How to English TEFL Podcast

Latest Episodes:

How to Teach English in Groups: Classroom Management & Student Engagement | TEFL/ESL - S01E18 May 15, 2020

Show notes

How do you help a group of English learners feel comfortable, communicate confidently and learn from each other?

In S01E18 of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore classroom management, group dynamics and practical ways to keep everyone involved. From the nerves of a first lesson to changing partners and teaching online, we share what has worked in our own classrooms.

Gav enjoys letting conversations develop, while Em stresses the importance of clear tasks and a lesson that offers more than a chat in the pub! We discuss balancing fluency with correction, supporting quieter learners, managing dominant speakers and gradually giving students more responsibility.

You’ll also hear ideas for seating arrangements, information-gap activities, remembering names and team-building tasks. Whether you teach TEFL, ESL or EFL, this episode will help you think about how your group works together.

☕ Support Gav & Em:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

🌐 More episodes and teaching resources:
https://howtoenglishpod.com

READ THE ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Do You Manage the First Lesson With a New English Group? – S01E18
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-you-manage-the-first-lesson-with-a-new-english-group-s01e18/

Should English Teachers Change Where Students Sit? – S01E18
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-english-teachers-change-where-students-sit-s01e18/

How Do You Balance Fluency, Correction and Teacher Talk in Group Lessons? – S01E18
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-you-balance-fluency-correction-and-teacher-talk-in-group-lessons-s01e18/

How Can You Keep an Online Group English Lesson Interactive? – S01E18
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-you-keep-an-online-group-english-lesson-interactive-s01e18/

How Can a Teacher Learn Students’ Names in a Large English Class? – S01E18
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-a-teacher-learn-students-names-in-a-large-english-class-s01e18/

How Can Team-Building Tasks Improve Group English Lessons? – S01E18
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-team-building-tasks-improve-group-english-lessons-s01e18/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-how-to-teach-english-in-groups-classroom-management-student-engagement-tefl-esl-s01e18/

What helps your group lessons work well? Share your ideas in the comments, and subscribe or follow for more conversations about teaching and learning English.

#TEFL #ESL #EFL #ClassroomManagement #GroupWork #EnglishTeaching #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome and listener countries
02:49 – First-lesson nerves and why learners choose groups
05:22 – Teacher confidence, authority and getting attention
07:08 – Dominant students and different personalities
09:34 – Helping a new group bond
10:03 – Conversation, clear tasks and correction
12:08 – Giving students more responsibility
13:54 – Information gaps and authentic communication
14:45 – Classroom layout and using the whiteboard
16:29 – Support the podcast
16:59 – Seating arrangements and changing partners
21:05 – Making online group lessons interactive
23:25 – Remembering and using students’ names
24:48 – Benefits and challenges of group learning
26:50 – Keeping every online learner involved
27:25 – Experiences of teaching large groups
29:14 – Balancing teacher-led and student-centred learning
30:19 – Team-building and problem-solving tasks
31:46 – Final thoughts and goodbye

How to Teach Speaking: Fluency, Confidence and Conversation Skills - S01E17 May 08, 2020

Show notes

How to Teach Speaking: Fluency, Confidence and Conversation Skills - S01E17

What should a speaking lesson teach beyond simply giving students time to chat?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore fluency, accuracy and confidence. Gav explains his conversation-led approach, while Em questions how it works when a group has different interests and quieter learners need support.

We discuss correction, pair work, dominant speakers, role-plays and voice recordings. There are also fluency games, thinking-time phrases and ways to show interest. Speaking is about listening and responding too!

