How to English TEFL Podcast
How To English TEFL Podcast is a weekly show offering teaching inspiration for TEFL teachers and English learners. Hosts Gav and Em, two experienced English teachers, discuss practical teaching techniques, learning tips, and real classroom stories. Each episode aims to provide useful and actionable advice for improving teaching and learning.
Episodes
Why Do Students Stop Using Coursebooks? Teaching Lessons, AI & Goodbyes – S07E18
Why do students ask for a coursebook at the start of a course, then a few weeks later ask if they can just talk instead?In S07E18 of How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em, we look at why learners can lose interest in coursebooks and how teachers can balance structure with the conversations students actually want.We also ask where teachers really learn their best teaching lessons, whe
How Can You Stay Motivated and Confident Learning English? Year-End Special – S03E25
What helps you keep learning English when your confidence takes a dip? A little encouragement, somewhere comfortable to practise and a reminder that you’re already doing something impressive!In this episode of How to English with Gav & Em, we celebrate our community with five guest teachers. Originally recorded at the end of 2022, this year-end special offers practical mini-lessons for teacher
What to do when a Grammar Lesson Goes Wrong - S07E17
What should you do when a grammar lesson starts falling apart? Stick rigidly to your plan, stop and reset, or follow the language your students are actually producing?In S07E17 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em discuss the reality of teaching when lessons refuse to behave themselves.Em shares a present continuous lesson involving unclear instructions, technical problems, students in d
How do you teach English to one-to-one students? And giving private English lessons? - S01E19
Why can teaching just one English learner feel more demanding than teaching a whole class? Join us, Gav & Em, as we explore the rewards, challenges and everyday realities of one-to-one English lessons.Private lessons give us space to personalise learning, build confidence and focus on what a student really needs. They also require plenty of energy, quick thinking and a working relationship tha
How Should English Teachers Check Answers, Pronounce Names & Stay Motivated? | TEFL Tips – S07E16
Why are your students learning English? How should teachers check answers without wasting lesson time? And what should you do when you have no idea how to pronounce a new student’s name?In S07E16 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore everyday questions English teachers face.They begin with one deceptively simple word: why? Why do we teach? Why are our students in the lesson? And w
Is Your Lesson Becoming the Teacher Show? | How to English TEFL Podcast - S07E15
How much should a teacher actually talk in an English lesson — and when should they simply get out of the way?In S07E15, Gav and Em discuss what teachers really do in the classroom (and what they don’t!).We explore whether a lesson should ever become “The Teacher Show”, how teachers can guide conversations without dominating them, when to jump into a discussion, and why timing matters when correct
Should TEFL Teachers Use the Teacher’s Book? Do Students Really Learn Grammar? | Gav & Em Answer Your TEFL Questions – S07E14
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 ha
Speak with Confidence: The Mindset Every TEFL Teacher Needs | Helen von Dadelszen - S07E13
Build Real Speaking Confidence with Helen von Dadelszen | TEFL Tips, Communication Skills & Classroom CourageHow can teachers and English learners become more confident speakers without waiting until they suddenly feel ready?In this episode of How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em, we welcome Helen von Dadelszen, communication coach, vocal trainer, former TEFL teacher and author
Will AI Replace English Teachers? The Future of TEFL - S07E12
Will AI replace English teachers? What can human TEFL teachers offer in a world of AI tutors, language-learning apps and instant translation?In S07E12 of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em discuss how artificial intelligence is changing English teaching and learning.Gav believes AI could eventually replace many human teaching roles. Em hopes future generations will value genuine human contact
English Teaching Tips: Correcting Student Mistakes, Lesson Efficiency & Common Errors -TEFL - S07E11
How can English teachers make lessons more efficient? When should you correct a student’s mistakes? And what do you say when a learner responds, “But you understand me, though?”In S07E11 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore practical questions about lesson efficiency, error correction and those tricky mistakes that learners continue making even after repeated correction.We discus
