The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast

On our second ✨annual✨ summer reading list, we explore a curated selection of memoirs, nonfiction, and fiction that have shaped how we think about identity, belonging, error, and what it means to be human. This year's picks lean heavily into nonfiction and memoir, reflecting a shared desire to understand the systems, stories, and inner critics that shape us and our students. Books discussed include:🏪 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner🗣️ My Broken Language by Quiara Alegría Hudes🌎 How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr🛂 Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami😵 Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz🫶 How to Be Enough by Ellen Hendriksen🚪 Exit West by Mohsin Hamid,🍜 Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz👽 The Humans by Matt Haig Anna and Shé discuss how each book has shifted their worldview, their teaching, and their understanding of themselves, and offer practical ideas for bringing these texts into classrooms, book clubs, and professional development.Watch this video episode now on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 🎥Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes:E 70 - Summer Reading Special: Stories That Cross BordersE 81 - The Monolingual Bias: Advocacy for English Language Teachers (with Lilian Ardell)E 66 - “Being a native speaker isn’t a qualification” (with Meri Maroutian)💡 Reflect with us: Which cultural assumptions did your last great read challenge for you?What question did your last great read leave you with?How might you bring one of these texts — even just an excerpt — into your classroom or professional development?🎧 SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com.Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters00:00 Sponsor Ellii00:18 Podcast Partners00:47 Sandman Stories Promo02:06 Summer Reading Returns03:23 Why These Books05:02 Crying in H Mart07:43 My Broken Language12:21 How to Hide Empire16:21 Conditional Citizens20:48 Exit West Magic Doors23:38 Empathy for Refugees24:32 Two Book Pivot25:05 Being Wrong Explained27:18 How to Be Enough28:54 Teachers Need Both31:19 Automatic Noodle Robots32:37 Robot Rights Debates34:39 The Humans Alien Lens36:38 Language Learning Vulnerability38:23 Wrap Up and Takeaways39:47 Classroom Uses and Prompts41:23 Reflective Questions Finale42:14 Book Club and Goodbye#SummerReadingList #BooksForTeachers #ELTBookClub #TeacherReads #CulturalIdentity #LanguageAndIdentity #MemoirReading #CriticalLiteracy #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #StudentCenteredLearning #MeaningfulCommunication #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #GlobalELT

This episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, hosted by Anna and Shé, features Northeastern University educators Rachel Toncelli and Ilka Kostka, co-authors of Artificial Intelligence, Real Teaching: A Guide to AI in ELT, discussing practical and pedagogical approaches to AI in English language teaching. They address common misconceptions, including fears that AI will replace language learning, and argue that language remains essential for human connection, cultural nuance, and intercultural competence. Rachel and Ilka explain why banning AI doesn’t work and emphasize transparency, ongoing classroom dialogue, and using AI as a teaching challenge by having students critically analyze AI output, translations, and AI-generated emails. They also share a 10-category framework for evaluating AI tools based on alignment with learning goals, usability, feedback, bias, privacy, cost, and scalability, and encourage teachers to take small, collaborative, hands-on steps to build AI literacy.📚Artificial Intelligence, Real Teaching: A Guide to AI in ELTRelated Teacher Think-Aloud episodes:E 75 - Generative AI in Education: A Teacher’s Guide (with Sara Davila)E 51 - 2024 Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELTE 48 - Bring your teaching alive with ChatGPT (with Jeff McIlvenna)💡 Reflect with us: How are you navigating AI use in your classroom? What tips or tricks for implementation do you have to share with teachers trying to do the same?🎧 SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com.Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters00:00 Sponsor Message00:18 Podcast Partners01:50 AI in ELT Setup04:34 Meet the Guests05:41 Bookish Icebreaker08:42 Why They Wrote It15:17 Collaboration Matters17:37 Misconception Language Ends25:50 Teacher Fears and Integrity27:57 In-Class AI Literacy30:43 Protecting Student Voice32:48 Show Don’t Tell Activities33:37 Email Etiquette Pitfalls35:08 AI As Communication Bridge36:54 Tool Evaluation Framework38:34 Ten Criteria Checklist42:42 Start Small With AI44:01 Hands On Tool Exploration47:32 Mindset Over Interface49:21 Book Clubs And Community52:06 Hosts Reflect And Reframe55:06 Listener Call To Action55:46 Closing Farewell#AIinELT #ArtificialIntelligenceRealTeaching #AIinLanguageTeaching #CriticalAILiteracy #AIforTeachers #EdTech #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #StudentCenteredLearning #MeaningfulCommunication #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #ClassroomPractice #AILiteracy #EnglishTeachers #GlobalELT

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna are joined by Dr. Linh Phung, decorated language educator, researcher, innovator, and the creator of Eduling app, to explore the principles and practical applications of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), an approach that shifts the focus from isolated language practice to meaningful, goal-oriented communication. Together, they unpack what truly makes a task “task-based,” challenge common misconceptions, and highlight how TBLT creates more authentic, engaging, and learner-centered classroom experiences.Rather than treating language as the end goal, this episode reframes language as a tool for achieving outcomes—encouraging learners to solve problems, negotiate meaning, and communicate with purpose. From designing effective tasks to structuring a full task cycle, the conversation offers both clarity and practical strategies for teachers looking to move beyond traditional models and into more meaningful language use.📚 Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeEduling AppRelated Teacher Think-Aloud episodes:Episode 82 - Grammar That Sticks: The NUFU FrameworkEpisode 76 - Unpacking the Lexical Approach with Erin O’Byrne💡 Reflect with us:Have you tried TBLT in your classroom? What shifted for you when you started planning around tasks instead of grammar points?🎧 SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com.Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters00:00 Sponsor Message00:17 Podcast Partners Plug00:57 Welcome and Episode Setup02:04 Meet Dr Linh Phung03:31 Icebreaker Guilty Pleasures05:09 What Is TBLT06:18 SLA Foundations of TBLT10:02 What Counts as a Task12:42 Planning and Assessing Tasks17:26 Focus on Form in TBLT20:55 Why Drills Fail Beginners22:03 Adapting TBLT to Contexts22:13 Adapting TBLT Constraints22:31 Input First for Beginners23:39 One Way Two Way Tasks24:57 Exam Pressure and Research26:45 Participation Norms Buy In27:58 Minimum Viable TBLT28:40 Authentic Materials and Creativity31:13 Learner Generated Tasks32:38 Eduling App and AI Tasks35:31 Courses: IELTS and Pronunciation38:22 Frameworks Nesting Wrap Up40:00 Final Listener Call to Action#TaskBasedLearning #TBLT #CommunicativeLanguageTeaching #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #StudentCenteredLearning #MeaningfulCommunication #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #ClassroomPractice #LessonDesign #ActiveLearning #LanguageLearning #EnglishTeachers #GlobalELT

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna are joined by ESL teacher and founder of The ESL Grammar Gallery Audrea Gold to explore a refreshingly practical and research-informed approach to grammar instruction: the NUFU framework—Noticing, Understanding, Forming, and Using.Moving beyond traditional rule-based instruction, Audrea reframes grammar as a meaning-making tool rather than a set of isolated structures to memorize. Together, the conversation unpacks how teachers can design lessons that help learners engage with grammar more deeply, retain it longer, and—most importantly—use it with confidence in real communication.📚 Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeThe ESL Grammar GalleryRelated Teacher Think-Aloud episodes:Episode 76 - Unpacking the Lexical Approach with Erin O’Byrne💡 Reflect with us:At which stage of NUFU do your students tend to struggle most—and why?What’s one small shift you could make this week to move from rule-based teaching to meaning-based grammar instruction?🎧 SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com.Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters00:00 Grammar Episode Kickoff02:02 Meet Audrea Gold03:23 Teacher Ritual Icebreaker04:38 NUFU Framework Overview07:33 Why Inductive Grammar Works08:47 Noticing Stage In Action10:20 Devil Wears Prada Hook12:31 Noticing Techniques And Debrief17:34 Understanding Phase Setup18:16 Explaining Meaning Use Form20:58 Reducing Teacher Talk Time21:34 Student Ownership Mindset22:41 Forming Stage Overview23:31 Reverse Handholding Sequence23:57 Unscramble Sentence Drills25:42 Framework Fill Scaffolds27:10 Remove the Guardrails30:01 Using Phase Real Practice31:11 Conversation and Task Activities32:56 Writing Prompts Presentations36:29 Shy Students Confidence37:49 Why Communication Matters39:46 ESL Grammar Gallery Plug42:37 Final Wrap and Call In#GrammarTeaching #NUFUframework #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #GrammarInstruction #CommunicativeGrammar #TeachingGrammar #SecondLanguageAcquisition #AppliedLinguistics #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #ClassroomPractice #LessonDesign #StudentCenteredLearning #LanguageLearning #EnglishTeachers #GlobalELT