☕ Support Gav & Em:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

What Should a TEFL Conversation Class Actually Teach? – S01E17
https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-should-a-tefl-conversation-class-actually-teach-s01e17/

Should Teachers Correct Every Speaking Mistake? – S01E17
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-teachers-correct-every-speaking-mistake-s01e17/

How Can Teachers Encourage Quiet Students to Speak? – S01E17
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-teachers-encourage-quiet-students-to-speak-s01e17/

How Can Role-Plays Support Lower-Level Speaking Learners? – S01E17
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-role-plays-support-lower-level-speaking-learners-s01e17/

How Can Students Practise Speaking English Outside Class? – S01E17
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-students-practise-speaking-english-outside-class-s01e17/

How Do You Teach Conversation Skills Beyond Grammar and Vocabulary? – S01E17
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-you-teach-conversation-skills-beyond-grammar-and-vocabulary-s01e17/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-how-to-teach-speaking-fluency-confidence-conversation-skills-tefl-tips-activities-s01e17/

REFERENCES

Taboos and Issues, Richard MacAndrew and Ron Martínez — Thomson Heinle.

Role Plays for Today: Photocopiable Activities to Get Students Speaking, Jason Anderson — Delta Publishing.

Finding a speaking partner:
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/english-speaking-online/

Voice recording:
https://vocaroo.com/

Just a Minute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2asXQnUvrGc

Taboo:
https://eslgames.com/esl-taboo/

💬 What helps your learners speak more confidently? Share your favourite activities in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #SpeakingSkills #EnglishConversation #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome and introducing speaking
01:46 When students just want to speak
02:06 Conversation-led teaching and group dynamics
04:50 What is a conversation class?
06:14 Different purposes for speaking
08:12 Language exchange
08:32 Balancing fluency, accuracy and correction
12:10 Encouraging quiet learners
12:39 Pair work and dominant speakers
14:13 Supporting us on Ko-fi
14:52 Should teachers put learners on the spot?
16:00 Increasing student talking time
19:14 Role-plays and functional language
20:05 Voice recordings and practice outside class
21:50 Conversation resources and topics
22:31 Just a Minute
23:45 Taboo and fluency practice
24:08 Thinking-time phrases
25:18 Organising ideas and showing interest
26:11 Responding and encouraging your partner
26:54 Final advice and goodbye

How to Teach Listening in English | TEFL Listening Activities, Podcasts, Songs & Accents - S01E16 May 01, 2020

Show notes

How can we make English listening practice more manageable, realistic and useful?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em discuss prediction, podcasts, audiobooks, playback speed, subtitles and audio scripts. We explore moving from gist to detail without expecting learners to understand every word.

We also share song activities, discuss different accents and listening to classmates, and consider background noise for higher-level learners. Practical ideas for teachers and students, with our usual tangents!

☕ Support us:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Should TEFL Teachers Structure a Listening Lesson? – S01E16
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-tefl-teachers-structure-a-listening-lesson-s01e16/

How Can English Learners Choose Podcasts and Audiobooks for Listening Practice? – S01E16
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-english-learners-choose-podcasts-and-audiobooks-for-listening-practice-s01e16/

Should English Learners Use Subtitles for Listening Practice? – S01E16
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-english-learners-use-subtitles-for-listening-practice-s01e16/

How Can TEFL Teachers Use Songs for Listening Lessons? – S01E16
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-use-songs-for-listening-lessons-s01e16/

Why Should TEFL Students Listen to Different English Accents? – S01E16
https://howtoenglishpod.com/why-should-tefl-students-listen-to-different-english-accents-s01e16/

When Should Teachers Add Background Noise to Listening Practice? – S01E16
https://howtoenglishpod.com/when-should-teachers-add-background-noise-to-listening-practice-s01e16/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e16-how-to-teach-listening-in-english-tefl-listening-activities-podcasts-songs-accents/

REFERENCES

BBC science podcasts; 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy; 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter; Dear Hank and John; Serial; CSI; Paul Theroux; Bill Bryson; Ed Sheeran; Stephen Fry’s Harry Potter audiobooks; Spotify; YouTube; News in Levels; Market Leader (Pearson); English File (Oxford); Siri, Google, Cortana and Alexa.

