YALS Annual Conference 2023:

25 Years of Quality Language Services in Serbia

One of the recipients of this year’s Eaquals Member Event Fund, was YALS, the Association of Foreign Language Schools of Serbia. Their Annual Conference, titled ’25 Years of Quality Language Services in Serbia, was held in Belgrade on 14^th October. The conference brought together 80 language professionals eager to attend the CPD sessions and celebrate the Association’s 25^th Jubilee.

Marija Pejatović, YALS’ Chair, opened the event and welcomed all participants. During her speech, she also introduced a short documentary, specifically filmed to mark the special occasion. Lou McLaughlin, Eaquals’ Executive Director, and Tony O’Briend, the former Director of the British Council for the Western Balkans also addressed the participants on the day via video link.

Present at the event were also Jelena Korać from the British Council for the Western Balkans, and Veselin Chantov from the Bulgarian Association for Quality Language Services, Optima, both Eaquals Associate Members, as well as Jelena Spasić, the ELTA Serbia International Coordinator, all of whom reflected on their cooperation with YALS and wished them continued success in their efforts to promote quality amongst their members.
Attendees were able to participate in the following presentations and workshops:

Maintaining high academic standards – a myth or a reality – (Mila Angelova, DOS at AVO Language and Examination Centre – Sofia, Bulgaria and Eaquals inspector)

International projects – Innovating ELT through Erasmus+ KA2 projects – (Karmen Vrhar, European Project Manager at Jantar IH – Split, Croatia)

Cracking the code of the adult learner – (Ljubomir Vasojević, Blackbird Language School – Cacak, Serbia)

Temperaments in children – (Vera Vrbica Matejic, Big Bird School – Belgrade, Serbia)

Through the looking glass: CREDO in the classroom – (Maja Gavrilovic, Livingston Language Centre – Belgrade, Serbia

Rather (not) go online – (Jelena Spasic, Oxford School – Leskovac and Nada Filipovic, Gimnazija – Sabac)

In the same boat – classroom management – (Nina Stojanovic, Studio Oscar – Belgrade, Serbia)

Attendees only had words of praise for the well-organised event. Marija Pajatovic, YALS’ Chair, said ‘the conference was an excellent opportunity to grow professionally, to share experiences and best practices, to exchange professional ideas, to present projects at a national and regional level, and socialise with colleagues thus strengthening ties with existing and potential new partners.’