DEVELOPOD - The IATEFL TDSIG Podcast

In this episode, Helen talks with Natalia Wright, an experienced ELT practitioner and academic with over 30 years in the field, outlining her professional journey and key influences. Natalia completed her BA in 1990, later earning an MA from the University of Chichester and a doctorate from the University of Glasgow. She currently teaches at the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait. Natalia credits organisations like the British Council and the Norwich Institute for Language Education as shaping her development. She also reflects on the IATEFL 2026 conference, highlighting plenary talks by Patricia and Larissa that focused on language diversity and peace education. Although she was unable to attend in-person due to the war, she followed #IATEFL2026 via recordings and social media. She emphasizes the importance of ongoing professional development and staying connected to the global ELT community despite challenging circumstances. More about Natalia:Her researcher account: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8108-1241She recently co-edited a book, to be published in July, that she positions in the context of de-globalisation, a topic resonant with some of the IATEFL plenary speakers' talks. Here: https://link.springer.com/book/9783032270405 To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast

In this episode, Didar speaks with Varinder Ünlü about her professional development journey in both teaching and training as well as the importance of inclusion and diversity in ELT at all levels. She explains how she makes an effort to stay current and aware while highlighting how things have changed. She encourages leaders and trainers to adapt to teachers’ needs and teachers to adapt to learners’ needs, and points out that all teachers should believe in themselves, ask for help when they need it, and push for change they want to see instead of waiting for someone else to do it.Varinder is the coordinator of the IATEFL’s Global Issues Special Interest Group (GISIG) committee: https://gisig.iatefl.org/Connect with Varinder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varinder-%C3%BCnl%C3%BC-0238126a/To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast

In this episode, Helen speaks with Jim Fuller about ways to become a leader in your educational context through your sphere of influence and understanding the culture, social skills, collaboration, and continuous professional development. He encourages us to seek out development opportunities and face challenges, and reminds leaders that the environment that they create has a huge impact on CPD for all.Jim works as a teacher trainer for The North Station Academy in Zaragoza as well as for Cambridge University Press and Assessment. He’s also completing the NILE MADPLE, with a focus on Trainer Development and Management within ELT, and is the admin coordinator of the TTEdSIG committee.As mentioned in this episode:Jim’s blog: spongeelt.org Jim’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-fuller/From teacher to teacher leader by Hayo Reinders: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/from-teacher-to-teacher-leader/80A191805ADF6E900418E692B3C93C1DNILE MA: https://www.nile-elt.com/catalog?pagename=MAProgrammeCambridge English Professional Development for Language Teachers site: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/professional-development/ To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast

In this episode, Helen speaks with Rachel Tsateri about becoming a humanistic teacher trainer. Rachel is a freelance teacher, teacher educator, and blogger based in Greece but working exclusively online. She's been involved in ELT since 2014 and holds the Cambridge CELTA, DELTA and Train the Trainer certifications. She is working on her Masters in Professional Development for Language Education and she runs the popular TEFL Zone blog: https://teflzoneracheltsateri.wordpress.com/

In this episode, Helen interviews Taylor Veigga, who is CELTA, CertTESOL, CertPT, Delta1, & DipTESOL tutor, writer, editor, IATEFL PronSIG Webinar Joint Coordinator, and an advocate for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in ELT. She shares her CPD journey, including people who (and training/qualifications that) influenced her career, how her focus on looking at pronunciation from a diversity and inclusivity point of view impacted her, and how she has recently realised the importance of teacher wellness, and how everything is actually connected. We explore that perspective and more, with Taylor signing off with her main message: that we need a revolution of love and support in the ELT industry. She leaves our listeners with some questions to help them think about their development and wellness.Follow Taylor on Instagram: @tveiggaelt https://www.instagram.com/tveiggaelt/Check out her website tveigga.com, as well as pron4teachers.com.

In this episode, Helen and James discuss our new theme "Teacher Change" and Helen interviews Peter J Fullagar, who is an ELT editor/writer, DEI in ELT consultant, and LGBTQIA+ champion. Peter discusses his professional development journey from teacher to editor/writer to DEI consultant to LGBTQIA+ champion, offering support and suggestions, and encourages us all to use our voices to speak up. Happy Pride to all our listeners!You can contact Peter via the contact form on his website (https://peterjfullagar.co.uk/) or via LinkedIn.Here are some of the links Peter recommended during the conversation:Writing ELT Materials (Kath and John) - https://writingeltmaterials.com/ Foundations for Inclusion (Beth Cox) - https://www.bethcox.co.uk/foundations-for-inclusion ELT Well (Anne Margaret Smith) - https://eltwell.com/ CIEP - https://www.ciep.uk/ Galop - https://galop.org.uk/ EFL Creative Ideas (Silvina Mascitti) - https://www.eflcreativeideas.com/ Tyson Seburn - https://fourc.ca/ Lottie Galpin - https://www.lottiegalpin.com/ Dr Amina Douidi - www.aminadouidi.com Harry Waters - https://renewableenglish.com/

In this episode, Christian talks with Sandy Millin about the future of Teacher Development from her perspective, especially focusing on the power of blogs and social media. Read Sandy Millin's Blog here: https://sandymillin.wordpress.com/British Council Webinar with Sandy Millin: Professional development through blogs and blogging: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-and-events/webinars/webinars-teachers/sandy-millin-professional-development-through-blogs-and Follow Sandy on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandymillin/

Joining Christian in this latest episode of Developod are Claire Steele and Sarah Smith, Directors of Eltonix. They discuss the future of teacher development with a focus on 'bottom-up' teacher development, and in particular 'classroom-based inquiry' (or 'action research'), which they argue is both more teacher-centred and student-centred than most current forms of prescriptive professional development led by language school institutions.Information about Eltonix:Website: https://eltonix.com/Facebook Group: eltonix connects (a fund, friendly and international TD community)Previous related Developod episodes:Episode 36 Classroom-Based InquiryEpisode 18 Action ResearchEpisode 8 Creating a Culture of Teacher Development (with Silvana Richardson)