Early-bird offer for 2026:
25% discount on programme fees!*

On this brand-new course, you will explore the principles and practice of teaching with a creative twist to engage and motivate learners of any age. The course brings together drama games and techniques, art, literature and creative language learning and teaching.

You will have the opportunity to explore your own creativity, discover how to use creative approaches in your language classes with learners of any age, experience learning beyond the classroom walls, work collaboratively in creative projects with your peers and improve your English language skills. 

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Explore creativity, a key 21st-century skill, through a wide range of activities, both inside and outside the classroom.

Is this course for you?

 
Location: Norwich
 
Experience:
Teachers as well as academic managers in primary and secondary school (the 6-16 age range)
 
Language Level: Minimum level B1
 
Course dates:
17 - 28 August 2026
 
Certification: NILE Certificate
 
Course Length:
2 weeks or join us for the first week only
 
Course fees (early-bird offer in red):
Registration fee: £150 £115
Course fee: 2 weeks: £1170 £878
                  1 week: £598 £448
 
Accommodation (per week):
Homestay (half-board): £301 
Residential (half-board): £357 
Residential (self-catering): £301
More information
 
Minimum age: 18
 
Max class size: 16
 
Free social and cultural programme
 
Cross-curricular and cultural workshops
 
Specialist ELT library
 
Complementary eLearning platform

Course content

 
Using drama strategies inside and outside the classroom
 
Creative writing and self-expression
 
Exploring, writing and performing poetry
 
Creative grammar and vocabulary teaching techniques
 
Creatively exploiting coursebook and authentic reading texts
 
Creative speaking fluency activities
 
Sounds and stress in pronunciation; innovative ways
 
Exploiting pop songs using a variety of creative techniques
 
Creative, interactive storytelling techniques for all ages
 
Explore an art gallery through drama, writing, speaking and craft activities
 
Bringing literature to life through instant storytelling and performance
 
Effective ways to stage scenes from playscripts
 
Integrating the arts through creative lesson planning and micro-teaching
 
Improving your personal language level both through creativity and through specific, creative, language developments activities during the course

Download course description

Timetable

This course consists of 50 hours of tuition, delivered between 09:00 and 15:30, Monday - Friday. You will also take part in cross-curricular workshops on a variety of topics, and each course includes a free evening and weekend programme of social and cultural activities and trips.

Sample Timetable

Further Information

Specific course content comes from feedback you and other participants give us through pre-course questionnaires, identifying your needs and priorities.

Time will be built into the course for reflection and for you to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to your classroom in your own professional contexts.

NILE offers various accommodation options, including homestay with carefully selected hosts and residential accommodation at the University of East Anglia. NILE’s dedicated student welfare team can be reached 24 hours a day.

All NILE courses involve a significant element of English language improvement and/or the development of language awareness.

*Offer valid until 1st May 2026. Read the full terms and conditions for the 2026 early-bird offer

Course Leaders: Alan Marsh and David Farmer

Alan Marsh

Alan has worked for over forty years in teaching, teacher training and teacher development with language teachers from all over the world. Teaching Professional and Humanistic Language Teaching. He is a proud co-author of The Creative Teacher’s Compendium (Pavilion ELT), which combines practical creative classroom teaching ideas and materials with a theoretical underpinning and suggestions for professional teacher development workshops and activities. He is particularly interested in fostering creativity in teachers and learners. Read Alans's full bio.

David Farmer

David is a freelance theatre director and drama lecturer. He worked as a primary school teacher before he established Tiebreak Theatre Company in 1981, directing, writing and producing shows and workshops for children and young people across the world. Since 2005 he has worked widely as a drama consultant, published five books on educational drama and runs the website www.dramaresource.com. Read David's full bio.

 


Available dates:

Course dates Location Course length
17 - 21 August 2026 (First week only) Norwich 1 week
17 - 28 August 2026 Norwich 2 weeks

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