Teaching for Tomorrow: Building Resilient Learners in Times of Change
These are challenging times for educators. We face uncertainty, complexity, and change on multiple fronts. But resilience isn't just about weathering storms—it's about taking ownership of our growth, adapting with intention, and building the capacity to lead learning into tomorrow. The Forward Festival is where experienced ELT professionals come together to do exactly that.
By purchasing a ticket you get access to an exclusive Telegram community with materials, speaker Q&As, and festival podcasts
The Forward is for you if you want to
Adapt to new reality
learn about trauma-informed teaching, digital learning and AI
Grow professionally
and learn from the best people in the industry within a carefully curated program
Make connections
through organised networking and leisure
What to expect
Speakers
from Ukraine, UK, Romania, Pakistan and more
Sessions
including talks, workshops, panels and keynotes
Days
of learning, networking and inspiration
Learn From the Best
Opening keynote
Christopher Graham
IATEFL President and pioneer of sustainable ELT practices. With over 40 years working across 30+ countries, Chris brings deep expertise in teacher development, climate education, and teaching in conflict zones.
Special guest
Iya Kiva
Award-winning Ukrainian poet and voice of displacement. Born in Donetsk, Iya fled the war in 2014 and shifted from writing in Russian to Ukrainian, creating a new language for trauma, identity, and hope. Her poetry has been translated into 35 languages.
LexicalLab
Hugh Dellar
Co-founder of Lexical Lab and champion of the lexical approach. Co-author of the influential "Teaching Lexically" and the "Outcomes" series, he's trained teachers across 20+ countries to move beyond rigid structures and teach the chunks that make language work.
British Council
Katherine Martinkevich
Blogger at Kate's Crate, academic manager, and researcher. A member of the IATEFL Leadership and Management SIG committee and currently pursuing her third Master's at University of Edinburg, she explores the surprising connections between game mechanics and language learning.
The Match School
Ira Maksymova
Iryna is an English teacher, teacher-trainer and the owner of The Match School. Her current focus has been on future-ready, human-centered education. In her work bridges global research, classroom practice, and Ukrainian reality to support teachers and students alike.
Freelance teacher
Oleksandra Avramenko
Oleksandra is English Department Lead and Methodologist at a secondary school in Kyiv, with 12 years’ experience across all levels and contexts. She is committed to teacher well-being and effective language teaching. She runs a literature club and was a scholarship-winning speaker at IATEFL 2024 in Brighton and a workshop presenter at IATEFL 2025 in Edinburgh.
Freelance teacher
Tamara Tkachenko
Tamara has been teaching English online since the pre-pandemic times. Her areas of expertise include teaching for CAE and CPE, as well as lexical approach, in particular lexical grammar. She also takes a keen interest in exploring cultural references in movies and TV shows.
Neurolanguage Coach
Olha Yavorska
Olha is an ICF-accredited Neurolanguage Coach, Business English trainer, and DELTA1 and 3 holder. She empowers learners worldwide using psychology, neuroscience, coaching, and AI. A Macmillan Education Scholarship winner, she has also presented at major international events including IATEFL 2024 & 2025, TESOL Annual Convention, STS Lviv, and BESIG Malta.
Freelance teacher trainer
Zhenya Polosatova
In ELT for 25+ years as a teacher, academic leader, licensed teacher trainer, trainer of trainers, curriculum and course designer, professional development coach, content writer. MA in Psychology, certified Art Therapist, Logotherapist in training. Crafting her style in working and living.
TESOL Ukraine
Maryna Tsehelska
Dr. Maryna Tsehelska is a scholar and educator with a PhD in Linguistics. She currently serves as TESOL-Ukraine Board Coordinator, Director of the Educational Center “Interclass” and is an Associate Professor in the English Language and Methodology Department at Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University. Her work focuses on enhancing language acquisition and cognitive development through metacognitive strategies.
Freelance teacher trainer
Cristiana Osan
After working for 11 years as a teacher, Cristiana Osan became a DELTA-certified teacher educator. For the last 19 years, she has worked as a teacher educator, a trainers' trainer, a mentor, an online moderator, a course developer, an examiner for international certificates and a materials writer, thus collaborating in various projects with thousands of teachers around the world.
Runa Academy
Nataliya Dyachuk
Nataliya Dyachuk is a conference presenter and an author of teaching materials, as well as the founder of the multidimensional educational Agency of Foreign Languages RUNA®. Holding several Cambridge certifications, she is the author of over 100 academic and professional publications. Her scholarly interests encompas media pedagogy and methodology, CLIL, the study of aphoristic discourse, and innovative materials development.
Sessions
click to see description
What Teachers Carry and How to Survive It
Significant emotional investment lies within every lesson. Teachers navigate frustration and anxiety alongside joy, pride, and connection daily — often without space to process any of it. In contexts of uncertainty and crisis, this emotional intensity only deepens.In this session, we will examine the concept of emotional labour in education, clarify the boundaries of professional responsibility, and reflect on the difference between empathy and self-sacrifice. Through structured reflection and practical frameworks, participants will identify what they control, what they influence, and how to replenish their emotional resources without losing their commitment to students.