The Perfect Lesson Recipe: Homework, Holidays & When Students Don’t Get It - S07E10
What are the ingredients of a great English lesson? In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em cook up their perfect lesson recipe with interesting content, a pinch of challenge, plenty of practice and, of course, a sprinkling of homework.Along the way, we ask what makes homework genuinely useful, why taking a holiday can help teachers hear their students with fresh ears, and what
Does CELTA Really Prepare You to Teach English? | TEFL Teacher Reflections - S07E09
Does CELTA really prepare you to teach English? Which teacher-training techniques remain useful after years in the classroom, and which ones need adapting?In S07E09 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em look back at their CELTA training and the experiences that shaped them as English teachers.We discuss how teachers can adapt coursebook activities without stretching them beyond usefulness
How Can You Make English Lessons More Creative? | Spontaneous TEFL Ideas & Teaching Tips - S07E08
How can you make your English lessons more creative, spontaneous and engaging? And what should you actually do in the first five minutes of a class?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast with Gav & Em, we share practical TEFL ideas for English teachers and learners, including how we start our lessons, how to avoid classroom monotony, and why teaching English gives us so much freedom to
TEFL Teacher Strengths & Weaknesses | Distracted Students, Error Correction & Praise - S07E07
What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as an English teacher? 🎓In this episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we take an honest (and occasionally uncomfortable!) look at our own teaching styles. Em loves organisation, structure and a clear plan, while Gav thrives on creativity, flexibility… and sometimes preparing a worksheet just minutes before class. 😅We also tackl
AI for English Teachers, Student Talk Time & Classroom Management | TEFL Podcast - S07E06
Why do students really come to English classes? How can teachers increase Student Talk Time (STT), reduce Teacher Talk Time (TTT) and make sure everyone gets a chance to speak? And how can AI tools like ChatGPT actually help with everyday English teaching?In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em chat about the practical realities of teaching English as a foreign language (TEF
TEFL Teaching Tips: Translation Apps, L1 in Class & Getting Students to Answer Questions - S07E05
What should you do when students keep using translation apps in English lessons? How can you encourage learners to speak English instead of switching back to their first language? And why do students sometimes give perfectly good answers — but not actually answer the question you asked?In S07E05 of Gav & Em's How to English TEFL Podcast, we discuss practical TEFL and ESL teaching problems that
How Long Should English Lessons Be? Small Talk, Teacher Breaks, Grammar, and Classrooms - S07E04
How long should an English lesson be: 60 minutes or 90 minutes? How much teaching is sustainable in a week? And is spending 30 minutes on small talk valuable language practice — or a waste of lesson time?In S07E04 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em compare their approaches to lesson length and workload. Gav explains why he prefers 60-minute lessons, while Em makes the case for 90 minut
Should TEFL Teachers Use Coursebooks in Every Lesson? – S07E03
What should you do when a student is right and you’re wrong? How much should teachers remember about their learners? And are coursebooks useful—or are they destined to become expensive doorstops?In S07E03 of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em discuss the everyday decisions, surprises and awkward moments that make teaching English so interesting.Gav shares how he adapted a coursebook page to t
How Much Fun Is Too Much in the English Classroom? - S07E02
Can an English lesson be too much fun? Do fast-paced classroom games actually help students learn — or can they create stress instead? And how do you know when an engaging activity has crossed the line into overload?In S07E02 of How To English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we reflect on what “fun” really means in the English language classroom — and why what feels exciting to one learner mig
How Can Teachers Balance Conversation, Grammar and Personality in the Classroom? - S07E01
How confident do you feel teaching a conversation lesson without a detailed plan?In the first episode of season seven, Gav and Em compare two approaches to conversation classes: building discussion from planned grammar activities and allowing useful grammar to emerge naturally from conversation.They explore what teachers can do when a discussion dries up, how short post-lesson reflections can reve
