Top tips for writing a winning English Teacher Awards 2024 nomination

Thomas Gardner
A woman/teacher teaching her students in the classroom.
Reading time: 3 minutes

We are celebrating teaching excellence around the world through the ɫèAV English Teacher Awards 2024.

Open to all types of English language educator, the 15 lucky global winners will take home thousands of pounds of prizes, from trips to conferences to the latest language learning software for their school.

Nominating an educator for the ɫèAV English Teacher Awards is simple. All applications are made via the awards entry page, and you have 600-1000 words to tell us how your nominee builds learners’ confidence to be themselves in English.

Here are our top tips to make the most of every word and ensure your entry is top of the class.

Application tips

1. Make it category specific

One of the core judging criteria is how well an application matches the category description.

Educators can be nominated in one of five different categories:

  1. Teaching Young Minds English
  2. Empowering Teen Confidence in English
  3. Cultivating Lifelong Learners in English
  4. Innovation in English Language Teaching
  5. Rising Stars of English Language Teaching

Tailoring your answer to the category description will make sure our judges understand exactly why your nominee is the perfect winner.

For a detailed description of each of the categories, take a look at our recent blog post.

2. Focus on confidence

Learning a language isn’t just about knowing the vocabulary or understanding the grammar; it’s about having the confidence to go out there and use your newfound skills to unlock a world of opportunities.

But feeling confident in something you’re still learning is hard. Anyone that’s learnt a language has experienced those dips in motivation and confidence when you come across a topic that doesn’t come naturally to you.

That’s where a great teacher can make all the difference. The right support and encouragement combined with innovative teaching techniques can help learners protect and even build their confidence in challenging moments.

That confidence is what transforms language learning from just communicating to feeling able to really be yourself in English. And when you’re able to do that, great opportunities come your way.

Our judges are looking for nominations that understand the connection between confidence and self-expression and the impact that can have on learners’ lives.

3. Demonstrate your impact

Including relevant data and examples in your application will help judges understand the impact your nominee has had.

This might include data such as internal or external test results, as well as how those results have changed during that teacher’s tenure.

Evidence doesn’t have to mean numbers. Judges also welcome anecdotes and examples that describe the impact an educator has had on learners’ confidence.

The judging process

Nominations can be submitted between 15th August and midnight (CST) on 1st November 2024.

After that date, all entries will be reviewed and a shortlist submitted to our expert judges.

There are two to three judges for each category who will independently review and shortlist nominees before collectively awarding a Gold, Silver, and Bronze winner in their category.

Shortlisted entries will be contacted by our team and announced at the ɫèAV Teacher Awards ceremony on November 21st 2024.

Meet the judges

From Argentina to Algeria, Italy to Germany, ɫèAV English Teacher Award 2024 judges come from all over the world.

Many have years of ELT teaching experience, as well as expertise from academia and business.

Here are just three of our expert judges:

  • Belgin Elmas: Head of the English Language Teaching Department at TED University in Ankara, Belgin is a professor with more than 34 years of teaching experience.
  • Dr Silvia Minardi: President of Lingua e Nuova Didattica and Vice President of Aermigo. Dr Minardi has extensive experience in CLIL training, collaborating with the ECML and the Council of Europe.
  • Dr Renata Condi: An experienced teacher, development professional, and course book author, Dr Condi holds a PhD and MA in Applied Linguistics and an MBA in School Management.

The prizes

With a Gold, Silver, and Bronze winner in each of the five categories, there are 15 chances for educators and their schools to win.

Gold winners will receive a trip to a regional professional conference, including flight and hotel, as well as up to £500 in credit for professional development.

Their school will win annual licenses to top language learning app, Mondly by ɫèAV as well as a course, assessment, and certification bundle valued at £1000

Silver and Bronze winners will take home top prizes too, with £250 in credit towards their professional development and up to 500 Mondly by ɫèAV licenses for their school to continue their good work building learners’ confidence in English.

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • Coworkers sat at a table together, talking and smiling

    Target employees’ English language upskilling with the GSE Job Profiles

    By Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Staying ahead requires not just talent but the right talent. For HR professionals, ensuring that employees are equipped with the necessary skills is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Enter the GSE Job Profiles—a game-changing tool designed to facilitate role-targeted upskilling by mapping English language skills to specific job roles. This blog post will explore how HR teams can leverage this innovative tool to enhance workforce capabilities efficiently and effectively.

    The GSE Job Profiles utilizes ɫèAV’s Global Scale of English and the Faethm by ɫèAV skills ontology to provide a detailed analysis of the language requirements for nearly 1,400 job roles. This precise mapping allows HR professionals to make informed talent management decisions, including hiring, training and development, and ensuring that employees are adequately prepared for their roles now and in the future.

  • A group of business people stood around a board with sticky notes on smiling

    Craft the perfect job description: Ensure your candidates have the right English proficiency

    By Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    English is the international language of business and a foundational skill for many roles. The right level of English proficiency is key for individuals and businesses to excel.

    But what is the “right” level?

    English is not a one-size-fits-all skill. Customer Service Representatives need different English skills to IT Systems Managers. Senior staff will often need more advanced English skills than junior staff.

  • placeholder

    Understanding your GSE score

    By Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    For many students, navigating the world of English language proficiency tests can be a daunting experience. Whether you're preparing for university, looking to enhance your career prospects, or simply aiming to improve your communication skills, understanding what your Global Scale of English (GSE) score means is crucial.

    In this blog post, we'll break down the GSE, explain what your score represents and provide you with actionable steps to improve it.