National Consortium for Languages Education
UCL Institute of Education
Language Educators Online
Welcome to Language Educators Online (LEO) – the free, flexible online platform dedicated exclusively to the professional development of languages teachers.
Whether you’re just starting out or have years of classroom experience, LEO is your space to reflect and grow as a languages teacher.
Developed by the UCL Institute of Education and funded by the Department for Education, this modular learning platform supports you to build your knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence in languages teaching helping you motivate and engage pupils and improve learning outcomes. Created in collaboration with national and international experts, including the Goethe-Institut, LEO introduces the latest ideas and cutting-edge approaches like AI for the languages classroom.
Check out the Language Educators Online video featuring pupils and colleagues of the NCLE
Pupils from Admiral Lord Nelson School, Ada Lovelace C of E High School, Keswick School and Cheadle Hulme School
Emily Lewis – Language Teacher, Ada Lovelace C of E High School
Maud Waret – Languages teachers and senior curriculum developer
Josephine Lyon – Assistant headteacher and languages teachers, Ada Lovelace C of E High School
Lucy Dreznin – Languages teachers, curriculum consultant and senior curriculum developer
Designed with you in mind
LEO supports reflexive practice, encouraging you to think critically about your own teaching and engage with fresh, research-informed ideas and evidence-based practice from classrooms in our NCLE network. The platform serves as a powerful resource for leaders to advance departmental goals and strengthen system leadership.
What sets LEO apart?
- Just for languages teachers – unlike other CPD platforms, LEO is built specifically for language educators
- Research-informed, evidence-based content with regular updates
- Grounded in real classroom experience with content based on filmed examples of teaching practice
- Insights into using the latest ideas in technology and AI to support languages learning
- Non-prescriptive, empowering you to find the right solutions for you, your context, and your learners.
What’s included in the professional development platform?
This language teacher course offers core modules to support your development with fresh content and new modules added regularly.
You’ll get:
- Structured, modular CPD — flexible, self-paced and user-focussed
- Practical teaching strategies and inspiring classroom practice to improve pupil outcomes
- Contributions from both researchers and practising languages teachers
- Inspiring examples of classroom practice and ideas for motivating and engaging learners
Whatever stage you are at in your career, this professional development for language teachers helps you reflect on your own teaching practice, adopt innovative ideas and develop your confidence in the classroom.
Who is this for?
LEO is ideal for:
- Secondary school language teachers
- Heads of languages and MFL mentors
- Trainee and early career teachers (ECTs)
- School leaders looking to support departmental development goals
- Primary school teachers and leaders with responsibility for languages
- Non-specialist teachers or supply staff
- Teachers working within the Home, Heritage and Community Languages (HHCL) sphere
Why use LEO for your languages teacher professional development?
- 100% free, funded by the DfE
- Self-paced — fits around your busy schedule
- Available on any device — phone, tablet or desktop
- Practical, not prescriptive — find what works for your classroom
- Strengthens your curriculum and improves learning outcomes
- Builds your teaching agency and subject confidence
Sign up today to access a new kind of professional learning – free, flexible and made for you.