Today we learned that Pearson has acquired Global Education and Technology Group, a leading provider of test preparation services for students in China who are learning English. It seems like a good move on Pearson’s part who are continually strengthening their award winning English Language teaching resources. Making a move to China, the fastest growing developing economy and capitalising on the Chinese thirst for learning English seems like a very smart step.

There is a lot going on in the world of English Language Teaching at the moment, both from a publishing and an educators perspective, so here’s a quick look at what has been going on.

Let’s start with a reminder about this years English Speaking Union’s English Language Book Award winner Speakout. A new course which innovates the way learners acquire English as a second language. This is a partnership between Pearson and the BBC and includes highly interactive material along with Student and Teacher resource books.

Last year the British Council partnered with the Barclays Premier League to bring learners Premier Skills English a site which has a host of tools, games and resources as well as a blog that will give football lovers and English learners alike a good understanding of these global languages – football and English!

Marisa Constantinides is a TEFL teacher who is pioneering the way ELT teachers communicate with each other and share best practice and ideas. Marisa started and facilitates a Twitter chat every Wednesday 12pm GMT on #ELTchat to communicate globally with people interested in ELT. She runs CELT Athens, a teacher development centre in Greece.

This years ELTons applications close on 2nd December and will distinguish the most innovative ELT materials currently available to educators and learners. Five new categories have been added and we eagerly await the results of the winners who will be announced 23rd May 2012. See last years winners here.

Ken Wilson is a teacher, trainer and author of all things ELT. His blog is an interesting read, detailing his work within the field of ELT. He is also a guest blogger for Oxford University Press’s ELT blog Global.