Teacher Development Courses 2027

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in Higher Education 

 19 - 23 July 

This five-day professional development course is designed for university lecturers, academic staff and other educators who teach, or are preparing to teach, their academic subject through English. 

As universities become increasingly international, educators are teaching students from a wide range of linguistic, educational and cultural backgrounds. Teaching through English can create exciting opportunities, but it can also present challenges for both teachers and students. 

This practical course explores how educators can make academic content more accessible, encourage active student participation, and communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively without becoming language teachers themselves. 

Participants will examine their own teaching contexts and work with colleagues from different disciplines and institutions to explore practical strategies that can be adapted to their own classrooms. 

By the end of the week, participants will leave with practical teaching strategies, adaptable materials and an individual action plan for strengthening EMI practice in their own academic context. 

Course Highlights 

Understanding EMI and the international classroom 

Explore what English as a Medium of Instruction means in different higher education contexts and consider the challenges faced by both teachers and students when academic content is taught through English. 

Making academic content easier to understand 

Develop practical strategies for structuring lectures and classes, signalling key ideas, explaining complex concepts, managing teacher talk and checking student understanding. 

Supporting students through language-aware teaching 

Explore ways of identifying the language students need to understand and communicate disciplinary knowledge. Learn how to support students without turning a subject class into an English language lesson. 

Creating an interactive EMI classroom 

Explore questioning techniques, pair and group work, discussion, problem-solving and other approaches that encourage students to participate actively and use English to engage with academic content. 

Lecturing and presentation skills 

Develop greater awareness of pace, signposting, emphasis, explanation, visual support and audience engagement when presenting academic content through English. 

Supporting students' spoken and written academic communication 

Consider practical ways to help students discuss disciplinary concepts, contribute to seminars, give presentations and produce appropriate written work. 

Assessment and feedback in EMI 

Explore formative assessment, techniques for checking learning and understanding, and approaches to feedback that support both subject learning and effective communication. 

AI and digital tools in EMI 

Consider how generative AI and other digital tools can support EMI lesson preparation, materials development, student preparation and learning while maintaining appropriate academic standards. 

From theory to practice 

Apply the ideas explored during the week to your own teaching context. Participants will have opportunities to develop and share a short EMI lesson or teaching sequence and receive constructive feedback from tutors and peers. 

Who is this course for? 

This course is suitable for university lecturers, academic staff and other higher education professionals who: 

• currently teach an academic subject through English 

• are preparing to teach through English 

• work with increasingly international or multilingual student groups 

• would like to make their teaching more accessible and interactive 

• want to develop greater confidence when teaching their discipline through English. 

Participants do not need to be English language teachers. The course focuses on helping subject specialists teach their discipline effectively in an English-medium environment. 

Minimum language level required: 

Upper-intermediate, B2 on the Common European Framework. 

Certificates of completion are awarded at the end of the course. 

Before the course, participants will be invited to complete a Needs Analysis. This will allow our tutors to learn more about participants' disciplines, teaching contexts, experience and particular challenges so that the programme can be tailored to the needs of the group. 

Participants will also have opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with educators from other countries and disciplines while experiencing university life on the UCC campus in Cork. A social programme is offered on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evenings.  

Course cost: €615 

To apply: EMI in Higher Education application form

Special offer: Choose any two courses from Language and Methodology Development: Teacher Refresher Course, Academic English for Higher Education, and Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and Other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom for the reduced combined price of €995. 

Academic English for Higher Education 

26 - 30 July

This five-day course is designed for teachers of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) working in higher education. It is suitable both for teachers beginning their careers in EAP and for experienced practitioners who would like to refresh and develop their skills. It is also ideal for English language teachers who are interested in expanding into EAP. 

By the end of the week, participants will leave with practical insights, tools and strategies to strengthen their teaching practice and respond to the changing needs of students in higher education. 