How Can You Teach Pronunciation, Grammar & Vocabulary with X, Y & Z? TEFL Activities – S06E24
How can English teachers turn tricky pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary into activities students actually want to join in with?In the final episode of Season 6 of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em complete their A–Z of TEFL with X, Y and Z — combining unusual English words, pronunciation challenges, classroom games, grammar practice and practical teaching tips.Gav challenges Em with diffi
How Can English Teachers Teach WH-Questions, Wish & Word Order? Practical Ideas TEFL A-Z W – S06E23
What can English teachers do when a lesson starts going wrong? How can you teach WH-questions, wish structures and word order in ways that actually get students using the language?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em continue their A–Z of English teaching with W — moving from worst-case classroom nightmares to practical grammar activities, last-minute lesson ideas, warmers an
How Can English Teachers Find Their Teaching Voice? Pronunciation, Vocabulary & Activities - TEFL A-Z V – S06E22
How do you find your authentic voice as an English teacher — and keep lessons varied, useful and engaging?Welcome back to the A–Z of TEFL! In S06E22 of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em reach the letter V and explore practical English teaching ideas around variety, voice, visuals, victories, vocabulary and vitality.Drawing on their years of classroom experience, Gav and Em discuss why variet
How Can You Teach Uncountable Nouns and ‘Used To’ Creatively? TEFL A-Z U – S06E21
How can you make uncountable nouns memorable and help students untangle ‘used to’, ‘be used to’ and ‘get used to’? This week on the How to English TEFL Podcast, we tackle U in our A–Z of teaching English—with unusual holiday packing and quite enough U/you jokes.Join us, Gav and Em, for a playful role play featuring ‘three luggages’ and ‘a happiness’, followed by a sentence-building game you can ad
How Can You Bring English Lessons to Life? TEFL Tips, Timelines and Tasks - TEFL A-Z T – S06E20
How can you help students understand English grammar, speak with more expression and remember what they learn?Welcome to another tea-fuelled episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em — the podcast for teachers and learners of English as a foreign language. This week, we tackle the letter T: TEFL, timelines, tone, task-based learning and teaching tips from students themselves. ☕️
How Can English Teachers Teach Small Talk, Syllables & Lesson Staging? TEFL A-Z S – S06E19
How can you teach small talk, syllables and common English mistakes in practical, memorable ways?In this S-themed episode of the A–Z of TEFL, Gav and Em share classroom activities for English teachers and learners. Drawing on their own lessons, they explore semantics, pronunciation, scaffolding, student confidence, lesson staging and some surprisingly tricky examples of subject–verb agreement.Em d
How Can You Teach English with Realia, Role-Play and Grammar Games? TEFL A-Z R – S06E18
How can everyday objects, improvised phone calls and picture games bring your English lessons to life?R you ready? We’re continuing our A–Z of TEFL on the How to English TEFL Podcast, and this week it’s the letter R! From relative clauses and root words to realia, role-play and reflexive pronouns, we’ve got plenty to try in your next English lesson.What is realia, and how can you use it in the cla
What Makes a Good TEFL Lesson? Teacher Q&A with Gav and Em – TEFL A-Z Q - S06E17
What makes an English lesson fun, how should teachers respond to difficult questions, and what happens when a class reaches a genuine flow state?In this Q-themed episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em ask each other questions about teaching English, working online, planning lessons and producing the podcast.Drawing on more than 40 years of combined classroom experience, they discus
How Can PPP, Placement Tests and Present Perfect Improve Your TEFL Lessons? TEFL A-Z P – S06E16
How can we help students put new English into practice instead of falling back on the language they already know? This week on the How to English TEFL Podcast, we’re exploring the letter P, from presentation, practice and production to placement tests, pronunciation and the present perfect.Em shares why she’s partial to PPP, and we discuss what happens when a carefully planned production activity
How Can Teachers Correct Errors Without Overcorrecting? TEFL A-Z O – S06E15
