The Speaking Classroom: BEN BEAUMONT at Trinity's Summer School 2026
08/06/2026
In this short interview, we have the pleasure to introduce you to Ben Beaumont, Trinity's Head of Teacher Education and Pedagogy, who will be one of the trainers at Trinity's first Summer School in Italy (26-28 August). Ben is an educator with teaching and training experience across primary, secondary and tertiary level of education and is also a researcher, specialising in teachers’ educational development and educator practices in English-medium contexts.
Where did your interest in English language teaching begin?
I've always been interested in language - my interest in language teaching, and pronunciation in particular, started when I moved to Scotland from southern England and had difficulty understanding the English spoken there! I went on to study English language, focusing on areas like phonology and the history of language, and then began teaching in Japan. After completing my CertTESOL and later my diploma, I moved into teacher training in London. Now I oversee the same qualification I took 25 years ago, and my work focuses on teacher development - especially helping teachers improve their classroom practice, with a strong emphasis on phonology and communication.
Why does Trinity’s focus on GESE stand out compared to traditional ways of teaching and assessing English?
Trinity has always stood out to me because of its focus on real-life communication . Too often, English is taught as an academic subject rather than a living language, so my work—and the summer school—focuses on practical ways to build speaking into everyday lessons.
How does the Trinity Summer School help teachers incorporate more authentic speaking opportunities into their lessons?
The Summer School is designed to offer practical strategies for developing spoken communication. The aim is not to add extra work, but to help teachers integrate more speaking opportunities into what they already do. There are many ways to achieve this—through drama, storytelling, or more personalised activities, such as talking about students’ own experiences: communication becomes more authentic when it’s personal. Another key aspect of the summer school is collaboration. We want to create an environment where teachers learn from one another, share ideas, and build a professional network that continues beyond the summer school itself.
Join Ben at the Trinity Summer School - "The Speaking Classroom: Practical approaches for developing meaningful communication"
Who it is for: Teachers of English from both the public and private sectors—coming from Italy and abroad—as well as trainee teachers and university students.
When: 26-28 August 2026 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (with optional evening activities)
Duration: 25 hours of training, with a certificate of participation awarded upon completion. Where: Centro Congressi Paolo VI - Brescia Registration Fee: €199,00 - State School Teachers in Italy can use Carta del Docente to buy it
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