Michael Connolly, Director of English Programmes at the British Council, Discusses the Challenges and Evolution of English Language Teaching in Uzbekistan

Question: There is a growing interest and need for the English language in Uzbekistan. In recent years, more schools and universities are adopting English as the primary language of communication. What challenges does English language teaching currently face in Uzbekistan?

I believe that the government and institutions in Uzbekistan are united in prioritizing English. Society, including parents and children, alongside the government, recognizes the importance of English. This shared understanding is a positive development. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the recruitment and training of English teachers. 
We are collaborating with the government on professional development initiatives, focusing on continuing education programs for teachers. Our emphasis is on school-based professional development and building capacity in Uzbekistan. The goal is to create a long-term, sustainable professional development system within the country.
That said, the demand for English is significant, particularly in higher education, secondary education, and the private sector. Consequently, substantial investment in teacher professional development will be necessary.

Question: What teaching methodologies did you highlight in your lecture while in Tashkent, and how have these methodologies changed over time?

I think English is always at the forefront of change in education. As a subject, it tends to change more quickly than other subject areas. And that's because the nature of English is communication. It's an international language, which means you have international learning. And for things like the use of technology in education, English language education has always been way ahead. 
We did some research into artificial intelligence and teaching, and nearly all the research was about English language teaching more than any other aspect of education. So I think change in English language teaching happens quite quickly and rapidly because it's an international dimension. The big changes that I have seen in my career is more focus on the child and not the teacher and more focus on learners as the center of learning more autonomy for the learners.
We have also reflected on the concept of the classroom. It's not solely about teaching English; it encompasses the well-being of each child and promotes inclusion. It's important to treat both boys and girls equally and to ensure that children with special educational needs or disabilities are integrated into the classroom environment. 
Another significant change is the impact of technology. With mobile phones and computers now accessible in our pockets, we are witnessing a technological revolution. Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence suggests that the next few years may bring dramatic changes in education.
I don't know if teaching will change that much in the short term, but learning will change because learners have access to information from everywhere, not just the teacher. And this is exciting and also has some dangers. And because information is not always good information. So we have to teach the students to be critical thinkers. They need to think about what they're reading.

Question: Is there anything you would like to highlight based on the topics and issues that were mentioned at the Forum today?

The topic I usually work on is school education. And today's conference is mainly on higher education. But I fundamentally believe the two should be connected. And if we want more English at universities, that means we need to teach better in schools. So I don't think sometimes the two are seen as very separate, but they're not. And most important, I think, for any country is to invest in your school education system because that is your future university students and the future of the country. So I'd like to keep the link between the two.