TESOL Pop

From textbook dependency to a "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" approach. Fiona Hunter, founder of Kids Club English shares how to confidently step away from set materials to create authentic, play-based language experiences for young learners. From managing the psychological hurdles of letting go of the coursebook to structuring lessons around picture books, Fiona explains how stepping back allows young learners to take true ownership of their language.Watch with captions here.TALKING POINTS1. The textbook tension: engagement, syllabus pressure, and the progress gap2. Why moving away from a coursebook requires us to rethink our teaching3. The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" framework for structuring lessons4. How giving young learners ownership over their activities sky-rockets motivationABOUTFiona Hunter is a teacher, teacher trainer and the founder of Kids Club English. Originally from Scotland and now based in the south of Spain, she has worked in ELT for over twenty years, teaching in Spain, the UK, Argentina and South Korea, including at the British Council. She holds a DELTA with Merit and specialises in teaching preschool and primary learners.Now working independently, Fiona creates her own flexible, play-based courses built around stories, songs, games, crafts and drama - without relying on coursebooks. Through Kids Club English, she shares classroom-tested resources and runs an online Teacher Membership supporting freelance teachers and small language school owners who want to feel more confident, less overwhelmed and better equipped to build engaging, language-rich lessons for young learners.RESOURCES & REFERENCES🔗 Kids Club English Website: https://kidsclubenglish.com/🔗 Download Fiona’s Quick Start Guide to Flexible Units (available in the teaching tips section)🔗 Watch Fiona’s 4-part video series on teaching without coursebooks on her website🔗 Kids Club English  @kidsclubenglish582 Fab Videos on Kids Club English YouTube:Getting Personal with Puppets - Teaching TipsHow to Prepare for Reading a Story -Teaching TipsSports Spinner Game CraftSUPPORT US☕ Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tesolpop⭐ Leave a review wherever you listenTHE PRODUCER'S EDITGet inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.👉 Subscribe here: https://communicating-for-impact.myflodesk.com/the-producers-editCREDITSProducer: Laura WilkesEditor: Haven TsangSpecial thanks to our guest, Fiona HunterProduction by Communicating for Impact @laurawilkesTIME STAMPS00:00 - Introduction to Fiona Hunter and the episode overview01:12 - The three biggest engagement and pressure challenges of coursebooks04:36 - The mindset shift: Rethinking your underlying teaching philosophy06:39 - Moving from "off-piste" projects to a semi-structured storybook approach11:08 - The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" lesson staging framework11:36 - Fostering learner identity and confidence through classroom roleplay12:00 - Where to find bite-sized teaching resources and closing thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amira Salama shares insights on practitioner research and how everyday classroom experiences can contribute to meaningful research. She challenges traditional notions of research and highlights how teachers are already engaging in research without realising it.Watch with closed captions.TALKING POINTS1. Research doesn’t have to be complex—any teacher reflecting on and improving their practice is engaging in research.2. Sharing findings with colleagues, at conferences, or within schools is just as valuable as publishing in journals.3. Teachers can use simple methods like student feedback, classroom observations, and collaborative discussions to gather insights.4. Research helps educators take control of challenges like AI integration and curriculum development.5. Contextualised, bottom-up approaches to teaching and research are more effective than applying generic ‘best practices.’ABOUTAmira Salama is the Chair of the TESOL International Research Professional Council (2024-2025) and the Past President of Africa ELTA. She has an MA TESOL from the American University in Cairo with a research focus on teacher leadership and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in inclusive education. Amira is the winner of the TESOL Outstanding Advocate Honor Award in 2024. She has given a number of plenary and featured talks at local and international conferences and developed teacher training programs in Egypt and Africa with a focus on association leadership in low-resource contexts, classroom research, and women leadership.REFERENCESTESOL Research ReportAfrica ELTA (Mentoring programmes)SUPPORT US💻 Sponsor us☕ Buy us a coffee⭐ Leave a reviewTHE PRODUCER'S EDITGet inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.👉 Subscribe hereCREDITSProducer Laura WilkesEditor Haven TsangThanks to our lovely guest, Amira SalamaProduction by Communicating for Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of the Learning Cosmos André Hedlund explores the growing challenges of maintaining attention spans in the age of digital distractions. André dives into the impact of screen time, the role of executive functions in learning, and how going back to basics can foster focus and resilience in our classrooms.Watch the episode with closed captions.TALKING POINTSDigital Overload: how delegating human interaction to devices has contributed to declining IQ levels for the first time and why educators must rethink the role of technology in teaching.Executive Functions: the importance of training the brain's "operational control centre'‘ through situations that challenge students' impulse control, emotional regulation, and focus.The Dopamine Dilemma: the neuroscience behind dopamine and how to find healthier ways to engage students without relying on instant gratification.Back to Basics: how traditional methods that prioritise interaction, exploration, and meaningful experiences can overthrow digital dependence.ABOUTAndré Hedlund is a Chevening (pronounced as evening) Alumnus, MSc Psychology of Education - University of Bristol, Educational Consultant, Speaker, Author, and Guest Lecturer on Bilingualism and Cognition in Postgraduate courses. He currently works as an e-moderator in British Council training programs. André is the leader of BRAZ-TESOL’s Mind, Brain, and Education SIG and the founder of the Learning Cosmos.REFERENCES & RESOURCESThe Learning Cosmos SubstackThe Learning Cosmos InstagramHaidt, J. (2024) The Anxious Generation. PenguinHedlund, A. (2022) The Owl Factor: Reframing your Teaching Philosophy. IndependentTESOL Pop: The Know, Show and Grow Stages of Teaching and Learning with André HedlundSUPPORT US💻 Sponsor us☕ Buy us a coffee⭐ Leave a reviewTHE PRODUCER'S EDITGet inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.