Speaker
Description
Robert Stroud: Connected Voices, Connected Worlds: Reimagining FLT Communities Together
Across global ELT communities, practitioners are navigating a pivotal moment: technology and AI are accelerating rapidly, yet many learners feel increasingly disconnected from one another. Even with constant online engagement, genuine interaction, intercultural curiosity, and learner confidence can quietly diminish. This plenary examines how ELT educators and community leaders can shape a more human, future focused approach to language learning—one where connection, collaboration, and belonging remain central. Drawing on insights from Culture Club, a global educator led exchange project, as well as current developments in EdTech, AI, and task based learning, the talk demonstrates how intentional design and practitioner driven innovation can transform digital tools into catalysts for community rather than fragmentation. Participants will explore practical, scalable strategies that bridge theory and classroom practice: fostering inclusive communication, designing learner centered intercultural tasks, and building emotionally supportive online and offline ELT communities.