Research papers

The British Council works closely with universities and other research institutions to fund and publish ELT research. The Research Papers series gathers together the outputs of these partnerships and collaborations.

Choose a research paper

'I have completely changed my point of view concerning native speakers': An EMI training project promoting emancipatory pedagogy

This paper is a report of an intervention project designed to help University teachers asked to deliver their teaching via English...

A comparative study of English language teacher recruitment, in-service education and retention in Latin America and the Middle East

This research report compares the processes of recruitment, education and retention of English language teachers at all levels in Latin...

A global study of primary English teachers’ qualifications, training and career development

Helen EmeryThis research paper reports on a global study of primary English teachers’ qualifications, training, teaching experience and...

An investigation into improved primary school English language learning in the traditional classroom

This paper addresses the learning and teaching of English, from the perspective of primary pupils in government schools in Egypt.

Assessment: Attitudes, practices and needs

This paper explores teachers’ attitudes, practices and needs relating to assessment.

Attitudes to English as a language for international development in rural Bangladesh

There is only limited evidence showing a relationship between the English language and development.

B-MELTT: Blending MOOCs for English Language Teacher Training

This paper reports on B-MELTT (Blending MOOCs for English Language Teacher Training) and explores how the integration of an existing...

Children and teachers as co-researchers in Indian primary English classrooms

This research report describes an innovative project in which teachers and learners worked together to explore issues of importance to them...

Children and teachers as co-researchers: A handbook of activities

This handbook offers a set of activities that teachers have tried out in their Indian school classrooms with children of 8 to 14 years...

Classroom assessment: the development of teachers’ cognitions

This research project investigated teacher cognitions and assessment.

Computers and learner autonomy: trends and issues

This paper reports on a study conducted by Huw Jarvis into the perceptions and practices of Thai and Emirati university students in the...

Confucius, constructivism and the impact of continuing professional development on teachers of English in China

Viv Edwards and Daguo LiThis paper covers the impact of continuing professional development in China.

Early EFL learning in context – Evidence from a country case study

Jelena Mihaljević DjigunovićChildren are starting to learn English at increasingly younger ages. This paper researches the phenomenon...

ELT master’s courses in the UK: Students’ expectations and experiences

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the range and type of Master’s courses in English language teaching (ELT) currently offered...

English for economic development: A case study of migrant workers from Bangladesh

This report investigates the relationship between English language learning and economic development among workers from rural Bangladesh...

English for Specific Academic Purposes student partnerships across borders

Students coming to the UK frequently join their chosen university via a pre-sessional English language course, but organisers of such...

English Language Teaching in Nepal: Research, Reflection and Practice

A volume of research papers giving an international and national perspective on English language teaching and learning in Nepal.

English learning areas in pre-primary classrooms: an investigation of their effectiveness

Penelope Robinson, Sandie Mourão and Nam Joon Kang

This research report presents an innovative approach to teaching English in pre...

English reconceived: Raising teachers’ awareness of English as a ‘plurilithic’ resource through an online course

Christopher J Hall, Rachel Wicaksono, Shu Liu, Yuan Qian and Xu Xiaoqing

This report describes an online course...

English Teaching in Early Years: Research in Peru

In 2017 the British Council, together with Norwich Institute for Language Education (NILE) from the United Kingdom, investigated the...

Exploring the role of recently-qualified English teachers in developing technology use in language classrooms through communities of practice

This study of six secondary schools across Malaysia explores the potential for technology-focused communities of practice and recently-...

From English language learners to intercultural citizens

This paper investigates the development of intercultural citizenship and its relationship to English language use among international...

Gender and sexuality in English language education: Focus on Poland

This research report looks empirically and critically at gender and sexuality in a selection of primary and secondary Polish EFL classrooms...

Global NEST schemes – an audit

This audit is part of a larger, British Council funded project: 'Investigating NEST schemes around the world: supporting NEST/LET...

Global Practices in Teaching English to Young Learners

Sue Garton, Fiona Copland, Anne BurnInvestigating Global Practices in Teaching English to Young Learners was produced in collaboration...

How to make yourself understood by international students: The role of metaphor in academic tutorials

Jeannette Littlemore, Fiona MacArthur, Alan Cienki and Joseph HollowayIn recent years there has been a significant increase in the...

Identity in foreign language learning and teaching: why listening to our students’ and teachers’ voices really matters

Florentina Taylor, Vera Busse, Lubina Gagova, Emma Marsden and Barbara Roosken

This paper explores the relationship between...

Inspiring English teachers: a comparative study of learner perceptions of inspirational teaching

Martin Lamb and Martin WedellWhat makes teachers motivating? This paper reviews the literature on motivational teaching and presents...

Internationalisation, higher education and the growing demand for English: An investigation into the English medium of instruction (EMI) movement in China and Japan

This paper is a report of a study which aimed to understand the new and emerging global trend of EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction...

Investigating NEST schemes around the world: supporting NEST/LET collaborative practices

This report presents findings from a research project which investigates NEST schemes, how they operate and the experiences of the...

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