As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, we hope, yours. These episodes reflect the heart of our work: thoughtful dialogue, reflective practice, professional growth, and courageous conversations about what it truly means to teach English in a complex, evolving world.Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with new classroom experiences behind you, we invite you to engage with this episode through fresh eyes. Notice what resonates differently. Consider how your thinking has evolved. Reflection is not a destination—it’s an ongoing practice. Thank you for being part of this community for the past five years. Here’s to the next chapter of thinking aloud together.----In this episode, we dive into the pervasive issue of native speakerism in English Language Teaching with educator and advocate Meri Maroutian.Meri shares her journey into the profession, the biases she’s faced, and the reflective, practical tools she now offers to help others tackle this issue—like her three-part masterclass designed to dismantle accent bias and outdated teaching models.We also hear from listeners about how native speakerism has impacted them, and reflect on how all of us—whether classroom teachers, trainers, or administrators—can work toward a more equitable profession.💡 Reflect with us:How do your materials, practices, or hiring processes reinforce or challenge native speaker bias? What steps can you take to prioritize qualifications and intelligibility over perceived nativeness?🎧 Related Resources:Episode 13 - The Delicate Dance of EnglishEpisode 14 - Representation: More than just a stock photoEpisode 17 – The Benefits of Formal TESOL TrainingEpisode 18 – Book Review: Race, Empire, and English Language TeachingE46 - Challenging inequities toward multilingual teachers (with Alex Tang & Carine Saucillo)Meri Maroutian’s Masterclass on Systemic BiasConnect with Meri:Instagram @the_non_native_speakerThenonnativespeaker.comChapters00:00 Podcast Turns Five00:20 Relaunch Episode Spotlight02:04 Sponsor Break02:24 Native Speaker Bias Setup04:00 Meet Meri Maroutian06:25 Music Icebreakers08:25 Defining Native Speakerism11:23 Hiring Bias And Gatekeeping13:47 Credentials And Pay Gaps18:03 Awareness To Action20:37 Where Bias Shows Up21:22 CV Games And Integrity24:39 Accent Bias Goes Viral25:41 English as Lingua Franca27:34 Listener Stories of Bias30:20 Challenging Systemic ELT Bias31:05 Masterclass Part One Accents35:40 Masterclass Part Two Methods36:27 Masterclass Part Three Pronunciation37:52 Rethinking Pronunciation Priorities42:38 Qualifications Over Nativeness45:05 Stakeholder Reflection Wrap Up#NativeSpeakerism #ELTEquity #MultilingualTeachers #GlobalEnglishes #PronunciationMatters #LanguageEducation #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherThinkAloud

As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, we hope, yours. These episodes reflect the heart of our work: thoughtful dialogue, reflective practice, professional growth, and courageous conversations about what it truly means to teach English in a complex, evolving world.Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with new classroom experiences behind you, we invite you to engage with this episode through fresh eyes. Notice what resonates differently. Consider how your thinking has evolved. Reflection is not a destination—it’s an ongoing practice. Thank you for being part of this community for the past five years. Here’s to the next chapter of thinking aloud together.----How do you sustain your professional development as an educator? In this episode, guest Yulia Kharchenko shares a framework she and her colleagues have developed to ensure future teachers are prepared for future challenges in the teaching profession… Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts… 🎧 Link in bio.📚Resources:Episode: Building a sustainable PD practice (with Yulia Kharchenko)Article: Reflective Practice for Language Teachers (Farrell, 2018): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fGMtj3Lu7ljdXdKVwSApkGjH843zTztD/view?usp=sharing Article: Reflective practice framework for TESOL teachers: one teacher's reflective journey (Farrell & Kennedy, 2019): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bQmEvIqHauc-fJwIeJJYsGPrLsT0DXBn/view?usp=sharing Article: Reed, M., Kharchenko, Y., & Bodis, A. (forthcoming). Sustainability in English language teacher education: Preparing teachers for an unknown future. In M. Riazi & N.A. Nazari (Eds.), Adaptable English Language Teaching: Reconsidering Established Practices and Frameworks. Routledge.Episode: A Holistic Approach to PD (with Ramin Yazdanpanah)Connect with Yulia on X or LinkedIn!Chapters00:00 Podcast Turns Five00:27 Relaunch Episode Preview01:49 Sponsor Break02:10 Why Ad Hoc PD Fails03:12 Meet Yulia Kharchenko04:36 Icebreaker Many Hats07:08 COVID And Upskilling10:09 Mosaic Mindset For PD11:25 Sustainability Framework14:42 Skill Building Vs Reflection17:31 Skills Within Reflection18:19 Framework For Sustainable PD19:42 Holistic Teacher Life20:55 Meta Reflective PD Design22:40 Adaptive Expertise In Practice23:22 Microteaching With VoiceThread26:06 Peer Feedback And Networks28:01 Ripple Effects On Systems31:24 Closing Reflections And Call#ProfessionalDevelopment #PDforTeachers #PD #ELT #ReflectiveTeaching #TeachEnglish #ReflectivePedagogy #ESL #EFL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning  #ReflectivePractice 

As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, we hope, yours. These episodes reflect the heart of our work: thoughtful dialogue, reflective practice, professional growth, and courageous conversations about what it truly means to teach English in a complex, evolving world.Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with new classroom experiences behind you, we invite you to engage with this episode through fresh eyes. Notice what resonates differently. Consider how your thinking has evolved. Reflection is not a destination—it’s an ongoing practice. Thank you for being part of this community for the past five years. Here’s to the next chapter of thinking aloud together.----“Global citizenship can happen in our back yard.” 🏠🌏In this episode, Shey and Anna plunge head-first with guest Brantley Turner—East Asia Education Director for Dwight Schools—into what it means to cultivate a global mindset, how to teach it in a culturally responsive way, how to navigate the discomforts of a globally-minded worldview, and much more… Listen now! Questions for reflection:What does global citizenship mean to you? How do you infuse global citizenship into your curriculum?Chapters00:00 Podcast Anniversary Relaunch00:35 Global Citizenship Teaser02:23 Sponsor Message02:57 Meet Brantley Turner04:24 Travel Icebreaker06:10 Founding Dwight Schools08:25 Local Context First08:58 IB Curriculum and Language13:13 Defining Global Citizenship15:45 Empathy Cooperation and Dialogue18:02 Hosts Reflect on Key Quotes19:20 Global Citizenship Anywhere19:56 Hope for Underserved Students23:27 Say Yes to Discomfort26:10 Nontraditional Education Path28:35 Classroom Norms and Safe Dialogue31:42 Storytelling and Role Play36:10 Media Literacy Against Manipulation37:13 Wrap Up and Listener Call#globalcitizenship #culturallyresponsivepedagogy #localtoglobal #global #ib #internationalbaccalaureate #criticalthinking ⁠#ESL⁠⁠ #EFL⁠⁠ #ELT⁠⁠ #ReflectiveTeaching⁠⁠ #TeachEnglish⁠⁠ #ReflectivePedagogy⁠⁠ #ESL⁠⁠ #EFL⁠⁠ #Teaching⁠⁠ #Education⁠⁠ #LoveTeaching⁠⁠ #GlobalELT⁠⁠ #Teacher⁠⁠ #English⁠⁠ #LanguageLearning⁠⁠ #ReflectivePractice⁠

As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, we hope, yours. These episodes reflect the heart of our work: thoughtful dialogue, reflective practice, professional growth, and courageous conversations about what it truly means to teach English in a complex, evolving world.Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with new classroom experiences behind you, we invite you to engage with this episode through fresh eyes. Notice what resonates differently. Consider how your thinking has evolved. Reflection is not a destination—it’s an ongoing practice. Thank you for being part of this community for the past five years. Here’s to the next chapter of thinking aloud together.---It’s not always easy to recognize #trauma in our students, since everyone responds to trauma differently. In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with guest Sherry MacKay about how to define trauma, how it might appear in our classrooms, and how teachers can be sensitive to students experiencing trauma.References & resourcesDana, Deb. (2020) Polyvagal exercises for safety and connection. W.W. Norton & Company.Mate, D.G. (2018). In the realm of hungry ghosts. Vermilion.Porges, S. W., Porges, S. W., & Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. First Edition; the pocket guide to the polyvagal theory: The transformative power of feeling safe. first edition. W.W. Norton & Company.The Polyvagal Theory, Nerd Nite.The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, Office for Victims of CrimeVan der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.Further listening:For a discussion about supporting your students through challenging moments, listen to Episode 6 - “Teaching and PD through the pandemic” and Episode 21 - “Addressing current events in the classroom”Questions for Reflection:How has trauma manifested itself in your classroom? How do you address trauma in the classroom? What recommendations or resources would you suggest for a new teacher?  CHAPTERS00:00 Relaunch Anniversary00:36 Why Trauma Sensitive Teaching02:43 Sponsor Message03:04 Empathy Shapes Perception04:01 Trauma In Every Classroom05:16 Meet Sherry McKay06:37 Icebreaker Souffle Talk07:40 Refugee Wellbeing Project09:34 Building Glocally Connected12:13 ESL with TLC Community13:42 Defining Trauma Clearly15:20 Polyvagal Theory Explained17:31 Trauma Triggers And Learning18:22 Trauma Lives in Body19:18 Spotting Trauma Signs20:46 Beyond Behavior Labels22:37 Teacher Self Care First24:29 Safe Space or Direct Talk30:11 Not Therapists Still Healing32:40 Grounding Tools in Class34:42 Movement as Takeaway35:27 Resources and Farewell#trauma #Trauma-SensitiveTeaching #ELT #ReflectiveTeaching #TeachEnglish #ReflectivePedagogy #ESL #EFL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning  #ReflectivePractice

