After two online editions due to COVID, we were thrilled to welcome participants back in person to our newly renovated Haus 1 at the PH Vienna. The day was a dynamic celebration of teaching and learning, networking and innovation in English language teaching.

Participants had the opportunity to:

• Select from a diverse range of workshops and talks on English didactics and methodology.
• Browse the latest teaching and learning materials, publications and resources at our book fair, while discussing innovations with the publishers and networking with colleagues.

• Take part in the much-loved raffle, with prizes generously provided by our sponsors, offering inspiration for teaching both inside and outside the classroom.

The event began with a warm welcome from PH Vienna’s dean, Priv.-Doz.ⁱⁿ Mag.^a Dr.ⁱⁿ Barbara Herzog-Punzenberger, and Deborah Burger, Diversitätsmanagerin at the Bildungsdirektion Wien.

This year’s kick-off talk, “I’m going DeepL underground? There’s too much panic in this AI town”, was delivered by Thomas Strasser, who captivated the audience with his ideas on generative AI in English language teaching. Together, we explored the potential of AI to foster autonomous learning and learner agency by creating interactive and personalized educational pathways.

The workshops covered a range of topics to inspire and equip educators, including:

• AI Images for English Language Learning: Discover the potential. Alicia Bankhofer introduced innovative ways to integrate AI-generated images into English language learning, creating engaging, personalized activities.
• Speaking and listening through storytelling. Mojca Belak illustrated how storytelling activities can integrate speaking and listening practice seamlessly into lessons.
• 21st century literacies & more: Graphic Novels im Englischunterricht. Susanne Heinz showcased the use of graphic novels to teach 21st-century literacies and foster extensive reading skills.
• Success strategies to support all learners in mixed-ability classes. Chris Jory provided practical strategies for managing mixed-ability classes and supporting all learners effectively.
• Podcasting in the classroom. Jan Killian explored the potential of podcasts as a creative tool for improving listening comprehension and storytelling in the classroom.
• SPEAK OUT with vlogs – Boosting speaking competences. Julia Weißenböck discussed vlogging as a tool to overcome students’ fear of speaking and foster authentic communication.
• Bringing stories to life in the English classroom: Reading strategies and lesson design for second language and intercultural learning. Nóra Wünsch-Nagy demonstrated how graphic novels and graded readers can enhance intercultural understanding and critical thinking.

This year’s Biennial English Teachers’ Day was a huge success, leaving participants with innovative ideas, practical tools to enrich their teaching practices and a lot of motivation to take back to the classroom.

A heartfelt thanks to our organizational team, speakers, sponsors, and all participants for making the 14th Biennial English Teachers’ Day a memorable success. We look forward to seeing you again in 2026!