Professional Development

Professional development equips educators with effective strategies, tools, and insights to support diverse learners and enhance the quality of language instruction.

Essential Resources

Empower your teaching practice with our comprehensive collection of professional development resources. Designed to support educators at every stage of their careers, these resources provide valuable insights, strategies, and tools to enhance your instructional skills and classroom management.

Boost your teaching skills with practical ESL training resources offering proven strategies, tools, and insights for effective and inclusive instruction.

Professional Organizations

Free & Paid Online Courses

Colorín Colorado – Free bilingual resources for educators
ELL Foundations (EdWeek & Coursera) – Online courses for ELL strategies
SIOP Model Training – Workshops on Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
WIDA eLearning – Professional development modules for language educators

Research & Best Practices

U.S. Department of Education – English Learner Toolkit

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/english-learner-toolkit/index.html

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) – Research-based Strategies

https://www.cal.org/

The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) – Data and Policy Insights:

https://ncela.ed.gov/

Professional Learning Resources

Book Study Resources

Learn more about running book studies with educators of English learners. Find books that make great book studies.

ESL Teacher Books by Category

Find ESL teacher books organized by category: special education, advocacy books, assessment, best practices, bilingual education, co-teaching, gifted ELs, ESL programming, and more. See Books.

Teaching Strategies and Best Practices

Explore articles and guides that provide evidence-based strategies for improving student outcomes and creating an inclusive classroom environment. See resources.

Language Learning Conferences

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

November 20–22, 2026

San Antonio, Texas, USA

A national organization dedicated to improving and expanding the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels. ACTFL provides professional development, research-based resources, and advocacy for language educators. Their annual ACTFL Convention & World Languages Expo brings together educators, researchers, and policymakers to share best practices and innovations.

ACTFL Website

National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)

February 19–22, 2025

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Dedicated to promoting educational equity and excellence for bilingual and multilingual learners. NABE supports educators, administrators, and policymakers through advocacy, research, and professional development. The annual NABE Conference is a major event for best practices, policies, and innovations in bilingual education.

NABE Website

National Association of English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA)

November 20–22, 2026

San Antonio, Texas, USA

Supports educators and administrators in developing effective programs for multilingual learners. Through advocacy, collaboration, and professional growth, NAELPA promotes policies and practices that enhance English learner success. Their annual conference offers networking and leadership development opportunities.

NAELPA Website

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Association

March 24–27, 2026

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

A global organization advancing English teaching and learning worldwide. TESOL provides professional development, research, and advocacy for educators. Its TESOL International Convention & Expo is among the largest gatherings for English language professionals.

TESOL Website

WIDA Consortium

October 27–30, 2025

Seattle, Washington, USA

WIDA provides research-based language development standards, assessments, and professional learning for multilingual learners. Its WIDA Conference offers workshops, presentations, and resources to support PreK–12 English learners’ instruction and assessment.

WIDA Website