Course Highlights 

Understanding EAP learners and contexts 

Explore the particular needs of EAP students and their learning contexts in a changing academic landscape through practical examples and case studies. Consider the skills students need to navigate lectures, seminars, assignments and assessments successfully. 

Teaching academic writing 

Explore genre analysis, feedback strategies and different approaches to developing academic writing across disciplines, including the implications and opportunities presented by generative AI. 

Academic reading strategies 

Explore practical ways to develop students' critical reading skills, confidence and learner autonomy through approaches such as reading circles and collaborative analysis. 

Integrating AI in EAP 

Consider how AI tools can be incorporated appropriately into high-stakes academic settings. Explore ways of using technology to support materials development, learner autonomy and responsible academic practice. 

Reflective practice 

Identify your own teaching strengths and areas for development and create an individual action plan. Participants will take part in peer teaching, panel discussions, reflection and tutor and peer feedback. 

Collaborative learning 

Engage in facilitated reflection on your own teaching and share ideas, challenges and experiences with fellow EAP practitioners. 

Who is this course for? 

This course is suitable for teachers of English for Academic Purposes working in higher education, as well as English language practitioners who would like to develop the skills and knowledge needed to move into EAP teaching. 

Participants will also enjoy opportunities to network with fellow practitioners, experience the UCC campus and take part in social evening activities designed to encourage collaboration and professional exchange. 

Minimum language level required: 

Upper-intermediate, B2 on the Common European Framework. 

Certificates of completion are awarded at the end of the course. 

Before the course, participants will be invited to complete a Needs Analysis to help the Centre tailor the programme to their needs. 

A social programme is offered on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evenings. 

Course cost: €615 

To apply: Academic English for Higher Education application form

Special offer: Choose any two courses from Language and Methodology Development: Teacher Refresher Course, Academic English for Higher Education, and Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and Other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom for the reduced combined price of €995. 

Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and Other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom 

9 - 13 August

This one-week teacher development course is ideal for language practitioners who are enthusiastic or curious about the potential of generative AI and digital tools. 

Over five days, participants will develop their confidence in using emerging technologies in teaching and gain a clearer understanding of how technology can support both teachers and learners. 

We will demystify large language models, generative AI and prompt engineering. Together with colleagues from different teaching contexts, participants will explore how teaching and learning are evolving and consider how the role of the teacher is changing alongside new technologies. 

Prior to the start of the course, we will introduce a selection of powerful digital tools for language practitioners and provide opportunities to explore and practise using them. This will enable participants to return to their own teaching contexts with greater confidence and competence in applying these tools. 

The course will also examine the concept of trust: trust in ourselves as teachers, trust in our students, our students' trust in us, and trust in technology as a tool for supporting and accelerating learning. 

Adopting a solution-focused approach, participants will work on projects relevant to their own teaching contexts, enabling them to take practical applications, materials and ideas back to their classrooms. 

Each day will also include opportunities for reflection and discussion about what it means to be an early 21st-century language teacher. 

Participants will leave the course with greater confidence, practical ideas and a clearer understanding of how new technologies can help learners make progress and achieve their goals. 

Course Highlights 

Participants will explore: 

• how the latest technological innovations can empower teachers and learners 

• how to apply digital and AI tools effectively in different teaching contexts 

• how AI can support personalised and accelerated language learning 

• how to create learning materials for different levels, needs and interests using generative AI 

• how technology can be used to develop language skills and systems 

• how developments in AI are prompting us to reconsider approaches to assessment 

• live observations of AI-in-action lessons taught by senior teachers in our Language Centre. 

Who is this course for? 

This course is suitable for language practitioners of all experience levels who are enthusiastic or curious about the potential of generative AI and digital tools. 

Minimum language level required:

 Upper-intermediate, B2 on the Common European Framework. 

Certificates of completion are awarded at the end of the course. 

Before the course, participants will be invited to complete a Needs Analysis to help the Centre tailor the programme to their needs. 

