• March 2, 2025

29th NELTA Conference Concludes with Focus on ELT Innovation and Policy

Supriya Rai

Kathmandu, May 1: The 29th International Conference of the Nepal English Language Teachers Association (NELTA) has concluded on Saturday.

The three-day international conference organized at Little Angels’ School in Hattiban, discussed topics such as the use of technology in English language teaching, teacher empowerment, improvement of writing and reading skills, and balancing human relations in teaching, said NELTA President Prof. Dr. Laxman Gnawali. He said there was a special discussion on how technology and human interaction can be used for English language teaching at the conference.

According to Dr. Gnawali, the experts from home and abroad presented new research-based ideas that will be handed over to the Ministry of Education as a means of improving education policies. He further added, “Since all the teachers and participants are satisfied with this conference, we are committed to making the upcoming 30th NELTA Int’l conference more effective and relevant.”

The first keynote speaker of the day, Neenaz Ichaporia, gave a presentation on “The Future of English Language Learning in the Age of AI.” She said that it is necessary to set the goals of every learning and use AI judiciously. She mentioned that bias, incorrect data, and inclusion challenges should be considered when using AI.

The second keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Tirtharaj Khaniya, said that the judicious use of technology is necessary on the topic “Can AI be a Substitute to a Human Teacher of English?” and believed that a human approach should be prioritized in teaching. He said that excessive use of technology makes students dependent on it alone.

Roger F. Cohen, Regional English Language Officer, US Embassy, Nepal; Chandra Kant Bhusal; Prof. Dr. Zumberlal N. Patil; and Prof. T. Kumari Kharbamon from India presented different ideas to make English language teaching effective.

Similarly, in other special sessions, Kanita Ridwana, Lashana Nandakumaran, Ankhajaya Batsuri, and Associate Professor Markova Elena said that various strategies should be acquired to improve students’ writing style and reading skills. They believe that even though AI has made the classroom easier, the role of teachers will still be important.

In addition, at the NELTA Provincial Symposium, key representatives and teachers from all seven provinces discussed the latest efforts in English language teaching, transformation of writing skills, responsible teaching methods for social justice, and teacher empowerment. Nepali and foreign representatives had in-depth discussions on various aspects of English language teaching in 23 other concurrent sessions.

Around 800 participants from 22 countries gave more than 200 research-based presentations at the 29th NELTA Conference. It is believed that this grand conference organized by NELTA will help teachers become familiar with new teaching methods and technologies.