English pronunciation can be a challenge for language learners, but integrating innovative approaches, such as games and gamified techniques, can help provide additional interactive ways to meet students’ needs and make learning more engaging and effective. With this in mind, our 2026 scholarship is inspired by our 2025 Pre-Conference Event (PCE) day Games and gamification in pronunciation teaching: Bridging theory and practice where we consider how games and gamification can be used in our classrooms beyond the ‘5-minute-filler’ activity. This scholarship seeks to support educators who are passionate about exploring creative methods to improve English pronunciation through games and gamified techniques.
In thinking about your interest in this area, maybe …
- you have an idea for an original pronunciation teaching game or gamified technique that you would like to develop and try out with your own class,
- you want to integrate more gamified techniques into your pronunciation lessons and share these results with others, or,
- you wish to explore the efficacy of an idea for a game or technique you have read or learned about with your own learners.
If this sounds like you, then apply for the 2026 IATEFL PronSIG Action Research Scholarship!
What we want:
We are asking for classroom-based action research proposals to expand the knowledge we have about using games or gamified techniques to teach pronunciation. The word ‘research’ can seem scary, but classroom-based action research is a simple and effective thing for any teacher to do as part of our CPD.
You’ll get support and mentoring to undertake a simple action research project for your idea or activities and to write an article to publish the findings in PronSIG’s journal, Speak Out!
What you’ll receive:
- Registration for the 2026 PronSIG Pre-Conference Event,
- Registration for the 2026 IATEFL Conference,
- GBP 1000.00 towards your travel, accommodation and any other conference-related expenses,
- A session to present your research at a future/upcoming PronSIG event,
- Support and mentoring to plan and complete your classroom-based action research project,
- Support and mentoring to publish your findings in PronSIG’s biannual journal Speak Out!.
What you’ll need:
- You MUST be an individual IATEFL member & a PronSIG member. Access to the scholarship is a benefit of membership, and as such, we cannot accept proposals from those who are not part of the SIG.
- You’ll need an idea or activities incorporating pronunciation games or gamified techniques.
- Choose a classroom setting where you can complete your action research.
- Have time and motivation to run this a short action research project.
- To be considered you must submit your research proposal using the PronSIG Classroom Research Scholarship Application form (click below) and a confirmation of submission via your IATEFL dashboard.
The submission deadline is 16.00 (UK time) on Wednesday 18 June 2025. Early submissions are very welcome; late submissions will not be considered.
The result of your application will be emailed to you between 13 and 22 August 2025. Please do NOT contact the IATEFL Head Office about scholarship decisions; the Scholarship Committee will send everyone the results as soon as they are available.
Good luck!
IATEFL Scholarships
Each year IATEFL offers a great range of conference scholarships to enable teachers, trainers and other ELT professionals the opportunity to attend the IATEFL Annual Conference in the UK.
The scholarships are offered by IATEFL, by a range of IATEFL Special Interest Groups, and by a wide range of other scholarship sponsors: institutions, companies, groups and individuals.