
In this episode, Rahat Rizwan, Director Programmes – Education, CARE International, discusses typical in-service teacher development models in Pakistan. Rob Lewis also interviews Professor Simon Borg to find out more about approaches that have been found to be most effective in teacher professional development globally.
This episode includes discussion of the following research and initiatives:
- 'Tanggap, tiklop, tago' (receive, fold, keep): Perceptions of best practice in ELT INSET (British Council, 2012)
- Walter, C. and Briggs J.G. What professional development makes the most difference to teachers? (Oxford University Press, 2012).
- Borg, S. Teacher evaluation: global perspectives and their implications for English language teaching – a literature review (British Council, 2018)
- The British Council's Continuing Professional Development Frameworks for teachers and teacher educators
Comments
#CPD
Hello! My name is Miguel and I am a student from a BA in ELT program in Mexico. After taking some time to listen to your podcast related to Continuous Professional Development (CPD), I noticed how important it is to take the time to continue with your professional growth in your career. I heard about this many times during my classes, from my teachers or colleagues but never gave it the attention it deserves until this moment. I am not saying that it did not matter to me or that it is not important to take into consideration, it is actually the opposite: preparing yourself constantly and being updated on what is to come, discover new things and enjoy teaching in new ways. CPD is a journey of building something new during practice, and the people who will benefit from this will be yourself and your students.
Going back to the podcast, I can mention things that I can take away from it which are the following:
CPD is a continuous process. You as a teacher should not stop learning new things and your professional development is not something that “finishes”, it is something that you are expanding and upgrading through your career thanks to actions and experiences you take.
CPD is personal. Sometimes institutions can provide useful workshops or materials that could help you in your professional development. However, this is not true for all institutions around the world and most of the time you will have to look for those opportunities by yourself. You need to have the willingness and the motivation to look for these opportunities and make the most of them every time since they are key in your growth as a professional.
CPD not only benefits you, but your students and colleagues as well. As mentioned above, CPD is crucial to yourself since it helps you grow and become a better version of yourself in the academic field. This creates a domino effect that is reflected on your future students because it makes classes more manageable and meaningful for them, which results in better learning outcomes.
After understanding what CPD is and its importance, I try to make an action plan for my own professional development with achievable goals in the near future, it is as follows:
First, I am willing to take webinars and attend conferences related to teaching and learning whenever possible. This is for me to be updated on topics related to these fields and acquire new knowledge which will help me after I graduate from my BA.
Second, I will start to read papers about new concepts and methodologies of teaching. I think it is of great importance to know what the experts are publishing and have a look at their points of view regarding current concepts and their impact on teaching.
Finally, I will take certification exams. This is for me to add them to my curriculum, as well as checking how much I am progressing on the mastery of the language and check which areas I need to improve on myself.
I appreciate the podcast, keep up the good content!
My experience…
My name is Delia, I am an English teacher in training residing in Culiacan, Sinaloa. I recently listened to the podcast “Education Focus 8: Service & Teacher Development”. Until now, I have just known that Continuous Professional Development is more than a mindset, the podcast explains in detail the concept, its characteristics, and different cases that exemplify them, it also provides a variety of strategies for us, as the audience, to put in practice in our own contexts.
Some takeaways from the podcast that I would like to highlight are the following:
CPD improves teacher competence. I always look for ways to develop my teaching skills, and the podcast reinforced how important it is to keep learning. CPD helps me improve my methods and stay updated with new approaches.
CPD takes time. This episode reminded me that professional growth does not happen overnight. Instead of looking for quick fixes, I need to commit to continuous learning and trust that the benefits will happen over time.
CPD boosts student motivation. I had considered in the past how my own development directly impacts my students, but this audio reminded me of this situation. When I improve my teaching strategies, I create a more engaging learning environment, which increases their motivation and willingness to learn.
Some of these ideas involve elements I had not considered as a part of CPD, which could have hinder my development as a teacher. However, the podcast helped me into getting to know all these different sections and strategies that can aid me through this process.
