Language Issues Blog
Exploring ideas, sharing perspectives, and giving ESOL professionals a platform to develop their voice and inspire debate.
About our blog
Language Issues Blog is NATECLA's space for ideas, reflection, and debate across the ESOL sector. It provides a platform for contributors to the Language Issues journal, as well as a welcoming place for new writers to develop their voice, share their experiences, and explore emerging ideas before committing to a more formal publication.
We encourage thought-provoking contributions that reflect the diversity of perspectives within our profession. The views expressed in blog posts are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NATECLA or the Language Issues Editorial Team. Our aim is to stimulate discussion, encourage critical thinking, and foster constructive dialogue across the sector.
Interested in contributing? We'd love to hear from you. To submit a blog post, please complete our submission form.
We also welcome discussion in the comments section. If you feel that a discussion has crossed a personal line or have concerns about any content, please contact NATECLA and we'll be happy to help.
Blog articles
A new era for the Language Issues blog
Read Diana Tremayne’s welcome message to the new Language Issues Blog.
“Teachers are a bridge between learners and the community”: A cross-country comparison of teaching in refugee camp and asylum accommodation contexts
In this conversation, Ally Shepherd (NATECLA Yorkshire & Humber; IATEFL ESOL Matters Assistant Editor) reunites with her former colleagues, Jean and Julia, to discuss their experiences teaching learners from refugee backgrounds in the UK, Greece, Cyprus, and Jordan.
A successful return of the NATECLA Scotland annual conference
Emma Creswell shares reflections from the annual conference organised by the NATECLA Scotland Branch.
Nerves, Notes, & New ideas: My first TeachMeet
Emma Fitzpatrick, Teaching & Learning Champion, Course Leader and ESOL Lecturer at Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale, shares her experience of presenting for the first time at the NATECLA TeachMeet during the Annual Conference in Birmingham.
Making ESOL learning provision accessible for people experiencing homelessness
How can adult learning providers make ESOL more accessible to people experiencing homelessness? Through Magda’s story, this article explores the barriers learners face and highlights practical ways to provide inclusive, trauma-informed support that helps everyone access and succeed in learning.
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.
NATECLA Midlands: It's ALL about the learner - Face-to-Face Winter Conference 2025
The NATECLA Midlands Winter Conference 2025 was a fantastic opportunity for ESOL practitioners to reconnect, learn, and share expertise. The return to a Midlands in-person event was warmly welcomed, and the day was filled with engaging discussions, practical learning, and a strong sense of community.
#NATECLA national conference – 49 years old and still going strong!
Read some reflections about NATECLA Annual Conference 2024.
Creating Stories in ESOL – Climate and Sustainability
On Earth Day it seems appropriate (and important) to share something on climate and sustainability issues. Here Carol writes about her workshop at last year’s conference,
Reflections on the NATECLA Conference 2023
I had made up my mind to attend the NATECLA 2023 conference as soon as it was advertised. It would be my first real life NATECLA conference since COVID.
Conference reflections from a first timer
It is only recently that I have come into contact with NATECLA and attended a conference, but this experience has reignited my passion for the job as well my own development as an ESOL teacher.
As with anyone that works within education, due to the nature of the profession and of course time, we don’t often get the opportunity to pause, think, reflect or to step outside of our own bubble.
Sustainability in ESOL - A commitment to our planet
Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to deliver several workshops on Sustainability for NATECLA. It is by far the most pressing issue that we need to understand and action.
Mentor Musings (Part 1): ESOL, action research & OTLA 8
Initial thoughts from the NATECLA strand of the OTLA (Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment) programme. Research lead and NATECLA co-chair Rachel Öner kicks off our blog series with a few questions for the three mentors: Emily Bryson, Cathy Clarkson and Chloë Hynes.
ESOL for refugees: a toolkit for commissioners and practitioners
Back in pre-pandemic days, Migration Yorkshire staff spent early 2020 touring England, asking stakeholders in each region about good practice in commissioning and delivering ESOL for refugees.
Online ESOL Provision – lessons from lockdown
St. Augustine’s Centre is a community centre based in Park Ward, Halifax. In addition to offering a range of support services to anyone in the local community, we are Calderdale’s specialist charity working with people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants throughout the borough.
Grassroots policy-making in ESOL: Learning English Yorkshire & the Humber
James Simpson, Chair of Trustees, MESH, writes about the work of MESH and the development of the Learning English (Yorkshire & the Humber) online resource
‘Come Online with Me’ Food, Connection and ESOL during COVID19 lockdown in the UK - the highs and the lows, and recommendations for others
Heart & Parcel was founded in 2015 by Clare Courtney and Karolina. Two friends with an interest in English language teaching, community work and food.
The NATECLA #ESOLchat
The first #ESOLchat on Twitter took place at the end of March after lockdown was underway. Teachers (and students) were suddenly having to adapt to huge changes very quickly with little time to plan and often few resources.
Reflections on "The Play's The Thing" Nick Bilbrough's Keynote @ NATECLA National Conference
I admit it, my tank of motivation and ideas was running on empty, my engine was spluttering towards the summer holidays. I thought I needed a break, I was wrong. What I needed was Nick Bilbrough’s Key Note speech about the ‘Hands Up’ project, that he founded.