Exciting English:
https://www.facebook.com/excitingenglishyoutube/

💬 What do you enjoy listening to in English? Share your favourite resources and activities.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #ListeningSkills #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome and our unusual episode titles
03:33 Introducing listening
04:01 Preparation and prediction
05:46 Podcasts and choosing suitable material
06:37 Changing playback speed
08:30 Audiobooks and narrators
10:22 Films, TV and subtitles
11:56 News in Levels and audio scripts
12:44 Listening anxiety and support
13:35 Checking the recording
14:17 Replays and vocabulary preparation
15:05 From gist to detail
16:14 Supporting us on Ko-fi
16:47 Background noise
17:53 Songs for listening practice
19:00 Checking lyrics against recordings
20:46 Gap fills, lyric ordering and rhyme
21:39 Prediction and song choices
22:24 Conversations and different accents
23:49 Listening to classmates
25:01 English as a lingua franca
25:58 Coursebook listening
26:54 Smart speakers
28:18 Radio and recommendations
29:40 Choosing material you enjoy
30:05 Everyday listening
30:57 Next episode and goodbye

How to Teach Writing Without Making It Boring | TEFL Tips & Activities - S01E15 Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

How can you make writing useful and fun in an English lesson without always asking students to write a long essay?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore emails, messages, reviews, stories and workplace writing. We discuss how small mistakes can change a message’s meaning and why choosing the right style matters.

Em introduces running dictation and the wonderfully named exquisite corpse game, while Gav shares a paper-email activity. We also explore templates, linking words, narrative tenses, punctuation and ways to support less confident writers.

Join Gav and Em for practical activities that give learners a reason to write and someone to write for.

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Can I Get Students to Take Writing Practice Seriously? – S01E15
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-i-get-students-to-take-writing-practice-seriously-s01e15/

How Do You Run a Dictation Activity in an English Class? – S01E15
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-you-run-a-dictation-activity-in-an-english-class-s01e15/

How Can Collaborative Story Writing Make English Lessons More Creative? – S01E15
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-collaborative-story-writing-make-english-lessons-more-creative-s01e15/

How Should TEFL Teachers Teach Real-World Emails and Functional Writing? – S01E15
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-tefl-teachers-teach-real-world-emails-and-functional-writing-s01e15/

How Can You Teach Formal and Informal Email Style in English? – S01E15
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-you-teach-formal-and-informal-email-style-in-english-s01e15/

How Can Narrative Tenses Improve Students’ Story Writing? – S01E15
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-narrative-tenses-improve-students-story-writing-s01e15/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e15-how-to-teach-writing-without-making-it-boring-tefl-tips-activities/

REFERENCES

Outlook: https://outlook.live.com/
Gmail: https://mail.google.com/

Running dictation:
https://comprehensibleclassroom.com/2011/06/29/running-dictation/

Exquisite corpse writing game:
https://www.eslprintables.com/writing_worksheets/other_writing_worksheets/Exquisite_Corpse_Collaborati_806468/

Skype: https://www.skype.com/en/
WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/
Messenger: https://www.messenger.com/

Email style, Linguahouse:
https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/email-style

Onestopenglish:
https://www.onestopenglish.com/

💬 Which writing activity gets your students involved? Share your favourites in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #WritingSkills #BusinessEnglish #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome: what does “What’s up?” mean?
01:45 Why students avoid writing
03:00 Writing isn’t just essays
04:00 Emails, messages and communication problems
05:00 When a cancellation message goes wrong
06:00 Paper emails: a classroom activity
07:00 Formality, style and different messages
08:00 Running dictation explained
10:00 Making running dictation competitive
11:00 Consequences and exquisite corpse
12:00 Creative writing and lower-level learners
13:00 Reviews, exams and real-life tasks
14:00 Business English writing and Ko-fi
15:00 Reports, apologies and practical writing
16:00 Postcards, requests and confidence
17:00 Templates and useful language
18:00 Linking words and conjunctions
19:00 Storytelling and narrative tenses
20:00 Past perfect in stories
21:00 Formality and appropriateness
22:00 Formal and informal writing
23:00 Analysing emails with students
24:00 Summaries and email subject lines
25:00 Writing tools, apps and punctuation
26:00 Essays, arguments and paragraphs
27:00 Final tips and what we write
28:00 Outro

