The 2024 British Council ELTons Awards for innovation in English Language teaching are now open for submissions.
The prestigious international awards, dedicated to recognising the people behind the latest advancements in English language learning and teaching, are accepting entries until Thursday, 28 March.
The British Council is seeking innovative approaches to English language education developed over the past two years. Entrants may showcase groundbreaking courses, publications, projects, apps, platforms, and more, which are finding new ways to help English language learners and teachers around the world achieve their goals.
The ELTons is also seeking applications using cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and speech recognition, to enhance English language learning.
There are five award categories in total:
1. Innovation in the Use of Technology – Innovative uses of technology in a product or service that enhances English language learning or teaching (formerly the Digital Innovation Award).
2. Innovation in Learner Resources – Services, activities, materials or works using innovative means to improve English language learners’ proficiency in vocabulary, grammar, fluency, receptive and productive skills, or vital language skills for study or work.
3. Innovation in Teacher Resources – Resources supporting English language teaching professionals, whether through teacher training, education, or Continuing Professional Development.
4. Excellence in Course Innovation – Courses using a fresh variety of content, formats, or media, to help learners achieve stretching levels of English language proficiency.
5. Local Innovation – Resources or projects innovating to meet specific, local needs, within local, national or regional contexts around the world.
Speaking about the launch of the awards, Mark Walker, Director of English and Exams at the British Council, said:
“We’re delighted that the ELTons Innovation Awards will be returning this year. These global awards celebrate innovation in English language teaching around the world, showcasing the hard work and dedication of stakeholders throughout the industry. The awards are about celebrating diversity, creativity and solutions across multiple contexts. They demonstrate how the industry continues to respond with innovative products, services and technology to anticipate the changing needs of learners and teachers in a rapidly changing landscape. This year, with the emergence of Generative AI and the growing potential for personalised learning solutions, we are looking forward to seeing how this transformative opportunity is reflected in entries to the ELTons Innovation Awards”.
Basirat Razaq-Shuaib, the 2020 ELTons finalist and winner of The ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) with the Winford Centre for Children and Women in Nigeria, said:
“I was able to meet and connect with new people at the award event, some of whom I might be collaborating with in the future. One thing that the ELTons has done brilliantly is to increase our brand visibility- something I consider necessary in the marketplace. Applying for the ELTons is an opportunity no to be missed and I would recommend that anyone who meets the requirements should apply.”
Katherine Bilsborough, winner of The ELTons Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources in 2020 with the ELT Footprint Community in Spain, said:
“Winning the award gave us an opportunity to spread the word about ELT Footprint, about what we do and why we need to do it. […] The number of ELT Footprint members has been continually rising since we won the award and we've been contacted by quite a few organisations who are keen to collaborate on research projects, to find ways of helping teachers who want to do more for the environment, to invite us to take part in events or contribute to publications, and to generally work together to make ELT greener. We're delighted about this because there's a lot of work to be done and we're only just getting started.”
Key dates for the ELTons 2024: The call for entries to the British Council ELTons Innovation Awards 2024 closes on Thursday 28 March 2024, 23.59 UK time. Applicants are invited to submit their entry on the ELTons website.