This paper explores the professional development literature in the educational setting. The different literature pieces are aligned to a framework that requires effective professional development to focus on three concepts: content, context, and process. The content focuses on the "what" question in the programs while the context aims to align the content with "where" question. The third component is the focus on the process variables that professional development should follow. This paper tries to add to the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) fields' literature by presenting categorized overview of relevant works. The different theories include adult learning theory, functional theory, multiple intelligences, twenty-one learning styles, the Australian Government Quality Teaching Program (AGQTP) model and model of teacher change.