To stand still is to go backwards. As teachers, if we do the same thing week in week out, year after year there is a danger that our lessons become stale and our learners are less engaged in class. Of course, we all have our go-to lessons and activities that always work well, but it’s also important to be aware of changes that happening in the teaching world and to learn from each other. There are always things that we can do better and differently in the classroom. In this blog post we’ll look at why continual professional development is important and how teachers can ensure that they continue to develop their teaching skills.

So why is professional development so important?

1. Teaching is always changing. Research into teaching approaches is ongoing. Teaching languages is something that has evolved over time. Different approaches go in and out of fashion and new ideas come up all the time. As teachers it is important that we are aware of changes that are taking place in the industry and to experiment with new ways of doing things in the classroom. Of course, these will not all work, but at the same time we might come across something that really brings our classroom to life.
2. Other teachers have great ideas. One of the main benefits of continual professional development is sharing ideas with other teachers. Very little of what I do in the classroom is original. Most of it comes from what I have seen others do and from sharing ideas with colleagues. CPD sessions are a great opportunity to find out what other teachers are doing in the classroom, and you can then decide if you want to try these things for yourself.
3. Technology is changing so fast. The use of technology in our classes is only going to increase. Nowadays students are so familiar with technology and expect it to be part of their lessons. Therefore, as teachers it is essential that we are aware of the new technology that is available to us and are able to use it. CPD is a great way to find out about changes taking place in this area and try out new things before putting them into practice in our classrooms.
4. We sometimes need help. We all have difficult classes, where classroom management can be an issue. Or perhaps classes where students just simply don’t appear engaged. Regular professional development can help you find solutions to these issues in ways that perhaps you hadn’t thought of before.
5. Do it for yourself. If you teach the same way year after year, there is a real danger that you can become stale and bored with your work. Regular CPD will provide you with new ideas and activities that you can implement immediately into your lessons and make you and your students more excited about going to class.

So how can teachers develop professionally?

1. Attend regular continual professional development sessions. As I mentioned before, these are a great opportunity to share ideas with colleagues. They are also run by experienced teacher trainers who will provide you with new ideas and activities that you can use in your lessons. Speaking from experience, some of the best lesson ideas that I use have come from attending CPD sessions in the different schools that I have worked in.
2. Attend conferences. There are ELT conferences that take place all over the world and online. They are a fantastic opportunity to network with other teachers and to get new ideas. Lots of the talks that I have attended over the years have given me great lesson ideas that I have since implemented in my lessons.
3. Observe colleagues. This is a great way to develop professionally. By watching other people teach, we can see new ways of doing things in the classroom and perhaps ways of solving problems that we have in class. Then you can return the favour and let your colleague observe you. This is a great way for you to learn from each other and pool ideas for lessons.
4. Read. Perhaps you want to read blogs like this one or a journal or a book on teaching. Whatever you read is going to be beneficial for your teaching. Books by people such as Jim Scrivener and Jeremy Harmer might help you with teaching techniques while blogs and journals could give you new ideas for activities in your classroom. Whatever you decide to read, it will certainly be of use to you.
5. Get qualified. If you are new to teaching, it is a good idea to do the CELTA. This will provide you will all the basic skills you need as a teacher and give you the opportunity to observe your fellow trainees and experienced teachers. If you already have the CELTA and want to develop further, then perhaps the DELTA is for you. This will allow you to develop professionally, learn more about teaching in depth and eventually take on more senior roles in your school.

I hope this blog has whetted your appetite for some professional development. I look forward to seeing you on a professional development course in the future or perhaps at conference. If you have any questions about anything mentioned in this blog or the teacher training that I offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. Good luck with the start of the school year!