Teacher Talking Time

"We’ve got to have a very hard look at ourselves and stop calling ourselves experts just because we have a Master's from 10 or 15 years ago. Those times are over, and we’ve really got to focus on what added value we can bring that AI can’t." We sit down with BELF trainer Evan Frendo.  Evan Frendo is a freelance trainer and consultant based in Berlin, Germany. He has been active in corporate language and communications training since 1993, and specializes in the fields of ESP and business English. A frequent speaker at conferences, he also travels regularly in Europe and Asia to run courses or to work as a consultant.   In this episode, we chat about:  Why sticking to the syllabus is the fastest way to become irrelevant in the corporate world Why we need to stop teaching "English" and start teaching English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) Why finding your specialty is 90% luck and 10% being the only person in the room who can stand up in front of a PowerPoint How AI is killing traditional needs analysis and why your learners are now their own content creators Why the best "business English" happens the moment the teacher leaves the room Why being "safe in the harbour" is the most dangerous place for your ELT career right now   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM EVAN FRENDO: 1. Visit his website 2. Connect on LinkedIn    OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.

"You have to get beyond the 'it’s all about me' and get over that 'non-profit mindset' to realize you have a skillset worth an investment. Don't compromise on your value." - Catherine Angus We sit down with Catherine Angus, founder of the Hear You Go podcast, to talk about self-worth, education businesses, and standing firm on value.  In addition to the Hear You Go podcast, Catherine is an English language mentor, specializing in helping advanced speakers and teachers maintain fluency while silencing their inner critics. Through her 1:1 coaching and WILDE: The Listening Festival, she uses authentic global conversations to help learners build confidence and rediscover their love for the language.   In this episode, we chat about:  starting a podcast: confidence, doubt, and the unknown overcoming the 7-episode dropoff [where most podcasters quit] what perfectionism actually means why you want to be the tortoise, not the hare  social media toxicity and discovering what clients really want why passive income is like buying a lottery ticket using podcasts as a lead magnet, not a product how to pivot without abandoning your mission   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM CATHERINE ANGUS: 1. Follow on Instagram 2. Her website 3. Her podcast, Hear You Go    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.

"Designing curriculum around proficiency goals for your program  is a way of making them a positive, empowering tool instead of something that's punitive" - Caitlyn Pineault.  Caitlyn teaches undergraduate second language acquisition courses at Georgetown University with a dedication to connecting research and practice for language teachers. Her work can be found in the Modern Language Journal and the Foreign Language Annals. She is also the co-founder of the recurring column “Collective Wisdom: Teacher and Researchers in Dialogue” in The Language Educator.   In this episode, we chat about:  Bridging Research and Classroom Practice The Role of Feedback in Language Learning Student's Frustration with Language Learning Challenges in Changing Teaching Practices The Role of Rubrics in Reflecting Teacher Values Assessment and Its Impact on Language Programs Implementing TBLT in Different Educational Contexts The Future of Language Education and Teacher Mindset *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM CAITLYN PINEAULT: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit her website  3. Collective Wisdom: Teacher and Researchers in Dialogue”   OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.  