How to Improve Your English Reading Skills: Books, News & Everyday English - S01E14 Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

Want to improve your English reading without getting stuck in texts that are too difficult or simply don’t interest you?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we discuss choosing books you enjoy, finding a suitable level and using graded readers. We also look beyond books to news, reviews, recipes, social media, games and everyday instructions.

For teachers, we share activities that give students a reason to read, including jigsaw reading, summarising, matching headings and sharing information. We also explore reading aloud, skimming, scanning and moving from general understanding to detail.

Join Gav and Em for practical ways to make reading more enjoyable, purposeful and interactive.

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Should English Learners Choose a Book to Read? – S01E14
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-english-learners-choose-a-book-to-read-s01e14/

What Can English Learners Read Besides Books? – S01E14
https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-can-english-learners-read-besides-books-s01e14/

Should Students Skim Before Reading for Detail? – S01E14
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-students-skim-before-reading-for-detail-s01e14/

How to Use Jigsaw Reading in an English Lesson – S01E14
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-use-jigsaw-reading-in-an-english-lesson-s01e14/

Should Students Read Aloud in English Class? – S01E14
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-students-read-aloud-in-english-class-s01e14/

How Long Should a Reading Text Be in an English Lesson? – S01E14
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-long-should-a-reading-text-be-in-an-english-lesson-s01e14/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e14-how-to-improve-your-english-reading-skills-books-news-everyday-english/

REFERENCES

Authors discussed include Dan Brown, Nick Hornby, John Lanchester, J. K. Rowling, Marian Keyes, Haruki Murakami, Ernest Hemingway, Ken Follett, John Steinbeck, J. R. R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle and George R. R. Martin.

Penguin Readers:
https://www.penguinreaders.co.uk/

Jigsaw reading, British Council TeachingEnglish:
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/jigsaw-reading

BBC: https://bbc.com/
VOA News: https://www.voanews.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtoenglishpod/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/
Google: https://google.com/
IKEA: https://www.ikea.com/

Exams mentioned: Cambridge English B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS and TOEFL.
Coursebook mentioned: English File — Oxford University Press.

💬 What do you enjoy reading in English? Share a book, website or classroom activity in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #LearningEnglish #TeachingEnglish #ReadingSkills #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome and introduction
01:35 Improving English through reading
02:00 Choosing books and genres you enjoy
03:00 Reading familiar books in English
04:00 Authors for English learners
06:00 Classics and Penguin Readers
07:00 Graded readers and choosing a level
08:00 E-books and built-in dictionaries
09:00 Websites, social media and your interests
10:00 Reviews, recipes and everyday English
12:00 Vocabulary through games and instructions
13:00 Should you read aloud?
14:00 Reading aloud and confidence
15:00 Reading the news
16:00 News for different English levels
17:00 Reading activities for teachers
18:00 Jigsaw reading
19:00 Putting stories and sentences in order
20:00 Reading activities online
21:00 Summarising and sharing information
22:00 Giving students a reason to read
23:00 Idiomatic English and historical fiction
24:00 Children’s books and graded reading
25:00 Skimming, scanning and reading for detail
26:00 Adverts, instructions and reading tasks
27:00 Final thoughts and goodbye

How to Improve Your English Pronunciation | Connected Speech, Stress & Practical Tips - S01E13 Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

How can you improve your English pronunciation and understand natural speech more easily?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore word stress, sentence stress, intonation, connected speech, weak forms, minimal pairs and the IPA.

