Beyond the World of Englishes…

January 20, 2025

Speech at Macmillan Day, January 2025
Hektor Çiftja

Dear honorable representatives of Macmillan Education,
Dear Mr. Alket Veliu,
Dear colleagues,

My name is Hektor Çiftja, and I am a college instructor at the University of Elbasan, located just an
hour’s drive from Tirana. To be transparent, although I have extensive experience in English
language teaching through numerous trainings, as well as a background as a translator and
interpreter, I do not hold formal qualifications as an English teacher. My academic background is in
linguistics and literary criticism.

Out of a lifelong passion for the beauty of the English language, I decided to establish a center in my
hometown after completing my master’s studies in the USA as a Fulbright Scholar in 2004. This
center specializes in preparing learners for English proficiency exams that enable them to study in
English-speaking countries.

To cut a long story short, I was both surprised and humbled to be invited to an event of this
magnitude. I would have been content to listen rather than speak. However, my long-standing
conversations with Mr. Veliu ultimately convinced me to accept this opportunity. For two decades,
Mr. Veliu—a remarkable expert with an unparalleled understanding of English language resources—
has posed a recurring question: “Why do you insist on exclusively using Macmillan products, rather
than those from other publishers?” He was keenly interested in my insights and often followed up
with another question: “Are these remarks your own, or do they reflect feedback from the teachers at
your center?”

Knowing my passion for piloting new resources from Macmillan’s international catalogs, Mr. Veliu’s
curiosity about my opinions was genuine. I suspect this is why I was invited here today—to share not
only my own experiences but also the testimonials of our learners and teachers.
And so, I decided to use this opportunity to deliver a short speech about the aspects of Macmillan
products that have truly stood out to me.

Practical Benefits of Macmillan Products

From a practical perspective, Macmillan materials excel in exam preparation. They allow private
centers like ours to avoid the dominant “teaching to the test” methodology. Instead, we are able to
prioritize teaching English itself, reserving only minimal time for direct test preparation. Typically,
for exams requiring around 200 contact hours, we can allocate as few as 30 contact hours to focused
test preparation, thanks to the quality of these materials.
Moreover, Macmillan’s resources enable us to use a B1-level textbook to prepare students for the
Cambridge First exam, a B2-level certification under the CEFR framework, with consistently high
success rates. Of course, the dedication of learners and the competence of teachers remain key
variables in this equation.

Theoretical Contributions

From a theoretical perspective—which is my primary area of interest—Macmillan products offer
practical and effective solutions to ongoing scholarly debates. Questions such as when and how to
introduce academic literacy skills, at what age or level, and how to integrate them with general
communicative skills are all addressed comprehensively. This is where I find Macmillan’s approach
particularly groundbreaking.

Two textbooks, Academy Stars (designed for primary school children) and Gateway to the World
(aimed at teenagers), exemplify this methodology. Beyond their alignment with frameworks such as
Education for Sustainable Development and Citizenship, their very structure fosters critical thinking.
When implemented correctly, the critical thinking activities in these books not only guide learners
through linguistic and content-based text analysis but also enhance their performance in other
subjects. Many of our students report improved academic results in humanities subjects taught in
Albanian, attributing this success to the analytical skills they developed using Macmillan materials.

Expanding Horizons
Macmillan products redefine the concept of what constitutes a “text,” incorporating videos, podcasts,
and other multimedia. Activities built around these resources foster critical thinking and broaden the
horizons of Albanian learners—not just in English but across the humanities. Students consistently
highlight how these resources have instilled a new way of thinking and learning, changing their
attitudes toward studying and research.

Features like Great Learners, Great Thinkers are particularly impactful. According to student
testimonials, these activities have transformed their approach to education, encouraging self-study
and rekindling a habit that has diminished among Albanian learners over the past three decades.
Even grammar is presented in a meaningful context, seamlessly integrated with reading and listening
exercises. Recent Macmillan materials emphasize that grammar is not merely a set of rules but an
essential component of meaningful communication. As Samuel Johnson aptly put it, “Grammar is the
art of using words properly.” Many students report that studying English grammar in this way has
deepened their appreciation for their native Albanian language and improved their performance in
it.

A Gateway to Academic Literacy
I have always loved metaphors about language. In Eastern Europe, classrooms once displayed the
slogan, “A foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of life.” Unfortunately, words like “weapon”
and “struggle” fail to inspire passion for language learning. Later, the metaphor shifted to, “A foreign
language is a window to the world.”

While this metaphor remains relevant, I believe English today—especially through Macmillan
products—opens a new kind of window: a gateway to academic literacy, critical thinking, and selfstudy
skills. This world is vast, inspiring, and essential for personal and professional growth.

Closing Thoughts
There is much to say about the impact of Macmillan products in Albania. Their online resources and
apps encourage learners to review material at their own pace, fostering habits that benefit all areas
of learning.

I would like to conclude with a thesis inspired by our learners’ testimonials: Albanian students have
historically performed poorly in PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests. As
the government works to improve pre-university education, I propose a straightforward solution:
integrating more Macmillan materials into Albanian schools and ensuring teachers are well-trained
in their use.

In 1843, Daniel Macmillan wrote, “I thought it worthwhile to plant a seed… If a large tree grows from
that seed, we shall be grateful.” In Albania, Macmillan products have already planted the seed of a
remarkable blend of language acquisition and academic literacy. If this seed grows into a flourishing
tree, covering all humanities taught in Albanian, we, as a nation, will be forever grateful.

Thank you!