"You don't have to feel confident to be great at what you do."  We talk with Laura Wilkes, founder of Communicating for Impact, about content creation, putting yourself out there, and what it really takes to build a full-service production house. Laura has 15 years of experience in education leadership and media production for global education brands. She started Communicating for Impact after seeing how high-quality, strategic media can accelerate growth for experts and mission-driven organizations.   In this episode, we chat about:  passions vs businesses going from reluctant leader to confident director the role of authenticity and creativity in content creation Laura launching her own creative production house how to stand out in saturated markets understanding buyer psychology  the mechanisms needed to take the entrepreneurial leap  *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM LAURA WILKES: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out Communicating for Impact 3. Follow her YouTube channel   SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "You can be included and still not feel that you belong" - Ben Goldstein.  We sit down with Ben to talk inclusion in ELT - and what that actually means (and what it doesn't).  Ben is a writer, teacher trainer and conference speaker. He taught materials writing for many years on the online MATESOL program of the New School in New York.  He has published two methodology handbooks for teachers: Working with Images and Language Learning with Digital Video. 30 Ideas on Inclusion in ELT, a pocket handbook for teachers has also just been published by Cambridge.   In this episode, Ben discusses:  defining inclusion in education challenges and misconceptions of inclusive teaching belonging vs inclusion why "inclusion" isn't the best word to use how being critical of inclusivity is alright holistic strategies for teachers to use engagement, representation, and action in UDL   FOR MORE FROM BEN GOLDSTEIN: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Ben's book "30 Ideas on Inclusion."  3. Visit his website bengoldstein.es   OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you.    Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "Make a decision about which direction you wanna head towards. Start walking and don't do anything else for 30 days" - John Healy We chat with John Healy about education businesses, how indecision stagnates us, and what teachers can do to execute as entrepreneurs.  John Healy is the founder of My Speaking Score - an AI-powered platform that helps non-native English speakers prepare for the TOEFL Speaking test with confidence. From building a consulting business to teaching in Korea to now founding an edtech company, John's career in ELT is vast. He joins us to talk teaching and education businesses.    In our discussion, we dive into: navigating self-doubt  analyzing risk - and why people should take more of them why people are reluctant to make decisive decisions  outcome businesses vs hourly rates balancing passion and profit in education powering through early business struggles how ideas are easy and execution is difficult being obsessive over getting your customer their results    FOR MORE FROM JOHN HEALY: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out My Speaking Score   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you.    Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "So many people are out there doing great things and they aren't ready, either, so I asked myself: Why not me?"  We chat with teacher and entrepreneur Mariela Mondaca.  Mariela is an English teacher, teacher trainer, and entrepreneur who has turned her 25 years of classroom experience into an online business. She designs programmes that bring together speakers of English as a foreign language from around the world, creating supportive communities where wellbeing-based topics spark conversation and help learners achieve real English fluency. She runs Fluent Connections.  In this episode, Mariela discusses:  Overcoming Self-Doubt and Taking the Leap Believing in Your Own Path Dealing with Self-Doubt and Anxiety Starting and Growing a Teaching Business Finding Your Niche and Evolving Learning from Mistakes and Adapting Advice for New Teaching Entrepreneur The Turning Point: Strategy and Mindset A Week in the Life of a Teacherpreneur Starting Over: Key Steps and Lessons Learned Reflecting on Personal Growth and Transformation FOR MORE FROM MARIELA MONDACA: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Follow on IG: @profe_mariel 3. See her programs   Support Teacher Talking Time: Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you.    Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com      RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "How do we make research meaningful for the classroom? What really helps students acquire grammar? Can apps ACTUALLY support second language learning?" These are some of the questions we tackled in our conversation with Dr. Shawn Loewen.  Shawn Loewen is Professor of Second Language Studies at Michigan State University, where he directs the doctoral program in SLS. His research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, the research-practice gap, and mobile-assisted language learning. He is the author of several influential books and serves as associate editor of The Modern Language Journal. His new book, "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA" is out now.    In our discussion, we dive into: whether the explicit vs implicit debate matters if people can actually learn languages on "those apps" pattern recognition and why some learners “just get it” task-based language teaching vs. Instructed SLA why most institutions don't really know what their approach to learning is  leveraging AI and technology for learning  bridging the gap between researchers and teachers the limits and potential of communicative language teaching   FOR MORE FROM DR. SHAWN LOEWEN: 1. His book "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA" 2. Connect on LinkedIn 3. His publications  4. His website   Support Teacher Talking Time: Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers. My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.   Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Join our Substack community.  2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to chat with us about your business? Book a free meeting here.  "I have no shame whatsoever in marketing my own courses because I feel proud. I know for sure that it works." We chat with entrepreneur Anna Aleksenko Anna is an entrepreneur based in Georgia who runs Voice it English, a program that helps professionals turn English into their career superpower. She's been teaching for over 17 years and has had to reinvent herself many times: something every entrepreneur can relate to. With a focus on connection, community, and client results, we're thrilled to have Anna on the show.  Her mission is simple: To turn English from a daily challenge into her clients' career strong point.   In this episode, Anna discusses: understanding that everyone has an accent burnout and setting boundaries expatriating and starting a new life how language can shape identity emotional barriers in language learning moving from hourly to results-based pricing focusing on ideal clients and how to identify them leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition the power of community advice for new education entrepreneurs    FOR MORE FROM ANNA ALEKSENKO: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Voice It English 3. Her free Friday speaking club   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "There's this myth that kids learn faster than adults. Research shows it's not true; adults are actually better language learners" - Dr. Karen Lichtman.  Dr. Karen Lichtman recently moved to Binghamton University after ten years training language teachers at Northern Illinois University.  Her research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, including age differences in language learning and implicit vs. explicit language teaching. Karen presents nationally and internationally to audiences of teachers and researchers.   In this episode, we dive into: the bad teaching that exists and how to address it the myth of children learning faster than adults why adults make better language learners why easier materials is almost always better designing a beginner course from scratch balancing implicit & explicit teaching addressing skeptical teachers the role of TPRS in language learning (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling)    FOR MORE FROM KAREN LICHTMAN: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Her website  3. Her publications  4. Her book "Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS): An Input-Based Approach to Second Language Instruction."   Support Teacher Talking Time: Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers. My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/   RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Subscribe to the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.