As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, we hope, yours. These episodes reflect the heart of our work: thoughtful dialogue, reflective practice, professional growth, and courageous conversations about what it truly means to teach English in a complex, evolving world.Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with new classroom experiences behind you, we invite you to engage with this episode through fresh eyes. Notice what resonates differently. Consider how your thinking has evolved. Reflection is not a destination—it’s an ongoing practice. Thank you for being part of this community for the past five years. Here’s to the next chapter of thinking aloud together.---In this episode, we revisit a powerful conversation about representation in the English language classroom and why it must go far beyond stock photos or surface-level diversity efforts. Drawing on scholarship, classroom practice, and honest reflection, we examine how curriculum choices, texts, and classroom narratives can either reinforce dominant perspectives or intentionally expand whose voices are heard. From identity mapping activities to interrogating the “single story,” this episode challenges educators to consider how power operates through materials, language, and syllabus design—and what it means to teach English in ways that affirm, humanize, and accurately represent the diverse students sitting in front of us.Episode ResourcesAdichie, C. N. (2009, July). The Danger of a Single Story. Ted.com. Gerald, J.P.G. (2020). Decoding and decentering whiteness in the ELT classroom. IATEFL YLTSIG Annual Web Conference.Gerald, J.P.B. (2021). On the Inherently Colonial Structure of Language Education, with Gabriella Licata. Unstandardized English Podcast (S3E4).Gerald, J.P.G. (2020). Worth the Risk: Towards Decentring Whiteness in English Language Teaching. Hunter College, CUNY.Jewell, T. (2020). This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work. Frances Lincoln Children's Books. ‌Motha, S. (2014). Race, Empire, and English Language Learning. Teachers College Press.Teaching Strategy: Identity Charts | Facing HistoryExample Identity MapWang, R. (2020). Anti-Racist Pedagogy ResourcesWang, R. (2021). Transforming Anti-Racist Ideas Into Practice: The Story of a Teacher Book ClubQuestions for ReflectionAs language educators, we want to make sure we’re representing more than just our own experience in the materials we present in the classroom. How do you go about incorporating diverse voices and realities in your curriculum?What strategies do you use to ensure that diversity is represented in your classroom? CHAPTERS00:00 Podcast Turns Five00:54 Relaunch Episode Theme02:31 Sponsor Message02:52 Thanksgiving Myth vs History05:25 Why Representation Matters06:42 Privilege and Scope08:37 Minoritized Groups in Class11:44 Creating Space for Stories13:52 Identity Mapping Activities15:53 Avoiding Tokenism18:28 Curriculum and Single Story20:31 Beyond Stock Photo DEI24:33 Syllabus as Power Tool27:22 Call to Action and Wrap#TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #RepresentationMatters #EquityInEducation #AntiRacistPedagogy #DecolonizingELT #InclusiveTeaching #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #TESOL #ESL #ESOL #ELT #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #TeacherReflection #ReflectivePractice #TeacherDevelopment #CriticalPedagogy #EducationEquity #DiversityInEducation #TeacherGrowth #GlobalELT #TeachingEnglish #IdentityInTheClassroom

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, co-hosts Shé and Anna sit down with Dr. Lillian Ardell—founder of Language Matters—for a timely and deeply reflective conversation about monolingual bias and how it shapes English language education around the world. Together, they unpack how the assumption that English should dominate learning environments shows up in policies, classroom practices, assessment, and even well-intentioned instructional decisions.Rather than framing monolingual bias as an abstract concept, this conversation names how it operates in real contexts—and why it persists even in institutions that claim to support multilingualism. The episode invites educators to rethink whose language practices are valued, whose are marginalized, and how teachers can act with intention and integrity within complex systems.📚 Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeLanguage Matters (Dr. Ardell’s work and advocacy platform)Disrupting the Monolingual Bias: A Framework for Teacher Advocacy (Dr. Ardell’s book)Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes:Episode 53 - Teachers as Advocates: You can do it too! 💡 Reflect with us:Where do you see monolingual bias showing up in your teaching context or institution?What classroom or institutional practices unintentionally reinforce English-only norms?What might quiet, everyday advocacy look like in your role?How can honoring students’ full linguistic repertoires strengthen learning rather than “distract” from it?This episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com. Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message00:30 Welcome to the Teacher Think Aloud Podcast00:42 Introducing the Topic: Monolingual Bias02:19 Guest Introduction: Dr. Lillian Ardell02:22 Dr. Ardell's Background and Work05:32 The Monolingual Bias in Education13:43 Common Classroom Manifestations of Monolingual Bias18:00 Advocacy and Overcoming Monolingual Bias18:31 Dr. Ardell's Upcoming Book and Advocacy Framework25:23 Teacher Advocacy in Practice29:24 Self-Care and Resistance Capital34:32 Final Thoughts and Reflections40:37 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna are joined by global educator and ESL teacher Andrea Collados for a timely and deeply reflective conversation about algorithms, echo chambers, and the urgent role of critical thinking in English language teaching. Together, they unpack how algorithm-driven media environments shape what our students see, believe, and share—and why the English language classroom may be one of the last spaces where learners can slow down, question information, and encounter perspectives beyond their digital bubbles.Rather than framing technology as something to reject, this episode invites teachers to interrogate it thoughtfully. Andrea shares classroom-ready ideas for embedding critical thinking into everyday lessons without overwhelming teachers or students, reminding us that language is not neutral—and that teaching English today means teaching discernment, empathy, and media literacy alongside grammar and vocabulary.📚 Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Social Dilemma (Documentary)Teaching Critical Thinking by bell hooks1984 by George OrwellBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyThe Truman Show (Film)Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes:Episode 39 - Media Literacy 101: Bias and perspective-takingEpisode 41 - Media Literacy 102: Misinformation, propaganda, and conspiracy theories… oh my!Episode 24 - Like. Share. Post.💡 Reflect with us:How do algorithms shape the information you consume—and trust—on a daily basis?What’s one small shift you could make to encourage more critical questioning in your lessons this week?How can empathy deepen critical thinking in language learning?🎧 SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com. Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message00:29 Welcome to the Teacher Think Aloud Podcast00:44 Critical Thinking and Algorithms01:52 Introducing Our Guest: Andrea Collados02:30 Icebreaker: Trusting Algorithms vs. Colleagues03:36 The Role of Educators in Critical Thinking05:50 Media Literacy and Bias13:50 The Impact of Algorithms on Student Thinking16:37 The Impact of Fake News17:23 The Role of Critical Thinking in Education18:54 Incorporating Critical Thinking in the Classroom19:48 Practical Activities for Critical Thinking24:32 Understanding Misinformation and Disinformation26:18 Empathy and Critical Thinking28:46 Resources and Recommendations30:38 Conclusion and Reflections

On this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna take us back to the roots of the podcast: reflection. The episode integrates the voices of teachers around the world, who reflect on their teaching goals for the new year—from addressing student motivation and needs assessments to integrating AI tools and promoting trauma-informed teaching. Each contributor offers a unique insight, making this episode a treasure trove of practical advice and inspiration for educators seeking to enhance their teaching practice in 2026. Happy New Year and happy teaching!💡 Reflect with us: What are your teaching goals for 2026? Leave us a comment!🎧 Further listening: E7 – Building Rapport on Day 1 E73 – Foundations of Reflective Practice, with the DIESOL PodE78 – Training the Trainers, with Tabitha Kidwell 2024 Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT E34 – Trauma-sensitive teaching, with Sherry MacKay 🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Sponsor Message from Ellii00:57 Introduction to the Episode01:27 Reflective Practice and Voice Memos02:39 Michelle Land on Individualizing Lessons for SLIFE Students04:30 Lauren Johnson on Needs Assessments in Business Tutoring08:06 Andrea's Mission: Lifelong Learning and AI Integration10:31 Stephanie Hanson on Teaching with AI12:08 Tabitha Kidwell on Supporting Full Class Discussions13:58 Luz María Parra on Student Motivation in K-12 Classrooms16:03 Sherry MacKay on Trauma-Informed Teaching17:32 Lorena Ojeda on Mindfulness and Universal Design for Learning21:06 Lewis on Lesson Planning Post-Master's22:48 Joel Tillman on Building a Resource Library24:45 Conclusion and Listener Engagement#TeacherThinkAloud #TeachingGoals #NewYearsReflection #ReflectivePractice #TeacherGrowth #AIinEducation #TraumaInformedTeaching #SLIFEstudents #NeedsAssessment #UDL #MindfulnessInTeaching y #LessonPlanning #ELTcommunity #TESOL #EFLteachers #ESLteachers #ReflectivePractice #Reflection #GoalSetting 

