Students' motivations, Managing TTT and STT, Teaching with AI

Why do students really come to English classes, and what should teachers do about it? In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em dig into the realities of the classroom: student motivation, managing turn‑taking, dealing with similar (or identical!) student names, and knowing when teachers should step back and let students do the talking. They also share: practical strategies for balancing TTT vs STT, how to handle awkward silences and dominant speakers, real examples of using AI in lesson planning, and a cautionary tale about why you should always check your materials before class… Grab a coffee (or tea), settle in, and join Gav and Em for an honest, practical conversation about what actually happens when you’re teaching English — and why it matters. ☕ Support the podcast: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodQuiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpSEdFEwCS0Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to How to English TEFL01:50 – Why do students come to English classes?05:24 – Different motivations in the same group07:56 – When students have the same (or similar) names10:14 – What to do when you say the wrong name12:49 – Turn-taking: order, randomness, and balance15:44 – Encouraging quieter students to speak16:22 – Awkward silences and “no questions”22:01 – When students ask the teacher questions23:15 – TTT vs STT: how much should teachers talk?26:18 – Using AI in lesson planning30:34 – Why you should always check your materials