University of Brescia, Italy 2-3 October 2026
The 5th International ELT Conference “New Trends in English Teaching, Learning and Education” will be held at the University of Brescia on 2-3 October 2026.
The event follows the international debate launched by the four editions of the Conference hosted by the “L’Orientale” University of Naples (2022), the “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara (2023), the University of Ferrara (2024) and the “Parthenope” University of Naples (2025). The fifth International ELT Conference aims to foster ongoing debates on the challenges of language teaching, language learning, and special needs education with a particular focus on variants of English for Academic and Professional Purposes.
Conference Theme: English(es) for Academic and Professional Purposes
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and training is focused too often on general disciplinary skills rather than the specific professional needs required by the workplace. The conference intends to address emerging and developing variants of “English Linguistics for Academicians and Professionals” (ELAP) resulting from innovative approaches to teaching and learning, new needs and skills of the job market, and the increasingly complex implementation of interactive technology and Artificial Intelligence in all phases of course planning, delivering, and applying in the professions.
Key speakers
• Prof. Ofelia Palermo – Professor of Relational Leadership, MSc International Business Leader – Nottingham Trent University Ofelia Palermo | Nottingham Trent University
• Prof. Helen Xanthaki – Professor at the Faculty of Laws, UCL London, Dean of the Postgraduate Laws Programmes of the University of London (Worldwide) Helen Xanthaki | About | University College London
• Prof. David Tual – Professor of Language Education, Director of the Centre for Languages and Inter-Communication at the University of Cambridge David Tual | Department of Engineering
Key topics
We welcome contributions that engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes related to ELAP:
• Changes in teaching methods, approaches, and strategies in view of novel and growing professions
• New skills and learning needs of students within a professional perspective
• Innovations in online, blended, and hybrid courses
• Uses of AI in implementing ELAP
• Interdisciplinary methodologies for innovative ELT (English Language Teaching)
• Higher Education (HE) and the professions
• Best practices in English language communication in professional contexts
• Reskilling and upskilling in HE
• ELAP in lifelong learning
Submission Guidelines
We invite submissions of abstracts relevant to the conference themes at the e-mail address elt2026@unibs.it.
Word count: 300 words, excluding bibliography.
Language: English.
Format: Include title, author(s), affiliation(s), e-mail address(es), and 3-5 keywords.
Key Dates
Abstract submission deadline: 30 June 2026
Notification of acceptance: 15 July 2026
Registration deadline: 20 September 2026
Conference dates: 2-3 October 2026