English Language and Literature Program - ELIT

🌍 Call for Papers | 6th International Youth Conference on Language, Literature and Education: Joining Forces to Build a Better World

🗣️ Conference Theme:
Language Beyond Borders: Youth Voices for Intercultural Understanding

The ELIT and ELT programs at the International University of Sarajevo invite students to participate in the 6th International Youth Conference on Language, Literature and Education, a platform dedicated to exploring the transformative role of language, literature, and education in fostering intercultural understanding and building a better world.

📅 Date: 6 November 2026
📍 Venue: International University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
💻 Online participation is also available.

🎤 Keynote Speakers:
Asst. Prof. Dr. Melita Lemut Bajec
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
"Every Language Counts: Rethinking Teaching in Multilingual and Multicultural Classrooms"
Đermana Kurić, M.A.
Research Associate, ERC BILQIS Project, University of Galway, Ireland
"How Studying Language Led Me to International Policy and Research"

📌 Important Dates
📝 Abstract submission deadline: 1 October 2026
📄 Full paper submission deadline: 31 December 2026

🤝 Partner Universities:
• University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Bartın University, Türkiye

We look forward to welcoming participants from around the world to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and celebrate the power of language beyond borders.

🏅 ELIT and ELT programs organized a certificate-award ceremony for mentors and tutors 🎉

On Friday, 19 June 2026, ELIT and ELT programs organized a certificate-award ceremony for English teachers, professors, school principals and coordinators who supported our students during their Teaching Practice courses. 👏 We welcomed our distinguished guests and expressed our deep appreciation for the guidance, effort and inspiration which the mentors shared with our students. 💙 Certificates of appreciation were awarded to the principal of the Third Gymnasium Sarajevo, Ms. Amra Čolić, English teachers and professors: Sanja Salihović, Džejlana Gledo, Salema Drljević-Çiftçibaşı, Esma Adilović-Halilović, Ajla Pervan, Sibela Beširević, Edvin Kriještarac, Sanela Mihalić, Elvedina Omeragić and ELS coordinator Nermina Šegalo. 🏆

In addition, certificates of appreciation were awarded to ELIT and ELT students who tutored freshman students within their Teaching Practice courses. 🎓 We would like to commend our students for the effort and dedication they invested in the tutorials and for supporting IUS freshman students in improving their English language proficiency. 📚✨ Certificates of appreciation were awarded to: Safa Afşar, Melisa Burç Abiş, Muzaffer Özdemir, Ajla Topić, Fatma Birkan, Reyhan Bayrak, Lejla Vatrić, Fatma Aysalar and Bakir Abaspahić. 👏🎉

💙🎓

🌍🤝 Strengthening international partnerships through Erasmus+!

We are proud to share that Prof. Dr. Almasa Mulalić (ELT) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nadira Puškar Mustafić (ELIT) represented the International University of Sarajevo during an Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility visit to Bartın University, Türkiye, from 1–5 June 2026. 🇧🇦🇹🇷

During their stay, the professors met with colleagues and university representatives, presented the International University of Sarajevo and its academic programs, and explored opportunities for future cooperation and academic exchange. 📚✨

🎓 Asst. Prof. Dr. Nadira Puškar Mustafić delivered a guest lecture introducing the literature courses offered within the ELIT and ELT study programs at IUS. She highlighted the role of literature in enriching students intellectually and spiritually, while emphasizing how literary studies foster critical thinking, empathy, cultural awareness, and a deeper understanding of human experience.

🎓 Prof. Dr. Almasa Mulalić focused on language courses and current trends in language teaching. Her lecture addressed the importance of continuous professional development and the need for educators to embrace innovative pedagogical approaches that respond to the evolving demands of language learning.

The visit also included student presentations of projects designed for digital learning spaces, demonstrating how educational technologies can be integrated into language teaching and classroom practice. 💻🌐

This Erasmus+ mobility further strengthened the academic connection between IUS and Bartın University, opening new possibilities for collaboration in English language teaching, literature, and higher education. 🌟

A sincere thank you to Bartın University for their warm hospitality and support throughout the visit! 💙

📚✨ From lesson plans to classroom action! 🎤📝

Our EDU313 Didactics and Foreign Language Learning students turned ideas into engaging lessons by using the Gateway A2–B2 books to create detailed lesson plans—and then stepped into the teacher’s role during today’s microteaching sessions! 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫

From warm-up activities to interactive tasks, each student led a different part of the lesson, bringing creativity, confidence, and innovative teaching techniques to the classroom. 🌟💡
Watching their careful planning transform into dynamic, real-time teaching was inspiring and a fantastic reminder that the best way to learn to teach is by teaching! 🚀📖

👏 Great job to all our future educators!

