Free online course for teachers updated to challenge beliefs about ‘correct’ English

The Changing Englishes course is a free self-study online resource designed to help trainee and practising teachers of English meet the new challenges, and realise the benefits, of Global Englishes. It is aimed at teachers who are open to new ways of thinking about their profession and are interested in English as it is used around the world, as a lingua franca or for interacting in predominantly non-native speaker contexts. 

The enhanced version of the Changing Englishes course highlights York St John University's commitment to providing valuable resources to educators worldwide. Professor Christopher Hall explains:  

“Building on past work done by our students at York St John, this new version of the course will help new generations of teachers around the world to challenge the unjust idea that the only ‘correct’ version of English for global learning and use is Standard British or American English.” 

The course offers flexibility for everyone and takes between 10 to 15 hours to complete. All course content can be downloaded in MS Word, helping users to integrate content into their own online teaching or training programmes. The new course includes: 

1. Revised and updated content: The course content has been completely updated with the latest research findings on learning, using, and teaching Global Englishes.
2. Individual user accounts: Users can track their progress and receive certificates upon completion automatically.
3. Discussion and reflection forums: Integrated forums facilitate interaction with others on the course, providing opportunities for discussion and reflection on course topics.
4. Improved navigation: The updated course offers easier navigation, allowing users to access resources and information easily.
5. Optimised for all platforms: The course is now optimised for use across all devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all users.

The course was originally written by Christopher Hall with Rachel Wicaksono in 2013, and fully updated and revised in 2019 and 2023. The original version was supported by a British Council English Language Teaching Research Partnership award and a grant from the York St John Business School. 

Find out more about the Changing Englishes course.