IH Young Learners Conference

IH Young Learners Conference
Cordoba, Spain
November 17-18, 2023

On November 17th and 18th, Young Learner experts and directors of studies from International House schools around the globe gathered in Cordoba (Spain) for a 2-day conference.

With only a few months in my new role as teacher trainer and conference speaker on neurodiversity in language education, I had the honour to deliver the plenary session of this event, focusing on teaching languages to students with Dyslexia or ADHD.

It is tremendously important that English teachers, as well as teachers of other languages gain awareness of neurodivergent conditions, like dyslexia, ADHD or autism, and that these teachers learn not only how to teach these students with greater success, but also how to recognize the signs of dyslexia, ADHD and autism in the language classroom.

For many teachers in the room it was a shock to learn that approximately 20% of the population has a neurodivergent brain, and that it is likely that over 80% of students with dyslexia, ADHD or autism go through school without ever being diagnosed.

Therefore it is adamant that language teachers and language schools should be prepared for this, should train their teachers as well as their other staff, and should become the language schools and teachers their students deserve.

I had a blast of a time in Cordoba, attending other talks and workshops, exchanging ideas, creating new networks and enjoying this beautiful Andalusian city and its gastronomy.

And I was able to present the dyslexia smart school program to some of the participating language schools.