Thorn Learning supported the British Council’s redesign and redevelopment of the English for Teaching (EfT) programme, helping modernise one of its most widely used online teacher-development courses through curriculum review, learning design, content development, editorial quality assurance and large-scale Articulate Rise 360 production.
Project overview
English for Teaching (EfT) is a suite of online professional development courses designed for teachers of English working in diverse educational contexts worldwide. The programme combines language proficiency development with practical teaching methodology and reflective practice. The courses are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and comprise three levels:
- English for Teaching 1 (A2)
- English for Teaching 2 (B1)
- English for Teaching 3 (B2)
Following a comprehensive review of the existing programme, the British Council commissioned a multi-year redesign to modernise course content, improve learning design, increase flexibility for local implementation and align the courses with updated professional development frameworks, EDI principles and contemporary online learning practices.
Thorn Learning supported the programme throughout multiple phases, from initial review and prototyping through to the redevelopment of all three course levels and the production of LMS-ready digital learning content.
How we worked with the client
Our involvement began with the review of legacy English for Teaching content and the development of prototype learning experiences in Articulate Rise 360. Working with British Council review teams, we evaluated existing materials, analysed participant and moderator feedback, contributed to redesign recommendations and developed prototype units to test new approaches to online learning and course delivery.
Following this initial review phase, Thorn Learning supported the complete redesign of English for Teaching 1, redeveloping modules, storyboards, assessments, learning activities and digital learning experiences for the new Rise 360 environment.
The project then expanded to support the redesign of English for Teaching 2 and English for Teaching 3. Working alongside British Council project managers and a steering group, our team contributed to:
- Syllabus and curriculum development.
- Storyboard writing and instructional design.
- Assessment and learning activity design.
- Live online session design.
- Forum and discussion activities.
- Moderator and programme manager guidance.
- Editorial review and quality assurance.
- Articulate Rise 360 course building.
- SCORM package development.
- LMS deployment preparation.
The redesigned courses place greater emphasis on communicative language teaching, reflective practice, production-focused language development, learner autonomy and flexibility for implementation across a wide range of educational contexts.
Services and standards
Learning design and curriculum development
- Curriculum review and redevelopment.
- Syllabus design.
- Storyboarding and instructional design.
- Assessment design and review.
- Learning activity development.
- Forum and live-session design.
- CPD Framework alignment.
Content development
- Writing online learning content.
- Developing moderator guidance and support materials.
- Producing programme management resources.
- Creating downloadable participant resources.
- Developing assessment and reflection activities.
Digital production
- Articulate Rise 360 development.
- SCORM production.
- LMS-ready course builds.
- Quality assurance and editorial review.
Quality standards
The redesigned programme supports:
- Updated pedagogical approaches.
- Improved learner experience.
- Greater accessibility and inclusivity.
- Alignment with the revised British Council CPD Framework.
- Flexibility for diverse delivery models and contexts.
- Consistent editorial and quality assurance processes
Main outputs
Programme review and redesign
- Full review of the English for Teaching course suite.
- Analysis of learning design, pedagogy and user feedback.
- Redesign recommendations.
- Rise 360 prototype units and supporting reports.
English for Teaching 1
- Redevelopment of 20 modules and 60 learning units.
- Redesigned assessments and learning activities.
- Live-session materials.
- Moderator and programme manager guidance.
- Rise 360 course production and quality assurance.
English for Teaching 2 and English for Teaching 3
- Storyboarding and instructional design for 40 modules.
- Learning-support materials.
- Rise 360 development and SCORM production.
- Editorial review and quality assurance.
- LMS-ready course content.
Across the programme
- Approximately 60 redesigned modules.
- Approximately 180 self-study learning units.
- Assessments, discussion activities and live-session components.
- Moderator support resources.
- Programme implementation guidance.
- Digital learning assets and downloadable resources.
Team and contributors
- Editors: Zoë Tysoe, Lorraine Parkin and Ross Crichton
- Learning designers and writers: Sangeeta Sathe, Nelson Arditto, Jenny Bedwell, Eloise Vivanco
- Builders: Jenny Bedwell and Sangeeta Sathe (prototype phase)
- Moderator and programme manager guide review, editorial support and live-session materials development: Şirin Soyöz Yılmaz
- Assessment review: Zoë Tysoe
- Thorn Learning team leadership and administration: Chris Thorn
