British Council launches ELTon Awards 2012

Saturday, 15 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The British Council (UK) has made a worldwide call for applications to the ELTons 2012. The ELTons (British Council Innovation Awards) are offered to outstanding new language learning products and services, and aspiring ELT authors, that use innovative ideas to help learners achieve their goals, or to innovative research which has clear practical benefits for English language teaching.

Celebrating its tenth year, the awards, run by the British Council and sponsored by Cambridge ESOL, are a celebration of innovation and excellence in English language teaching (ELT) from around the world.

ELT professionals can apply in five new categories this year: Excellence in Course Innovation, Innovation in Learner Resources, Innovation in Teacher Resources, Digital Innovation, and Local Innovation, as well as The Macmillan Education Award for Innovative Writing, which is now in its third year.

Michael Carrier, Head of English Language Innovation for English and Exams at the British Council, London, said, “The ELTons have grown to become an essential fixture in the ELT calendar. They are a wonderful opportunity to showcase innovative ELT products and creative ELT authors from around the world, and we are very proud to be able to bring the ELT community together to celebrate innovation in our profession.”

The new categories will reward published ELT products and services developed around the world. For the first time, international ELT professionals will compete alongside those from the UK in the same categories – in recognition of the increased mobility and globalisation in the sector.

The Macmillan Education Award for Innovative Writing is sponsored by Macmillan Education and gives previously unpublished writers the opportunity to win a £1,000 (US$ 1,500) prize and have their work published. Through this award the British Council aims to discover and encourage up and coming ELT authors to take the next step in their writing careers.

The British Council Lifetime Achievement Award, now in its second year, awards a ELT professional who has made a substantial contribution to the ELT profession throughout their career. “This is an important award,” Michael Carrier added, “as it enables all of us in the ELT profession to highlight and celebrate the achievements of those who came before us – the experts, writers, academics and professionals who helped to build ELT into the powerhouse that it is today” The British Council is the UK’s cultural relations organisation, and builds global relationships through English, education and the arts. It teaches English in more than 80 countries through face-to-face contact and innovative methods including radio, the internet and mobile technology.

Any ELT professional can apply for consideration for one of the categories, including authors, teachers, trainers and publishers. Application packs can be downloaded from http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-eltons-2012 and the deadline for submissions is 2 December 2011.

Applications will be judged by a panel of ELT experts and the winners are announced at a prestigious ELTons awards ceremony, held in London on 23 May 2012.