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.
Direct method
The direct method of teaching was developed as a response to the Grammar-Translation method. It sought to immerse the learner in the same way as when a first language is learnt.
Discourse
Discourse is one of the four systems of language, the others being vocabulary, grammar and phonology.
Discourse management
Discourse management refers to the ability to produce extended written and spoken texts, for example conversations.
Discourse markers
Discourse markers are words and phrases used in speaking and writing to 'signpost' discourse.
Discrete item
A discrete item is an item of language isolated from context.
Display questions
Display questions are questions you ask to see if the person you are speaking to knows the answer.
Dogme
Dogme is an approach to teaching that argues that teaching should focus on the learner and not be driven by the resources available, including course books.
Drill
A drill is a classroom technique used to practise new language. It involves the teacher modelling a word or a sentence and the learners repeating it.
E-learning
E-learning is the delivery of a learning programme by electronic means; it includes web-based learning, virtual classrooms, digital collaboration and delivery of content through internet.
EAP
English for Academic Purposes, or EAP, refers to learning English in order to use it to study another subject.