13th March 2026 - Language World

🌍 Opening Doors at Language World 2026
Friday 13th – Saturday 14th March | Hinckley

We were absolutely delighted to attend Language World 2026, the annual conference hosted by the Association for Language Learning, held this year in Hinckley. The event brought together passionate language educators, leaders, and advocates from across the country – all united by a shared commitment to inspiring the next generation of linguists.

🎤 Our Presentation: Opening Doors
On Friday, Aamir Kohli and Rebecca Britti had the privilege of presenting:

Opening Doors: Using Cultural Trips to Inspire Collaboration and Global Learning

Our session explored how cultural visits and international partnerships can transform language learning, making it more meaningful, engaging, and impactful for students. Drawing on our experiences across the Solent Language Network and our schools, we shared how:

• Cultural trips bring languages to life through real-world experiences.
• Students build confidence in communication and intercultural understanding.
• Collaboration between schools strengthens leadership and professional growth.
• Cultural learning can be embedded sustainably within the curriculum.

It was fantastic to see so many colleagues engaging with the session, sharing ideas, and reflecting on how we can continue to open doors for our students through languages.

🤝 A Celebration of Collaboration
The theme of Language World 2026, led by Co-Presidents Anna Lise and Steven, focused on the power of collaboration. Throughout the conference, this message was clear: when language educators come together, we create stronger, more connected learning communities.

From workshops to panel discussions, the event was full of inspiring examples of collaboration across schools, regions, and even countries.

🌟 Inspiring Voices
We were especially excited to hear from Ian Gilbert, founder of Independent Thinking and an internationally recognised educational thinker. His thought-provoking insights on creativity, motivation, and learning reminded us of the importance of keeping curiosity and innovation at the heart of education.

It was also a proud moment to see Liz Lord, representing Portsmouth City of Languages, sharing the incredible work happening across our city. Her presentation highlighted the impact of initiatives that celebrate linguistic diversity and bring communities together through language.

💬 Why It Matters
Language World continues to be a vital space for reflection, inspiration, and professional growth. It reminds us that:

We are stronger together.
As language educators, our role goes beyond the classroom. Through collaboration, cultural experiences, and shared vision, we can inspire young people to see languages as a gateway to the world.

🚀 Looking Ahead
We return from Language World 2026 energised, inspired, and full of ideas to continue developing language learning across our schools and networks. We look forward to building on these connections and continuing to open doors for all our learners.