We share classroom activities and ways to practise at home, including reading aloud, recording yourself, repetition, songs and podcasts. We also discuss accent differences, tricky sounds and whether teachers should slow down or avoid contractions.

Join Gav and Em for practical pronunciation ideas, a few tongue twisters and our usual tangents. Pronunciation practice isn’t only about being understood: it can help you hear and understand other speakers too.

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

Why Is Pronunciation Important for English Learners? – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/why-is-pronunciation-important-for-english-learners-s01e13/

Should English Teachers Slow Down and Avoid Contractions? – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-english-teachers-slow-down-and-avoid-contractions-s01e13/

How Can TEFL Teachers Teach Word Stress and Sentence Stress? – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-teach-word-stress-and-sentence-stress-s01e13/

How Can Teachers Make Word and Sentence Stress Visible? – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/make-stress-visible-audible-and-meaningful-through-simple-physical-techniques/

How to Use Minimal Pairs for Pronunciation Practice – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-use-minimal-pairs-for-pronunciation-practice-s01e13/

Which Pronunciation Games Actually Help English Learners? – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/which-pronunciation-games-actually-help-english-learners-s01e13/

How Can Students Practise Pronunciation with Phone Recordings? – S01E13
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-students-practise-pronunciation-with-phone-recordings-s01e13/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e13-how-to-improve-your-english-pronunciation-connected-speech-stress-practical-tips/

REFERENCES

English File IPA pronunciation chart:
https://elt.oup.com/elt/students/englishfile/pdf/nef_int_bookmark_bw.pdf?cc=global&selLanguage=en

Dictionary pronunciation:
https://www.dictionary.com/

Minimal pairs:
https://www.tinyteflteacher.co.uk/teach-english/pronunciation/minimal-pair-list

Strong or Weak? (to/for/the): Cambridge Business English Activities — Cambridge, 2000.

How to Pronounce TH, mmmEnglish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCkONOv2JJM&t=14s

Amidst the Mists tongue twister:
https://www.grandmasnurseryrhymes.com/amidstthemists.html

18 Tongue Twisters from Around the World, Easy Languages:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5RNk0zLwmo

💬 Which English sound or pronunciation feature do you find trickiest? Share your experiences in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #EnglishPronunciation #TeachingEnglish #LearningEnglish #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to How to English
01:00 Why pronunciation matters
02:00 Spelling and pronunciation: fruit and suit
04:00 Different pronunciations and accents
05:00 Should teachers simplify their pronunciation?
06:00 Natural English, contractions and the IPA
08:00 Word stress and why it matters
10:00 Intonation, rhythm and sentence stress
11:00 Connected speech: gonna and wanna
13:00 Minimal pairs for pronunciation practice
15:00 Reading aloud and recording yourself
17:00 Common pronunciation problems and TH
19:00 Challenges for different language backgrounds
20:00 Do tongue twisters help?
22:00 Pronunciation games and activities
24:00 Videos, podcasts, songs and conversation exchange
25:00 British, American and other English accents
26:00 Final pronunciation tips and goodbye

How to Learn Vocabulary (and Actually Remember It) - S01E12 Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

How do you learn new vocabulary and, more importantly, remember it when you need it?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore vocabulary from both the teacher’s and learner’s point of view. We discuss choosing useful words, teaching them in context and helping students recall language rather than simply recognise it.

We share activities including matching, Pelmanism, board races, Taboo, Pictionary, mime and flashcards, with the occasional shuttlecock thrown in! We also look at regular and irregular verbs, phrasal verbs, prepositions, reading and Quizlet.

Join Gav and Em for practical ways to make vocabulary practice more interactive. Our message is simple: choose words that matter, use them in meaningful situations and keep coming back to them.