🎓🌍

🌍📚 ELIT and ELT programs welcome Erasmus exchange lecturers 🤝✨

ELIT and ELT programs have continued strengthening collaboration with different universities from abroad. During April and May 2026, we welcomed six Erasmus exchange lecturers from three different universities.

On Tuesday, 7 April 2026, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kenan Çetin from Bartin University in Turkiye held a workshop for ELIT and ELT students entitled: Digital Quiz Tools in ELT and H5P Workshop. 💻📝

On Thursday, 9 April, Dr. Çetin held a lecture entitled: Sounds of English and English Accents. 🗣️

On Tuesday, 5 May 2026, Asst. Prof. Dr. Özge Gümüş from Adıyaman University in Turkiye held the lecture entitled: Beyond language: Sustaining motivation, emotion regulation and engagement in English Language and Literature learning. 📖✨

On Monday, 11 May 2026, Prof. Dr. Devrim Höl from English Language Teaching Department of Pamukkale University in Turkiye delivered the lecture entitled: New Frontiers in ELT Assessment: Principles, Approaches, and Item Design. 📊📚

On Thursday, 14 May 2026, two professors from Education Faculty of Pamukkale University in Turkiye held their lectures; Asst. Prof. Dr. Ati Merç held the lecture entitled: Education and Language Development of Gifted Students, while Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kanmaz held the lecture entitled: Program Development in Language Education. 📚✍️

On Thursday, 21 May 2026, Asst. Prof. Dr. Neslihan Köse from Bartin University in Turkiye held the lecture entitled: European Solidarity Corps: Project Writing in Education.📝
We look forward to continuing the collaboration with our esteemed colleagues and their respective institutions. 🤝🌍✨
📚🌍🎓✨

🎓📚 On June 1, students from Prof. Ervin Kovačević’s Introduction to Foreign Language Pedagogy course presented their group research projects investigating various foreign language teaching, learning, and language use issues at the IUS campus. Through poster presentations, they shared their findings with fellow students and faculty members, demonstrating their research 🔍, analytical 💡, and presentation 🎤 skills.

The projects were evaluated by a jury consisting of Prof. Vesna Suljić, Prof. Damir Kahrić, Prof. Azemina Latić, Prof. Maja Olovčić, Prof. Roman Sulejmanpašić, and Prof. Nejira Mulahmetović.

Congratulations to all students for their hard work, thoughtful research, and engaging presentations! 🌟

🎤📚 On Monday, 25 May 2026, ELIT and ELT programs welcomed Mirela Alikalfić-Terzić, who delivered the lecture entitled: How to Become a Translator and Interpreter – A Not So Typical Career. 🌍✨

Our guest lecturer shared valuable insights with ELIT and ELT students into the translating and interpreting profession and its interconnectedness with other fields, such as project management, operational planning, monitoring, and evaluation. 💼🗣️📖

The lecture enhanced students’ understanding of the importance of multidisciplinary knowledge and skills during their studies and at the beginning of their professional careers. 🚀🎓

Faculty Advisory Board meeting held on 18 May 2026 📚✨

Representatives from the ELIT, ELT, and TLT programs met with Faculty Advisory Board members to discuss employability, language education, communication skills, and the role of AI in language learning. The meeting brought together academics and professionals who shared valuable insights and experiences with our staff and programs. 🌍💬

Thank you to all participants for the inspiring discussion and support! 🤝

📚 Guest Lecture: How to Become a Translator and Interpreter – A Not So Typical Career

Join us for an inspiring lecture by guest speaker Mirela Alikalfić-Terzić, an experienced translator, interpreter, literary editor, and international project manager with more than 30 years of professional experience working with EU institutions, embassies, humanitarian organisations, and cultural initiatives.
Students can expect valuable insights into the world of translation and interpreting along with practical advice and real-life experiences from the profession. 🌍✨

📅 25 May 2026
⏰ 14:00
📍 A G15

📚✨ Professor Ervin Kovačević and his Lifelong Learning and ELT class organised an engaging poster presentation session where students explored recent research in adult foreign language education and presented key findings from contemporary studies.

The session encouraged thoughtful discussions, critical perspectives, and practical insights into lifelong learning and English language teaching, creating a dynamic space for academic exchange and collaboration. 👏🎓