How can English teachers correct mistakes without interrupting fluency or damaging a learner’s confidence?In this O-themed episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore overcorrection, on-the-spot grammar, one-to-one teaching and practical speaking activities. Drawing on their classroom experience, they discuss which errors deserve immediate attention, which can wait and why corre
How Can Teachers Teach Nuance, Negative Answers and Nominalisation? TEFL A-Z N – S06E14
How can English teachers explain subtle differences between words, practise negative forms and make nominalisation memorable?In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em reach N in their A–Z of TEFL. They begin with some necessary notes and corrections involving aubergines, acai, postpone, matching activities and the surprisingly important differences between gelato and ice cream
How Can Memory, Matching Games & Modals Improve English Lessons? TEFL A-Z M – S06E13
How Can Memory, Matching Games & Modals Improve English Lessons? – S06E13How can matching activities, memory techniques and modal verbs make English lessons more memorable?This week, Gav and Em continue their A–Z of TEFL with the letter M. They examine whether matching exercises are worthwhile or simply time-consuming, before testing a dessert-and-country activity that works visually or as a s
How Can Teachers Make Vocabulary Stick and Build Learner Autonomy? TEFL A-Z L – S06E12
🎙️ How can English teachers choose vocabulary learners will remember, build learner autonomy and create lead-ins that get students talking?This week, it’s L for language, learners, lessons, lead-ins and listening! Gav and Em explore whether teachers should spend valuable lesson time on vocabulary students are unlikely to need—and how a needs analysis can reveal which language is genuinely useful.T
How Can TEFL Teachers Keep Up, Fill Knowledge Gaps & Avoid Burnout? TEFL A-Z K – S06E11
How can English teachers keep up with changing learner needs, close persistent knowledge gaps and avoid burnout?In this K-themed episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore the demands of keeping up in the classroom. What happens when you prepare a music lesson and only the sports fans attend? How can you manage ten learners online when screen sharing hides their names and faces
How Can TEFL Teachers Teach Jargon, Conjunctions, Idioms and Rhythm? TEFL A-Z J – S06E10
How can English teachers make jargon, conjunctions, idioms and pronunciation practice more engaging?In this J-themed episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em share practical classroom activities for teaching and learning English—from jogging learners’ memories and explaining business jargon to matching jokes, completing conjunction sentences and playing an idioms version of Jeopardy.
How Can Teachers Inspire Students, Teach Intonation and Use Information Gaps? TEFL A-Z I – S06E09
How can English teachers inspire students to speak more, use intonation to change meaning and create purposeful interaction in class?In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore the letter I in their A–Z of TEFL. They begin with the importance of capitalising the pronoun “I” before discussing how teachers can encourage fuller answers by showing genuine interest, setting h
Should English Teachers Set Homework? Plus Speaking Tips and Homophones – TEFL A-Z H – S06E08
Should English teachers set homework, and what can they do when students regularly fail to complete it?Gav and Em explore the sometimes controversial subject of homework, from holiday excuses and forgotten books to deciding whether adult learners should be allowed to choose how much independent study they do. They also compare how they send lesson feedback, worksheets, answer keys, audio and usefu
How Can You Teach Grammar, Games and Group Dynamics Effectively? TEFL A-Z G – S06E07
How can English teachers make grammar less intimidating, use games with a clear learning purpose and help very different learners work well together?In this G-themed episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore grammar, games, gap fills, group dynamics, grading language, global English and guided discovery. Drawing on their classroom experience, they discuss why learners often as
How Can Teachers Fix Fossilised Errors and Help Learners Improve Faster? TEFL A-Z F – S06E06
What should you do when a lesson activity flops, learners keep repeating the same fossilised errors or an exercise simply is not producing the language you expected?In this F-themed episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em turn real classroom frustrations into practical teaching ideas. They compare lessons that failed, explain when it is better to abandon or adapt an activity, and sh
How Can Eliciting, Echo Reading and English Exposure Improve Lessons? TEFL A-Z E – S06E05
