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CAREER ADVICE

Teach English

Want to teach English as an additional language or teach English abroad? Keen to improve your existing English language teaching (ELT) skills? Kickstart your career by joining one of these professional development courses for educators.

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What skills do you need to teach English?

  • Flexibility

    Depending on whether you're planning to work as a TESL, TESOL or TEFL teacher, you could teach English to children or adults and work around the world.

  • Communication

    A good command of English is an obvious requirement, as are strong written and communication skills, plus the ability to listen effectively to students.

  • Organisation

    English language teachers will need to be exceptionally organised. They will need to plan and deliver creative and interesting lessons day in, day out.

  • Self-improvement

    Continuing professional development is a key part of any teacher’s job. Staying abreast of the latest developments in English language teaching is a must.

Develop these skills with online short courses for English language teachers

The view out of an aeroplane window: teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a great way to see the world
Removed from Wishlist
Cambridge Assessment English

Exploring the World of English Language Teaching

Learn what teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) involves. Explore the opportunities to teach English abroad or at home.
6 weeks
2 hrs per week
Removed from Wishlist
British Council

English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development

Discover how very young children learn English as an additional language and how you can help them progress.
6 weeks
2 hrs per week
The course title 'Understanding language: learning and teaching' with colourful written notes in different languages. University of Southampton, January 2015.
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University of Southampton

Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching

An introduction to some key concepts in the effective teaching and learning of languages.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
Two refugees, one male, one female sitting in a makeshift classroom looking at writing on a board
Removed from Wishlist
Cambridge Assessment English

Volunteering with Refugees

This course aims to help volunteers understand how they can best support the linguistic and social needs of refugees.
3 weeks
4 hrs per week
Lead educator Muriel teaching language in a classroom at the whiteboard
Removed from Wishlist
The British Film Institute (BFI)

Short Film in Language Teaching

Find out how teaching with short film can bring alive the learning of languages and introduce rich cultural content to lessons.
3 weeks
3 hrs per week
Hands holding a small plant growing in dirt.
Removed from Wishlist
Queensland University of Technology

Teaching Entrepreneurial Thinking

Get an introduction to what entrepreneurial thinking is, and how and why we should teach it.
2 weeks
1 hr per week
A teacher shows a colourful card to a group of young children around her
Removed from Wishlist
British Council

Teaching for Success: Learning and Learners

Understand learners, policy and practice with this continuing professional development course for English language teachers.
4 weeks
2 hrs per week
Somebody completing an IELTS application form
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British Council

Understanding IELTS: Techniques for English Language Tests

Improve your English and prepare for tests, such as IELTS reading, writing, speaking and listening, with this free online course.
6 weeks
2 hrs per week
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Removed from Wishlist
British Council

Teaching for Success: the Classroom and the World

Explore 21st-century skills, ICT and multilingual approaches with this English language teaching professional development course.
4 weeks
2 hrs per week
Image shows two people speaking and listening
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University of Leicester

Introduction to Applied Linguistics and TESOL

Get an introduction to applied linguistics and how linguistics is applied in a range of fields - from language teaching to law.
6 weeks
3 hrs per week
The Science of Learning - What happens in our brains when we learn?
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National STEM Learning Centre

The Science of Learning

Discover the scientific research about learning and apply it in your classroom to help you teach STEM subjects.
5 weeks
3 hrs per week
Children sit in a circle, interacting with teachers
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University of Glasgow

TESOL Strategies: Enriching Classrooms

Learn the basic principles, considerations and strategies for cultivating a rich language-learning environment
3 weeks
4 hrs per week
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UEA (University of East Anglia)

Professional Development for Early Career Teachers

Find out how to develop and improve your teaching abilities as you start your career as a teacher.
5 weeks
3 hrs per week
A tablet with learning-related icons
Removed from Wishlist
Cambridge Assessment English

Inside IELTS: Preparing for the Test with the Experts

Learn about the skills you need for IELTS Academic on this free course from Cambridge Assessment English, the makers of the test.
5 weeks
3 hrs per week
A dyslexic student struggles to read a book
Removed from Wishlist
Lancaster University

Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching

Gain practical tools and theoretical insights to help dyslexic students learn second languages, with this free online course.
4 weeks
4 hrs per week
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British Council

English for the Workplace

This course for learners of English helps you with the language you need to find a job and successfully function in the workplace.
4 weeks
2 hrs per week
Students taking a test in the classroom
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British Council

Language Assessment in the Classroom

Assessment is becoming increasingly important in language education. Understand it better with this course for language teachers.
4 weeks
3 hrs per week
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British Council

Teaching for Success: Lessons and Teaching

Look at lessons, courses and resources with this continuing professional development course for English language teachers.
4 weeks
2 hrs per week

Browse more courses in Teaching and Languages & Cultures

What do English teachers say about FutureLearn courses?

I have been favourably impressed by the courses that I have attended and I am attending. First of all, because the teachers and educators are highly experienced and prepared. Secondly, because FutureLearn has been able to provide what usually may be lacking in an online course – the interaction with educators and with other learners that is continuous and of good quality.

Mariella
English teacher from Italy and learner on Teaching for Success

I strongly believe that upgrading the Teaching for Success program will be a significant qualification for my CV. In addition to this, my success on this program will give me more confidence to keep trying to make the difference in the domain of English education and contribute to the welfare of our society.

Effrosyni
English teacher from Greece and learner on Teaching for Success

How professional development for teachers works with FutureLearn

Learn flexibly online, for free

Develop valuable skills with a short, online teaching professional development course wherever you are. Start learning for free, on desktop, tablet or mobile.

Upgrade for tests and Certificates

Upgrade your chosen course to get unlimited access, take tests and prove what you’ve learnt with a Certificate of Achievement.

Meet English teachers worldwide

Learn with experts from top universities and cultural institutions, and share your experiences with English teachers worldwide.

UN English Language Day logo

UN English Language Day

23 April 2018

Designed to celebrate English as one of six official United Nations languages. Mark the day by referring a student to a free IELTS course with FutureLearn.

  • 1000s of international students joining daily
  • British Council and Cambridge Assessment English
  • Over 2.3M English learners to date

Find out more about UN English Language Day

Contact FutureLearn for Support