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TeachingEnglish: How to teach speaking

Develop your understanding of speaking skills and explore teaching techniques and activities which promote oral communication in the classroom for a range of ages and levels. How to teach speaking is open now – enrol until 23 September.

A Black teacher and a learner in a wheelchair smiling at each other. There are other learners of different genders and ethnic backgrounds sitting at the same table.

How can you enrol on TeachingEnglish: How to teach speaking?

Log in to your TeachingEnglish account and click the button below to enrol on this free course.


Enrol button

In the three modules, you will learn:

Module 1 – Understanding speaking – key terms and issues

The aim of this module is to explore key terms and issues in the teaching of speaking. You'll look at how to evaluate and modify activities in terms of communicative quality, and consider how to get your learners using 'real speaking', not just completing grammar tasks.

Module 2 – Understanding speaking – maximising interaction

The aim of this module is to introduce you to a range of techniques and activities which promote speaking in your classroom. You'll look at the benefits of pair and group work and adapt tasks to maximise learner interaction.

Module 3 – Understanding language practice activities

The aim of this module is to explore and evaluate a range of practice activities. The module also looks at flexible activities that can be adapted for different ages and levels. You have the opportunity to select appropriate activities which match with lesson aims, and justify your choices.

What else does the course include?

How to teach speaking is a free self-study training course, which is divided into three-hour modules. It also includes:

  • A dedicated Facebook community of course participants with up-to-date insight, resources and innovative ideas for you to try out.
  • Engaging discussions taking place in the Facebook community
  • A free workbook with extra learning content and resources.

When is the course?

How to teach speaking is open from 3 April-30 September 2025. Enrol until 23 September.

How much does the course cost?

The course is free.

How can you get a certificate?

You will receive a certificate if you successfully complete all self-study modules.

What level of English do you need?

Minimum CEFR B1

How do you sign up for the course?

Please follow the steps below carefully to access this free training course.

IMPORTANT: If you are already logged in to your free TeachingEnglish account, we recommend that you log out and log in again.

Step 1: Log in to your existing TeachingEnglish account or create a free TeachingEnglish account.

You MUST be logged into your free TeachingEnglish account to access the course. Click or tap to Create a free account or log in to your existing account.

Step 2: Enrol on your course

Click or tap the button below to enrol on this free course.

Enrol button

How do you access the course after you've enrolled?

IMPORTANT: If you didn't log out of TeachingEnglish after your previous visit, do this first.

From your desktop or laptop computer

1. Log in to your free TeachingEnglish account.
2. If you have enrolled in the course, you will see 'MY PORTFOLIO' in the menu bar at the top of the page next to the Home button.
3. Move your mouse over MY PORTFOLIO to see the drop-down menu.
4. Click on ‘My courses’ to access your training.

From your mobile device

1. Log in to your free TeachingEnglish account.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines next to the home button to open the menu.
3. Below ‘Home’, you will see MY PORTFOLIO and ‘My courses’ below. Tap on MY PORTFOLIO if you don’t see ‘My courses’.
4. Tap on ‘My courses’ to access your training.

Having problems accessing the course?

Please see our FAQs if you are having problems accessing the course.

What can you do now?

If you're interested in learning more about teaching speaking, you can:

Downloads
File attachments
How_to_teach_speaking_workbook_2025.pdf1.09 MB
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Comments

Hello

Once you have successfully completed all of the modules, you will be able to access your certificate on the courses webpage. Log in as usual, and then click on "My awards" - if you scroll down to "My certificates" you should be able to click to download the certificate there.

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Maytetxu on Sun, 04/02/2023 - 09:54

hi there! I have already done several courses with you. I've logged in, but I cannot find any hyperlink whatsoever to click on the "enrollment button". Neither is with the rest of the available courses at your site. Is there any problem? thanks very much.
best
Mayte

Hi Mayte, 

You need to follow the steps for registration above - here they are again:

If you are still having problems, please let us know which step you are stuck on. 

Thanks,

Paul (TeachingEnglish team)

as I already mentioned in my previous query, I have already done several courses with you. the problem is that the word "enroll" in the course has not any kind of hyperlink which usually leads you to enroll in the course.
that's the problem. I have already registered, logged in , out, and in again and out.... just in case. I can send you a screenshot if you like. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
thanks a lot for your answer

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Wed, 04/05/2023 - 07:53

Hi Maytetxu
Sorry to hear you are having problems. I have just checked the courses website and the hyperlink is working fine for me. Could you try using a different browser? If that doesn't work, can you write us an e-mail to teachingenglish@britishcouncil.org?
Thanks,

Cath
TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Paul Braddock on Mon, 04/03/2023 - 11:24

Hi Abdelkalek,

You need to follow the steps for registration above - here they are again:

If you are still having problems, please let us know which step you are stuck on.

Thanks,

Paul (TeachingEnglish team)

Hi Jesse

 

This How to teach speaking course is available from 10th April. At the moment we don't have a date for when the Teaching pathways: How to teach pronunciation course will next run.

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Hi Fatima

You need to follow these steps:

If you are still having problems, please let us know.

Cath
TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Nuhatti on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 18:14

,As speaking depends on listening so the fist thing that the teacher put in his mind is learners should be good listener in order to be good speakers. Book transcription could be a helpful resource if the teacher is not a native speaker.
Another effective resource is to plan well prepare a lot and give the learner interesting topics depending on their age let them keep talking without over correction. Finally the teacher should avoid metalanguage.