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Do You Choose Useful Vocabulary for an English Lesson? – S01E12
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-do-you-choose-useful-vocabulary-for-an-english-lesson-s01e12/

How to Present New Vocabulary Through Context and Elicitation – S01E12
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-present-new-vocabulary-through-context-and-elicitation-s01e12/

Vocabulary Matching Games That Go Beyond a Worksheet – S01E12
https://howtoenglishpod.com/vocabulary-matching-games-that-go-beyond-a-worksheet-s01e12/

How to Adapt Taboo, Pictionary and Mime for Vocabulary Practice – S01E12
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-adapt-taboo-pictionary-and-mime-for-vocabulary-practice-s01e12/

How Can English Learners Remember Vocabulary for Longer? – S01E12
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-english-learners-remember-vocabulary-for-longer-s01e12/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e12-how-to-learn-vocabulary-and-actually-remember-it/

RESOURCES

Taboo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agdd3PR8zgo

Pictionary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTslIbA2JF4

Board Race:
https://teachingrecipes.com/board-race/

Pelmanism:
https://busyteacher.org/22375-memory-pelmanism-17-great-ways-to-use.html

English Grammar in Use Supplementary Exercises with Answers, Louise Hashemi and Raymond Murphy — Cambridge, 2012.

Quizlet:
https://quizlet.com/en-gb

💬 Which vocabulary activity works best for you or your learners? Share your favourites in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review.

#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #LearningEnglish #Vocabulary #VocabularyGames #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to How to English
01:00 What is vocabulary?
02:00 Do we actually say “vocabulary”?
03:00 Different types and groups of words
04:00 Regular and irregular verbs
05:00 Pronouncing past-tense -ed endings
06:00 Vocabulary and grammar go together
07:00 What does wanting to learn vocabulary mean?
08:00 Is the vocabulary actually useful?
09:00 Choosing vocabulary for your needs
10:00 Teaching vocabulary in context
11:00 Eliciting, matching and Pelmanism
12:00 Making activities more interactive
13:00 Getting students to guess the word
14:00 Vocabulary board races
15:00 Supporting us on Ko-fi and using pictures
16:00 Teaching words together in context
17:00 Practising vocabulary with games
18:00 Playing Taboo
19:00 Pictionary, sentences and prepositions
20:00 Phrasal verbs and tricky prepositions
21:00 Why reading helps vocabulary
22:00 Quizlet and flashcards
23:00 Recycling and revising vocabulary
24:00 Use it or lose it
25:00 Goodbye and what’s next

How to Teach Grammar: Tenses, Timelines, Fluency & What Students Really Need - S01E11 Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

How can we teach English grammar without overwhelming learners or slowing down their speaking?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore grammar from both sides of the classroom. Do learners need terms such as noun, adjective and present participle? Should we teach tenses through formulas, chunks, timelines or meaningful practice?

Em reflects on why intermediate learners sometimes forget earlier grammar, while Gav argues for regularly revisiting language. We also discuss correction, fluency and whether advanced tenses deserve classroom time. Future perfect might seem unnecessary until a learner needs to explain a project deadline!

Join Gav and Em for practical ideas about choosing, explaining and recycling the grammar students actually need.

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

Do English Learners Need to Know Grammar Terminology? – S01E11
https://howtoenglishpod.com/do-english-learners-need-to-know-grammar-terminology-s01e11/

How to Teach English Tenses Without Slowing Down Fluency – S01E11
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-teach-english-tenses-without-slowing-down-fluency-s01e11/

How to Use Timelines and Visuals to Teach English Grammar – S01E11
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-use-timelines-and-visuals-to-teach-english-grammar-s01e11/

Why English Learners Forget Grammar and How to Recycle It – S01E11
https://howtoenglishpod.com/why-english-learners-forget-grammar-and-how-to-recycle-it-s01e11/

Should TEFL Teachers Teach Rare or Advanced Grammar? – S01E11
https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-tefl-teachers-teach-rare-or-advanced-grammar-s01e11/

How Much Grammar Correction Is Enough in Speaking Lessons? – S01E11
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-much-grammar-correction-is-enough-in-speaking-lessons-s01e11/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e11-how-to-teach-grammar-tenses-timelines-fluency-what-students-really-need/

REFERENCES

Parts of speech:
https://www.lexico.com/grammar/word-classes-or-parts-of-speech

English Grammar in Use, Raymond Murphy and Surai Pongtongcharoen — Cambridge.