How can teachers elicit more language, improve pronunciation and help learners get greater exposure to English?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em continue their A–Z of TEFL with the letter E. They explore practical ways to encourage students to think, speak and contribute more—without teachers simply handing them every answer.Gav demonstrates an elicitation activity in whic
Should English Learners Focus on Fluency or Accuracy First? TEFL A-Z D – S06E04
Should English learners focus on fluency or accuracy first—and which habits genuinely lead to progress?In this D-themed episode of the A–Z of TEFL, Gav and Em explore the dos and don’ts of learning English. They discuss speaking regularly, using English every day when possible, learning vocabulary in context and not being afraid of mistakes. They also consider when accuracy matters, when fluency n
How Can CCQs, Culture and Student Control Improve TEFL Lessons? TEFL A-Z C – S06E03
How can teachers use CCQs effectively, prepare learners for C1 and C2 exams, explore culture and give students more control—without overcomplicating their lessons?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em continue their A–Z of TEFL with the letter C.We begin with practical C1 and C2 exam-preparation strategies: understanding the format, managing time, reading instructions carefull
How Can You Teach Business English, Pronunciation and Better Lessons? TEFL A-Z B – S06E02
How should you begin a new English course, find out what Business English learners really need and help students improve their pronunciation?In this episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we explore the letter B in our A to Z of TEFL. We begin with the importance of first lessons and why teachers should prepare carefully without putting themselves under pressure to make ever
How Can AI, Alphabet Games and Accuracy Improve English Lessons? TEFL A-Z A – S06E01
How can teachers use AI, alphabet games and targeted correction to create more effective English lessons?Welcome to Season 6 and the beginning of Gav and Em’s A–Z of TEFL. In this episode, the letter A leads to a lively mix of practical classroom activities, teaching technology, animal vocabulary and the continuing debate over accuracy versus fluency.Discover several materials-light alphabet games
What Makes English Lessons Work? TEFL Tips & Season 5 Highlights – S05E24
How can teachers make English lessons more useful, memorable and enjoyable—and help learners recognise their progress?Join Gav and Em for the Season 5 finale of How to English TEFL Podcast as they revisit a year of classroom discoveries, differing opinions and moments that still make them laugh. Drawing on their own English classes, they explore what helped their learners, what challenged their te
How Can You Personalise Coursebooks Without Chasing Perfection? – S05E23
How can teachers make coursebooks more engaging, relevant and useful without planning the “perfect” lesson?Gav and Em return to coursebooks and explore how teachers can combine their helpful structure with personalised conversation and meaningful language practice. Em explains how she adapts logistics, finance and Business English materials by eliciting learners’ existing knowledge, adding vocabul
Who Should Choose Lesson Content? Collocations and Real-World English – S05E22
Who should decide what happens in an English lesson: the teacher, the students or both?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore syllabus design and learner involvement. Em wonders whether teachers should accept “whatever you want” as an answer, while Gav explains how asking every learner for three topics can help teachers create a more relevant course.We also revisit common Engli
Should English Learners Have Goals? Online Lessons and Teaching Rules – S05E21
Should every English learner have a clear goal, or is maintaining their level and enjoying lessons enough?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore whether learners need a specific target. Inspired by an orchestra rehearsing for a concert, Em asks whether lessons should prepare students for an exam, presentation, holiday or everyday conversation. Gav considers learners who
How Can Teachers Create Flow and Encourage Students in Group Lessons? – S05E20
How can teachers create better flow in an English lesson, help students listen to each other and give praise without constantly interrupting?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore why some lessons flow while others feel stop-start. Gav shares a learner’s frank feedback about a lesson with no flow, while Em asks whether every adult learner needs to engage with every conv
How Do You Teach Get or Have Something Done? – S05E19
Do your students understand the difference between doing something themselves and getting or having it done by somebody else?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore practical ways to teach the causative structure get or have something done. Gav demonstrates a visual compare-and-contrast activity using people repairing cars and cleaning offices. They also discuss how teac