Here’s what I have planned:
Short-term (1-3 months): Write a reflective teaching journal. Every time I teach, I will document what works well in my lessons and what needs improvement. This practice will help me track my progress and set clear goals for growth. On the other hand I will also, join an online group of CPD teachers. I will actively participate in discussions, share my experiences, and learn from other teachers. Engaging with different perspectives will give me new ideas to implement in my classroom.
Medium-term (6-12 months): Try a new teaching technique. I will experiment with new ideas, approaches and techniques for my classes, learning to see how it impacts student engagement. After testing it, I will reflect on the results and make adjustments to improve my approach. Another plan is to be mentored by a more experienced teacher. I will accept and encourage any offer of guidance, this process will push me to analyze and improve my teaching practices.
Long-term (1-2 years): Present at a teacher conference. I will share my insights on student engagement and CPD, which will challenge me to research, organize my thoughts, and grow as a professional. Furthermore, I will create CPD resources for my institution. I will develop materials on effective teaching strategies to help other teachers enhance their practice.
This episode deeply motivated me in taking a more intentional approach to CPD, and start doing this changes. I will make continuous learning a priority and actively seek opportunities to improve my teaching.
Thoughts on CPD
Wow! My name is Fedra, and I am currently an aspiring teacher about to receive a BA in ELT. However, this is my first time hearing about CPD— or Continuous Professional Development—explained so meticulously in a way that almost sounds effortless to the listener.
One of my favorite parts of the podcast was the following comment: "Professional development is more than improving knowledge. There is knowledge, there's pedagogical knowledge (which is knowledge of teaching), and there's content knowledge (which is knowing your subject), whatever it is. They are both important in teacher competence, but there's more to being an effective teacher than just knowledge and skills. There's the ability to work effectively with others, collaboratively and collegially; being confident is part of being an effective teacher, as is teacher motivation. [...] Professional development is more than simply acquiring new knowledge and skills."
Sometimes it is easy for teachers to forget that teaching is more than mastering your subject and how to deliver the content to your students, resulting in us underperforming due to overlooking other parts of teaching that are equally as important. Thus, it is crucial to sit down and reflect on what we should be working on to improve ourselves entirely.
However, this type of self-reflection doesn't have to be done alone. In the podcast, the speakers highlight the existence of mentoring and reflection groups where teachers reunite in small groups to discuss challenges and possible solutions for the aforementioned. Partaking in such activities is beneficial for teachers and students alike, as improvement in the way we teach often leads to learners performing better. Therefore, every teacher should be interested in continuous development, as further explained in the podcast: "If teachers are going to change, they need to be willing to change."
I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis the speakers made on how important it is to keep an open mind when it comes to change while seeking improvement. Moreover, how vital it is for our improvement to get rid of attitudes that make us fear not knowing everything, as it is impossible to know everything, but that does not mean we are bad teachers.
Therefore, as I continue my journey as a teacher, I plan to do the following:
In the next 1–3 months, I plan on researching information about aspects of my teaching that I do not feel strongly confident in, to slowly work on changing my attitude towards each of them. This will be done through attending webinars about each of the concepts and observing how other teachers work in their classrooms.
In the next 6 to 12 months, I expect to identify my strengths in the classroom and the different contexts in which these exist to ensure I am taking advantage of what I am best at. I will achieve this through the use of self-reflection after every class I carry out and research with the help of books and online resources on the topic.
In the next year or two, I aim to have obtained various language and teaching certificates that will give me better professional opportunities.
My name is Alonso and I’m…
My name is Alonso and I’m currently a BA student in ELT. I had the opportunity to listen to the podcast "Education Focus 8: Service & Teacher Development" in my class and it was an enriching experience for me to learn deeper into my Continuous Professional Development (CPD). As it is the first time I’ve been introduced to this topic this was a perfect start to understand the importance of growing on a professional basis as a teacher.
For this podcast there were 3 aspects that really stuck into my head that I would love to share.
