Inspiring Teachers. Empowering Learning. Shaping the Future!

Join us for a new season of Cambridge Days Italy, a series of eight inspiring professional development events bringing together teachers, school leaders, educational experts and the wider English language teaching community.

Across four events in October 2026 and four more in February 2027, Cambridge Days will offer fresh insights into language learning, assessment, innovation and classroom practice. Through keynote presentations, practical workshops and opportunities to connect with peers, you will discover new ideas to enhance teaching and help learners thrive in an ever-changing world.

Be part of a community that believes in the power of education to open doors, create opportunities and inspire lifelong learning.

Choose your nearest event and join us in shaping the future of English language education in Italy.

*Please note: A certificate of participation will be automatically generated after submitting your attendance (check-in) during the event. It will be valid for “Esonero ai Servizi” and will entitle you to receive training credits recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education via the S.O.F.I.A. platform. Cambridge English is an institution accredited by the Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito for the training of school personnel pursuant to Directive 170 of 21/3/2016, article 1, paragraph 5.

As AI takes on an increasing number of language-related tasks, it's worth asking what learners still need to do for themselves. In this session, we'll explore the human communication skills that remain essential in an AI-rich world, including collaboration, mediation, intercultural communication and effective spoken interaction.

Drawing on the CEFR, Cambridge's Life Competencies Framework and current research on oracy, we'll share practical classroom ideas for developing the skills AI cannot replace. We'll also consider the continuing importance of human judgement in language assessment, where meaningful communication, fairness and context-sensitive decision-making still matter most.

Clear communication, active listening, and being confident in discussions are all indicators of strong oracy skills. These skills are not just valuable in the classroom, they are genuinely essential for success in everyday life and future careers.

So how do we help our learners build these skills? In this session, we will look at practical ways to make oracy a regular and form a purposeful part of any English lesson. We will explore classroom activities that nurture physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development while strengthening confidence and the ability to speak and listen effectively.

Graham Seed is a Senior Research Manager at Cambridge University Press and Assessment - English, where he works on different projects relating to language assessment and learning. His current professional interests include good practice for digital learning and assessment materials, operationalisation of the CEFR, and multilingualism in learning and assessment contexts. He holds an MA in Language Testing from Lancaster University, DELTA and CELTA, and previously taught EFL in Bosnia, Russia and the UK. He is currently also the Secretariat Manager of ALTE – the Association of Language Testers in Europe.

Claire Ross develops and delivers face-to-face and online training for English language teachers and trainers. She has been working in teacher education since 2005, mainly in the Middle East and North Africa, but also globally as lead educator for several free teacher development courses on FutureLearn. Recently, she developed a free online course to support teachers who teach young learners online, and has created a number of online lesson plans for teachers working to prepare children for Cambridge English Qualifications for young learners. Claire’s work in pluralistic approaches to languages and cultures has led her to co-author a book chapter on the inclusion of refugee learners in Lebanese schools.

Sarah Ellis is currently working as Senior Manager, Assessment Services, for Cambridge University Press and Assessment. She is based in Bologna, Italy. Sarah is interested in Assessment, Learning & Professional Development and has an extensive background in teaching, teacher training, assessment and exam management. She has trained teachers on CELTA and DELTA courses and is currently involved in the Cambridge professional development and teacher support programme which provides support for teachers and academic directors. She is particularly interested in supporting teachers in developing digital skills and assessment literacy.

08:30 - 09:15	Registration
09:15 - 09:30	Welcome and Introduction
09:30 - 10:25	Session 1: The human advantage: Communication skills in the AI era Speaker: Graham Seed As AI takes on an increasing number of language-related tasks, it's worth asking what learners still need to do for themselves. In this session, we'll explore the human communication skills that remain essential in an AI-rich world, including collaboration, mediation, intercultural communication and effective spoken interaction. Drawing on the CEFR, Cambridge's Life Competencies Framework and current research on oracy, we'll share practical classroom ideas for developing the skills AI cannot replace. We'll also consider the continuing importance of human judgement in language assessment, where meaningful communication, fairness and context-sensitive decision-making still matter most.
10:25 - 11:15	Session 2: Motivating learners through problem-based learning Speaker: Claire Ross Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a powerful way to engage students by connecting lessons to real-world challenges, which ultimately makes learning more meaningful and relevant to their own life experiences. This session will break down what PBL looks like in practice and how it can help students think critically, work collaboratively, and take ownership of their learning. Discover practical ideas you can use straight away to make your classroom more interactive and meaningful.
11:15 - 11:30	Quick Talks Cambridge updates and news
11:30 - 12:15	Coffee break and Learning Materials Exhibition
12:15 - 13:10	Session 3: Shining a light on oracy and empowering learners through effective communication Speaker: Sarah Ellis Clear communication, active listening, and being confident in discussions are all indicators of strong oracy skills. These skills are not just valuable in the classroom, they are genuinely essential for success in everyday life and future careers. So how do we help our learners build these skills? In this session, we will look at practical ways to make oracy a regular and form a purposeful part of any English lesson. We will explore classroom activities that nurture physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development while strengthening confidence and the ability to speak and listen effectively.
13:10 - 13:30	Prize draw and conclusion