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Teacher Development Courses

Teacher Development Courses 2025

1. Academic English for Higher Education

This five-day interactive training programme is designed for university educators seeking to enhance their expertise in teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Combining theoretical insights with hands-on workshops, the programme provides participants with the skills, strategies, and resources to effectively support students navigating academic English at the tertiary level.

By the end of the week, educators will leave equipped with actionable insights, tools, and strategies to elevate their teaching practice and enhance teaching and learning in the dynamic field of English for Academic Purposes.

Course Highlights:

Understanding English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Learners and Contexts: Explore the unique needs of EAP students and their learning contexts in a changing academic learning landscape through practical case studies, the key university life skills of navigating lectures, seminars, assignments and assessments.
Teaching Academic Writing: Explore genre analysis, feedback strategies and approaches including generative AI, and paths to production tailored to varied disciplines.
Academic Reading Strategies: Facilitate critical analysis skills and autonomy through innovative approaches such as reading circles.
Integrating AI in EAP: Learn how to incorporate AI tools into high-stakes academic settings while evaluating and developing materials to meet the learning challenges of 21st century students. Also, discover how we can enhance EAP students' autonomy in learning with this new technology.
Reflective Practice: Identify and create an action plan based on personal teaching strengths and areas for growth, culminating in peer teaching sessions, panel discussions, and presentations with feedback both from course tutors and peers.
Collaborative Learning: Facilitated reflection on own teaching and learning experience and forums provided to share and learn with fellow EAP practitioners. 

Who is this course for? English as an academic language teachers (TEFL/TESOL) and for those for whom English is a Medium of Instruction (E.M.I) in third-level institutions who are looking to enhance their teaching skills.

Participants will also enjoy networking opportunities with fellow practitioners, a UCC campus tour, and social evening activities to foster collaboration and professional growth in a collegial atmosphere.

What is minimum language level required? Participants should normally have an upper-intermediate standard of English (B2 on the Common European Framework).

Certificates of completion are awarded at course end to all participants.

Prior to the course, you are invited to complete a Needs Analysis which will help the Centre to meet the particular needs of the participants.

Course cost: €595

Application form below

Special offer: Take Academic English for Higher Education and Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom for the reduced price of €995

 

2. Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom

This one-week teacher development course, ideal for those who are enthusiastic and/or curious about the potential of generative AI and digital tools, provides participants with increased confidence in how to incorporate the latest innovations and trends in technology successfully into their teaching. There is a strong focus on how generative AI can supercharge teaching and learning specific to an individual teacher’s context.

Over the five days of the course, participants will work towards creating an understanding of how technology can empower both teachers and also their learners.

We will demystify large language models, generative artificial intelligence and what prompt engineering is. Together with peers, you will discover how many aspects of learning and teaching are changing and how we perceive and understand our roles as teachers are also in the process of change.

We will explore the concept of trust; trust in ourselves as teachers, trust in our students, and our students trust in us as teachers, and trust in technology as an aid and catalyst for accelerated learning.

This is a solution-based approach to the new emerging landscape of how, when and where we can learn and teach. Participants will work on projects particular to their teaching context to allow them bring practical applications, teaching materials and ideas on their return to their own classrooms.

Each day we will set a topic for reflection and discussion related to what it means to be an early 21st century language teacher.

You will leave the course enthusiastic about your role in how to maximise your learners' opportunities to progress and meet learning goals on an accelerated path, harnessing the power of new technologies and the digital tools available.

We will cover:

  • How the latest tech innovations can empower you as a teacher and equally empower your learners;
  • How AI can provide personalised and accelerated language learning;
  • How we can create language learning materials for all levels, needs and interests using generative AI; How language skills and systems can be developed and enhanced using the latest technology;
  • How to reconsider what assessment is;
  • Live observations of AI-in-action lessons taught by our Centre’s teachers will be arranged;

Who is this course for: It is for those who are enthusiastic and/or curious about the potential of generative AI and digital tools and their power to enhance teaching and learning. This course is suitable for all language practitioners irrespective of the level of experience they may have in their teaching careers.

What is minimum language level required? Participants should normally have an upper-intermediate standard of English (B2 on the Common European Framework).

Certificates of completion are awarded at course end to all participants.

Prior to the course, you are invited to complete a Needs Analysis which will help the Centre to meet the particular needs of the participants.

Course cost: €595

Application form below

 

Special offer: Take Academic English for Higher Education and Harnessing the Power of Generative AI and other Digital Tools for the 21st Century Classroom for the reduced price of €995

 

3. Language and Methodology Development | Teacher refresher course

This course provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with latest innovations in English language teaching and in the use of English as a Medium of Instruction (E.M.I).  

The course culminates with a mini-conference scenario where, after support and guidance from tutors, participants have the opportunity to showcase projects, demonstrate lessons, and also engage in panel discussions and presentations based on their learning experience on the course and how it has informed and impacted on their ongoing professional development.

There are interactive input sessions where you can share your own teaching experience with fellow practitioners from around the world.  You will gain creative, practical and easy-to-implement ideas for your teaching from tutors with long and varied experience in English language teaching. 

Observations of real-time lessons in our Centre are offered and participants are assigned observation and reflection tasks.

The course will re-energise you in your teaching. You will return equipped with fresh ideas and many ready-to-use materials to enhance your pedagogical skills enabling you to engage more effectively with your learners.

Who is this course for? English Language Teachers (TEFL/TESOL) and for those for whom English is a Medium of Instruction (E.M.I) such as teachers and lecturers in third-level institutions and teachers in both primary and secondary schools who are looking to refresh their teaching skills.

Certificates of completion are awarded at course end to all participants.

Prior to the course, you are invited to complete a Needs Analysis which will help the Centre to meet the particular needs of the participants.

What does the course cover?

  • Methodology and latest ELT developments;
  • Developing material evaluation and creation skills, using commercially-prepared materials, authentic materials and also harnessing the power of AI;
  • Integrating digital tools into the new classroom and discovering how easy it is to exploit the latest AI innovations;
  • Developing effective language skills and language system lessons;
  • Developing skills to integrate pronunciation improvement effectively into your teaching contexts;
  • Developing skills for different teaching contexts and environments;
  • Empowering learner autonomy;
  • Building skills and confidence to present to peers.

Course cost: €995

Application form below

Course Dates

Course

Dates

Time

Price

Minimum level

How to apply

Deadline for application

Academic English for Higher Education

14 - 18 July

9am-1pm

€595

B2

Academic E. appl form

13 June

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

21 - 25 July

9am-1pm

€595

B2

Harnessing appl form

20 June

Language and Methodology Development

11 - 22 August

9am-1pm

€995

B2

L&MD

appl form

04 July

Accomodation

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 some taxi costs.

€270 per week + €50 per extra night 

(We assume Sunday arrival and Saturday departure for all accommodations booked.

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

For general enquiries or for application form submission: TandD@ucc.ie

 

Language Centre

Lárionad Teanga

Main Office, G36, O'Rahilly Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

External Accreditation

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