A teacher grading tests in a classroom

Professional development for teachers

Here you’ll find a wide range of free, self-access training and resources designed to help you build the skills and knowledge you need as an English teacher.

All TeachingEnglish professional development resources are aligned with the British Council Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Framework for teachers, to help you plan your learning and develop the areas most relevant to your professional growth.

You can explore resources in a way that suits your goals:
- by professional practices – to focus on specific areas of teaching where you want to deepen your skills and expertise
- by professional development levels – to find resources matched to your training and experience and see how they can help you progress within each area.

Each resource includes a timer icon to show how much time you’ll need, helping you plan your learning effectively.

young Asian woman in a wheelchair typing on a laptop in a bright room
Article
Understanding my professional identity

How to be a great online learner

Do you have the habits of a great online learner? This printable checklist is based on five key principles to help you learn effectively online.

Group of young teenagers working together on a project
Knowing the subject

Knowing the subject – webinars

Watch the recordings of three webinars packed with ideas for helping learners turn language knowledge into real communication.

Group of secondary-aged learners working together to complete a task. The group has learners of different genders and ethnic backgrounds.
Enrol now
Course
CEFR level Engagement
Course duration 9–12 hours
Knowing the subject
Planning lessons and courses

TeachingEnglish: Communicative tasks

Create meaningful, communicative tasks that promote learner autonomy and purposeful language use. This new course is open now – enrol until 23 September 2026.

boy and girl laughing and writing on a blackboard
Enrol now
Course
CEFR level Understanding
Course duration 9–12 hours
Knowing the subject

TeachingEnglish: Understanding language systems

Develop your understanding of functional language and grammar and learn how to apply this knowledge to your teaching through reflection, analysis and effective presentation of use and form. Understanding language systems is open now – enrol until 23 September 2026.

A group of primary-aged learners in a classroom sitting at desks. A White teacher is giving a Black learner a high-five.
Enrol now
Course
CEFR level Understanding
Course duration 9–12 hours
Understanding my learners
Assessing learning

Teaching English in primary

Discover how primary children learn and apply this understanding to your classroom practice. Explore the role of assessment in the primary classroom and learn engaging, age-appropriate strategies for learner evaluation. Teaching English in primary is open now – enrol until 23 September 2026.

Female teacher working at table with teenage learners.
Webinar
Understanding my professional identity
Using inclusive practices
Using multilingual practices

South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026

Join us on 23, 24 and 25 July for the South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026. The conference theme is Creative teaching, creative learning: Embedding creativity in teaching, inclusive practice and digital integration.