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna interview Tabitha Kidwell, an esteemed teacher educator, about her research on the preparation and professional development of teacher trainers. The conversation explores various models and approaches for teacher training, the need for formalized support, and the essential skill sets for effective teacher training. The episode also emphasizes the importance of ongoing professional development and the role of professional learning communities in supporting teacher trainers.This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading—or aspiring to lead—professional learning in ELT. Gain insight into how intentional mentorship, structured preparation, and reflective networks can transform teacher development for the better.💡 Reflect with us:What skills or mindsets do new teacher trainers need most?How can institutions better prepare and mentor those who facilitate PD?What forms of teacher learning—beyond workshops—have most influenced your own practice?Contribute to our 2026 Friends of the Podcast episode!🧰 Resources & Tools:I Shouldn’t Have to Fumble My Way Around: Supporting TESOL Teacher Educators Kidwell, T. (2021). Train-the-Trainer Course by TESOL International AssociationThe benefits of formal TESOL training🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii: Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:13 Welcome to the Teacher Think Aloud Podcast01:26 Today's Topic: Training Teachers02:43 Meet Tabitha Kidwell03:35 Tabitha's Academic Pet Peeves05:33 Discussing Tabitha's Study08:21 Study Design and Methodology10:43 Central Findings and Reflections13:55 The Importance of Structured Support in TESOL14:38 Essential Skills for Teacher Trainers16:22 Formal Preparation and Induction Programs20:58 Alternative Forms of Teacher Training27:33 Institutional Support for Teacher Educators31:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts#TeacherTraining #TrainingOfTrainers #ELTPodcast #TESOL #TeacherEducators #ProfessionalDevelopment #ReflectivePractice #TeacherThinkAloud #TeacherGrowth #ELTcommunity #EdChat #TeacherPD #MentorshipInELT #TESOLTraining #GlobalEd #TeacherAgency #EFLteachers #ESLteachers

In this lively episode, Shé sits down with Ben Buckwold (Founder & CEO of Ellii) and Tara Benwell (VP of Publishing at Ellii) to explore the story behind one of Ellii’s most creative classroom tools: Ellii Dilemmas. The discussion centers on Ellii’s newly introduced interactive classroom tool designed to foster critical thinking and discussion among students. Listeners get insights into the development of Ellii Dilemmas, its practical applications in diverse teaching contexts, and the unique features of this tool, including its roots in teacher feedback and informal brainstorming sessions.Tune in and discover how play, curiosity, and compassion can turn classroom conversation into authentic connection.Contribute to our 2026 Friends of the Podcast episode!💡 Reflect with us:How do you create space for genuine dialogue in your classroom?What kinds of dilemmas—ethical, cultural, or social—could spark meaningful language use for your learners?How can teachers balance linguistic goals with the development of empathy and critical thinking?🧰 Resources & Tools:Ellii DilemmasEllii Polls🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:12 Welcome to the Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast01:23 Meet Ben Buckwold and Tara Benwell from Ellii02:07 The Origin of Ellii Dilemmas04:06 How Ellii Dilemmas Works11:27 Real-Life Examples of Ellii Dilemmas19:44 The Impact of Ellii Dilemmas on Teaching22:13 Conclusion and Free Resources#ElliiDilemmas #ELTPodcast #LanguageTeaching #TeacherThinkAloud #ClassroomDialogue #EdTech #TESOL #EFLteachers #ESLteachers #ReflectivePractice #CriticalThinking #EmpathyInEducation #EdTechInnovation #GlobalEd #TeacherGrowth #ELTchat #EdChat

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna discuss the importance of the Lexical Approach in teaching English, featuring insights from guest Erin O’Byrne. They explore how focusing on lexical chunks—common phrases and expressions—rather than isolated words or strict grammar rules can enhance both learner autonomy and teacher effectiveness. Erin shares her journey of adopting the Lexical Approach, practical strategies for classroom implementation, and the significance of allowing students to notice and internalize language patterns. 💡 Reflect with us:How often do you teach words in isolation rather than as part of a chunk?What “Matrix moment” have you had in noticing patterns of real-world English?How might creating more space for emergent language shift your classroom dynamic?🧰 Resources & Tools:Contribute to our 2026 Friends of the Podcast episode!Everything EFL Podcast by Erin O’ByrneThe No Nonsense Lexical Toolkit (Erin’s 4-week practical course)Google NGram Books Viewer – for exploring word frequency and corpus dataEduling App - “The hub for task-based teaching and learning” Four Idioms with Tasks with Dr. Linh PhungEnglish Vocabulary with Eduling: Flourish with Dr. Linh Phung🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:12 Welcome to the Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast01:24 Exploring Teaching Strategies02:32 Introducing the Lexical Approach with Erin O'Byrne03:16 Icebreaker: Favorite English Phrase or Idiom04:40 Teaching Idioms and Cross-Cultural Communication05:14 Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching09:01 Empowering Teachers and Learners with the Lexical Approach16:19 Embracing the Lexical Approach in Practice18:55 Recognizing Lexical Patterns in Everyday Language19:19 Practical Strategies for Teaching Lexical Chunks20:40 The Importance of Noticing in Language Learning22:22 Reusing Materials for Better Retention22:59 Balancing Receptive and Productive Knowledge28:21 Guiding Teachers to Shift from Rules to Real Language34:30 Introducing the No Nonsense Lexical Toolkit36:50 Building a Supportive Teaching Community37:49 Reflecting on the Lexical Approach#LexicalApproach #ELT #LanguageTeaching #ReflectivePractice #TESOL #TeacherThinkAloud #EFLteachers #TEFL #TeacherDevelopment #EmergentLanguage #Chunking #VocabularyTeaching #EverythingEFL #TeacherGrowth #AppliedLinguistics #ELTCommunity

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we sit down with Sara Davila, a self-described “learning alchemist,” to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education. With her trademark mix of research, theory, and classroom pragmatism, Sara takes us on a journey from the evolution of AI and deep learning to the practical ways teachers can use large language models (LLMs) today.Together, we dig into questions educators everywhere are asking: What exactly can AI do for teachers? How can we use it responsibly? And what frameworks can guide us as we experiment and adapt? Sara shares practical applications—from using AI as a personal assistant to update lesson plans, to managing schedules and streamlining teacher workflows. She also addresses the ethics of AI, the role of professional development, and why experimentation and play are essential in this new era.💡 Reflect with us:How do you see AI supporting your role as a teacher?What frameworks of reference do you have in place to ensure effective and ethical implementation?What excites you most—and what worries you most—about AI in education?Where might AI help you reclaim time or energy in your teaching practice?🧰 Resources & Tools:History of AI graphic by Sara DavilaAI Timeline 2022-PresentWhen to Use Predictive AI vs. Generative AIHow AI Chatbots WorkThe Algorithmic Future of Education – Audrey WattersFrom Revolution to Evolution: What Generative AI Really Means for Language Learning (Cambridge)AI and English Language Teaching: Affordances and Challenges (BJET)Using Early LLMs for Corpus Linguistics (ScienceDirect)What We Talk About When We Talk About AI in Education – Audrey Watters🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Sponsor Message01:12 Introduction to the Podcast01:23 Episode Overview04:02 Meet Our Guest: Sarah Davila05:55 Understanding Large Language Models (LLMs)06:23 The Evolution of AI08:07 Deep Learning and Natural Language Processing10:55 Generative AI and Transformers17:29 Recap and Key Concepts20:30 Frameworks for Teachers Using AI21:37 Understanding the Rapid Evolution of AI21:53 Introducing UNESCO's AI Framework for Teachers22:37 Human-Centered AI: The Core Principle23:15 Ethics in AI: Teacher Responsibility26:13 Practical Use Cases for AI in Education28:09 Leveraging AI for Personal and Professional Development34:36 Exploring AI Tools in Microsoft and Google Ecosystems38:41 Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Educators#AIinEducation #EdTech #AIforTeachers #TeacherThinkAloud #LanguageTeaching #ReflectivePractice #TESOL #ELT #TEFL #AItools #EdTechInnovation #FutureofEducation #TeacherPD #ESLteachers #DigitalPedagogy #EduAI #ClassroomInnovation #TeacherGrowth #LLM #TeacherReflection #ProfessionalGrowth #TeacherDevelopment #TeacherAgency #ELTcommunity #EFLteachers #ELTchat #TEFLlife #EdChat #TeacherLife #EduGrowth #GlobalEd #TeachersOfInstagram #TeachersOfLinkedIn

