Strengthening communities through English language learning

A teenage boy and girl wearing headphones and sitting at desks.

Learning English in a language laboratory at the British Council's centre in Malta, 1964.

Learning English in a language laboratory at the British Council's centre in Malta, 1964.

Strengthening communities through English language learning

Our English teaching centres were some of our very first operations outside the UK, opening in Portugal and Egypt in 1938.

A group of teenagers in a classroom.

Learners at our teaching centre in Portugal.

Learners at our teaching centre in Portugal.

Our English lessons in Portugal began even earlier.

In 1936, alarmed by the rise of Nazi propaganda, Professor George West petitioned the Ambassador to Portugal to open an ‘English institute’ in the reading rooms of the University of Coimbra. It soon became known as the British Institute, and went on to become our teaching centre.

‘We shall look for the assistance of all who believe in the free exchange of ideas, as we shall receive with gratitude any suggestions which you may offer for the furtherance of our aims [...] In the institute there will be no strangers, only friends, who will, we hope, regard this centre as a common home.’

Professor George West, University of Coimbra

Decades later, Vitor and Sofia met while attending English classes at our teaching centre in Miraflores. Now, their son Tomé is learning English with us too.

Professor West standing at a lectern addressing a smartly dressed audience in an ornately decorated room.

Professor George West at the inauguration of the British Institute in 1938.

Professor George West at the inauguration of the British Institute in 1938.

Our English lessons in Portugal began even earlier.

In 1936, alarmed by the rise of Nazi propaganda, Professor George West petitioned the Ambassador to Portugal to open an ‘English institute’ in the reading rooms of the University of Coimbra. It soon became known as the British Institute, and went on to become our teaching centre.

‘We shall look for the assistance of all who believe in the free exchange of ideas, as we shall receive with gratitude any suggestions which you may offer for the furtherance of our aims [...] In the institute there will be no strangers, only friends, who will, we hope, regard this centre as a common home.’

Professor George West, University of Coimbra

Decades later, Vitor and Sofia met while attending English classes at our teaching centre in Miraflores. Now, their son Tomé is learning English with us too.

The Second World War led to the closure of many of our overseas operations. But it brought an expansion of our work in the UK, through the creation of dedicated centres for refugees across the country.

These centres offered English language teaching to refugees and allied service personnel, creating safe spaces for cultural connections through language learning.

The front of the Allied Centre building. A sign reads welcome in multiple different languages and there are people standing on the street outside.

The British Council Allied Centre in Liverpool, open from 1941 to 1946. This was the first Allied Centre in the city. 

The British Council Allied Centre in Liverpool, open from 1941 to 1946. This was the first Allied Centre in the city. 

The Second World War led to the closure of many of our overseas operations. But it brought an expansion of our work in the UK, through the creation of dedicated centres for refugees across the country.

These centres offered English language teaching to refugees and allied service personnel, creating safe spaces for cultural connections through language learning.

English language teaching soon became a major part of our work.

We played an important role in the development of English language teaching, producing countless resources and books to support English teachers.

In 1946, we began publishing the journal English Language Teaching. It was founded and edited by AS Hornby, a pioneer in English teaching.

The journal, now known as ELT Journal, is still published today by Oxford University Press.

Over the years, we have issued many other influential ELT publications such as Teaching English: A Magazine Devoted to the Teaching of the English Language in India.

In 1961, we established the English Teaching Information Centre in London, housing the world’s largest collection of English language teaching resources.

In 1967, we helped create the Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, which evolved into the renowned IATEFL.

We continue to take part in the annual IATEFL conference, bringing together global teaching experts to share knowledge, best practices and insights.

In 1946, we began publishing the journal English Language Teaching. It was founded and edited by AS Hornby, a pioneer in English teaching.

The journal, now known as ELT Journal, is still published today by Oxford University Press.

Over the years, we have issued many other influential ELT publications such as Teaching English: A Magazine Devoted to the Teaching of the English Language in India.

In 1961, we established the English Teaching Information Centre in London, housing the world’s largest collection of English language teaching resources.

In 1967, we helped create the Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, which evolved into the renowned IATEFL.

We continue to take part in the annual IATEFL conference, bringing together global teaching experts to share knowledge, best practices and insights.

A group of adults posing around desks.
A female teacher holding up a teaching resource with a cartoon sheep on it. She is smiling and a group of young children are sitting with her in a brightly decorated classroom.
A male teacher high fiving a young boy at a desk in a classroom. They are both smiling.
Adult learners talking at a desk while a teacher points to an interactive whiteboard.

We have helped millions of learners to communicate in English with confidence.

Our lessons make learning effective and fun, thanks to innovative teaching methods built on 90 years of experience.

We teach a range of in-person English courses in 45 countries across the world.

And welcome more than half a million students to our teaching centres every year.

As our presence grew worldwide, our work expanded to training English language teachers.

Doina Fleanta’s 32-year career with the British Council has taken her from teaching English in post-communist Romania to mentoring English teachers around the world.

A group of smartly dressed adults chatting and smiling.
A packed classroom filled by students writing at their desks, observed by a group of teachers standing at the back.
A teacher at a desk looking through a KaLMA workbook written in Hausa.

