Continuous Professional Development

Gotoco CPD Policy for teacher trainees:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential part of any professional's career, especially for teacher trainers.

We expect 30 hours of CPD each year for our teacher trainers. Bonuses will be paid when CPD evidence has been submitted and approved. CPD should be spaced out evenly over the course of the year.

We will approve of any CPD activity that is demonstrably relevant and meaningful to the individual's needs and goals. This will help to improve their skills and knowledge, which can benefit the organisation, the trainers themselves, and ultimately, the students they teach. If you have any doubt about whether an activity is likely to be approved, please chat to your manager or a director.

Suggested activities

The CPD activities that a TEFL teacher trainer can do include attending conferences, workshops, and seminars, participating in online courses and webinars, reading professional journals and publications, and engaging in peer observations and feedback sessions.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for a TEFL teacher trainer can take many different forms, depending on their interests, needs, and career goals. Here are some examples:

1. Attend conferences and workshops: Attending conferences and workshops related to TEFL is a great way for teacher trainers to stay up-to-date with the latest research and trends in the field. This can also provide opportunities to network with other professionals in the industry.
2. Read professional journals and books, or even blogs: Teacher trainers can keep themselves informed and updated by reading professional journals and books on TEFL. This can help them stay current with the latest teaching methodologies, theories, and research. - IATEFL Voices is a good place to start.
3. Reflect on their teaching practice: Reflective practice involves analysing one's own teaching practice, identifying areas for improvement, and making changes to improve teaching effectiveness. Teacher trainers can engage in reflective practice by recording and analysing their own training sessions, seeking feedback from colleagues and learners, and experimenting with different teaching strategies.
4. Participate in online courses and webinars: Teacher trainers can participate in online courses and webinars to learn new teaching techniques and strategies. This can also provide opportunities for professional networking and collaboration with other educators.
5. Undertake research: Conducting research can help teacher trainers to deepen their understanding of TEFL and contribute to the wider field of language education. This can involve designing and implementing research projects, publishing articles in academic journals, and presenting findings at conferences.
6. Mentor or observe other teachers: Teacher trainers can mentor other teachers, providing guidance and support to help them improve their teaching skills. This can involve observing and providing feedback on teaching practice, providing advice on lesson planning and classroom management, and offering emotional support and encouragement. Why not setup a ‘book club’ with other TEFL teachers on the Gotoco programme to explore interesting ideas?
7. Collaborate with peers: Collaborating with peers can help teacher trainers to share ideas, resources, and best practices. This can involve working together to design training programs, co-teaching training sessions, and providing feedback and support to each other. You could meet colleagues online via online platforms such as #ELTchat.

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Published by Daniel Parrott (Director), last updated 20th February 2023