Ilmas Ata, a dedicated English teacher in Saudi Arabia, works with learners of all ages—each bringing different needs, goals and challenges. Seeking ways to grow professionally and meet those diverse needs, she turned to the British Council’s WhatsApp communities of practice. What she found there transformed not only her teaching approach, but how she sees the value of continuous learning.
At first, she joined to find lesson ideas. But over time, these communities became much more—a trusted space where educators from similar contexts share strategies, challenges and encouragement. The moderated discussions, live sessions and resource-sharing provided her with a steady stream of insight. She started saving ideas from TeachingEnglish webinars and group chats, taking detailed notes and creating a personal booklet of strategies she now uses regularly.
One of the most impactful changes was in how she teaches reading and writing. Inspired by flipped learning methods she encountered in the community, Ilmas began helping learners engage with reading texts before class—building curiosity through cultural context. In writing classes, she shifted from assigning tasks to guiding learners through planning, vocabulary-building and paragraph structure. These changes helped her students feel more confident and motivated, and transformed the classroom into a more dynamic space.
The WhatsApp groups offered her both structure and flexibility. She could revisit recorded sessions, tag resources, and return to them whenever she needed a boost of inspiration. Over time, she became an active contributor, offering advice and sharing her own techniques with peers across the region. For Ilmas, these communities are more than support networks—they are catalysts for change, helping her grow and enabling her to empower her students in meaningful ways.
‘It’s great to have a community you feel part of.’ Ilmas Ata