How Can Prefixes and Student Mistakes Improve English Lessons? – S05E18
How can English teachers explain prefixes clearly, experience classroom tasks from a learner’s perspective and correct memorable mistakes sensitively?This week, we explore the prefix under- and compare words such as undercooked and uncooked, underqualified and disqualified, and underreport and misreport. These examples reveal how changing a prefix can completely alter a word’s meaning.Em becomes a
How Can Teachers Adapt Materials and Fix Pronunciation Problems? – S05E17
How can English teachers adapt textbook materials for different learners, lesson formats and time limits? What can we do when students repeatedly mispronounce everyday words?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore TH sounds, silent letters, word stress and tricky words including bush, opposite, choir, clothes and wander. They discuss memorable sentences, visual prompts a
Should English Teachers Speak Clearly or Naturally in Class? – S05E16
Should English teachers speak naturally in class, or pronounce every word and expression carefully? In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore how to expose learners to authentic spoken English while helping them understand unfamiliar language.Drawing on our teaching experience, we discuss when to explain an idiom, when to write language on the board or in the chat, and when to let
How Do You Manage Mixed Levels and Set Up Classroom Tasks Clearly? – S05E15
What do we do when a learner knows a specialist word that we have never heard, or says their language has a word English seems to lack? In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore how curiosity, clear explanations and a few well-chosen questions can turn uncertainty into useful language practice.We return to animal-group names, discuss paraphrasing and borrowed words, and consid
What Should You Do When a Listening Lesson Runs Out of Time? – S05E14
What should we do when a carefully planned listening lesson runs out of time before students get the chance to speak? In this episode, we explore that familiar classroom dilemma and ask whether a successful comprehension lesson always needs a follow-up discussion.Em shares a lesson built around Cautionary Tales and the Swiss cheese model of accident prevention. We consider how listening can lead t
British or American English? Dictation, Correction and Homework – S05E13
In this episode of How to English with Gav & Em, we explore British and American English, compare two ways to make correction visible, and agree to disagree about following up optional homework with adults. We also demonstrate the Yes, I Am auxiliary-question game and untangle mixed idioms. Expect classroom examples, different teaching styles and a little wordplay.Questions answered:• Should w
How Do You Handle Late Starters and Early Leavers? TEFL Games – S05E12
In this episode of How to English with Gav & Em, we welcome learners who missed the start of a course, adapt when people leave early or cancel, and find fresh ideas for long-running lessons. Em becomes student B when a group lesson turns into a one-to-one. We also revisit portmanteaus, play the Lie Game and explore learning preferences.Questions answered:• How can we bring a late starter into
How Long Should Teachers Wait for Students to Answer? Featuring Matt Abrahams – S05E11
In this episode, we ask how long to wait for a learner’s answer, explore Em’s workplace English lessons and discuss including everyone in classroom conversations. Gav explains his indirect correction technique, we play with descriptive image prompts, and our portmanteau quiz mixes established blends with playful inventions.Matt Abrahams contributes a short introduction to his Think Fast, Talk Smar
How Should TEFL Teachers Handle Disappearing Students? – S05E10
How Should TEFL Teachers Handle Disappearing Students? – S05E10How do we check in when learners stop attending, change a lesson that misses their needs and remember the details that matter? In this episode, Gav and Em compare their teaching routines, explore morning phrasal verbs and prepare a difficult listening task. The quiz brings eight questions for reflecting on our teaching.Read the article
How Can Teachers Make Listening Tasks Easier for Students? – S05E09
How can you make a difficult listening task easier without removing the challenge? In this episode, we share ways to support learners by checking the order of questions, playing audio in shorter sections, adjusting the speed and using transcripts at the right moment.We also talk about teaching a group with different needs and interests, repeating an activity one learner has already done, and why s
