What a fabulous location to broaden horizons – this year’s BESIG (Business English Special Interest group) conference was held on Malta! I met up with six other ELTAS colleagues who will share their highlights of the event in our next newsletter. The overlying theme was research and that’s why several keynote speakers from the academic world were invited. There were some catchy outcomes: “There is no teaching without relations” or “Translingua Practice” which describes the harmonious coexistence of two or more languages in business situations. And there is something you cannot teach: BELF, Business English as a Lingua Franca. Apart from various 45-minute workshops in small seminar rooms, one plenary activity was particularly inspiring: the “world cafĂ©”. This activity is devoted to deepening, expanding and linking conversation. Just one out of many things we can try out with our ELTAS members!

Katrin Beringer, ELTAS Chair