Submitted by Almaldin alfatih on Sat, 03/11/2023 - 06:53

Speaking is a process of building and sharing meaning or ideas, to teach speaking you have to use this method ESL classes students will have the opportunity of communicating with each other in the target language. In brief, ESL teachers should create a classroom environment where students have real-life communication, authentic activities, and meaningful tasks that promote oral language.

Submitted by Hassanmohammedhamed on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 19:46

Teaching speaking is a very important skill because it improves the ability of communication and pronunciation so the learners must be taught this skill from the very beginning stage and there are some English letters have more than one sounds they should learn these sounds well

Submitted by Mohammedjakan on Mon, 02/13/2023 - 14:24

Hello there,
I really would like to enroll for this course as I need to develop my personal career. How can I enroll for it please ?
Kind regards !

Submitted by bayrak on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 19:38

I'd like to subscribe for teaching speaking course next may.
Thank you.

Submitted by TrendyProjectors on Fri, 02/03/2023 - 15:28

This sounds like an incredibly useful and comprehensive course! It's great that it is free and I'm looking forward to enrolling in May 2023.

Hi Dawn

I'm afraid this course isn't currently available - we hope to run it again next year, so please keep checking back or sign up to our newsletter so that you can stay up to date with all our training and resources.

Thanks,
Cath

TeachingEnglish Team

Hi Swagakita Ratha

This website is mostly for English language teachers. If you want to learn or improve your English, you should go to our LearnEnglish website here:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/  You can find different activities and resources for learning English, as well as information about online English language courses with the British Council.

Hope that helps,

Cath

TeachingEnglish Team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 11/21/2022 - 15:33

Hi saidumar

If you are interested in finding out more about the IELTS speaking test, you can check these resources:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/kishore-roy-ielts-speaking-test

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/evaluating-speaking-ielts-speaking-test

You can also find out more about the IELTS exam on this page: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/

Hope that helps,
Cath

TeachingEnglish Team

Submitted by EUNJUNGLEE on Fri, 09/23/2022 - 06:50

I'm interested in how to teach pronunciation and speaking.

Submitted by Inna B. K. on Tue, 09/20/2022 - 06:14

Taking this course is something I would really love to do. I'm hoping the course will be offered again soon. Thank you very much for the learning opportunities.

Submitted by Osama Hu. on Mon, 09/19/2022 - 19:22

Thank you for your efforts

Hi Djipa57,

We don't have a confirmed start date for a new run of Teaching pathways: How to teach Speaking. New dates will be published on the main page when they are programmed. Any course that is currently available will show up on your account, on and after the day it starts. 

The current course is: Teaching pathways: How to teach grammar. The details are here if you happen to be interested in that course.. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teaching-pathways-how-teach-grammar, and I hope we can offer the speaking one soon :).

Anne

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Sunday Victor Sunday on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 10:34

Hello, team.
I followed your steps, yet I couldn't enroll.
Please how can I enroll this course?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 20:58

Hi,

Can you try logging out and logging back in again - you should see the  'My Portfolio' menu, and in it's drop down menu 'My Courses' - this takes you to the course site where you'll be able to start. Fingers crossed that works now :).

Anne

Hi Sania,

Thanks for your message and I'm glad the course sounds interesting for you. 

We don't have a confirmed start date for a new run of Teaching pathways: How to teach Speaking. New dates will be published on the main page when they are programmed. Any course that is currently available will show up on your account, on and after the day it starts. 

The next active course starts on the 30th August : Teaching pathways: How to teach grammar. The details are here if you happen to be interested in that course.. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teaching-pathways-how-teach-grammar, and I hope we can offer the speaking one soon :).

Anne

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/22/2022 - 22:46

Hi Isabel,

Thanks for your message and I'm glad the course sounds interesting for you. 

We don't have a confirmed start date for a new run of Teaching pathways: How to teach Speaking. New dates will be published on the main page when they are programmed. Any course that is currently available will show up on your account, on and after the day it starts. 

The next active course starts on the 30th August : Teaching pathways: How to teach grammar. The details are here if you happen to be interested in that course.. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teaching-pathways-how-teach-grammar, and I hope we can offer the speaking one soon :).

Anne

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by isamatos on Mon, 08/22/2022 - 08:26

Hello,
I'm interested in enrolling this course. Do you have any idea when it will be available?
Isabel

Submitted by Hana Khaled Mohamed on Sat, 08/20/2022 - 09:28

I want to know how to obtain a certificate from an online course and when is the exam to get it ?
And thank you for the wonderful program .

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/20/2022 - 16:38

Hi,

If you follow a course with us and complete at least 70% of the content you will be able to download a certificate from yoru profile. The course on this page ( about  Speaking) isn't running at the moment. The next course we are running is Teaching Pathways: How to Teach Grammar. If you are interested in this course, log into your account, look in My Portfolio, and you'll see it open from 30th August.

Anne

TeachingEnglish team 

Submitted by hajooj on Fri, 08/19/2022 - 06:43

Hi
I'm haja
I didn't teach that before, I want to learn the teaching
I'm graduated ( major mathematics science) from Sudan
Thank you

Submitted by Coulibaly minf… on Thu, 08/18/2022 - 19:28

Hello, i am looking forward to participating in this course.

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