Member Event Fund Report – OPTIMA

‘It was an extremely fruitful professional event run by true professionals and appreciated by loyal professionals in the area of quality language education.’

BAQLS OPTIMA in BULGARIA took place on 30^th June – 1^st July 2017 in cooperation with EAQUALS, BRITISH COUNCIL-BULGARIA and EXPRESS PUBLISHING.

The event was an international conference entitled Innovative Approaches in Managing Language Institutions, where Mr. Michael Carrier from EAQUALS discussed Digital learning: current trends in language education technology 2017-2020 & how we can keep our schools innovative – a talk aimed at language school owners and Directors of Studies as well as Beyond General English: building new markets for language schools and centres – how political and economic factors open up new opportunities for language schools and centres. Mr. Tery Lemanis from Express Publishing talked about Gamification & Practical Application for EFL Learners (Keeping students actively engaged in lessons) as well as I Think, I Feel, I Learn (common thinking types and emotion management in order to improve students’ learning abilities).

40 people took part in the conference, which started at 19.00 on 30^th June with a Welcoming address by The rector of a state university of Information Technologies – Prof. Denchev, followed by a Welcoming address by the Director of Regional Education Directorate Dr. Vanya Kastreva. A cocktail was organized to mark the occasion. Guests of the opening included DoS, Heads of language schools and educationalists (private and state sectors).

The event aimed at providing regular professional development (PD) opportunities beyond the annual Eaquals meetings and conferences; enriching the exchange of professional ideas, research and projects that would be of mutual benefit to OPTIMA members and to Eaquals; raising OPTIMA and Eaquals’ profile in cross-sectional areas (e.g. state and private sectors, secondary schools and universities, publishers etc.)