How Can You Teach Giving Advice and Correct Errors at the Right Time? – S05E08
How can learners move beyond “You should” when giving advice in English? And when should a teacher correct an error immediately rather than wait until later?Gav and Em share practical TEFL activities for teaching advice and indirect questions while exploring the quick classroom decisions teachers make during speaking practice. Gav demonstrates two adaptable activities that encourage learners to us
How Can Revision, Simple Explanations and Games Improve English Lessons? – S05E07
How can revision help learners remember vocabulary, and what can teachers do when students arrive tired or lessons begin to feel repetitive?In this episode, Gav and Em share practical English teaching and learning tips drawn from their own classrooms. They explore how conversations, personal connections, emotional responses and simple keywords can make new vocabulary more memorable. They also cons
How Can Teachers Get Quiet Students Talking and Handle Online Problems? – S05E06
In this episode, we turn a short answer about tea into a conversation, act out a failing online connection and compare ways to keep a lesson moving. We untangle hotel job titles, revisit much and many, since and for, and recall Cuisenaire rods for word stress. There is also pronunciation poetry, a debate about protecting planning time and a teaching-methods quiz.Questions answered• How can we buil
How Can Teachers Explain Difficult Words and Correct Repeated Mistakes? – S05E05
In this episode, we put Em’s word-retrieval skills to the test, untangle own and owe, and compare spontaneous art discussions with preparing a lesson. We ask what repeated apologies after correction might mean and debate a relative-pronoun shortcut. Our missing-word game rounds off the week with gnomes, guessing, matching answers and useful grammar feedback.Questions answered• What can we do when
Can AI Replace English Teachers? Classroom Surprises and Nationalities – S05E04
In this episode, we explore Em’s experience with an AI conversation app and what it notices about language and meaning. We discuss greetings beyond ‘Fine, thanks’, teaching while ill, welcoming returning and unexpected learners, and replacing poor scans. Everyday vocabulary and an awkward online interview story lead us towards country names, languages and our nationality quiz.Questions answered• H
What Is a Donkey Bridge? Multitasking and Classroom Boundaries – S05E03
In this episode, Gav tries teaching on a treadmill while Em questions how much multitasking belongs in a lesson. We discuss sending materials to absent learners, correcting an awkward email privately, and using a donkey bridge to remember Saturday and Sunday. We compare our different views on swearing and sharing speaking time in workplace groups, then finish with a higher-or-lower quiz full of su
How Can TEFL Teachers Turn Curiosity into Useful English Practice? - S05E02
In this episode, Em turns Google Search surprises into instructions and descriptions, while Gav brings questions from his teaching week. We discuss ambitious Business English goals, forgotten learner details, fair speaking opportunities and the balance between correction and conversation. Em demonstrates a one-word lead-in to prefixes, and Gav quizzes us on it and there.Questions answered• How can
How Can TEFL Teachers Adapt When Online Lessons Go Off Plan? - S05E01
In this episode, we bring a staffroom vibe to our teaching week. We compare ways to handle interruptions and late arrivals, review forgotten finance vocabulary, and explain why recognising English variation needn’t derail a grammar lesson. Gav demonstrates his agreeing-and-disagreeing game, and Em tackles the online-teaching equipment quiz.Questions answered• How should we respond when real life i
What Do Students Want to Ask Their English Teachers? – S04E26
What have your students always wanted to know about you and your teaching?For the final episode of Season 4, Gav and Em answer questions submitted by their English learners. They discuss how teachers motivate students, prepare lessons, manage mistakes and cope when a class does not go according to plan.What does a typical day look like for an online TEFL teacher? Have Gav and Em ever stopped teach
How Can Drawing and Sketchnoting Improve English Lessons? With Emily Bryson – S04E25
How can a few simple drawings get English learners talking? Gav and Em explore visual teaching with Emily Bryson from Emily Bryson ELT. Together, they try a mountain template, fill a vocabulary container and discover how sketchnotes can capture ideas without recording every word.Emily explains why teachers do not need to be talented artists. A small visual vocabulary of lines, arrows, shapes and s
How Can Teachers Make Every English Learner Feel Welcome? With Pete at IH Manchester – S04E24
