7 Free Online Courses in June

With June just around the corner, I compiled a list of 7 free online CPD courses pretty useful for ESL teachers. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your ESL teaching journey, these courses offer valuable insights and opportunities for professional development.

This time I decided to focus on short courses that might be a source of inspiration for you: teaching core skills, inclusive education, motivating GenZ learners, gender equality in education, classroom management and more – something really useful for ESL teachers, whether you’re just starting out or have been teaching for a while.

1 Teaching and Assessing Core Skills by the British Council

Start: available now
Duration: 4 weeks
Recommended for: teachers and school leaders looking to build their students’ core skills
You will learn:

• a theoretical understanding of how core skills can be broken down to support progression
• how to explore the principles that underpin effective core skills teaching and how they can be applied in your school environment
• how to reflect on your students and school context to put together an action plan to support progression in core skills

2 Exploring Inclusive Pedagogies by the British Council

Start: 12/06/2023
Duration: 3 weeks
Recommended for: educators who want to develop inclusive practices across their school
You will learn:

• about the concepts of inclusion and exclusion
• how to create a fair and thriving learning environment that caters for all learners – including those most at risk of exclusion
• how to apply practical approaches to integrate inclusive practices into your teaching

3 Exploring Gender Equality in Education by the British Council

Start: available now
Duration: 3 weeks
Recommended for: educators who would like to grow their understanding of gender inequality and the impact it can have on children and young people’s learning
You will learn:

• about issues around gender inequality in education
• how to identify practical strategies for gender sensitive teaching – classroom management, differentiation, curriculum development
• how to create a plan for change in your classroom and school

4 Exploring Instructional Leadership in Education by the British Council

Start: available now
Duration: 3 weeks
Recommended for: educators who want to expand their knowledge of teaching and learning
You will learn:

• what it means to be an effective leader
• how to identify great teaching and learning in a team or across a school
• how instructional leadership techniques can motivate staff, engage students and transform teaching and learning

5 Mastering Classroom Management in English Language Teaching by Language Fuel

Start: available until 24/06/2023
Duration: 4 weeks
Recommended for: English language teachers working at any level who want to boost their classroom management skills
You will learn:

• about the impacts different layouts of a classroom have on student interaction patterns
• what makes for good or bad group dynamics
• how to improve the classroom environment and supportive atmosphere through regular classroom activities

6 Motivating Gen Z Learners: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Start: available until 24/06/2023
Duration: 4 weeks
Recommended for: teachers who sometimes struggle to engage their students with learning (Gen Z learners are between 9 and 22 years old)
You will learn:

• the key motivational concepts and approaches to motivation
• how the motivation to learn is enhanced when the basic psychological needs are fulfilled
• how our mindsets and attributions influence our motivation to learn

7 Promoting Democracy in the Classroom: A Practical Guide for Teachers by Lisbon School of Education and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Start: available until 17/06/2023
Duration: 3 weeks
Recommended for: teachers who are interested in integrating and promoting competencies for democratic culture in their teaching
You will learn:

• about ideas, policies and competences related to democratic education and democratic culture
• how to identify relevant teaching and assessment methods that can facilitate the promotion of democracy within classrooms
• how to evaluate a range of resources available to incorporate competences for a democratic culture in your practices

I hope you’ll find some useful courses you will like (I’m quite intrigued by the one about motivating GenZ to be honest).

Enjoy!