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Understanding my learners

Here you can find resources that will help you develop a deeper understanding of your learners so you can support them in reaching their full potential.
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Understanding my learners

In this section you can find useful professional development resources – including articles, webinars, podcast episodes, research and teaching tips and tools – all to help you develop your skills and knowledge of Understanding my learners.

What does 'Understanding my learners' involve?

We need an understanding of our learners to be able to plan teaching and support learning that enables them to develop to their full potential. This professional practice describes the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attributes we need to develop to inform the way we practise our teaching and support learning with learners who are individuals and part of a particular group of learners. It includes: 

  • developing an awareness of the diversity of your learners in relation to their: 

    • cultural background 
    • linguistic background 
    • socio-economic background 
    • educational background

  • understanding the diversity of your learners in relation to their: 

    • aspirations  
    • goals  
    • social, emotional and learning needs (which could include a formal needs analysis) 
    • motivations to learn

  • recognising and valuing diversity among your learners in relation to their: 

  • identifying the knowledge, resources, skills and attributes that your learners bring to the learning process, such as their ability in the subject, interests, personality, behavioural differences, preferred ways of learning and level of autonomy (See also Planning lessons and courses)

  • using your awareness, understanding and recognition of the diversity of your learners to make decisions about your practice

  • developing learner agency through training in areas such as learning how to learn, developing independent learning skills, goal setting and identifying preferred learning strategies and preferences. 

  • applying an understanding of the impact of the learning environment and group dynamics on your learners

  • reflecting on your approach to understanding your learners and the impact this has on their learning.

Explore resources on 'Understanding my learners'

Gender in language education

Learn to recognise different kinds of gender bias and stereotypes, some of the barriers learners face in gender equality and equity, and how to help overcome them in your context. This updated course is open now – enrol until 23 September 2026.

Gender in language education
Certificate
Online community
Workbook
Start: 07/04/26
End: 30/09/26
9–12 hours
Black secondary aged learner in a classroom, smiling at the camera.
Start now

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 will open on 1 July 2026 – enrol now.

Teaching English in primary
Certificate
Online community
Workbook
Start: 01/07/26
End: 30/09/26
9–12 hours
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

TeachingEnglish: Classroom research

Discover how to reflect on and explore issues in your teaching context, plan and carry out a small-scale classroom research project and communicate your findings effectively. Classroom research will open on 1 October 2026 – enrol now.

TeachingEnglish: Classroom research
Certificate
Online community
Workbook
Start: 01/10/26
End: 31/12/26
9–12 hours
A teacher smiling as she shares paper worksheets with a circle of learners
Coming soon

TeachingEnglish: Planning courses

Discover how to plan learner-centred courses based on your learners, their context and curriculum requirements. Explore techniques for analysing learner needs and involving them as active participants in the assessment process. Enrolment for Planning courses 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.

TeachingEnglish: Planning courses
Certificate
Online community
Workbook
Start: 01/10/25
End: 31/12/25
9–12 hours
A group of teachers around a big table, looking at different notebooks and tablets. There are teachers of different genders and ethnic backgrounds sitting at the same table.
Closed

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.

English in the multilingual classroom
Certificate
Online community
Workbook
Start: 02/10/25
End: 31/03/26
9–12 hours
A multilingual primary group with five students
Closed

Research and insight

Browse fascinating case studies, research papers, publications and books by researchers and ELT experts from around the world.

See our publications, research and insight