In Part 2 of our collaboration with the DIESOL Podcast, we reunite with Brent and Ixchell, this time with our signature Teacher Think-Aloud style, with more narrative and reflective interruptions as we delve into actionable strategies. In this episode, we explore the practical side of reflective pedagogy in English language teaching:How to implement tech tools to enhance reflectionThe balance between spontaneous and intentional reflectionBuilding a sustainable reflective practice that prevents burnoutThis episode is packed with hands-on inspiration and strategies, designed to empower teachers to bring meaningful reflection into their classrooms. 🎧 Join us as we uncover ways to stay connected, nurture professional growth, and keep the joy of teaching alive through reflection.💡 Reflect with us:Have you had any ‘aha’ moments during unplanned reflection?What are your favorite strategies for reflection? (How) do you integrate technology into reflection? What tools or tips have helped you sustain reflection over time? 🧰 Resources & Tools:YouTube Playlist: Introduction to Reflective TeachingDIESOL PodcastReflective Practice Starter KitReflective Practice Resources🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message01:12 Welcome to the Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast01:46 Reflective Practice: Part Two02:23 Meet Brent and Ixchell02:41 Unplanned Reflection Moments03:53 Intentional Reflection Strategies08:45 Reflection in Action vs. Reflection on Action09:51 Using Reflection for Goal Setting18:48 Integrating Technology in Reflection23:49 Using Commute Time for Reflection24:33 Marco Polo for Teacher Collaboration26:06 The Role of Accountability Partners27:16 Tech Tools for Reflective Teaching33:04 Collective Reflection and PLNs36:55 Avoiding Teacher Burnout41:27 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this special crossover episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna team up with Brent Warner and Ixchell Reyes of the DIESOL Podcast (Developing Innovation in English as a Second or Other Language) for a lively conversation about reflective practice—the foundation of our podcast and a shared passion between both shows.Instead of our usual format, you’ll hear the DIESOL style: less commentary, more conversation, and plenty of banter across all four of us.In Part 1, the group explores the why of reflective pedagogy and its core principles:What reflective practice really means in the context of English language teachingWhy reflection matters for teachers’ professional growth and students’ learningHow to move from superficial reflection to deeper engagement This episode offers both philosophical grounding and practical inspiration, setting the stage for Part 2, where the conversation will dig more into actionable strategies for bringing reflection into the classroom.🎧 Tune in to hear how reflective practice can empower teachers, shape learning experiences, and sustain professional joy—while enjoying the energy of four educators learning from each other.💡 Reflect with us:How do you currently define reflective practice in your own teaching?When was the last time reflection helped you shift or adapt your teaching approach?In what ways can reflection become a shared practice in your teaching community rather than an isolated one?🧰 Resources & Tools:YouTube Playlist: Introduction to Reflective TeachingDIESOL PodcastReflective Practice Starter Kit🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.

In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna sit down with climate activist, teacher trainer, and founder of Renewable English, Harry Waters, for an energizing conversation on integrating environmental sustainability into English language teaching. 🌱🌍Harry shares how his early activism and global teaching experiences led him to reimagine ELT as a platform for climate awareness, youth empowerment, and project-based learning. From fifth graders launching school-wide recycling campaigns to international litter-picking initiatives, his stories show that students don’t need permission to make change—they just need space to act. 🚮📚Whether you’re teaching beginners or advanced learners, Harry offers practical and empowering tips for embedding sustainability into everyday lessons—not as a one-off Earth Day unit, but as a consistent, student-centered context for meaningful communication. 💬💡 Reflect with us:What’s one small shift you can make this week to model sustainability for your students?How can you transform your classroom into a space where environmental agency is possible?What’s a “local” issue your students care about that connects to a global theme?How might you use a grammar point (like conditionals) to explore real-world topics?🧰 Resources & Tools:Renewable English – Harry’s platform with free resources for climate-focused ELTActivities for a Green Mindset – Harry’s book with 30 adaptable projects and lessonsUN Sustainable Development Goals – A flexible framework to ground student inquiry🧭 Related Episodes:E 44 - Global Citizenship: Opening the view to the possible (with Brantley Turner)E 27 - Why we <3 project-based learning E 21 - Addressing current events in the classroom🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.#GreeningELT #EnvironmentalEducation #ClimateInELT #SustainabilityInEducation #ReflectiveTeaching #ProjectBasedLearning #YouthActivism #TeacherThinkAloud #ESL #EFL #GlobalCitizenship #ClimateAction #SDGs #ELTCommunity

In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna sit down with Sharon Tjaden-Burkes, Senior Instructional Designer and founder of the IDEA Networking Sessions, to explore what it really takes to move from the English language classroom into instructional design. 🎙️ Sharon shares a candid look at what sparked her transition, the emotional toll of adjunct life, the joy of upskilling through tinkering and tech tools, and how her teaching background became a superpower in her new role. 🎯💻Whether you're already eyeing a move into L&D or still wondering if it’s even possible, this conversation is packed with realistic advice, reflective insights, and hard-won encouragement. Sharon reminds us that sustainable careers are not just about the paycheck—they're about peace, purpose, and knowing your worth. 🌱💡 Reflect with us:What part of your teaching role feels unsustainable—and what might that be telling you?What are your non-negotiable values in your next career move?Are you open to trusting others in collaborative work, or are you still holding up the sky solo?What other teaching-adjacent roles would you like to learn more about?🧰 Resources & Tools:IDEA Networking Sessions – Free monthly Zoom meetups for transitioning teachers: Join herePowerDirector by Cyber Link– Sharon’s go-to video editing softwareCamtasia – Screen recording and editing toolArticulate Storyline & Rise – Industry-standard authoring tools for e-learningSakai, Canvas, Blackboard – LMS examples used to demonstrate Sharon’s course design🧭 Related Episodes:E 60 - From teaching to materials writing: a chat with Ellii (with Ben Buckwold and Tara Benwell)E 35 - Be brave enough to say ‘I don’t know’ (with Lina Jurkunas)E 16 - It’s okay to just existE 15 - So you’ve lost your zest for teachingJust for fun:Why Some of Us Don’t Have One True Calling | Emilie Wapnick | TEDAnna actually gifted Shé Emily’s book, How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don't Know What They Want to Be When They Grow Up a few years ago. It’s a useful guide that helps you reframe your professional narrative and unique skillset. Definitely recommend picking it up if you’re thinking of a change, or curious about what it means to be a multipotentialite.🎙 This episode is sponsored by ElliiUse code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.#ELTtoID #InstructionalDesign #TeacherTransition #ID #L&D #LearningandDevelopment #ReflectiveTeaching #OnlineLearningDesign #TeacherThinkAloud #LDtools #TeacherSustainability #CareerPivot #WomenInEdTech

In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna share their 2025 summer reading list—13 unforgettable books that move across cultures, borders, and languages. Whether you're traveling, lesson planning, or just in need of some inspiration, this curated collection will offer powerful perspectives on migration, memory, identity, and resistance. 🧳💬From a nine-year-old’s journey across Central America in Solito, to reflections on travel privilege in Airplane Mode, and explorations of family legacy in Homegoing and The Covenant of Water, these stories will expand your worldview and spark classroom ideas for deeper cultural engagement. 🌍✍️Need inspiration for PD book clubs or classroom literature units? We’ve got you. These texts aren't just for pleasure reading—they’re powerful teaching tools.🎧 Listen now and join us for a literary journey across generations and geographies!💡 Reflect with us: What are you reading this summer to challenge cultural assumptions? What literature have you brought into your classroom to increase cross-cultural understanding and build empathy? What’s your favorite way to engage students with world literature?🎧 Related Resources:E43: Culture through stories Warsan Shire’s poem “Home”📖 Books Mentioned:The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese (India)Solito – Javier Zamora (El Salvador → U.S.)Beautiful Country – Qian Julie Wang (China → U.S.)The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See (Akha community, China & U.S.)Braised Pork – An Yu (China)Ghost Music – An Yu (China)Airplane Mode – Shahnaz Habib (Nonfiction: Travel privilege, global movement)The Penguin Book of Migration Literature – Edited by Dohra AhmadKaikeyi – Vaishnavi Patel (India; Hindu epic reimagined)10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in This Strange World – Elif Shafak (Türkiye)Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi (Ghana & U.S.)A Woman Is No Man – Etaf Rum (Palestine & U.S.)Everything Inside – Edwidge Danticat (Haiti, U.S., Caribbean)🎙 This episode is sponsored by ElliiUse code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term.Admins can also reach out for a two-month free trial!

In this episode of the Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, hosts Anna and Shé discuss the importance of building rapport in the classroom, revisiting techniques adapted for online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest Bob Nguyen shares his journey of integrating technology into teaching, emphasizing authentic student connection through tools like Padlet, Mentimeter, and Gather Town. Bob also highlights the pedagogical principles that improved his teaching practices both online and in-person, focusing on inclusivity and genuine interactions. The episode concludes with reflections on transferring these insights back to traditional classroom settings.💡 Reflect with us: What strategies have you learned over the years to build rapport in your classroom? How did teaching online enhance your practice? And what strategies have you brought back with you to the analog classroom?🎧 Related Resources: Episode 7 - Building Rapport on Day 1Bob Nguyen’s YouTube channel⚒️ Tech Tools on this Episode:MentimeterPadletGather Loom🎙 This episode is sponsored by ElliiUse code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term.Admins can also reach out for a two-month free trial!#DigitalTools #TeachingOnline #Pandemic #VirtualLearning #OnlineLearning #OnlineTeaching #Gather #Padlet #Mentimeter #LanguageEducation #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherThinkAloud

