Webinar Recording: How to Apply for IATEFL — Experiences from India and Kazakhstan
On 15 September 2026, a free webinar for English language teachers, “How to Apply for IATEFL: Scholarship Journey, Proposal Writing, and Practical Recommendations for Teachers and Teacher-Researchers,” was held.
The webinar brought together the experiences of two educators from India and Kazakhstan, who shared their journeys of applying for IATEFL international professional opportunities and scholarships.
The main speaker was Dr. K.M.C. Kandharaja (India), recipient of the Trinity College London Teacher Trainer Scholarship 2026 and a participant in the IATEFL 2026 Conference in Brighton.
During his presentation, Dr. Kandharaja shared his journey from developing an idea and researching his own teaching practice to successfully applying for an international conference and receiving a scholarship.
During the webinar, participants learned:
📌 how to identify suitable IATEFL scholarships;
📌 how to prepare a strong application and conference proposal;
📌 why it is important to draw on your own teaching context and real classroom experience;
📌 how research into your own teaching practice can become the basis for an international conference presentation;
📌 why applications should be prepared in advance and reviewed by colleagues;
📌 why teachers should not be discouraged by rejection and should continue applying for international opportunities.
The speaker particularly emphasized that a PhD is not a requirement for presenting internationally. What matters more is having genuine professional experience, a meaningful question, and evidence of what has happened or changed in your educational context.
Experience from Kazakhstan: Assel Mambetbayeva
In the second part of the webinar, Assel Mambetbayeva (Kazakhstan) — an English language teacher, IELTS instructor, teacher trainer, and Head of RainSEED Educational Centre — shared her own experience.
Assel became a recipient of the IATEFL TEASIG First Time Delegate Scholarship 2027 and will attend the IATEFL 2027 Conference in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
During the session, she explained how she selected a scholarship, prepared her application and essay, and approached the scholarship requirements. She also shared how her experience of working with students and teachers in a rural area of Kazakhstan became an important part of her professional story.
Her experience demonstrated that international opportunities of this kind are not limited to university researchers or professionals with advanced academic degrees. A teacher’s real classroom experience, work with challenges in their local community, and willingness to share knowledge can also provide a strong foundation for an international application.
🎥 Were you unable to attend the webinar?
The full recording of the session with Dr. K.M.C. Kandharaja and Assel Mambetbayeva is available on YouTube:
▶️ [Watch the webinar recording on YouTube]
This webinar was the first session in a professional development webinar series for English language teachers.
Follow our updates for upcoming webinars, international opportunities, and meetings with educators and experts from different countries.
