Growing interest in teaching and learning English since 1989 has led to a serious shortage of English language teachers in the Czech Republic. In response to this, the British Council set up an in-service training programme.
This chapter examines the development of the programme over its first ten years and the impact which it has had on today's trainers. Aspects of the training, the sustainability of in-service teacher education work and the implications of recent developments are considered.
The cadre of 63 trainers themselves - and other stakeholders - believe that marked progress has been made in their competence in English, their training skills and their own self-confidence. Nevertheless, the trainers perceive that their skills are not formally recognised by the Czech authorities.