Reflections from the NATECLA Midlands Winter Conference 2025 by Anne Reardon-James
Attending the NATECLA Midlands Winter conference was the start of conference season for me this year. I have been aware of NATECLA as an organisation for many years and recently joined as a member, attending online training workshops which have all been excellent. I was excited to see the Midlands “It’s ALL about the learner” conference advertised as an in-person event, instead of online, and thought it an ideal opportunity to meet new people and refresh my skills. I work as a Learning Advisor, mentoring trainee tutors, assessors and lecturers, many of whom are supporting ESOL learners. It is important that as well as advising my learners to undertake ongoing CPD, I too keep my skills and knowledge up to date.
The NATECLA event was accessible. Living in South Wales, it was easy for me to book a direct train to get to the Midlands, with just a short walk to the location from Birmingham New Street station. The conference took place in the city centre at Brasshouse Languages, located in the impressive library of Birmingham building. On arrival, once I had figured out what floor to go to, I was warmly greeted by NATECLA volunteers for signing in and given an ID badge. The conference was well organised and rooms clearly signposted, with volunteers on hand throughout the day to help guide you around. There was a gathering space in the middle to access light refreshments, containing a variety of stalls and space to sit and chat. The conference kicked off with a welcome to everyone from the main organisers in one of the larger rooms. Delegates were given a choice of four workshops to attend during the afternoon, with time allocated for two sessions. The ‘first come, first serve’ basis for sessions seemed to work well. I would have happily attended all the sessions on offer, choosing two that interested me the most centred on areas of increasing importance in education and training.
The first session I attended was led by the fabulous Chloë Hynes, which was a gentle introduction to AI (artificial intelligence), suitable for any level of ability or knowledge. This was fun and interactive, with tasks given for us to try out and time to talk to peers about our experiences of using AI tools. The second workshop I attended was on the topic of neurodiversity, led by another fabulous speaker – Rachel Őner. Again the workshop was just the right mix of information delivered by talk from the front and the opportunity to try out tools and discuss with peers. The workshops were jam packed full of tips and takeaways that were applicable to a range of education and training settings. I particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to try out different recommended AI tools with others, to compare pros and cons against AI tools I was already familiar with. Also useful was the chance to experiment with equipment designed to help neurodiverse learners, such as items that can help with gripping a pen or holding a ruler.
Overall I found the Midlands NATECLA conference welcoming and informative. The sessions I attended were pitched at a level that meant that delegates with either limited or a certain level of knowledge and skills in an area would benefit from them. I will certainly look forward to attending future in person events - definitely worth the trip!