Using timelines:
https://eflrecipes.com/2014/06/21/timelines/

British and American English: present perfect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0KWEAWwASQ

Intermediate Language Practice, Michael Vince — Macmillan.

How English Works: A Grammar Practice Book with Answers, Catherine Walter and Michael Swan — Oxford.

💬 What helps grammar stick for you or your students: rules, visuals, repetition or conversation? Share your experiences in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #EnglishGrammar #ESL #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to How to English
01:30 What is grammar?
02:30 Do students need grammar terminology?
06:00 Teaching tenses as formulas
08:00 Can grammar thinking slow down fluency?
09:30 Chunks and repetition
10:30 Using timelines to explain tenses
13:00 Different ways to visualise grammar
14:30 Making grammar practice meaningful
16:00 Why intermediate learners forget basic grammar
17:30 Recycling and revising grammar
19:00 Why grammar can feel overwhelming
20:30 Grammar knowledge and teacher preparation
21:30 British and American English grammar
23:00 Accuracy and fluency
24:30 Should students worry about perfect grammar?
25:30 Do learners need advanced tenses?
27:00 Third conditional, past perfect and useful grammar
29:00 Does anyone need the future perfect?
30:30 Business English and project planning
32:00 Should coursebooks decide what we teach?
34:00 English word order
36:00 Fossilised grammar errors
37:30 Recommended grammar books
39:00 Final thoughts

How to Teach English Online: What Do TEFL Teachers Need to Get Right? - S01E10 Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

How do you move English lessons online without losing the interaction that makes them work?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we share our experiences of teaching from home. Em discovers that the fear of moving online can be worse than the reality, while we work through platforms, sound, connection problems and classroom routines.

We discuss sharing worksheets, audio and video, managing turn-taking, preparing a backup and keeping lesson files organised. The tools may change, but speaking, listening, grammar and vocabulary still belong at the heart of the lesson.

Join Gav and Em for practical ideas to help teachers and learners feel more comfortable online.

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Can TEFL Teachers Move Face-to-Face Lessons Online Without Losing Learner Confidence? – S01E10
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-move-face-to-face-lessons-online-without-losing-learner-confidence-s01e10/

Which Video Platform Should an English Teacher Use for Online Lessons? – S01E10
https://howtoenglishpod.com/which-video-platform-should-an-english-teacher-use-for-online-lessons-s01e10/

Online English Lesson Setup: How to Improve Sound, Connection and Teaching Space – S01E10
https://howtoenglishpod.com/online-english-lesson-setup-how-to-improve-sound-connection-and-teaching-space-s01e10/

How Should Teachers Manage Turn-Taking and Etiquette in Online English Classes? – S01E10
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-teachers-manage-turn-taking-and-etiquette-in-online-english-classes-s01e10/

How Can TEFL Teachers Share Worksheets, Audio and Video in Online Lessons? – S01E10
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-share-worksheets-audio-and-video-in-online-lessons-s01e10/

How Can Online English Teachers Keep Lessons Organised and Follow Up After Class? – S01E10
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-online-english-teachers-keep-lessons-organised-and-follow-up-after-class-s01e10/

EPISODE GUIDE
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e10-how-to-teach-english-online-what-do-tefl-teachers-need-to-get-right/

REFERENCES

Platforms and tools discussed reflect the time of recording.

Zoom: https://zoom.us/
Skype: https://www.skype.com/en/
Skype for Business: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/skype-for-business/download-app
Webex: https://www.webex.com/
Microsoft Teams: https://www.microsoft.com/en/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software
Whereby: https://whereby.com/
WhatsApp Web: https://web.whatsapp.com/
Google Hangouts: https://hangouts.google.com/
Foxit PDF Reader: https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-reader/

💬 What helped you feel confident teaching or learning online? Share your tips in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations with Gav and Em.

