Each year, we host and attend various in-person events, including training sessions, networking events and conferences. Join us at these events or watch our on-demand, recorded webinars to gain ideas and insights and get inspired.
Events are added to the calendar at different times throughout the year, so please check back regularly for the latest information.
Join our seminar to hear from our expert guest speakers on Values and National Security Education and celebrate with the winners of the Young Cultural Ambassador Awards.
Summer break is a welcome chance to relax, but it can also be a challenging time for students. Without regular classes over the summer, many students notice that their vocabulary, grammar and speaking confidence begin to fade: this is often called the "summer slide".. The good news is that maintaining language skills over summer break does not require hours of study each day. Small, consistent habits can help you retain what you have learned and return to your studies with confidence.
When we stop using a language regularly, our brains begin to forget information that is not being reinforced. Vocabulary becomes harder to recall, grammar rules feel less familiar and speaking confidence can decrease.
Fortunately, language retention does not require intensive study. The key is maintaining regular contact with the language, even for just a few minutes a day.
In today's digital world, students face constant distractions that can make it difficult to stay focused during lessons. From social media notifications to endless online content, maintaining attention has become one of the biggest challenges in modern education.
This is where mindfulness in the classroom can make a significant difference. By helping students become more aware of the present moment, mindfulness can strengthen concentration, improve learning outcomes, and support overall wellbeing.
Have you ever reached the end of a page in a book and realized you can't remember what you just read?
This experience occurs when the brain slips into a semi-conscious state, often referred to as "autopilot" mode. During autopilot, we continue carrying out tasks while our thoughts drift elsewhere, planning future events, worrying about problems or replaying past experiences.
While this automatic mode helps us complete routine tasks efficiently, it can also reduce our awareness of what's happening right now. As a result, students may appear present in class while their attention is elsewhere.
For educators, understanding this tendency is essential because sustained attention is critical for learning, memory formation and academic success.
According to mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness means:
"Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally."
The key phrase is "on purpose".
Mindfulness trains students to deliberately focus their attention rather than allowing their minds to wander automatically. Like any skill, attention becomes stronger with practice. Repeated mindfulness exercises help create neural pathways that support concentration and self-awareness.
For younger children, this is especially important because the brain develops rapidly during the primary school years. Building healthy attention habits early can have lasting benefits throughout education and beyond.
Implementing mindfulness activities in schools can offer several advantages:
Regular mindfulness practice helps students sustain focus for longer periods, making it easier to engage with lessons, reading tasks and independent study.
When students pay closer attention, they absorb and retain information more effectively, leading to stronger academic performance.
Mindfulness techniques can help students manage exam pressure, classroom stress and emotional challenges by encouraging calm, focused awareness.
Students become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, helping them respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
Mindfulness can help counteract the constant distractions created by smartphones, social media and digital devices.
Many educators are concerned about the impact of technology on student concentration. While researchers continue to debate whether overall attention spans are shrinking, there is broad agreement that attention is shaped by habit.
The brain becomes better at whatever it repeatedly practices.
If students frequently switch between apps, notifications and multiple streams of information, sustained focus can become more difficult. Conversely, practicing mindful attention strengthens the brain's ability to concentrate on a single task.
This is particularly important for teenagers. During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant restructuring, strengthening frequently used neural pathways while reducing those that are rarely activated.
The message is simple: attention is a skill that improves through use.
Teachers can introduce mindfulness through simple exercises that fit naturally into the school day.
Help students develop awareness around screen time by encouraging intentional device use.
Steps:
This activity encourages students to engage all their senses and become fully present.
Ask students to:
This exercise develops sensory awareness and helps students practice sustained attention.
One of the simplest and most effective mindfulness exercises for students.
Instructions:
Over time, students often find it easier to maintain concentration and remain present.
Teachers do not need extensive training to begin incorporating mindfulness into lessons. Small, consistent practices often produce the greatest benefits.
Consider:
Consistency is more important than duration. Even a few minutes each day can help students develop stronger focus and self-awareness.
By helping students move away from autopilot thinking and engage more fully with the present moment, mindfulness supports both academic success and emotional well-being.
Whether through mindful breathing, mindful eating or conscious technology use, small daily practices can have a lasting impact on how students learn, focus and thrive.
Learning a new language can be exciting. It can also be challenging. Many language learners feel pressure to study every day, learn quickly and reach fluency as soon as possible.
This pressure can lead to burnout: a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. When you are burned out, studying becomes difficult, stressful and less enjoyable. The good news is that setting healthy boundaries can help you continue learning while protecting your wellbeing.
Boundaries are limits that help you take care of yourself. They help you decide how much time, energy and attention you can give to something.
For example, a boundary might be:
Boundaries are not signs of weakness. They are tools that help you learn in a sustainable way.
Many people experience changes in energy and focus throughout the day. Some days you may feel highly motivated. On other days, even a simple lesson may feel difficult.
Instead of forcing yourself to follow the same schedule every day, try paying attention to your energy levels.
Ask yourself:
You may discover that listening to a podcast feels easy, while studying grammar for an hour feels exhausting. This information can help you create a learning routine that works for you.
