Should TEFL Teachers Use the Teacher’s Book? Do Students Really Learn Grammar? | Gav & Em Answer Your TEFL Questions – S07E14

Should TEFL Teachers Use the Teacher’s Book? Do Students Really Learn Grammar? | Gav & Em Answer Your TEFL Questions – S07E14

From How to English TEFL Podcast by Gav and Em

August 14, 2026 · 34 min · Season 7 · Episode 14

About this episode

Gav and Em discuss the effectiveness of teacher's books and the learning of grammar in TEFL education.

In this episode, Gav and Em tackle the real questions TEFL teachers ask every day: What exactly is a student’s book supposed to do? Is the teacher’s book worth using — or is it overwhelming? How do you fix confusing coursebook tasks? Do students actually learn grammar from lessons, or somewhere else entirely? Why do learners forget grammar rules even after you’ve taught them? Where does real learning happen — in the book, in conversation, or online? With practical examples, honest stories, and classroom‑tested hacks, this episode helps teachers rethink how they plan, how they use materials, and how they support learners in a more natural, intuitive way. Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Visit our homepage: https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/Timestamps 00:00 – How do TEFL teachers use quiet weeks to get organised? 01:20 – What are TEFL learners actually looking for in a coursebook? 03:00 – What is a student’s book, and how does it support learning? 05:00 – Why do coursebooks teach through topics instead of grammar labels? 06:00 – What’s inside a teacher’s book, and why is it so overwhelming? 09:00 – Should teachers rely on the teacher’s book or trust their instincts…

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Hosts: Gav, Em

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