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the increasingly popular—yet often misunderstood—lifestyle of digital nomadism in English Language Teaching (ELT). Our guest, teacher trainer, materials writer, and visual thinking advocate Emily Bryson, joins us from the road to talk about the real logistics, trade-offs, and intentional choices that come with taking your ELT career on the move.We dig into everything from makeshift workstations and managing multiple income streams to travel-induced burnout, marketing myths around passive income, and the hidden labor of constant relocation. Emily also shares her evolving reflections on privilege and global mobility, climate impact, and what it means to work remotely in an ethical and grounded way.Whether you’re considering life as a digital nomad or are simply curious about how other ELT professionals manage remote work and international living, this episode offers practical insights and heartfelt reflection on finding balance between purpose, place, and profession.💡 This episode is sponsored by Ellii – one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Use our exclusive code THINKALOUD to save 15% on your first membership, or reach out for a free trial if you’re buying for a full program. Visit ellii.com.📚 Links & Resources:Emily Bryson’s website: emilybrysonelt.comEmily’s blog post on becoming an ELT nomad (via Ellii)Ellii resources and discount: ellii.com🎧 Related Episodes:Episode 61 - Travel with Purpose: Teaching and volunteering around the world (with Aileen Hale) Episode 44 - Global Citizenship: Opening the view to the possible (with Brantley Turner)Episode 21 - Addressing current events in the classroomEpisode 16 - It’s okay to just existEpisode 15 - So you’ve lost your zest for teaching☕ Buy us a coffee 💬 Connect with Us:LinkedIn | Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook | [email protected] 

TESOL 2025 was a whirlwind! We interviewed educators from around the globe, discussing AI, advocacy, community, and more. Hear their insights and feel the energy of the convention. Watch or listen to our video episode now! 📸 Photo & video credit: joevoigts.com 🎧 Related Resources:Episode 30 – Drama in the classroom: beyond the role play (with Richard Silberg)Episode 66 – “Being a native speaker isn’t a qualification” (with Meri Maroutian)Episode 65 – The World Comes to TESOL (with Debra Suarez)DIESOL 118 – 10 Questions Teachers are Asking About AI🎙 This episode is sponsored by ElliiUse code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term.Admins can also reach out for a two-month free trial!💡 Learn more:About ElliiEnglish App by Elliihttps://ellii.com/ #TESOL2025 #TeacherPodcast #ELT #ELT #ReflectiveTeaching #TeachEnglish #ReflectivePedagogy #ESL #EFL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning  #ReflectivePractice #TESOL

In this episode, we dive into the pervasive issue of native speakerism in English Language Teaching with educator and advocate Meri Maroutian.Meri shares her journey into the profession, the biases she’s faced, and the reflective, practical tools she now offers to help others tackle this issue—like her three-part masterclass designed to dismantle accent bias and outdated teaching models.We also hear from listeners about how native speakerism has impacted them, and reflect on how all of us—whether classroom teachers, trainers, or administrators—can work toward a more equitable profession.💡 Reflect with us:How do your materials, practices, or hiring processes reinforce or challenge native speaker bias? What steps can you take to prioritize qualifications and intelligibility over perceived nativeness?🎧 Related Resources:Episode 13 - The Delicate Dance of EnglishEpisode 14 - Representation: More than just a stock photoEpisode 17 – The Benefits of Formal TESOL TrainingEpisode 18 – Book Review: Race, Empire, and English Language TeachingE46 - Challenging inequities toward multilingual teachers (with Alex Tang & Carine Saucillo)Meri Maroutian’s Masterclass on Systemic BiasConnect with Meri:Instagram @the_non_native_speakerThenonnativespeaker.com🎙 This episode is sponsored by ElliiUse code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term.Admins can also reach out for a two-month free trial!#NativeSpeakerism #ELTEquity #MultilingualTeachers #GlobalEnglishes #PronunciationMatters #LanguageEducation #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherThinkAloud

E 65 - “The world comes to TESOL!” (with Dr. Debra Suarez)In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Debra Suarez, President of TESOL International Association, to explore what’s in store for TESOL 2025 and reflect on the evolving landscape of English language teaching.From AI in ELT and translanguaging to teacher advocacy and building global communities of practice, this conversation is packed with insights for educators preparing for the convention and beyond. Dr. Suarez shares her inspiring career journey, discusses the importance of adapting—not transplanting—teaching methodologies, and gives us a sneak peek at her keynote: The Joy of TESOL. 🎉Whether you’re a TESOL veteran or a first-time attendee, this episode offers practical advice on maximizing your conference experience and making meaningful professional connections.💡 Reflect with us! What are you most looking forward to at TESOL 2025? How do you cultivate joy in your teaching practice? 📢 Are you attending TESOL 2025? Come say hi! We’ll be presenting “Pause and Reflect: Building a Sustainable, Personalized PD Plan” on March 19th at 10 AM in Bixby Ballroom 4 at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown Hotel.Let us know what sessions you’re excited about! Tag us on social media and join the conversation.📌 Resources Mentioned TESOL International Advocacy page Episode 18 - Book Review: Race, Empire, and English Language Teaching Episode 53 - Teachers as Advocates: You can do it too!  (with Rosemary Colón) Episode 54 - 2024 TESOL Special: Maximizing Your Conference Experience Blog Post - Maximizing Your Conference Experience: From Uptake to Output Reflective Practice Tools💡 This episode is sponsored by Ellii (formerly ESL Library). Check out their offerings atellii.com.#TESOL2025 #TESOLInternational #ELTCommunity #AIinELT #Translanguaging #TeacherAdvocacy #GlobalELT #ProfessionalDevelopment #EnglishTeaching #LanguageEducation #TeacherLife #ReflectiveTeaching #JoyofTESOL #ConferenceNetworking #TESOLConvention

E 64 - Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Supporting Multilingual Healthcare Professionals (with Shweta Rumkumar)Happy 2025! In this episode, we dive into the essential intersection of soft skills and intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) contexts. Join Shé and Anna as they chat with special guest Shweta Ramkumar, an educator specializing in coaching multilingual healthcare professionals to navigate diverse workplace dynamics.Whether you're an ESP teacher, a language professional, or someone curious about integrating soft skills into specialized training, this episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking discussions.📌 Resources ⁠Connect with Shweta on LinkedIn⁠Shweta's YouTube Channel: ⁠Healthy Dynamics⁠💡 Reflect with us! What are your strategies for teaching soft skills in ESP? We want to hear from you! Share your insights via email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠or connect with us on social media.🎧 Like this episode? Share it, subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for more reflective discussions in ELT.Until next time, happy teaching and happy reflecting! 💡 This episode is sponsored by Ellii (formerly ESL Library). Check out their offerings at ellii.com.

Shey and Anna wrap up 2024 by looking back on personal milestones, professional breakthroughs, and podcast highlights—from raising multilingual children to using AI in the classroom. Join them for a candid chat about motherhood, teacher training abroad, balancing multiple roles, and where the podcast is headed next year. Get ready for reflections, lots of laughs, and a peek at future plans for 2025!  🤔 Reflect with us: What are you reflecting on as we come to the end of 2024? What would you like to focus your energy on in the new year? 📚 Mentioned in the episode: TESOL Pop - From Teacher to Teacherpreneur with Shélynn Riel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w4frJzhz38 2024 Specialist Master Class "From Chalk to ChatGPT: Emerging Tech in ELT" – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_IwQa0kU3YqEN9R_OCA7pKv-RdlGE22g&si=Zr06BiGl1algy1KN  #TeacherThinkAloudPodcast #YearInReview #ReflectiveTeaching #PodcastForTeachers #TeacherLife #EndOfYearReflections #ELT #ReflectiveTeaching #TeachEnglish #ReflectivePedagogy #ESL #EFL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning  #ReflectivePractice

Raising multilingual children takes some planning and intention. Join us as ESOL teacher and multilingual mama Anna (Anya) Burt walks us through what it takes to raise multilingual children, the myths surrounding bilingualism, and practical approaches to introducing languages to your children. 👶🏻🍼 Whether you have or plan to have your own children, or simply whether you teach a language or love learning languages yourself, there’s bound to be a takeaway for you in this jam-packed episode! 💡 🤔 Reflect with us: What’s your approach to raising multilingual children? 📚 Resources: Book: Bilingualism: Myths and Realities Article: Models of Bilingual Living Article: The adventure of raising bilingual children Article: Bilingualism in the early years Najwa - Armonia Multilingue - Family Language Coach Anya’s children’s books: http://www.abburt.com Contact her via email at [email protected].  🗣️Books, Board Games and Toys from Russian-Speaking Cultures: STP Goods Store: https://www.stpgoods.com/ Sunduchok Detskikh Knig Store: https://www.sunduchokknig.com/ Russian-Speaking Children’s Shows on YouTube: Malyshariki Buryonka Dasha Masha i Medvyed’ Mi-Mi-Mishki  Zhyla-Byla Tsarevna Fiksiki Tsarevny

In this episode, Anna and Shey chat with Aileen Hale, international teacher trainer, consultant, and creator of Travel with Purpose, a podcast about language and culture acquisition through service learning. Join us to reflect on what it means to teach in an international context and how to do so in a meaningful and respectful way.  💡 Reflect with us: Where have you taught around the world, or where would you like to go?  How will you ensure your experience is purposeful? 📚 Resources: Learn more about service learning: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/what-heck-service-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron  Learn more about Aileen and her work supporting individuals interested in service learning: https://www.create-connections.net/  Travel with Purpose Podcast

