Professional Development: 20 Things You Can Do !!!

Dr. Desmond Thomas,

International Academy,

University of Essex

1: Develop ‘professionalism’

Professional development ‘backwards’ means :• Not just being a brilliant teacher technically

but supporting and respecting students • Actively supporting colleagues and acting as

a team member • Actively supporting an institution• Dealing with situations: eg students come to

you and complain about a colleague

2:Network with colleagues

ELTECS & British Councilhttp://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/eltecs

TESLhttp://iteslj.org/links/TESL/Discussion/

Dave’s Internet Cafehttp://www.eslcafe.com/search/Jobs/Africa/

Facebook groups

3: Join a Professional Organization

• IATEFL & IATEFL SIGS

http://www.iatefl.org/

http://www.beta-iatefl.org/

• TESOL

http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp

• BALEAP

http://www.baleap.org.uk/

4: Get an extra qualification

DELTAhttp://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/delta.html

PGCEhttp://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/pgce.aspx

Or even a PhD ???

5: Read – not just books but ...

• Academic Journals: ELTJ, TESOL Quarterly, JEAP

• Practice-based journals: Modern English Teacher, The Teacher Trainer

• Newspapers: EL Gazette• Blogs:

http://www.tefllogue.com/resources/top-10-tefl-blogs.html

6:Get published!

• Book reviews: MET

http://www.onlinemet.com/

• EL Gazette: http://www.elgazette.com/

• Conference papers

• On-line journals: http://iteslj.org/http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/index.php

7: Present at conferences

• BALEAP: Every two years

• BALEAP PIMS: several times a year

• IATEFL: Annually

• IATEFL Associates: annual conferences in many different countries

• IATEFL SIGs: several times a year?

• BAAL: http://www.baal.org.uk/

8: Do research

• Literature overviews?

• Feedback surveys?

• Research papers for journals?

• Consultancy research?

• A PhD project?

9: Become an examiner

• IELTS: http://www.ielts.org/default.aspx

• Cambridge ESOL: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/

10:Expand your horizons outside TESOL

• Education?

• Linguistics?

• Psychology?

• Sociology?

• Anthropology?

• Politics?

11: Keep a reflective diary

12: Peer observation

13: Gain Trainer Experience

14: Gain managerial experience

15: Develop your IT and MM skills

• Microsoft Powerpoint

• Endnote & Zotero: for bibliographical databases

• SPSS: for statistical analysis

• NVivo: for qualitative data analysis

• Audio & video recording

• Audio & video editing

16: Work in a new country

http://www.onlinetefl.com/teaching-internships/china/?source=n%20-%20UK%20TEFL_Internships%20-%20China_teach%20english%20in%20china_Exact&gclid=CLWNwu244qcCFYob4QodeU9G9w

My own experience: Brazil, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Slovakia, Bulgaria etc.

17: Do voluntary work

• http://www.essex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/vacancies/voluntary_work.shtm

• http://www.vso.org.uk/

18: Keep records of everything!

19: Take a few risks

20: Make a Career Plan