A teacher grading tests in a classroom

Professional development

Professional development is vital for all. TeachingEnglish supports your growth in English language teaching, whether you are a teacher, teacher educator, academic manager, researcher or materials writer.

Here you will find free, self-access, online training and resources designed to develop the skills and knowledge you need as an English language professional.

Our professional development resources are organised by audience (teachers or teacher educators), professional practices and professional development level. The professional practices and professional development levels align with the British Council’s Continuing Professional Development Frameworks for teachers and teacher educators. These two unique frameworks, and the professional practices within them, address the skills and knowledge English language professionals need in their day-to-day working lives and throughout their careers.

A Black teacher and a gender-neutral learner writing something on a classroom board.
Course closed
CEFR level Understanding
Duration 9–12 hours
Course duration 9–12 hours
Planning lessons and courses
Managing the lesson

TeachingEnglish: Managing learning

Learn how to evaluate and write engaging lesson plans, and explore techniques for effective transitions, signalling, task-setting and checking instructions. Enrolment for Managing learning is closed. Find resources connected to the course contents on this page, and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

A multilingual primary group with five students
Course closed
Course
CEFR level Engagement
Duration 9–12 hours
Course duration 9–12 hours
Understanding my learners
Using inclusive practices
Using multilingual practices

English in the multilingual classroom

This course will introduce you to multilingualism and what it means. Learn how to make your classroom and teaching multilingual so that your learners can learn to celebrate and use many languages in the real world. Enrolment for English in the multilingual classroom is closed. Find resources connected to the course contents on this page, and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

A group of primary-aged learners in a classroom sitting at desks. A White teacher is giving a Black learner a high-five.
Course closed
Course
CEFR level Understanding
Duration 9–12 hours
Course duration 9–12 hours
Planning lessons and courses
Managing the lesson

TeachingEnglish: Managing learners and resources

Learn how to manage resources, groupings and differentiation effectively to help build positive relationships with learners in your classroom. Enrolment for Managing learners and resources is closed. Find resources connected to the course contents on this page, and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

A group of primary-aged learners sitting at a table, working together on something. The photo is taken from above. The learners are of different genders and ethnic backgrounds.
Course closed
Course
CEFR level Understanding
Duration 9–12 hours
Course duration 9–12 hours
Planning lessons and courses
Managing the lesson

TeachingEnglish: Organising the classroom

Learn how to use boards and other classroom resources effectively. Develop strategies for promoting social language, starting and finishing lessons and managing different interaction patterns in class. Enrolment for Organising the classroom is closed. Find resources connected to the course contents on this page, and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

A Black teacher sitting at a desk, typing something on a laptop.
Course closed
Course
CEFR level Engagement
Duration 9–12 hours
Course duration 9–12 hours
Planning lessons and courses
Assessing learning

TeachingEnglish: Planning lessons

Learn how to plan engaging language and topic-based lessons by identifying and applying commonly used lesson models. Explore techniques for introducing new language, writing achievable learning outcomes, and planning warmers and lead-ins. Enrolment for Planning lessons is closed. Find resources connected to the course contents on this page, and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

A group of diverse teenagers standing around a desk working together on a project
Assessing learning
Using inclusive practices

Inclusive assessment – webinars

Watch the recordings of three practical webinars on how to make assessment more inclusive and creative.

Article
Knowing the subject

Teaching the schwa

If you only learn or teach one phoneme, make sure it’s the most common English sound – the schwa.

A Black female teacher in a school library, working on a laptop and taking notes.
Understanding my professional identity

How to use our learning pathways

Are you looking to grow as an English language teacher but not sure where to start? Discover TeachingEnglish learning pathways and find the perfect route to your professional development goals.

A white female teacher, working on a computer and taking notes.
Understanding my professional identity

How to use your course workbook

Are you taking one of our courses for teachers? Explore practical tips for how to use your TeachingEnglish course workbook.

young female teacher writing on paper notes stuck on a white board
Understanding my professional identity

How to make positive changes to your teaching

Small changes to your teaching can have a big impact on your classes. This five-step action plan will help you identify changes you can make to improve your teaching.