A social programme is offered on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evenings. 

Course cost: €615 

To apply: Harnessing the Power of Generative AI & other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom application form

Special offer: Choose any two courses from Language and Methodology Development: Teacher Refresher Course, Academic English for Higher Education, and Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and Other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom for the reduced combined price of €995. 

Language and Methodology Development: Teacher Refresher Course 

16 - 20 August

This practical one-week refresher course gives English language teachers the opportunity to explore current developments in English language teaching, refresh their methodology and return to the classroom with new ideas, materials and renewed confidence. 

Interactive input sessions encourage participants to reflect on their own teaching and share experiences with colleagues from around the world. Tutors with extensive and varied teaching experience will provide practical, creative and easy-to-implement ideas that participants can adapt to their own classrooms. 

Participants will also observe live lessons in our Language Centre and complete guided observation and reflection tasks, connecting course input directly with classroom practice. 

The programme culminates in a mini-conference where, with guidance from tutors, participants showcase projects, demonstrate lessons and take part in panel discussions and presentations. This provides an opportunity to reflect on how the course has influenced their professional development and future teaching. 

The course is designed to re-energise your teaching. You will return to your own context with fresh ideas, ready-to-use materials and practical strategies to help you engage learners more effectively. 

Who is this course for? 

This course is suitable for English language practitioners who would like to refresh, update and develop their teaching skills. 

Course Highlights 

Participants will explore: 

• methodology and current developments in English language teaching 

• evaluating, adapting and creating materials using commercially produced, authentic and AI-powered resources 

• integrating digital tools and AI innovations into classroom practice 

• developing effective language skills and systems lessons 

• integrating pronunciation more effectively into teaching 

• adapting methods to different teaching contexts and environments 

• empowering learner autonomy 

• developing skills and confidence for peer presentations. 

Minimum language level required:

 Upper-intermediate, B2 on the Common European Framework. 

Certificates of completion are awarded at the end of the course. 

Before the course, participants will be invited to complete a Needs Analysis to help the Centre tailor the programme to their needs. 

A social programme is offered on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evenings. 

Course cost: €615 

To apply: Language and Methodology Development application form

Special offer: Choose any two courses from Language and Methodology Development: Teacher Refresher Course, Academic English for Higher Education, and Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and Other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom for the reduced combined price of €995. 

English for Work and Life (EWAL) + Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) 

12 - 16 July

Come to our beautiful university campus in the heart of Cork city, Ireland, to develop both your English language skills and your teaching practice. 

Our English for Work and Life (EWAL) + Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) course combines intensive English language development with practical professional development for educators interested in integrating content and language learning. 

The course is available at different English language levels, from B1 to C1. 

Our EWAL programme is designed to develop all areas of your English, with a particular focus on the oral communication skills needed in professional and everyday contexts. 

Morning Programme: English for Work and Life 

From 09:00 to 13:00 each morning, you will join one of our EWAL classes and study in small, friendly groups with students from around the world. 

Our highly skilled teachers will help you develop your English through engaging, communicative lessons that provide extensive opportunities to interact with your classmates and use English with confidence. 

We integrate UCC's Connected Curriculum into our teaching. Lesson content explores areas such as employability, sustainability, civic engagement and global perspectives while developing participants' English language and communication skills. 

Afternoon Programme: CLIL for Educators 

On Monday and Thursday afternoons, participants will take part in two interactive two-hour professional development sessions introducing key principles and practices of Content and Language Integrated Learning. 

The sessions are highly practical and allow participants to relate CLIL directly to their own subjects, learners and teaching contexts. 

Monday: Designing an Effective CLIL Lesson 

From the 4Cs to the classroom 

This session introduces the fundamental principles of CLIL and explores how Content, Communication, Cognition and Culture or Community can work together within a lesson. 