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Ben Buckwold, CEO and Founder of Ellii (formerly ESL Library) and Tara Benwell, Ellii’s VP of Publishing, as we dive into the world of materials writing! 📚 ✨ Whether you're a teacher curious about transitioning into content creation or looking to learn more about how Ellii got its start, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.  Tune in and discover how teaching experience can shape and elevate the creation of high-quality learning resources. Reflect with us: Have you ever wondered what it might be like to transition into another area within education? What roles are you entertaining? Have you already done it? How have your teacher skills transferred into your new role? 📚Resources: Podcast episode: E15 - So you’ve lost your zest for teaching Ellii Polls: https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked role of silence in the language classroom. Discover how integrating moments of quiet can enhance learning, foster self-reflection, and support social-emotional learning (SEL). Luis Javier Pentón Herrera shares his insights and practical tips for teachers looking to bring quiet into their classrooms. Tune in now and learn how silence can be a powerful tool in your teaching toolkit! Reflect with us: What role does silence play in your language classroom? 📚Resources: Podcast episode: E2 - Shut up and let them talk!  Website: Luis Javier Pentón Herrera Article: 2024 TESOL Teacher of the Year Book: Social Emotional Learning In the English Language Classroom (Luis Javier Pentón Herrera & Gilda Martinez-Alba, 2021) Silence in English Language Pedagogy: From Research to Practice (Bao, 2023) Article: Into the Void: Re-envisioning Silence Through an SEL Lens in Foreign Language Education (Forthcoming, December 2024) Book: Social-Emotional Learning in English Language Teaching (Forthcoming, December 2024) 

On this episode, guest Eric Trader shares his experience as the director of a community-based learning center serving a multilingual population with diverse needs. Join us and be inspired by Eric’s optimism, creative problem-solving, and his lovely singing voice! 📚Resources: Podcast episode: Jennifer Jenkins on Global Englishes (TEFLology, 2018) Article: Teaching pronunciation for English as a Lingua Franca: A sociopolitical perspective (Jenkins, 2009).  Article: A Sociolinguistically Based, Empirically Researched Pronunciation Syllabus for English as an International Language (Jenkins, 2002) Article: Which pronunciation norms and models for English as an International Language (Jenkins, 1998).

On this episode, guest Angela Tribus Ramos shares her perspective on teaching networking, considering all of the cultural nuances involved in this challenging skill. From reducing anxiety around small talk to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and, yes, our passion for birding 🦆🦅🦉you’re sure to come away with oodles of practical takeaways. 📚 Resources: Name Coach Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture Hofstede Comparison Tool “Conversation Dominoes” Activity Informational Interview Best Practices Critical Thinking Cheat Sheet Connect with Angela on LinkedIn!X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

How do you sustain your professional development as an educator? In this episode, guest Yulia Kharchenko shares a framework she and her colleagues have developed to ensure future teachers are prepared for future challenges in the teaching profession… 🎧 📚Resources: Article: Reflective Practice for Language Teachers (Farrell, 2018)  Article: Reflective practice framework for TESOL teachers: one teacher's reflective journey (Farrell & Kennedy, 2019) Article: Reed, M., Kharchenko, Y., & Bodis, A. (forthcoming). Sustainability in English language teacher education: Preparing teachers for an unknown future. In M. Riazi & N.A. Nazari (Eds.), Adaptable English Language Teaching: Reconsidering Established Practices and Frameworks. Routledge. Episode: A Holistic Approach to PD (with Ramin Yazdanpanah) Connect with Yulia on X or LinkedIn! X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

How do you create a welcoming atmosphere for all students? 🌈 In this episode, guest Kim Carroll shares insights on how to make our classrooms safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. 📚Resources: Webinar: Making Space for All: LGBTQ+ Awareness and Engagement in the English Language Classroom (RELO Andes) Article: Exploring LGBT Lives and Issues in Adult ESOL (British Council) Article: It’s Not in the Curriculum: Adult English Language Teachers and LGBQ Topics (Rhodes & Coda, 2017) Padlet: Making Space for LGBTQ+ Students (Kim Carroll) X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

We’re just recovering from our week in Tampa, Florida, for the TESOL 2024 Convention. And wow, what a week! 🌴 In this episode, we reflect on our experience, share snippets from other conference attendees, and take the pulse of the field of TESOL. Watch on YouTube or Spotify for the full effect! 🎥 ⭐  Check out our Reflective Practice Starter Kit! 🤓 Read our blog post: Maximizing Your Conference Experience. 🎧 Further listening:  E25 – Handling conflict in the classroom (with Joe Voigts) E34 – Trauma-sensitive practices (with Sherry MacKay) E48 – Bring your teaching alive with ChatGPT (with Jeff McIlvenna) E51 – 2024 Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT E53 – Teachers as Advocates: You can do it too! (with Rosemary Colón) X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

Have you engaged in advocacy efforts as a language teacher? ✊ In this episode, guest Rosemary Colón talks about her experience at the 2023 TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summit and shares entry points for teachers to find their footing as advocates for English language learners. #advocacy #multilinguallearners #teacheradvocates#ELT #TeachEnglish #ESL #EFL #TESOL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning Advocacy Tools & Resources: TESOL International's Advocacy Page  Office of English Language Acquisition Migration Policy Institute X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

In this episode, guest Anna Ayrapetyan, a university professor in Armenia, walks us through her innovative approach to get students practicing speaking outside of the classroom: podcasts! 💡Learn about her process, receive recommendations for implementing this project in your context, and hear a snippet from a few of her students! #ProjectBasedLearning #PBL #Podcasting #PodcastingForLanguageLearning #PracticeSpeaking #ELT #TeachEnglish #ESL #EFL #TESOL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning 🎧 On this episode:  Episode 38: Incorporating music in ELT (with Heather and Ece of English as a Singing Language) Episode 52: Stop hovering! (with Miriam Plotinsky) Episode 27: Why we love project-based learning  Questions for reflection: Have you ever had students create podcasts to reach a learning objective?  How have you integrated student-led podcasting into your teaching context? X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Happy New Year, everyone! 🌟 We’re kicking off 2024 with a special video episode: Friends of the Podcast - AI in ELT! Featuring voices from new and old friends. 🥰Listen and join the conversation about #AI and English language teaching, from why teachers are wary of it to creative ideas on how to use it for teaching. 💡 Watch on YouTube or Spotify for the full effect. 📽️  🎧 On this episode: E48 - Bring your teaching alive with ChatGPT (with Jeff McIlvenna) 🤖 AI Tools & Resources: AI for Education, Prompt Library Guidebook on Prompting for Language Learning PDF.ai Brisk Teaching Twee Bing Image Creator Amira Learning 99Math 🥰 Old friends:  Alex Tang: E46 - Challenging inequities toward multilingual teachers Anna Ayrapetyan: E40 - TESOL Special 2023! Dustin Steichman: E43 - Culture through stories (with Dustin Steichmann of Sandman Stories Presents) Ekaterine Pipia: E47 - CLIL & team teaching: sweetening the pill Heather McNaught & Ece Ulus: E38 - Incorporating music in ELT (with Heather and Ece of English as a Singing Language) 🌱  New friends: Anne Haggerson Kim Carroll Kyla McMillan Johanna Gleason X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

Episode 50…can you believe it?! 🌟 We’ve nested some fun bloopers into this reflective episode, in which we think back on our personal developments and podcast highlights from 2023. Listen to the very end (after the theme music) for one last little surprise. 😜 Wishing happy holidays to all! ☃️ 🎧 On this episode:  E46 - Challenging inequities toward multilingual teachers (with Carine Saucillo and Alex Tang) E44 - Global citizenship: Opening the view to the possible (with Brantley Turner) E48 - Bring your teaching alive with ChatGPT (with Jeff McIlvenna) E38 - Incorporating music in ELT (with Heather and Ece of English as a Singing Language) E42 - Stop hovering! (with Miriam Plotinsky) E43 - Culture through stories (with Dustin Steichmann of Sandman Stories Presents) Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT 🤖 We need you! We want to know how you have started to use AI in your classroom. Tell us, and get featured on our annual Friends of the Podcast episode, where we integrate the voices of our listeners from around the world, to be released in early 2024. How to contribute:  Step 1: Reflect on the following questions and how you would answer them: Tell us your name, pronouns, and country. What’s your teaching context? What’s your role? Who are your students? Have you used AI? If not, why not? What’s your hesitation? If you answered yes above, what have been your favorite 1-2 tools so far? What are the pros and cons? Describe an activity you’ve tried in your classroom using this/these tool/s. How did it go? What tips do you have for implementing it? Step 2: Access our WhatsApp group and record your answer as an audio memo. Alternatively, you can email us an audio file of your answers at [email protected] | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