1.There are many ways in how CPD benefits teachers and students- The podcast mentioned several examples in which it benefits both teachers and students and the first one that I noticed was the significant improvement of reading skills. Teachers can improve on their classroom management and time management skills by continuing learning. As teachers keep learning, they are also developing better communication achievements and it starts boosting their confidence and motivation while they are learning about new teaching methods. Finally, teachers develop an ability to work collaboratively with others.
2. The challenges that teachers may encounter could be crucial for their CPD- Some of the challenges depend on the teachers but some of them are not for them to control. One of the ones that depends on the teacher is the motivation that they have towards learning and improving. It involves plenty of willingness to learn in order to not get demotivated and it only depends on the teacher’s aspiration. One factor that can’t be handled by teachers is the amount of information that they are receiving and in what period of time. Some schools prefer to give one or two input courses with a lot of information instead of doing small sessions with the intention of teachers digesting the information little by little.
In order to grow in my professional development, I am doing an action plan that will help me grow in my CPD.
Short-term (1-3 months):
Start getting some peer support and feedback. I am starting some practices and it is my opportunity to ask peers about my performance and some tips to improve.
Getting mentor help. As important as peer feedback is, being mentored by a professional will be the perfect way to learn from other points of view.
Medium-term (6-12 months):
Once I finish my studies I won’t stop here, I am planning on starting to look deep into articles and books that could keep me updated to new teaching methods.
Stay in contact with my peers to keep track of their projects and ideas. See their progress in their teaching and if they have any recommendations from their own experience.
Long-term (1-2 years):
Getting certifications like CELTA and DELTA are ambitious goals but very favorable for my CPD.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience in this podcast. I am looking forward to learning more techniques and strategies to my own professional development.
Best regards,
Alonso
Great podcast
Hello! My name is Kesli, and I’m an aspiring English language teacher from Sinaloa, Mexico. I’ve just listened to the podcast “Education Focus 8: Service & Teacher Development,” and it truly opened my eyes to the broader concept of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Before listening, I’d only thought of CPD as mandatory workshops and certificates, but now I see that it’s a commitment to continually improve and evolve as educators.
Here are a few key takeaways from the podcast that really stood out to me:
1. Teacher collaboration is essential for growth – The podcast highlighted the importance of collaborating with colleagues to enhance our teaching practices. Whether it’s through mentoring, peer observations, or simply engaging in discussions with other teachers, sharing ideas and challenges helps build a stronger teaching community. I now realize how much I can benefit from reaching out to others in the profession to share resources and get feedback on my teaching.
2. CPD must be personalized and relevant – What I hadn’t considered before is how important it is to align CPD activities with our specific teaching contexts. The podcast emphasized that professional development should be relevant to the classroom challenges we face. For example, if classroom management is an area I struggle with, I should focus my CPD efforts there, rather than attending training that doesn’t directly apply to my teaching needs.
3. Reflection is a critical part of CPD – Reflecting on one’s teaching practice is another powerful aspect of CPD. I’ve learned that teachers who take the time to critically evaluate their own lessons and student interactions tend to grow much faster. I’ll definitely be starting a reflective journal to track my progress and identify areas for improvement. This will be a way for me to stay focused on my development and make conscious changes in my teaching style.
As I plan my own path for professional growth, I’m excited to start setting clear, achievable goals for CPD. In the short term (next 1-3 months), I’m planning to attend webinars on classroom management techniques, which I think will be crucial for managing diverse learners.
For the medium term (6-12 months), I’m going to dive deeper into differentiated instruction. I want to understand better how to cater to students with different learning needs, so I’ll be reading books and articles on the subject.
In the long-term (1-2 years), I plan to take a specialized course in ELT methodologies, focusing on task-based learning and communicative approaches, once I have more time. I believe this will give me a solid foundation in various teaching strategies that will improve how I design and implement lessons in the future.
This podcast has truly inspired me to approach my professional development in a more intentional and holistic way. I feel motivated to start this journey of continuous improvement and hope it helps me grow into a more confident, skilled teacher. Thank you for the valuable insights!
