Recent research suggests that brain-based teaching, as exhibited in the idea of teaching to address perceptual learning styles, has no basis in what scientists are learning about the brain and how it works. This article questions whether training teachers to assess and accommodate learning styles is harmless or potentially poor educational…

Writing is widely accepted as a tool in the personal and professional development of teachers. Among other forms of teacher writing, writing for publication is rather unusual as it requires courage to share ideas and unfavourable working conditions prevent teachers from finding time and space to write for publication in the first place. In this…

Action research (AR) is becoming increasingly popular in ELT contexts as a means of continuous professional development. The positive impacts of AR on language teacher development are well documented, but the important question of how those impacts can be sustained over time is virtually unexplored. Drawing on findings from a study of teachers in…

Provides an analytical framework for describing various kinds of teacher-training activities and distinguishes between experiential and awareness-raising practices. Presents a taxonomy of awareness-raising practices in terms of activities and procedures. To illustrate the descriptive framework, a sample training activity and training plan for…

Discusses the problems of introducing methodological change into large classes of English as a second language. Argues that teachers need to take account of learners' expectations and introduce change gradually and that the introduction of change should also include an element of learner training. Suggests how this might be done. (SED)