In this episode, guest Amy Joy Rovirosa, the creator of @your_fav_english_teacher, tells us about what it takes to get your English language teaching YouTube channel off the ground and how learners can leverage YouTube for greater language gains. Complete with excerpts from her fantastic videos! Watch the episode video on our YouTube channel or Spotify for the full effect. 📽️ ✔️ Follow Your Favorite English Teacher: TikTok Instagram YouTube 📽️ On this episode:  How to Hedge in English | Useful Vocabulary to Improve your Academic English English Vocabulary about Social Issues: 20 words you need to know What are American Weddings like? | Attend an American Wedding with Me! ⭐ Check out Amy Joy’s E-Book! Questions for reflection: Do you have a favorite YouTube teacher?  Have you ever tried starting your own YouTube channel? Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT 🤖 We need you! Episode 48 is just the beginning of our exploration of AI on the podcast. We want to know how you have started to use AI in your classroom. Tell us, and get featured on our annual Friends of the Podcast episode, where we integrate the voices of our listeners from around the world, to be released in early 2024. How to contribute:  Step 1: Reflect on the following questions and how you would answer them: Tell us your name, pronouns, and country. What’s your teaching context? What’s your role? Who are your students? Have you used AI? If not, why not? What’s your hesitation? If you answered yes above, what have been your favorite 1-2 tools so far? What are the pros and cons? Describe an activity you’ve tried in your classroom using this/these tool/s. How did it go? What tips do you have for implementing it? Step 2: Access our WhatsApp group and record your answer as an audio memo. Alternatively, you can email us an audio file of your answers at [email protected] | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

In this episode, guest Jeff McIlvenna talks through his approach to using ChatGPT in the English language classroom, from amplifying teacher creativity to personalizing student learning. This is the first of many more episodes we hope to bring to you on this ever-evolving topic. 🎓 For further exploration: #ElliiCon2023 Playlist Chat GPT’s Bias Against Non-Native Speakers Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT 🤖 We need you! Episode 48 is just the beginning of our exploration of AI on the podcast. We want to know how you have started to use AI in your classroom. Tell us, and get featured on our annual Friends of the Podcast episode, where we integrate the voices of our listeners from around the world, to be released in early 2024. How to contribute:  Step 1: Reflect on the following questions and how you would answer them: Tell us your name, pronouns, and country. What’s your teaching context? What’s your role? Who are your students? Have you used AI? If not, why not? What’s your hesitation? If you answered yes above, what have been your favorite 1-2 tools so far? What are the pros and cons? Describe an activity you’ve tried in your classroom using this/these tool/s. How did it go? What tips do you have for implementing it? Step 2: Access our WhatsApp group and record your answer as an audio memo. Alternatively, you can email us an audio file of your answers at [email protected]. X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Don’t forget to take your vitamins! In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with friend of the podcast Ekaterina Pipia about her experience facilitating an exciting project with @PH_Int at @ibsu1995 in Tbilisi, Georgia, in which civics, technology, and English language came together into a harmonious, healthy concoction… 💊 🎧 Further listening: Episode 2 - Shut up and let them talk!  📚Further reading: What is CLIL? Bridge Education Group. Questions for reflection: What’s your experience with CLIL?  Have you ever taught on a team? What was it like? What challenges did you run into and how did you overcome them? X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

We’re back! Just a light little topic for our first episode after our summer break… 😜Don your social justice caps, kick into your critical lens, and prepare to reflect as Shey and Anna explore the challenges and strengths of multilingual teachers, commonly referred to as non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs), with research collaborators and super-ELT-stars Alex Tang and Carine Saucillo. 🌟Listen now! 🎧 Further listening: Episode 17 – The benefits of formal TESOL training Episode 18 – Book Review: Race, Empire, & English Language Teaching References & resources Lin, A. & Motha, S. (2020). Curses in TESOL: Postcolonial desires for colonial English. In R. Arber, M. Weinmaan & J. Blackmore (Eds.), Rethinking Languages Education: Directions, Challenges and Innovations. London: Routledge.  World Englishes: An Introduction. Purdue Online Writing Lab.  Kirkpatrick, A. (2014). World Englishes. In C. Leung & B.V. Street (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to English Studies. London: Routledge.  Ma, L.P.F. (2012). Strengths and weaknesses of NESTs and NNESTs: Perceptions of NNESTs in Hong Kong. Linguistics and Education, 23, 1-15.  Questions for reflection: How have you seen bias against multilingual teachers play out in your teaching context?  If English is your first language, how will you use your privilege to stand up for multilingual teachers worldwide? Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

In this episode, Anna and Shey look at how the landscape for professional development evolved over the course of the pandemic and learn how international colleagues continue to reap the benefits of increased hybridity and other “forced habits” post-pandemic… Listen now! A huge thank you to our contributors for this episode! We love reflecting with our listeners!  Reflect on your PD with our tool: PDF Printout Interactive Quiz SAMR and Bloom’s Taxonomy: Assembling the Puzzle, Puentedura for Common Sense Media, 2014. #PostPandemic #ProfessionalDevelopment #CPD #CPL #ESL #EFL #ELT #ReflectiveTeaching #TeachEnglish #ReflectivePedagogy #ESL #EFL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning #ReflectivePractice Questions for reflection: How has your approach to PD evolved since the pandemic?  What “forced habits” have altered your PD for the better?  What ideas in the episode podcast resonated most with your experience?

“Global citizenship can happen in our back yard.” 🏠🌏 In this episode, Shey and Anna plunge head-first with guest Brantley Turner—East Asia Education Director for Dwight Schools—into what it means to cultivate a global mindset, how to teach it in a culturally responsive way, how to navigate the discomforts of a globally-minded worldview, and much more… Listen now!  Questions for reflection: What does global citizenship mean to you?  How do you infuse global citizenship into your curriculum?

Not much represents a culture better than its stories. In this episode, Anna and Shey chat with Dustin from Sandman Stories Presents about storytelling, teaching, and cross-cultural understanding.  Listen and travel the world through folklore! 🕯️ 🎧 Listen to Sandman Stories Presents on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.  🌍 On this episode: Episode 133: Ghana–Morning Sunrise, Honourable Minu, Why The Moon and The Stars Receive Their Light From The Sun (W.H. Barker 1917). 💙 Follow @StoriesSandman on Twitter for more storytelling ideas! Stories for kids: Piggie and Elephant Stories, Mo Willems Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis The Riverside Anthology, Douglas Hunt Dan Santat (Illustrator) Lane Smith (Illustrator) Stories for adults: Beneath the Moon, Yoshi Yoshitani Modern Love, The New York Times May Newsletter and June Newsletter | Subscribe to The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast’s newsletter for more book ideas!  Free literature online: Project Gutenberg Archive.org Questions for reflection: How do you use stories in your classroom?  How can you support learners’ intercultural communicative competence through stories in your learning context?

E42 - Stop hovering! (with Miriam Plotinsky) Are you a helicopter teacher or a hover-free teacher? In this episode, Shey and Anna chat with author Miriam Plotinsky about her book Teach more, hover less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom, and explore ways to implement an approach to teaching that is truly student-centered. Further listening: Explore strategies for augmenting student talk time: E2 - Shut up and let them talk! For an exploration of efficient lesson planning: E8 - Sometimes you plan, sometimes you don’t For a discussion around increasing collaboration and learner accountability with peer review activities: E19 - The why and how of peer review For a discussion about project-based learning and its use in increasing learner autonomy: E27 - Why we <3 project-based learning To see how you can better support students dealing with trauma: E34 - Trauma-sensitive teaching (with Sherry MacKay) Mentioned in the episode: Funds of Knowledge, L. Moll (2015) Teach more, hover less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom, M. Plotinsky (2022). Lead like a Teacher: How to Elevate Expertise in Your School, M. Plotinsky (2023). Reflection Questions: What have you done to ensure your classroom is driven by student engagement and choice?  How do you avoid being a helicopter teacher to your students?  Share your thoughts and get featured on a future episode! Email us at [email protected], or connect with us via social media.  Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

E 41- Media Literacy 102: Disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracies... oh my! Media literacy is an essential skill in our world today and one that needs to be addressed in the English language classroom! 🎯 In this episode, Anna and Shey discuss some of the greatest challenges our students face in the digital era, including discerning the reliability of a source, noticing propaganda techniques, and contending with trolls and bots! Further listening: E39- Media Literacy 101: Bias and perspective-taking Resources: ⭐ 10 Activities to Boost Media Literacy (downloadable resource) ⭐ Above the Noise, PBS Media & Tech Playlist Can You Win an Argument with a Conspiracy Theorist? (2019) Disinformation Nation How Propaganda Works News Literacy Project Project Look Sharp CRAAP Test Worksheet Fact-checking websites: Factcheck.org Politifact Snopes On social media bubbles: TED Talk: Beware online “filter bubbles” (Eli Pariser) TED Talk: Free yourself from your filter bubbles (Joan Blades and John Gable) Article: How to confront bias without alienating people Mentioned in the episode: ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Ad. 2008.  Moon landing conspiracy theories, debunked. Royal Museums Greenwich.  Twitter bots surfaced during Chinese protests. Who’s behind them remains a mystery. NPR, 2022. What are your favorite strategies for introducing media literacy in your classroom? Share your thoughts and get featured on our follow-up episode! Email us at [email protected], or connect with us via social media.  Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube