Abstract:        The professional development level of university English teachers exerts a significant impact on the capability of college   graduates. University English teachers must develop professionally to be competent at the mission of cultivating advanced personnel  who can serve the society well. This paper reviews the relevant literature in the field of University English teacher professional  development in the past fifteen years. It outlines the correlation between the innovation and study of English  courses and the present   condition, standard, theory and approaches to English teacher professional development. It then suggests that the innovation and study   of English courses and English teacher professional development are mutual cause and effect, that it is essential for university English   teachers to combine practice and theory so as to acquire professional development, and that university should build an ecological   context for its English teachers.

Key words: University English teacher, professional development, ecological context