Professional development

Great teaching is at the heart of what we do. We believe that a comprehensive teacher development programme is central to the success of the language courses we design and deliver.

Cactus Teacher Development includes the following:

1. Dialogue

Our teachers are involved in decision-making with regards to their needs from the onset. The Academic and Operations teams are in constant communication with teachers. Our teachers have told us that they need regular opportunities to network and meet other teachers and the Cactus Team. They also want to be able to share examples of best teaching practice and resources electronically. So this is what we are now working towards, with the start-up of the Teachers’ Zone.

2. Cactus Teacher Development Seminars

We host regular seminars with experienced Cactus teacher trainers and external trainers. We encourage all Cactus teachers to attend these sessions, as they offer a useful way to stay up-to-date with teaching methods in the classroom, and also provide a forum for teachers to meet and discuss classroom ideas and activities.

3. Cactus Senior Teachers

Teachers who have taught for some time for Cactus, shown dedicated professional behaviour and have consistently received excellent feedback from their students are invited to become Senior Teachers for their language. Being a Senior Teacher includes being first to be offered teaching work as it arises, as well as the opportunity to gain experience in working with pedagogical materials and tests, and being involved in teacher training by running seminars for their co-teachers.

4. Same-Language Teacher Meetings

Cactus teachers are encouraged to develop their skills as peer trainers by organizing and running same-language meetings. We encourage all teachers to attend as these meetings help teachers to maintain a high standard of teaching. By sharing best practice, ideas and experiences and working together on the use of materials and textbooks, trainers can really succeed in improving their teaching skills and techniques.

5. A Virtual Staffroom: the Cactus Teachers Zone

The Cactus community of teachers is strengthened with the support of the Teacher’s Zone space - an interactive staffroom where we can access materials and, soon, communicate and support each other. Teachers will be able to contribute advice, materials and lesson plans. There will be downloadable resources available on our website, with restricted access for our teachers. There will also be specific language forums to facilitate an ongoing exchange of ideas. This is all coming soon to the Teachers’ Zone.

6. Observations

Teacher development and teaching standards are monitored by regular peer and staff observations, carried out by experienced teachers and trainers. The feedback from these is used to inform our seminar programme and to improve the quality and standards.

Calendar of Teacher training events 2010

• Regularly: Cactus all-language seminars at different centres
• February: Teacher observation Oxford & London
• March: Teacher meeting Brighton
• March: Teacher meeting London
• From March – London and across the UK - Same language teacher seminars
• April: Teacher observations across UK
• May: Spanish Seminar London
• November: Spanish Seminar London
• November/December: Teacher observations across UK

New events are being added all the time so keep checking this page!