Free, university-level professional development for EFL educators worldwide, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
Are you an English language educator looking to refine your skills, learn the latest teaching methodologies, and connect with a global network of professionals? If so, the OPEN Global Online Courses (GOCs) might be exactly what you need to take your classroom to the next level.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) offers free, university-level professional development courses for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators worldwide.
What are OPEN Global Online Courses?
OPEN Global Online Courses are intensive, 8-week virtual programmes designed specifically for English teaching professionals. They are developed in partnership with top U.S. universities and organisations, ensuring you receive high-quality, up-to-date instruction.
The courses run four times a year:
- Fall: September – November
- Winter: January – March
- Spring: April – May
- Summer: June – August
Each term includes a mandatory two-week online orientation before classes begin.
What courses can you take?
Whether you are teaching young learners, developing online materials, or training other teachers, there is a specialised course tailored to your needs. The current catalogue features courses designed by leading institutions:
- Creating and Implementing Online Courses (Arizona State University) — use the ADDIE instructional design model to build hybrid module frameworks, formative assessments and engaging online assets.
- Teaching English Academic Writing (Iowa State University) — strategies for process writing, academic summaries, argumentative essays and U.S. college application essays.
- Successful Classrooms for English Learners with Special Needs (University of Oregon) — Universal Design for Learning principles and adapting lessons for students with cognitive, physical or emotional disabilities.
- Professional Development for Teacher Trainers (Arizona State University) — tools for delivering and evaluating effective teacher training workshops.
- Fostering Student Motivation and Engagement (University of Oregon) — gamification, project-based learning and differentiated instruction.
- Teaching English to Young Learners (George Mason University) — teaching children aged 3–10 with age-appropriate vocabulary and grammar techniques.
- Teaching Grammar Communicatively (World Learning) — integrating grammar instruction with real-world speaking and writing fluency.
- English Language Teaching Methods (University of Delaware) — contemporary methodologies such as CLT and TBLT, integrated with 21st-century skills.
- Using Educational Technology (Iowa State University) — hands-on computer-assisted language learning to improve reading, writing and speaking assessments.
Why you should participate
Beyond the curriculum, the true value of the OPEN programme lies in its community. By participating you build an online professional learning network with peers from around the globe, share your own context, adapt teaching strategies to your local environment, and build a portfolio of actionable lesson plans.
How to get involved
Because these courses are highly sought after, participation generally requires a nomination process, often facilitated through your local U.S. Embassy or Regional English Language Officer (RELO).
To check your eligibility, review the application requirements and see the exact dates for upcoming cohorts, visit the official OPEN Global Online Courses page.