Best regards,
Kesli
CPD
What an interesting insight into what Continuous Professional Development (CPD) involves! Hello, my name is Ana Cristina, and I am currently studying a degree focused on English Language Teaching (ELT). In the past, I have encountered distinct knowledge in regards to teaching practices and self-reflection. However, it was refreshing to listen to this podcast and learn about what CPD encompasses.
Some of the features that I found the most intriguing were teacher’s communication and confidence, or their lack thereof. Both of these are pivotal for language teachers. Imagine just how catastrophic it would be for students to misunderstand our instructions and input so frequently! And of course, confidence plays a fundamental role here. We need to let our students see that we are knowledgeable in our field and that we are a supportive guide in their language development; and in order to achieve this, it is incredibly important to continuously improve in what we do and develop our professionalism.
Furthermore, I loved hearing how it is also okay to accept that we are only humans and not super machines. It is important to not be seen as an authority who knows every single thing about English, for both students and us teachers. Learners should not feel intimidated and teachers should not feel this overwhelming pressure of “needing to know everything”. There definitely are more features that I enjoyed listening to but I think it’s best if I just wrap it up here.
As I mentioned before, this podcast was both thought-provoking and riveting, and since I plan on using this knowledge for my future teaching practices, I’d like to share a little of my goals.
First, I intend to attend online webinars related to the English Language Teaching field in order to continue learning the new trends that language teachers are using world-wide. In addition, I would like to request permission from different teachers to observe their lessons. I believe that this is one of the most effective techniques a novice teacher (like me) can follow. I expect to achieve these small goals in a time frame of 2-3 months approximately, so let’s hope for the best!
Second, I would like to read a variety of articles or books from experts in the field. Namely, articles related to grammar and vocabulary teaching. I consider these two to be my achilles heel when it comes to lesson delivery haha; therefore, it would be nice to learn more theory regarding them. Moreover, I would love to learn more classroom management techniques. They are crucial for language teaching and the more you practice, the better. I would like to accomplish these goals before the end of this year. However, I believe it would be even better if I continued doing the former and the latter throughout my whole career, not just during this year.
Last, I would like to take more certificates related to language teaching next year. I’m not currently familiar with many of them, but it is my goal to investigate them and enroll in some of them.
Thank you for the podcast, I’m looking forward to continuing developing my professionalism and knowledge in this field!
Thanks
Hi anacristinams
Thanks for your feedback on the episode. You can check out all of our free CPD training courses on our training page, here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/training
You can also sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with all our latest training, webinars and resources, here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/subscribe-our-newsletter
Good luck with your CPD journey!
Cath
TeachingEnglish team
CPD and me
Hello there I'm Sebastian, and I'm almost a graduate teacher from a BA in ELT program here in Mexico. After listening to the podcast on CPD in ELT, I've realized how crucial it is to actively invest time in my personal growth as a soon to be professional educator. Not that I wasn't aware that professional development was a thing only tied to CPD, but something teachers did to grow professionally to meet the standards that a professional teacher should meet. The podcast has brought me a new way of understanding that it's not only about growing professionally to keep being competitive in this field but to understand that this journey is about building me as person and teacher to enhance what do I do in my practice and most importantly, the students who will be learning from what I have to teach them.
Takeaways from the podcast:
CPD is versatile and accessible. It’s not limited to structured courses but includes everyday activities like peer discussions, reflective journaling, or exploring ELT blogs. This flexibility makes it easier to integrate CPD into a busy schedule and that is great thing for us teachers who sometimes are short on time.
The Impact it has on students. Effective CPD doesn’t just benefit teachers—it directly improves learner engagement and outcomes by introducing fresh strategies tailored to diverse classroom needs.
It can be challenging but manageable. While time constraints and institutional support can be barriers, proactive planning and leveraging free/low-cost resources (e.g., webinars, peer networks) can make CPD achievable.
What I have planned to do in the following months
To translate these insights into action, I’ve created a structured CPD plan focusing on short-, medium-, and long-term goals:
Short-Term (1–3 months):
Attend webinars on technology in ELT
I'll be looking for webinars about using digital tools to boost interactivity in online classes—a skill I need to develop for not only using in the physical classroom, but possibly the online one too.