*This is episode two of our series highlighting education entrepreneurs. New episodes every first of the month.  Want to chat with us about your business? Book a free meeting here.   "If it doesn't go according to plan, what is the worst thing that could happen that is the minimum I can be satisfied with?" We sit down with entrepreneur Jessica Dias to discuss growing a business.  Jessica is an English teacher and founder of Jessy Academy — an online school that helps Brazilian learners break free from the intermediate plateau and develop real communication skills in English. She started her teaching business in 2020 and has since helped more than 2,000 learners speak with more clarity, confidence, and naturalness. After years of working in traditional schools, Jessica decided to ride solo and build a business that truly reflects her teaching philosophy: practical, human, and focused on real communication.   In this episode, Jessica discusses: Overcoming Failure and Setting Realistic Goals The Genesis of the Itch: From School to Side Hustle Turning Passion into a Full-Time Business Embracing Change and Growth Building a Sustainable Business Model Challenges of Running a Business Balancing Client Work and Business Operations Delegation and Use of AI Tools Scaling While Maintaining Quality Advice for Handling Business Slumps   FOR MORE FROM JESSICA DIAS: 1. Follow her on Instagram: @msjessydays 2. Jessy Academy 3. Her Clear Pronunciation Program   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.

Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   From beginner to intermediate in 9 months: yes, it's possible and Claudia Fernandez tells us how. Claudia runs her Spanish program at the University of Illinois-Chicago using a task-based curriculum. One result was bringing fifteen A1 students to intermediate over 9 months. She shares her story and how others can do the same.  At the University of Illinois-Chicago, Claudia is a Clinical Associate Professor, where she directs the Spanish Basic Language Program using a task-based curriculum. Her research and teaching focus on task-based language teaching, materials development, and classroom-based language acquisition. She is an award-winning educator, published author, and active contributor to both national and international professional organizations in the field of language education. In this episode, we dive into: Implementing task-based language teaching from scratch Why there is still pushback against TBLT  Mindset shifts every institution needs Aligning tasks with assessments Claudia’s experience of helping students go from absolute beginner to intermediate in 9 months Effective task design How learners acquire grammar through input-based approaches Instruction habits that get in the way of learning  How to create needs analyses in task-based learning   FOR MORE FROM CLAUDIA FERNANDEZ: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Her university page 3. Her publication on moving from grammar to proficiency-driven programs    Support the show: Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers. My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/   RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Subscribe to the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.

*This launches the beginning of a new series of our show: education entrepreneurship. We'll release an additional episode monthly, highlighting entrepreneurial voices in our industry doing great things. Want to chat with us? Book a free meeting here.  In this episode, we introduce the series and discuss what it takes to start and run your own business. Specifically, we explore the transition from traditional teaching roles to entrepreneurial ventures. We chat about: Why waiting until you're uncomfortable might be too late to start your business The real difference between commitment and consistency and why one matters more How teachers can build businesses without a one-size-fits-all model What Andrew's beach business (and Bob the Book) taught him about resourcefulness, scrappiness, and getting started Why belief in yourself is the most underrated strategy in entrepreneurship Who this series is for and who it’s not for Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.

