English Language Teaching Methodology: This session is part of the American English Live! teacher professional development series. For more resources to teach and learn English, visit americanenglish.state.gov
Have you ever thought of leading a professional development workshop for other teachers? Do you design teacher development activities and wonder how to make them as effective as possible? High-quality English language instruction depends on teachers’ continuous professional learning. In this session, we will look at five core principles for planning teacher professional development based on transformative adult learning theory. Each principle will be illustrated with practical examples you can use when moving out of a teacher “training” approach to a teacher “engagement” model. From creating a community of practice, to selecting materials that will trigger intensive and purposeful interaction, to building teacher leadership, this session will provide a foundation for the professionalization of teacher learning. Teaching teachers can seem daunting, but applying what you know from the EFL classroom to the design of teacher professional development is a great place to start!