This is my last issue of the magazine as editor, and in it I have taken the opportunity to look at some of the more challenging issues that are facing our profession. In my own article, I consider some of the changes that have occurred in ELT publishing in the 21 years that I have been editing ETp, some of which are not necessarily changes for the better.

Alan Maley and Rod Bolitho take us back to basics, which is rarely a bad thing, and attempt to distil the essence of ELT in ten axioms and principles. Charlie Ellis speaks up for the place of politics in the classroom, and argues that it should not be considered a taboo subject. Carol Lethaby considers the role of neuroscience in ELT, identifying myths about the working of the brain which have become widely accepted in teaching methodology but which are not actually supported by scientific research. Jaber Kamali questions the accepted view that the location where you take an exam has no effect on your score, and calls for greater measures to ensure fairness. Keith Copley turns the spotlight on China, and argues that the current policy change which seems to signal the death knell for the private education sector is not necessarily all bad, and should make us reconsider our attitude to the sort of education provision that serves our students best.

When I became editor of ETp, a number of people expressed the hope that I wouldn’t make any changes to the magazine. This was perhaps a little unrealistic, as we live in a rapidly changing world. However, despite the undoubted changes that have occurred to the profession of English language teaching and in ELT publishing itself, I like to think that ETp has remained true to its original remit: to provide a forum for English language teachers around the world to exchange opinions and share their experiences of what has or has not worked for them in the classroom.

There are many people who have been responsible for the continued success of ETp. First and foremost are Nic Ridley, who founded the magazine, and Mike Burghall, our editorial consultant. Mike was in at the beginning – actually well before the first issue was published in 1996 – and has stayed with ETp through all its ups and downs, including several changes of ownership. He has remained a positive guiding force, with a clear eye and a determination to keep the magazine accessible to all teachers, regardless of their experience and their level of English. I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.

Since Pavilion Publishing took over as owners of ETp, we have enjoyed a period of stability, with much-needed investment in our website and welcome support in gaining a greater online presence through social media, including regular blogs and webinars. Thanks are due to Christine Hicks, Finance Director of Pavilion Publishing and Media, and Kirsten Holt, Head of Pavilion ELT and ELT Business Manager at Pavilion Publishing and Media.

Finally, I would like to give my thanks to all those teachers who have submitted articles to ETp over my years as editor. Each article is given a number when it arrives, and I see from my list the last one that I received (just a few days ago) is number 2,323. Of course, we haven’t been able to publish everything we have received, but that’s still a fabulous amount of accumulated wisdom and experience that we have been able to share with teachers in over 120 countries.

Please support ETp in its new format, and continue to share your expertise with your colleagues around the world.

Helena Gomm

Editor

Email: helena.gomm@pavpub.com