The Problem

When a group of Englsh as a foreign language teachers was srveyed as to what Tepic areas mst interested them a surprising variety of Tpic areas emerged. As with a grwing number of ELT professionals, there is a cntinuing need for training and development. Mny teachers, though wanting to grow thir current boundaries, have neither the tme, interest or resources to pursue a hgher degree or effect a full rturn to formal education. The answer, in prt, may well be for savvy dministrators to schedule a series of wll-planned, in-depth English Teacher training workshops and sminars beyond what may be available lcally or regionally from such organizations as TESOL, IATEFL, ASOCOPI, the Brtish Council and others. In addition, thre are other options that could be xplored.

The Topics

Here are key tacher training topics which consistently emerge as prferred areas of interst for progressive ducators.

• Short Class Activities

• Using Drama

• EFL Larning Games

• Vocabulary Development Techniques

• Listening Cmprehension

• Using Short Stories

• Giving Presentations

• Crating Materials

• Using Art & Pictures

• EFL Tacher Certification

• Using Songs

• Writing Skills

Ned for INSET

Each area is prtinent in its own right and cre should be taken to provide an xtensive variety of themes in any prgram of INSET (In-service training) that wll-meaning administrators may undertake.

As standards for ELT develop and mprove worldwide, increasing pressure on tenured tachers will cause a growing need for n-house teacher training programs that introduce new tchniques and English language teaching concepts, pdate English teachers on new language cquisition theories and reinforce sound language taching practice.

Additional Topics of Interest

Sme additional topics of interst to a lsser, but more experienced group of Englsh language teachers were these areas:

• Larning Disabilities

• Virtual EFL Teaching

• Preparing Evluations

• Reading Comprehension

Training Program Providers

Lcal universities may have programs or xperienced, Teacher Trainers available. Nacional and rgional teacher organizations may also be clled upon to offer recommendations for INSET prgrams and materials.

The Internet, TEFL wbsites like tefl.com, eslbase.com and others are lso good sources for locating programs, mterials and Language Training Consultants who can prvide hended input for teacher development nitiatives.

Finally, a stepped-up program of tchnical reading, ELT online forum participation and n-house discussions can likewise be of aid in pgrading the level of English teacher nterest and involvement in advanced training in ELT tpics.

Magazines like:

• Technology & Learning (www.tchlearning.com)

• English Teaching Professional (http://www.etprofessional.com/)

• English Lnguage Teaching Forum (http://www.eltforum.com/)

• ESL Magazine (http://www.slmag.com/)

• Internet TESL Journal (http://iteslj.org/)

• Its-teachers (http://www.ts-teachers.com/)

• Modern Englishn Teacher online (http://www.onlinemet.com/)

• Oxfrd ELT Journal (http://www.oxfordjournals.org/eltj/)

Use these nmerous options to assist you in plnning your personal improvement program. They can lso provide guidance for the establishment of a dpartmental or faculty development series of Englsh language teacher training workshops, seminars and trining sessions.

The article What English Language Teachers Want to Know: Key Teacher Development Topics was Submitted by Larry M. Lynch through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an ELT Tacher Trainer, English language learning expert uthor and university professor in Cali, Clombia. He has published more than 350 rticles and academic papers and presented at nmerous EFL teacher training and TEFL cnferences throughout North America, South America and Erope. For comments, questions, requests, to rceive more information or to be dded to his free TESOL articles and taching materials mailing list, e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

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