We host conferences for teachers, including the world’s first teachers’ conference in a refugee camp in Jordan in 2015.

It marked the launch of Language for Resilience, our programme to support refugees, teachers of refugees and displaced teachers through language learning.

We continue this work today, providing support in Bulgaria, Jordan, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Poland, Romania, Sudan, Uganda and Ukraine.

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Children in a large tent in a refugee camp. Some have their hands raised.
A group of young women posing with British Council certificates.
A group of young children talking in a refugee camp. They are sitting at a desk with pencils and paper, and a teacher is looking on.

Discover more about how English learning helps to overcome barriers and open doors to opportunities:

We support girls across South Asia, Ethiopia and Myanmar through our English and Digital for Girls’ Education programme.

EDGE brings girls together in peer-led clubs to improve their English, IT and social skills, helping them to make more informed and independent life choices about their futures.

Over 18,000 women and girls have benefited from EDGE since its launch in 2016.

‘I used to be self-conscious and hesitant most of the time, but the communication skills that I have acquired from the EDGE club have given me the confidence to speak for myself.’

Runa Akter, Peer Group Leader, Bangladesh

A group of smiling EDGE participants holding pens and pencils and their EDGE club workbooks.

In 2023, we launched the STELIR programme in Rwanda, helping to improve learning outcomes for secondary school students.

It built on the success of our Building Learning Foundations (BLF) programme, which provided professional training to every lower primary English and maths teacher in Rwanda, ultimately benefiting 4.2 million children.

 â€˜I applaud the role BLF is playing to support the learning of English and maths in early grades in our schools.’

Hon. State Minister for Basic Education, Isaac Munyakazi

English teacher and teacher trainer Eugene Rusekampanzi tells us how BLF and STELIR are improving English teachers’ confidence in Rwanda.

From 1996 to 2001 we delivered the Peacekeeping English Project as part of the UK government’s involvement in the Partnership for Peace programme.

The project was about more than teaching English; it helped to develop awareness of global issues, change attitudes and develop professional skills to support conflict prevention and resolution.

The project took place in 40 countries in Central and East Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

We trained 55,000 personnel and 1,200 local teachers, created 180 self-access centres, and handed over 34 projects to local partners.

A man in a military uniform holding a Peacekeeping English Project leaflet.

UN peacekeeping personnel join the Peacekeeping English Project in Senegal, 2015.

UN peacekeeping personnel join the Peacekeeping English Project in Senegal, 2015.

We have embraced new technologies to improve English language learning and teaching.

In 2000, we launched the LearnEnglish website, making free language learning resources available globally.

Our TeachingEnglish website, created in partnership with the BBC World Service, followed in 2002.

And we’ve opened up opportunities for even more learners through our online English classes.

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced our teaching centres to close in 2020, we worked quickly to move all English lessons online for all our learners.

The same year we launched English Online for adult learners. It is now available in over 100 countries with 24/7 access to individual and group classes.

An advert for English Online for adults.

Our Mini English Lessons help learners improve their English skills with bite-sized tips and tricks from expert teachers.

In 2023–24 our lessons reached over 17.4 million people.

A Mini English Lesson about narrative tenses in storytelling.

In 2002 we launched the ELTons Awards for innovation in English language teaching.

The annual awards recognise the most original courses, publications, projects, apps and platforms that are transforming English language education for both learners and teachers.

In 2024 we will celebrate the winners at the ELTons Festival of Innovation, an opportunity to explore modernisation and creativity in all areas of English language teaching.

‘Winning the ELTons Innovation Award was a huge validation of our work. It gave us the recognition and credibility we needed to reach even more students and make an even bigger impact on the world.’

Emma Rogers, ELTons winner

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A woman filming a video at ELTons. People are writing on a large ELTons sign behind her.
Two ELTons attendees talking.
A large audience watching someone give a presentation on stage at ELTons.
Benjamin Zephaniah with ELTons winners on stage.
Two people at ELTons speaking to each other with microphones.
People talking at ELTons.
The Future of English: Global Perspectives book.
A Future of English exhibition stand. The screen reads: Discover how people across the world use English to communicate.
A woman watching the TV at the Future of English exhibition.

In April 2023 we launched our ground-breaking publication The Future of English: Global Perspectives.

The research builds on our landmark publication with British linguist David Graddol in 2006. It explores the key themes shaping the future of the English language and its role in our world.

We showcased our key findings at an exhibition bringing together different perspectives on the future of the English language.

The exhibition travelled the world, appearing at events in the UK, Brazil, Viet Nam, India and South Africa.

The Future of English is now a research programme. Several universities have received grants to continue the research, which we hope will inform policy and teaching practices in future.

In April 2023 we launched our ground-breaking publication The Future of English: Global Perspectives.

The research builds on our landmark publication with British linguist David Graddol in 2006. It explores the key themes shaping the future of the English language and its role in our world.

We showcased our key findings at an exhibition bringing together different perspectives on the future of the English language.

The exhibition travelled the world, appearing at events in the UK, Brazil, Viet Nam, India and South Africa.

The Future of English is now a research programme. Several universities have received grants to continue the research, which we hope will inform policy and teaching practices in future.