Learning and the learner

This category looks at your understanding of key language learning theories and concepts, your awareness of different learning styles, and your ability to apply this understanding to plan and facilitate language learning.

Four stages of development

Every skill is described in relation to the four stages of development; Foundation, Developing, Proficient, and Expert. Below, we list some of the main competencies for each stage, plus some suggestions on how to develop further.

Foundation

• Starting to develop a basic understanding of key language learning concepts and theories.
• May demonstrate some of this understanding in their day-to-day teaching.

Ways to develop further

Developing

• Have a reasonable understanding of many key language learning concepts and theories and have started to use some of the terms.
• Have started to demonstrate in their planning some grasp of connections between the concepts/theories and their own learners' learning.

Ways to develop further

Proficient

• Have a good understanding of many of the key language learning concepts and theories, and often make use of many of the terms when discussing their work.
• Often see links between the concepts/theories and their own learners' learning, and they frequently demonstrate this understanding when planning and teaching.

Ways to develop further

Watch	Targeting Tasks for Teenagers: Age-Appropriate Exam Content
Read	The role of the students’ own language
Do	While learning about new methodologies, identify some links between key concepts and your students' learning. Attend a conference, workshop or webinar, and try out some classroom activities and identify ways in which these impact on your students' learning. Download free, practical resources
Study	Try these courses from Cambridge University Press: Lesson Planning and Classroom Management Teaching Primary Learners Communicatively Motivating Teenage Learners CLIL: Introduction to Theory and Practice

Expert

• Have a sophisticated understanding of most of the key language learning concepts and theories, and regularly make use of most of the terms.
• Consistently demonstrate this understanding when planning and teaching, and are able to develop their own personal theories as a result of observing their learners and reflecting on their own teaching.

Ways to develop further

Download the Cambridge English Teaching Framework – Competency statements

Download the Cambridge English Teaching Framework – Framework components

Cambridge English teaching qualifications

We provide industry-leading qualifications that prove what teachers of English can do. These qualifications are mapped to the Cambridge English Teaching Framework, and support teachers every step of the way by helping them build the skills and confidence they need to teach English effectively.

Learn more about teaching qualifications