👉 Subscribe hereCREDITSProducer: Laura WilkesEditor: Haven TsangThanks to our lovely guest, André Hedlund Production by Communicating for Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior Teaching Associate Josianne Block shares insights on how embracing learners’ linguistic resources can enhance communication, foster inclusivity, and create a more dynamic learning environment.Watch with closed captions.TALKING POINTSWhat is translanguaging? Josianne defines translanguaging as the natural blending of languages to facilitate effective communication. She shares real-world examples, such as using gestures, words from other languages we know, and cultural knowledge to convey meaning.The role of translanguaging. How translanguaging reflects the interconnected nature of languages in our minds. Far from a shortcut, it’s a powerful tool for building confidence and fostering curiosity.Classroom strategies. Josianne describes how she incorporates translanguaging by starting lessons by writing vocabulary words in the learners' languages, as an example.Safe learning spaces. The importance of establishing clear guidelines for using learners’ first languages. She shares how this approach helps students transition from relying on their native languages to gaining confidence in English.ABOUTJosianne is based in Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean. She has over ten years of teaching experience in English and currently works as a senior teaching associate at the University of Malta. Josianne holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics and TESOL and is also qualified to teach Italian and Maltese as foreign languages. Having taught several integration programmes, she is particularly interested in language dynamics and linguistic diversity within multilingual contexts. She also actively participates in local and international ELT conferences and enjoys conducting research.REFERENCESGarcia, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education. Palgrave Macmillan.Kerr, P. (2014). Translation and Own-language Activities. Cambridge University Press.Translanguaging Guides. CUNY-NYSIEB. (2021). Available at https://www.cunynysieb.org/ translanguaging-re Accessed on 19/11/2024.SUPPORT US💻 Sponsor us☕ Buy us a coffee⭐ Leave a reviewTHE PRODUCER'S EDITGet inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.👉 Subscribe hereCREDITSProducer: Laura WilkesEditor: Haven TsangThanks to our inspiring guest, Josianne Block.Production by Communicating for Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multilingual speaker Urmi Hossain joins us to share her experiences learning multiple languages and the personalised strategies she’s developed. Urmi’s learning journey highlights the importance of finding methods that resonate with personal goals, interests, and cultural backgrounds.Watch the episode with closed captions here.Learning with PurposeUrmi discusses how each language she’s learned holds a different significance in her life, from family connections to career advancement. By setting clear goals, she maintains motivation and purpose in her studies.Overcoming Dialect DifferencesLiving in Canada, Urmi encountered distinct French dialects that challenged her listening skills. She shares how she adapted to these variations, gaining confidence in her ability to comprehend diverse accents and expressions.Staying MotivatedUrmi stays driven through vision boards, regular goal check-ins, and strategic reminders. She believes motivation plays a vital role in language learning success, especially when progressing independently.ABOUTUrmi Hossain is Bengali by blood and Italian by birth. She works in the financial services industry in Canada, where she is currently residing. She is a self-published author, speaker, blogger, polyglot, and mentor. She is the holder of the CFA charter as well as the CAIA charter. Her first book is: Discovering your identity, a rebirth from interracial struggle. She is an advocate of women's empowerment and very passionate about teaching and mentoring other girls and women. She is part of the organisation called Women In Leadership for the Victoria Chapter in Canada as the social media lead where she spreads the message of gender equality and more women in leadership positions. She enjoys being a promoter of self-investing and personal development. Fun fact: she speaks 4.5 languages - Italian, Bengali, English, French and Spanish being the .5FOLLOWLinkedInMy Ways BlogYouTubeInstagramLove what we do? Say thanks with a coffee.https://ko-fi.com/tesolpopCREDITSProducer Laura WilkesEditor Haven TsangThanks to our inspiring guest, Urmi Hossain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Martin Hajek talks about the importance of role models and access to information to make informed decisions about our careers in the English Language Teaching industry. Martin shares three stories from his latest book More Than A Gap Year Adventure that demonstrate the wide range of career paths that are possible.Watch with closed captions here.Inspiration Behind the BookMartin shares how his training as a journalist inspired him to start researching and compiling various essays from educators around the world for More Than A Gap Year Adventure.Challenging Negative NarrativesPart of the inspiration for the title of the book was to challenge the perception that work in the industry is temporary and lacking in professional training and