#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #OnlineTeaching #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Teaching and learning from home
02:00 Moving face-to-face lessons online
03:00 Choosing a teaching platform
04:00 Features teachers need
06:00 Skype for Business, Teams and access
07:00 Joining an online lesson
08:00 Comparing video-call platforms
09:00 When technology fails
10:00 Chargers, routers and connections
11:00 Headphones and sound
12:00 Managing turn-taking
13:00 Online classroom rules
14:00 Preparing for technical problems
15:00 Sharing worksheets and materials
16:00 Screen sharing or sending documents?
17:00 Sharing audio and video
18:00 Mute, cameras and settings
19:00 Practising before your first lesson
20:00 A comfortable teaching space
21:00 Lighting and working from home
22:00 Teaching familiar language skills online
23:00 Saving materials and organising folders

How Do You Structure an English Lesson? TEFL Lesson Planning Tips - S01E09 Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

How should you structure an English lesson, from the opening warm-up to the final speaking activity?

In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, we explore a classic lesson sequence and ask how to balance preparation with the flexibility to respond to learners.

Using telephone English as an example, we work through lead-ins, eliciting existing knowledge, presenting useful language, controlled practice and activation. We discuss listening tasks, gap fills and authentic materials, always asking how the language connects to students’ real lives.

Then we reach the apex of the learning mountain: using the language! We compare role-plays with other speaking activities, consider how to challenge stronger learners and ask whether prepared conversation questions help or limit discussion.

Join Gav and Em for practical lesson-planning ideas and different perspectives on what makes a lesson work. There’s room for structure, but is there only one right sequence?

☕ Support us with a coffee or tea:
https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

ARTICLES FROM THIS EPISODE

How Should You Structure a TEFL Lesson? A Practical Classic Sequence – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-you-structure-a-tefl-lesson-a-practical-classic-sequence-s01e09/

How to Keep TEFL Lessons Relevant to What Students Actually Need – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-keep-tefl-lessons-relevant-to-what-students-actually-need-s01e09/

How to Use Authentic Language and Materials When Planning TEFL Lessons – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-use-authentic-language-and-materials-when-planning-tefl-lessons-s01e09/

TEFL Lead-Ins and Elicitation: How to Start a Lesson Without Diving Straight Into Difficult Language – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/tefl-lead-ins-and-elicitation-how-to-start-a-lesson-without-diving-straight-into-difficult-language-s01e09/

How to Activate New Language in TEFL Lessons Without Awkward Role-Plays – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-activate-new-language-in-tefl-lessons-without-awkward-role-plays-s01e09/

How to Challenge Stronger English Learners During Speaking Practice – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-challenge-stronger-english-learners-during-speaking-practice-s01e09/

EPISODE GUIDE

How Do You Structure an English Lesson? TEFL Lesson Planning Tips – S01E09
https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s01e09-how-do-you-structure-an-english-lesson-tefl-lesson-planning-tips/

💬 Do you follow a regular lesson structure, or does each class take a different direction? Share what works for you in the comments.

Follow or subscribe for more conversations about teaching and learning English with Gav and Em. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review.

#TEFL #TESOL #TeachingEnglish #LessonPlanning #SpeakingActivities #HowToEnglish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 What makes a well-structured English lesson?
03:00 Should teachers plan everything in advance?
05:00 Choosing materials for an English lesson
07:00 Keeping lessons relevant to real life
09:00 What should happen at the beginning?
11:00 Who decides what students need to learn?
13:00 Introducing and practising new language
15:00 Supporting How to English
16:00 How students activate new language
17:00 Do students actually like role-plays?
18:00 Turning passive English into active English
20:00 Alternatives to role-play
22:00 Should teachers provide conversation questions?
24:00 Is there only one correct lesson structure?

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