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.

Diverse primary students enjoying working together on laptops

Breaking down barriers – mini-event

Watch the recordings of three practical webinars and a panel discussion from educators specialising in equality, diversity and inclusion in ELT and find out how to make your classroom more inclusive.

Man in an Asian market speaking into a mobile phone

TeachingEnglish podcast: Do I need to sound like a 'native speaker'?

In this episode, We’am and Chris are discussing what we mean by 'native speaker’, and if we really need to sound like one when we teach and speak English.

A teacher points at a student with their hand up in the classroom

TeachingEnglish podcast: How can we teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively?

In this episode, We’am and Chris are asking special guests Jo Cummins and Luis Carabantes about how to teach vocabulary and grammar communicatively.

Teenage students acting out a travel story in front of their peers

Managing resources – mini-event

Watch the recordings of two practical webinars from specialists about what resources there are for teaching English aside from textbooks and worksheets. There is also a panel discussion with expert teachers from around the world sharing some of the creative ways they use resources in their classrooms.

Two young students act out a story with masks

Stories in the classroom – mini-event

Watch the recordings and download the handouts of four practical webinars with expert teachers about using stories and poems in the English language classroom. This event took place on April 24, 2024.

Young woman celebrating her graduation from university

TeachingEnglish podcast: How can we achieve gender equity in the classroom?

In this special episode for International Women’s Day, We’am and Chris talk to guests Aisling O’Boyle, Araceli Salas and Grazzia Mendoza about how we can achieve gender equity in the classroom.

How can I make sure my class is truly communicative?

This article explores the use of a tool called the Communicative score, which teachers can use to evaluate how communicative classroom activities really are.

British Council teacher in Mozambique throwing a ball to a student

Pronunciation in our classrooms - mini-event

Watch the recordings and download the handouts of three practical webinars with expert teachers about teaching pronunciation in the language classroom.

A multilingual adult class with four learners

Multilingual matters - mini event

Watch the recordings and download the handouts of four practical webinars with expert teachers on the theme of multilingualism in ELT. This event took place on February 15, 2024.

How to design engaging learning experiences for your Generation Alpha learners

What questions should we ask ourselves when planning lessons for Generation Alpha learners?

Teaching resources