Start a reflective journal
I’ll document weekly teaching experiences, noting successes and areas to improve.
Medium-Term (6–12 months):
Complete an online course on inclusive teaching practices
In this day an age, I need to know how to approach and communicate with students with different needs than the usual, that's why I need to improve on this sector to become a better teacher.
Organize a peer observation
I’ll collaborate with a colleague to observe each other’s classes and exchange feedback.
Long-Term (1–2 years):
Pursue a CELTA certification
This advanced qualification will deepen my understanding of ELT methodologies and position me for beating teaching opportunities.
Become a mentor
I aim to guide novice teachers by sharing strategies and resources, contributing to a culture of collaborative CPD in the far but possible future.
Final Thoughts:
This podcast has inspired me to view CPD as a lifelong commitment rather than a checklist. By starting small and staying consistent, I’m confident I can grow into a more reflective, adaptable, and impactful teacher. As you may seen in other posts too, we are a full class share our thoughts on CPD, so do not be afraid to see all these posts following a similar format on this topic, haha.
Cheers!
Sebastian
Hi there, I’m Anel, an…
Hi there,
I’m Anel, an English teacher in Mexico. I just finished listening to the podcast eduaction focus service and teacher development.
I’ve reflected on embracing not knowing everything as a key part of lesson planning.. I used to think being a teacher meant mostly having the answers, but this podcast made me realize that allowing uncertainty can actually improve my teaching and students’ learning.
Some aspects I found interesting were:
Not knowing everything is part of growth: I’ve sometimes felt pressure to have all the answers, but the speakers emphasized that teachers don’t need to be walking encyclopedias and, I’ve noticed that students engage more when they see me thinking critically rather than just giving immediate answers.
Being comfortable with uncertainty helps lesson planning, the podcast highlighted that flexibility is essential. I need to be okay with moments of uncertainty in my lessons and see them as opportunities for deeper discussions rather than as failures in my planning.
Here are some ways I plan to implement these ideas:
• Experiment with more open-ended questions in assessments to encourage critical thinking.
• Start acknowledging when I don’t know something instead of feeling pressured to give an immediate answer.
• Observe how other teachers handle uncertainty in their classrooms and incorporate their techniques.
This podcast gave me a new perspective on teaching, and I’m excited to implement these changes.
Thank you!
Anel
Listened to this and I have to say
Hello!
I’m Daniel, and I’m an almost certified English teacher based in México. I’ve just finished listening to the podcast “Education Focus 8: Service & Teacher Development,”. This is the first time I’m learning about Continuous Professional Development (CPD). I hadn't considered CPD beyond the required workshops and occasional webinars. This podcast made me realize the many options available for teachers to continue growing in our careers.
Some takeaways I found interesting were:
1. CPD has to be continuous – I am used to just waiting for webinars or workshops to be available for me to work on my professional development. The speakers suggested that continuous input from mentors and peers would help consistently improve my lessons. I agree, I remember we did something similar during CELTA. Another way to develop professionally is to listen to podcasts or read articles, though I prefer receiving feedback on my work.
2. Schools sometimes don’t provide enough CPD – I used to think that occasional courses were sufficient for professional development. However, listening to this podcast highlighted that schools could do more to support teacher development. My school only offers workshops at the start of each semester, but I’d like additional workshops and follow-up meetings.
3. CPD should be explicitly planned long term – I’ve had a vague idea of how to improve as a teacher but never put it into words. I should be more proactive in seeking workshops, peer reviews, and webinars, and I’ll create an action plan to guide my improvements.
Here are some plans:
Short-term (1-3 months):
• Attend a workshop at my school on lesson planning; it's one of those I mentioned, and I could use some tips.
• I will take an IELTS course and exam for graduation and enhance my resume, potentially opening job opportunities.
Medium-term (6-12 months):
• Ask coworkers to observe my classes and give me feedback and vice versa. I am not sure how many teachers would help me with that but it’s worth a shot.