Speaker: Oleksandra AvramenkoTrauma informed teachingSustainability and wellbeingELT and Sustainability in times of conflict. We need to talk.
This talk will explore what sustainability is and subsequently what sustainability education can be, in the ELT context. But that Is not enough In the current situation in Ukraine. I will suggest how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and their application to ELT teaching and learning in the ongoing Ukrainian context can help to underpin key issues around resilience, approaches to trauma and the maintenance of student motivation despite the circumstances.
Speaker: Christopher GrahamSustainability and wellbeing trackTeaching for the Unknown
Education is no longer preparing learners for a predictable future. Drawing on the latest PISA findings, the OECD Trends Shaping Education 2026 report, and first-hand exploration of education systems in Finland, Estonia, and the UK, this talk examines the skills, mindsets, and learning environments students and us, educators truly need today. We will explore the emerging global trends and translate them into practical ways of teaching that cultivate the capacity to act in uncertainty.
Speaker: Iryna MaksymovaTrauma-informed teachingCultural References: To Teach, or Not to Teach?
As authentic materials become increasingly present in language classrooms, lessons often focus on lexis, grammar, functions, or skills. What is frequently overlooked, however, is cultural references. This session will examine whether cultural references warrant explicit instruction in language lessons. It will also specify if and when cultural references can be a mere distraction . In addition, it will investigate the nature of cultural references in authentic materials, consider their importance for language competence, identify relevant teaching contexts, and propose practical lesson ideas.
Speaker: Tamara TkachenkoMethodology trackChocolate-covered broccoli, or what's wrong with games for learning
This talk is a discussion of principles of good learning that can be found in games and how they are sometimes downgraded to 'gamification'. Let's make sure the games we play in the classroom are really worth it.
Speaker: Katherine MartinkevichDigital learning trackLearner-Centred AI: Personalising Language Learning for the Modern Workplace
In the rapidly evolving world of cross-cultural business, adult learners rely heavily on English as a tool for managing and conducting operations. Therefore, authentic, up-to-date input is indispensable to keep pace with current events and changes in global professional discourse. In such conditions, overreliance on coursebooks risks leaving learners disconnected and unprepared for the emerging challenges. Drawing on examples from coaching and ESP contexts, this session will demonstrate how AI-powered tools can steer language learning towards meaningful needs-responsive personalisation aligned with learners’ cognitive profiles. Participants will leave the session with practical insights into what AI tools can be used for learner-centred frameworks, how AI can nurture learner agency, internal motivation, and even be used for multifaceted language immersion.
Speaker: Olha YavorskaDigital learning trackConcept Maps as Safe Cognitive Spaces: Scaffolding English Learning in Times of Crisis
In times of instability, learners need more than language input — they need structure, clarity, and psychological safety. This session explores how concept maps can function as “safe cognitive spaces” in mixed-ability English classrooms affected by trauma and disruption. Participants will discover how visual mapping tools reduce cognitive overload, support focus, and scaffold academic language development. We will also explore practical ways to integrate concept mapping with AI and EdTech tools to enhance engagement and differentiation. The session offers adaptable strategies for teachers working with diverse student groups in Ukraine and beyond.
Speaker: Maryna TsehelskaTrauma-informed teachingCreative Intersections: Teacher Education, Psychology, Art Therapy.
What are you currently learning? How have your professional interests changed in the last 4-6 years? How can you integrate (more) creativity into your teaching and professional development? How can this creativity be supportive at the time of uncertainty and turbulence? We will explore these and other questions in my talk about the professional studies I have been taking. I will reflect on how I found myself on an intersection between Teacher Education, Logotherapy (meaning-centred therapy), and Art Therapy. These personal insights will be shared through practical activities (meant for You, and then your students).
Speaker: Zhenya PolosatovaSustainability and wellbeing trackThriving, Not Just Surviving: Wellbeing for Teachers in Challenging Contexts
Teaching in difficult circumstances can be emotionally and physically demanding. This practical webinar explores how teachers can protect and strengthen their wellbeing using an adapted version of the PERMA model. We will look at realistic, strategies that help teachers cultivate positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment—even in high-pressure environments.
Speaker: Christiana OsanSustainability and wellbeing trackCreative and Destructive Procrastination in EFL Education: Psychological Origins, Pedagogical Consequences, and Methodological Tools
The main aim of this dynamic presentation is to rethink procrastination not only as a problem but also as a potential resource. Focusing on creative, productive, and destructive procrastination, the speaker will blend cutting-edge psychological and pedagogical research with brand-new data from West Ukrainian youth and a vivid personal case study of “creative procrastination” in course design. Participants will uncover the procrastination cycle, discover unexpected professional gains from delay, and leave with practical strategies to tame procrastination when it hinders learning or teaching.
Speaker: Nataliya DyachukSustainability and wellbeing track
Our Partners
We are thankful to each of our partners for supporting our initiatives
Want to Become a Partner?
We are open to partnerships with public and private institutions that share our values and approach.
Email us at moc.liamg%40viyk.tft and tell us more about your project.