roles. He goes on to talk about the role click-through TEFL certificate course providers have to play in perpetuating this misconception.Three Different StoriesMartin shares three very different essays featured in More Than A Gap Year Adventure that sheds light on work in assessment and material design as just a few examples of what is possible in the ELT field.ABOUTMartin Hajek is a freelance ELT professional based in Colombia. Originally a journalist, he decided to sign up for a CELTA course at the age of 30. Martin immediately fell in love with teaching English and started looking for a way to move beyond entry-level jobs, which led him to complete a DELTA. Martin focuses on career development, language assessment, phonology, and teaching listening skills. In February 2024, he self-published More Than a Gap Year Adventure, a collaborative book aimed at those who wish to have a long-term career in the ELT profession.REFERENCESHajek, M. (2024) More Than a Gap Year Adventure: How to Make a Long-Term Career out of TEFL. IndependentFOLLOWBlog TEFL in ColumbiaLinkedInSUPPORT US💻 Sponsor us☕ Buy us a coffee⭐ Leave a reviewTHE PRODUCER'S EDITGet inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.👉 Subscribe hereCREDITSProducer: Laura WilkesEditor: Haven TsangThanks to our inspiring guest, Martin HajekProduction by Communicating for Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirsten Holt, founder of Creativity Sown, talks about experiential learning in teacher development. In this episode, Kirsten shares practical tips for getting started and highlights the value of building a community to exchange ideas and support growth.Watch this episode with closed captions here.KEY TALKING POINTSWhat is experiential learning?Kirsten explains that experiential learning involves applying knowledge in a practical setting (e.g., a classroom), followed by reflection and adjustment. This process helps teachers improve their teaching methods by learning from both successes and mistakes.Iterative Process of LearningTeachers are encouraged to try new activities, reflect on their outcomes, and make adjustments. This cycle of testing, analysing, and repeating leads to deeper learning and continuous professional development.Collaborative and Reflective PracticeExperiential learning thrives in a collaborative environment where teachers share ideas, reflect on their experiences, and help each other improve. It helps foster a positive, engaging staff room culture or even an online community for solo practitioners.Practical Applications and Resources:Kirsten highlights how experiential learning can be applied to new technologies, such as AI, by experimenting with different teaching tools and approaches. She also gives the example of Creativity Sown, where teachers can exchange ideas and receive feedback.ABOUTKirsten is based in Brighton, UK where she runs Creativity Sown, a company providing editorial, writing, training and education consultancy services. This encapsulates her 30 years’ experience in education, first in teaching, teacher training and school management, then in publishing, with her passion in training and mentoring. She has written course material for kindergarten learners through to adults, blog content and classroom resources for teachers and teacher trainers; designed and run face-to-face conferences, events online and training programmes, and edited hundreds of books! She is also an international conference speaker, a British Council ELTons judge and has served on the IATEFL MaWSIG and PronSIG Committees.FOLLOWWebsite Creativity SownLinkedInLove what we do? Say thanks with a coffee.https://ko-fi.com/tesolpopCREDITSProducer Laura WilkesEditor Haven TsangThanks to our inspiring guest, Kirsten Holt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roger Hubmann, founder of Happy Students, talks about the evolving role of online learning platforms in language education. Roger shares how modern platforms can create dynamic, engaging, and personalised learning paths for students. He discusses the shift towards using digital tools to support pre and post-class activity, ensuring deeper learning engagement outside the classroom.Click here to watch this episode with closed captions.KEY TALKING POINTSEvolution of Online LearningRoger explains how platforms have evolved from static libraries to tools that support personalised and interactive learning paths. Online learning platforms can act as a digital frame that fosters communication and collaboration between learners and teachers.A Practical Case StudyMedicus Linguae is a great example of how mobile technology and learning platforms can interlink. In the case of Happy Students, the smartphone-compatible platform enables students to upload audio and video assignments, thus increasing their opportunities to develop their skills outside the live class hours.A Time-Saving SolutionOnline or blended learning experiences can save time so that teachers and learners can focus more on meaningful live interactions. Roger also points out how AI tools can assist in creating teaching materials to support teachers in moving to an online or blended teaching model.ABOUTRoger Hubmann, Founder of Happy Students, is passionate about creating engaging digital learning interactions and developing digital ecosystems with experts and their knowledge. With a background in economics, he has extensive experience in digital engagement, product development, and startup developments in virtual worlds and eCommerce. He’s Zurich-based, has lived over a decade in Spain, Berlin, and the UK. Roger believes that the education sector is undergoing similar digital transformations as banking and commerce, where innovation through digital means is key to differentiation.REFERENCESHappy Students. State-of-the-art learning softwareMedicus Linguae. German language training for nursing and health professionals.OpenAI. For the latest updates about ChatGPT, DALL-E and more.Love what we do? Say thanks with a coffee.https://ko-fi.com/tesolpopCREDITSProducer Laura WilkesEditor Haven TsangThanks to our special guest, Roger Hubmann. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.