IUS English Language School - ELS

On May 14, Nermina Šegalo, Professional Development Coordinator and English Language Instructor at the International University of Sarajevo, delivered a workshop titled “Guiding Teachers, Not Just Teaching Students: Rethinking Professional Development in ELT” at the 24th ELTA Conference in Belgrade. The session brought together English language teachers and education professionals who are committed to strengthening their practice and rethinking approaches to professional growth.

The workshop focused on shifting perspectives on professional development from traditional top-down training towards more collaborative, reflective, and teacher-driven models. Participants explored practical strategies for supporting ongoing teacher learning within institutions, including peer observation, reflective dialogue, mentoring conversations, and informal support systems.

Throughout the session, the importance of fostering a culture of trust and collaboration among teachers was also discussed, where professional development is viewed as a continuous and shared process rather than a one-off event. Activities encouraged participants to reflect on their own institutional contexts and identify small but meaningful changes they could implement to better support teacher development.

The workshop was highly interactive, with rich discussions and exchange of experiences across different educational settings. It was particularly rewarding to observe participants actively engaging with the ideas and considering how to adapt them to their own schools and teaching environments.

She expressed sincere gratitude to all participants for their openness, engagement, and thoughtful contributions, as well as to the organizers for their excellent support. She looks forward to further opportunities to continue this important conversation around teacher development in ELT.


ELTA Serbia - English Language Teachers' Association
IUS Life - Lifelong Learning Center
International University of Sarajevo

✍️ Want to improve your writing?
Join us at the IUS English Language School - ELS for a practical, hands-on workshop: "How to Write Better Paragraphs"!

📘 The workshop will help you build clearer, more structured paragraphs.

👥 Open to B1 and B2 students only
📅 Thursday, 04.12.2025
⏰ 3:00 PM
📍 ELS Classroom B.3

Don’t miss the chance to boost your writing skills and gain more confidence! See you there!