• Get a position as a teacher’s aide to help around classes while observing other teachers' work.
Long-term (1-2 years):
• Take a TKT when I have the time, I heard you learn a lot from them even if you don’t pass.
• Take a teacher talk or classroom management course. I think I can improve the way I talk as a teacher. Especially my intonation.
I appreciate the podcast, and I am looking forward to executing my action plan and incorporating new ideas into my class and school.
Thank you again!
Daniel
Focus on professional development
Focus on professional development is uniquely addressed in the course modules and it is a praiseworthy effort of the British Council intellectual team, I am so impressed with their research and knowledge shared to all teachers as great expertise. All the relevant areas do convey a positive ambience in order to pave the way in inculcating the passion of teaching with these distinguish techniques and methodologies. This is growth to all teachers across the globe .My heartfelt sincere thanks and blessings to all who dedicated their expertise and precious time. Brilliant intellects with extra ordinary talents ! thanks immensely, Fiona Rodrigo
Teacher development is very…
Teacher development is very important but it is challenging too when a teacher gets training and can't proceed with executing in school due to some issues.
Teacher development
Hi Aasia
Thanks for your comment - I agree that it can be frustrating if you are not encouraged to apply new ideas in your teaching context. I wonder how other people have dealt with this problem?
Cath
TeachingEnglish team
The teacher`s…
The teacher`s professionalism is displayed in the results of his students.
Focus on professional development
The professional development of teachers is significant to level up their knowledge as well as elevate their value in the world of the teaching profession.
Continuous Professional Development
1) Professional development is very important to upskill teacher's quality.
2) It is important to boost teacher's motivation and confidence in facing 21st Century students.
3) It acts as a support group for teacher and building social interaction community among teachers to share the best practice and approaches.
To work together
The teachers always have the same programme at school. Unfortenatuly they can't run in parallel with the students. They usually use different pace of work. It is a big problem for the students...
It is equally important for
It is equally important for in service Teachers to learn something new.
Hello!!
My name Diana, I’ve just listened to your podcast “Education in focus 8: In-service teacher development”, I’m currently teaching at a language school in Mexico but I’m also studying for a degree to enhance my teaching. Before listening to the podcast, I was already aware that we as teachers will never stop learning. However, I was fascinated by the number of different activities we can do to continue improving while working, and I have to admit I was not familiar with the term “CPD”, so listening to this podcast has been delightful.
One thing I could not avoid thinking about was how wrong I was about CPD. I used to believe that improving professionally was just about taking courses, getting a master’s degree and even certificates. When the speakers mentioned talking with our coworkers and sharing ideas, I was amazed. Sharing new ideas and perspectives is beneficial for us to grow. In regards to ELT, we could ask our peers to allocate areas of improvement when something did not go as planned in class, to give an example.
Peer observation is not something negative as it is thought by some. There are lots of teachers who will not accept to be observed because they don’t want to be judged. However, it is necessary for us to receive feedback since our students ‘depend’ on us. And I used ‘depend’ because we are supposed to help them learn the language and we must consider several aspects (appropriate frameworks, rapport, etc.) for them to develop their language skills effactively. Of course, we are allowed to make mistakes because we are humans, but there is always room for improvement.
As I listened to the podcast, I noticed there are different activities I can do for my upcoming CPD. Here’s my action plan, in the short-term (1-3 months) I plan to schedule peer-observations in order to receive feedback from my coworkers who are teaching the same level as I am, therefore, they could provide me with meaningful comments about my performance. After receiving feedback from my peers, I will ask experienced teachers to mentor me and help me improve based on the negative comments I get.
In the next 6-12 months I aim to try out new frameworks, seating arrangements and classroom management techniques in order to discover what works best with me and my students, who knows I might end up changing my current beliefs.
Lastly, in the long-term (2-3 years), I expect to study for a master’s degree in education to broaden my professional development. As I mentioned before, we never stop learning.
This podcast made me realize how valuable is collectivism to grow professionally in any field. I genuinely feel motivated for my forthcoming CPD.
Best regards,
Diana.