowers the affective filter almost instantly.
Talking Objects: We gave voice to the inanimate elements of Nour’s world. This technique allows students to explore complex emotions indirectly, projecting feelings onto objects to make the language feel safer yet deeper.
The Messenger: We introduced this convention to inject a sense of urgency and mystery, keeping the energy high as new pieces of information were “delivered” into the scene. It proved to be a fantastic way to spice things up, as it challenged participants to react and adapt their dialogue in real-time to shifting narrative stakes.
Role-Playing and Creative Writing: These allowed us to step into the characters’ shoes, bridging the gap between the printed word and lived experience.
Watching so many educators engage with these techniques was powerful proof of how storytelling can bridge divides and foster global solidarity.
A Journey Through a Plethora of Ideas
The programme was absolutely packed: with 102 speakers and 89 sessions, the diversity of thought was staggering. It was the kind of event where every conversation in the hallway felt like a mini-masterclass. I managed to bring back some incredible takeaways from my colleagues that I know will influence my own practice:
Compassion as a Methodology: Anna Pires’s plenary, “Perfectly Imperfect,” and her workshop with Fran Seftel and Xana de Nagy on “the quiet work of compassion” were moving reminders that building a classroom community is a “human art.” We often focus so much on the “L” (Language) in ELT that we forget the “E” (Education) is rooted in empathy.
The Power of the “What If?”: Virginia Vinuesa Benítez showed us how to use “What if?” to reimagine stories. This is a brilliant tool for fostering empathy, as it asks students to look beyond the ending and consider the “what might have been” for the characters.
Kindness as a Skill: Vanessa Reilly and Filipa Daniela Duarte (with her “Kindness Sprinkles”) reminded us that kindness isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a skill we can explicitly foster in our classes to create a supportive learning environment.
Empowering the Next Generation: Helena Oliveira on “ELT for the Common Good” and Theodora Bogiou on “Learning that Shapes Behaviour” emphasized that our classrooms are micro-societies. By giving students agency now, we are preparing them to be active, empathetic citizens of the world.
Creative Resilience: Chris Roland was as practical and relatable as ever, showing us how to get “broken” activities working again. It’s a vital skill, knowing when to pivot and how to breathe new life into a lesson that isn’t landing.
The Intersection of Media and Justice: The plenary by Sarah Smith and Sea Steele on using media for visual literacy and social justice provided a sharp, modern lens on how we can help our students navigate a complex information landscape with criticality and care.
I also found a deep resonance in Neil Murray’s session on “Invisible Ripples,” which prompted me to pause and reflect on the unintended impacts we have as educators. Every gesture, every word, and every story we share creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom walls.
Moving Forward in the Circle of Unity
Reflecting on those three days in Aveiro, I am encouraged by how much we share as English educators. Whether we were discussing Chantelle Walsh’s “Magic” in teaching or Tallman Theatre’s high-energy ways to “Activate the Passive,” the common thread was a commitment to making learning memorable and meaningful.
Leaving Aveiro, I felt deeply grateful for the organizers and the global ELT community. The sheer effort required to coordinate over 100 speakers and hundreds of delegates is immense, and the APPI team did it with such grace. It was a weekend of realizing that we aren’t just teaching a language; we are part of a “community in motion,” dedicated to a more empathetic and creative world.
The weather might have been grey, but the inspiration I’m bringing back to my own teaching is bright and full of energy. Until the next stop on this teaching adventure, I’ll keep DramActivating!🎭✨