Welcome to our training page

Upcoming training dates

March 2025

• 25 Mar 25

  Missing in action: sociolinguistics for language and literacy teaching

  Mainstream approaches to language and literacy teaching often foreground idealised models of language and language users, and spend little time considering real language use in real social contexts. This LU training explores how ESOL practitioners can incorporate vital sociolinguistic insights into their practice, highlighting powerful elements of real-world language use such as the roles of culture, gender, social class and power relationship – and suggests some practical classroom activities that focus on sociolinguistic aspects of language. Tuesday 25th March, 9.30am – 11.30am (GMT)
  Go to link Learning Unlimited
• 26 Mar 25

  Free trauma-informed training course for those working with displaced people and/ or those in crisis

  Additional Dates: 01 April 2025 | 10 April 2025

  The training, delivered by Healthy Dialogues, offers an introduction to trauma-informed practice within the context of disasters and emergencies and is designed to equip those who participate with the knowledge and skills to support Londoners who have experienced emergencies, shocks or stress. The online workshops will aim to increase awareness of trauma and how it can impact on individuals, groups and communities as well as improving access to support in a way that prevents re-traumatisation. All workshops are free to attend and are suited to a wide range of Londoners who are supporting displaced people or those in crisis including those in community roles, those working in London’s health and care system or frontline workers interested in building their awareness. Sessions will run between 10am – 3pm
  Go to link Thrive LDN
• 27 Mar 25

  Participatory photography and creative writing in the English classroom

  Nowadays nearly everyone has a smartphone with camera and photo album, making it an invaluable resource for teachers and learners. Taking and sharing photos allows learners to express themselves, share their worlds and articulate thoughts and ideas on topics significant to their lives. This builds community and is a catalyst for creative writing, including poetry. This LU session will explore how photography supports and enriches language learning in the ESOL classroom and look at activities to try in the classroom. Thursday, 27th March, 9.30am – 11.30am (GMT)
  Go to link Learning Unlimited
• 29 Mar 25

  Coalition for Language Education

  The Coalition for Language Education unites various sectors of language education with the shared belief that more should be done to enhance the linguistic and expressive potential of people in the UK. This event aims to: Reflect on innovative local projects across different educational levels, focusing on both challenges and successes. Discuss strategies to embed and sustain these innovations in UK language education. We are excited to have a diverse group of participants sharing their initiatives, with the goal of fostering conversations, connections, and collaborations.
  Go to link Coalition for Language Education

April 2025

• 01 Apr 25

  The naked teacher Part 2: Working with emergent language

  Emergent language is any unplanned language item that arises naturally in a learning context. As a teaching approach closely linked to the ‘naked’ or mostly resource-free approaches referred to above, working with emergent language has many benefits for learners and teachers alike. This LU webinar explores the responsive and language skills practitioners need to adopt this very learner-centred, participative and increasingly recognised methodology, and highlights some practical techniques for implementing this approach in your practice. Tuesday 1st April, 4.30pm – 6.30pm (GMT)
  Go to link Learning Unlimited
• 01 Apr 25

   University of Jyväskylä, Finland: Online seminar invite

  Join the next online guest seminar in the 2024-25 series at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland! At 15:00pm East European Summer Time (Note the time difference – 2 hours ahead of the UK) Birgül Yılmaz (University of Exeter, UK) will present her talk titled “Language, (in)securitisation of migration and counter-securitisation.” The seminar will be live-streamed with an interactive Q&A session. Everyone is welcome to attend!
  Go to link 01Apr 25
• 09 Apr 25

  Northern Race Equality Conference

  The conference, coordinated by the Race Equality Network, the Ella Baker School of Organising, and Inclusive North, will bring together activists, advocates, organizations, lawyers, researchers, and academics to discuss building a society where racial justice is the norm. The event will be interactive, educational, and welcoming, offering a collective opportunity to learn and become more effective champions of equal rights and justice.
  Go to link Ella Baker School of Organising
• 24 Apr 25

  Participatory ESOL: taking stock

  Participatory ESOL: Taking Stock – Seminar Overview Time: 16:00 – 17:30 In 2022-23, a group of 11 practitioners from diverse sectors, including FE, adult education, and the charity sector, came together to reflect on the current state of Participatory ESOL (PE) in England. Through written reflections, group discussions, classroom observations, and data sessions, the team explored the realities of PE classrooms, addressing challenges, doubts, and aspirations within this growing community of practice. The findings of this reflective research project have been published, and a series of podcasts are available for listening. Join us for a seminar where we will discuss the research methods used and highlight key reflections that emerged from the project. Presenters include Amy Jowett (Xenia), Becky Winstanley (English for Action), and Melanie Cooke (King’s College, London). For more details, visit our Padlet: https://tinyurl.com/36227a8x.
  Go to link ESOL Research Community

May 2025

• 14 May 25

  Lesson Planning for the 21st Century course

  The course offer is online, as well as in-person classes. The online course will be in the morning (9:15am to 12:00pm) and the in-person, in the afternoon (1:15pm to 4:00pm). The course will last for 6 weeks. It is free for residents of South Yorkshire, but we accept participants from other areas, for a fee. Details can be obtained by emailing me at the address: millar18edu@gmail.com
  Go to link 21st Century Educators

June 2025

• 12 Jun 25
  04 Jul 25

  Linguistic justice: a summer school for teachers

  All Dates: 12 June 2025 | 04 July 2025 - please note this is a multi-date training event.

  This FREE summer school will be led by Dr Ian Cushing, Senior Lecturer in Critical Applied Linguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University. Dr Cushing, an ex-school teacher, is a world-leading scholar in issues of language and social justice, whose work focuses on the production and maintenance of linguistic inequalities in schools. The summer school is fully funded by MMU AHEAD’s scheme, with all travel, expenses, and refreshments paid for.
  Go to link MMU
• 27 Jun 25
  28 Jun 25

  NATECLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025

  All Dates: 27 June 2025 | 28 June 2025 - please note this is a multi-date training event.

  Join ESOL teachers, managers, academics and others working in the field for a weekend of inspirational guest speakers, superb workshops, discussion sessions and social activities.
  Go to link NATECLA