Topic: Plenary | Critical English Language Teacher Education – the case for pedagogic humility and the lessons of disappointed hope
Presenter: John Gray
Presentation details
In this FoELT 2026 plenary session, John Gray will explore some of the key challenges currently shaping English Language Teacher Education, including teacher agency, inclusivity, linguistic inequalities and the wider impact of social, political and technological change on education.
The session will introduce the concept of pedagogic humility, encouraging reflection on the importance of context, limitation and teacher wellbeing when navigating the complexities of modern language education.
Drawing on critical perspectives from teacher education and applied linguistics, John will also examine how ideas of hope, reflection and progressive education can continue to inform teaching practice and professional thinking in uncertain times.
About the presenter
John Gray is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Education at University College London (UCL). He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the London Review of Education and the author of numerous articles and books, including Social Interaction and English Language Teacher Identity (2018), written with Tom Morton.
His research interests include language teacher identity, language teaching materials analysis, neoliberalism in language education and issues of gender and sexuality in language teaching.
John is an internationally recognised researcher and speaker in the field of English Language Teacher Education and Applied Linguistics.