Participants will: 

• explore the key principles of CLIL 

• examine the relationship between subject content and the language needed to learn and communicate that content 

• identify appropriate learning outcomes for both content and communication 

• explore ways of scaffolding complex subject content for learners 

• evaluate and adapt authentic teaching materials for use in a CLIL classroom 

• begin designing a short CLIL lesson or activity for their own teaching context. 

Participants will leave the session with a practical framework that can be applied to lesson planning across a wide range of subjects and educational settings. 

Thursday: Making CLIL Work in the Classroom 

Interaction, scaffolding, assessment and feedback 

The second session moves from planning to classroom practice and considers how educators can help learners engage actively with both content and language. 

Participants will explore: 

• strategies for making teacher input clear and accessible 

• effective questioning and techniques for checking understanding 

• ways of encouraging meaningful student interaction 

• strategies for supporting students to explain, discuss and apply subject knowledge 

• scaffolding spoken and written student output 

• practical approaches to formative assessment in CLIL 

• giving feedback on both content and communication 

• adapting CLIL techniques to different subjects, levels and teaching environments. 

Participants will revisit the CLIL activity developed during the first session, refine it using the strategies explored during the afternoon, and identify practical steps for implementing it in their own classrooms. 

Who is this course for? 

This course is suitable for teachers and educators who would like to improve their own English while also developing an understanding of Content and Language Integrated Learning. 

It will be particularly relevant for: 

• subject teachers working in bilingual or multilingual education 

• teachers who teach some or all of their subject through English 

• English language teachers interested in working more closely with subject content 

• educators preparing to introduce CLIL into their institution 

• teachers who would like practical ideas for making subject learning more accessible to multilingual learners. 

No previous experience of CLIL is required. 

Minimum language level required:

 B1 on the Common European Framework. 

On completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of attendance from the UCC Language Centre. 

Course cost: To be confirmed

To apply: EWAL & CLIL application form

A social programme is offered on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evenings. 

Course Dates

Who are these courses for?

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in Higher Education 

This one-week course is suitable for university lecturers, academic staff and other higher education professionals who teach, or are preparing to teach, their academic subject through English. It is particularly relevant for educators working with international or multilingual student groups who want to make their teaching clearer, more accessible and more interactive while supporting students’ engagement with academic content. 

Academic English for Higher Education 

This five-day course is suitable for English language teachers working in, or preparing to work in, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in higher education. It is designed both for teachers beginning their EAP careers and for experienced practitioners wishing to refresh their knowledge, develop new approaches and expand their teaching repertoire. 

Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and Other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom 

This one-week teacher development course is suitable for English language teachers who are interested in exploring the potential of generative AI and other digital tools in teaching and learning. It is particularly relevant for practitioners who want to develop practical, responsible and creative ways of integrating emerging technologies into their own teaching contexts. 

Language and Methodology Development 

This course is suitable for English language teachers who wish to refresh and extend their teaching skills while developing their own language awareness and classroom practice. It is particularly relevant for practitioners interested in current approaches to language teaching, materials development, classroom techniques and new developments in ELT. 

English for Work and Life (EWAL) + Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) 

This course is suitable for teachers and educators who would like to improve their own English while gaining a practical introduction to Content and Language Integrated Learning. It is particularly relevant for subject teachers working in bilingual or multilingual contexts, educators teaching some or all of their subject through English, and English language teachers interested in integrating subject content into their teaching. 

IT requirements

Accommodation

Two types are available:

Self-catering apartments or Host families

1. Campus Accommodation
2. Host Family Accommodation 

Host Family accommodation includes Bed & Breakfast and an evening meal. Transfers to and from Cork Airport or Cork City Centre may also be possible but are not guaranteed by all families. Students should be prepared to pay taxi costs. Sunday arrival and Saturday departure are assumed for all accommodation bookings.

For course-specific enquiries, please email: b.ose@ucc.ie or tandd@ucc.ie

For general enquiries or to submit an application form:  tandd@ucc.ie