How can teachers make every learner feel welcome, comfortable and confident in the English classroom?Gav and Em are joined by Pete, Director of Marketing and Sales at International House Manchester, to explore how a supportive student experience begins before learners even arrive. Pete explains how IH Manchester introduces students to their homestay hosts, provides virtual school tours, shares soc
What Makes Every TEFL Teaching Journey Different? With TEFL Org – S04E22
What do TEFL teachers around the world have in common, and why is every teaching journey different?In this special episode, Gav and Em talk to podcaster and journalist Euan from TEFL Org. Euan hosts I Taught English Abroad, where he interviews teachers about their experiences of teaching English around the world.Euan shares what he has learnt from these conversations, including the nervousness man
How Can Teachers Respect English Dialects and Language Variation? With Dionna – S04E23
Which English dialects belong in the classroom, and who decides what counts as “correct” English?Gav and Em explore English language variation with Dr Dionna Latimer-Hearn from Respect the Dialect. Dionna discusses African American English (AAE), linguistic discrimination and what can happen when educators treat a learner’s dialect as incorrect or inappropriate.How can teachers avoid linguistic ra
How Can Teachers and Learners Reduce English Language Anxiety? - with Paola Montero – S04E21
Do you feel anxious while teaching or learning English? What can teachers do to create calmer classrooms and help learners speak with greater confidence?Gav and Em explore English language anxiety with language anxiety expert Paola Montero. They look at the difference between anxiety and nervousness, why some learners are afraid to speak, how classroom dynamics can affect confidence and what teach
How Can Teachers Check Understanding with CCQs and Listening Tasks? With Open Shores English– S04E20
How can English teachers check that learners have genuinely understood new vocabulary, grammar or a listening text?Gav and Em explore comprehension checking questions, commonly known as CCQs, and demonstrate practical ways to check understanding. They consider why simply asking “Do you understand?” is rarely enough and explain how learners can show comprehension by answering questions, producing e
How Can Teachers Balance Talking, Grammar and Correction? – S04E19
How much should teachers and students talk during an English lesson?Gav and Em explore how conversation can become a genuine learning experience rather than simply an enjoyable chat. They discuss teacher talking time, encouraging quieter learners and helping students explain specialist subjects that the teacher may know little about.What should you do when a conversation wanders away from the less
How Can Reading Improve Your English? Classroom Activities and Book Ideas - WeAreBettering – S04E18
How can reading improve your English, and which book activities can teachers use in class?Gav and Em explore practical ways to make reading enjoyable, productive and accessible for English learners. Drawing on their classroom experience and their own reading habits, they share adaptable speaking, writing and vocabulary activities based on books.Discover how learners can discuss a book even when th
How Can New English Teachers Build Confidence and Survive Their First Lessons? With Isa – S04E17
Are you a newly qualified English teacher wondering how to survive your first lessons, find students and become more confident in the classroom?Gav and Em revisit the challenges, doubts and discoveries they experienced as newbie teachers. They are joined by Isa, a recently qualified teacher who explains what her intensive CELTA course involved, from teaching B2 and A2 learners to completing daily
What Is Native Speakerism and How Can English Teachers Challenge It? With Meri – S04E16
What is native speakerism, and why does it remain a problem in English language teaching?In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore the belief that people considered “native speakers” are automatically better English teachers, regardless of qualifications, experience or teaching ability.They’re joined by Meri, also known as The Non-Native Speaker. Drawing on her experie
How Can Journaling Improve English Writing and Speaking? With Earl Grey – S04E15
How can journaling help English learners develop their writing, vocabulary and speaking?Gav and Em explore how a journal can give learners space to express their thoughts, notice the words they need and reflect on their progress. Unlike a traditional writing assignment, journaling can be flexible, personal and free from word counts or prescribed outcomes.Special guest Earl Grey shares how journali
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