50% off our CPD courses for podcast listeners - click here and use the code "TTT"   Does the grammar that is normally taught match the evidence corpus linguistics shows? Dr. Graham Burton helps us dissect the big beasts of English grammar. Dr. Graham Burton is assistant professor at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy). His main research interests are applications of corpus linguistics to language teaching, materials development, pedagogic grammar, academic writing and multilingualism. He has two recent book publications, Grammar in ELT and ELT Materials: Evaluating its History and Current Practice and The Big Beasts of English Grammar: An Exploration of Form and Function in Conversations *Discount codes: 40% off Grammar in ELT using code ELT40 (valid until the end of July, 2025) 25% on ebook of The Big Beasts of English Grammar via Payhip only, using code bigbeasts25 (valid for 10 downloads only)   In this episode, Graham discusses: Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching Benefits of Corpus for Learners The Big Beasts of English Grammar Example-Driven Grammar Teaching What Teachers Should Unlearn about Grammar Challenges in Teaching Grammar Prototypical vs. Natural Grammar Usage Misconceptions in Grammar Teaching The Evolution of Grammar Teaching What the CELTA Should Do to "Re-do" Grammar The History of Pedagogical Grammar Why the word "grammar" was negative (and "structure" was used instead)   FOR MORE FROM GRAHAM BURTON: 1. The Big Beasts of English Grammar: An Exploration of Form and Function in Conversations Discount of 25% on ebook via Payhip only, using code bigbeasts25 (valid for 10 downloads only) 2. Grammar in ELT and ELT Materials: Evaluating its History and Current Practice Discount of 40% on hardbook or ebook, using code ELT40 (valid until the end of July, 2025) 3. Connect with Graham on LinkedIn   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "Don't teach at the students. Teach off them." Scott Thornbury becomes our first repeat guest and helps us dissect this and more.  Scott Thornbury is a teacher, teacher trainer, and award-winning author in English language education. He has taught and trained teachers around the world, including on the MA TESOL program at The New School in New York, and is widely recognized for his contributions to ELT methodology and teacher development. He co-authored Teaching Unplugged (2009) and Dogme in Practice (2025), both with Luke Meddings. His latest book is called Scott Thornbury's 66 Essentials of Lesson Design.   In our chat, Scott delves into: tensions between planning & spontaneity what an effective lesson design process looks like if the communicative approach can be rehabilitated shifting from surface-level communication to meaningful interaction adapting teacher training and institutional expectations  the role of technology in education   FOR MORE FROM SCOTT THORNBURY: 1. Visit his website 2. Book: Domge in Practice  3. Book: 66 Essentials of Lesson Design 4. Connect on LinkedIn    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs  5. Join our Substack community 

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   Learner autonomy is something that happens INSIDE the classroom, not out of it. Teachers can't sit back and wait for their students to become autonomous. This is part of what the esteemed Dr. David Little shared with us in our conversation.  David Little is Fellow Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin and a leading scholar in learner autonomy, linguistic diversity, and the application of the CEFR in language education. He played a key role in developing the European Language Portfolio and has led several national and international projects focused on language support for migrants and refugees. He currently coordinates the Council of Europe’s Romani–Plurilingual Policy Experimentation and is the author of influential works on educational inclusion and language learning.   In this episode, David discusses: Understanding Language Learner Autonomy Defining Autonomy in Language Learning Pedagogical Models for Autonomy Autonomy in Diverse Educational Contexts Challenges and Collaborative Solutions for Teachers Language Learner Autonomy and Writing Developing Reflective Dialogue in Classrooms Practical Advice for Fostering Learner Autonomy   FOR MORE FROM DR. DAVID LITTLE: 1. His page at Trinity College, Dublin 2. His Research Gate page  3. Language Learner Autonomy: Theory, Practice, and Research   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "It's  such social injustice to expect people to use English like native English speakers, whichever country they're in." We dive into this and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) with Jennifer Jenkins.  Jennifer Jenkins is a British linguist and academic. She was Chair Professor of Global Englishes at the University of Southampton until her retirement in 2019. She is a leading figure in the study of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), and is an expert on communication in English between non-native speakers. She has published and lectured widely and is a founder editor of the Journal of English as a Lingua Franca. In this episode, Jennifer tackles: what English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) is native speakers vs local speakers why she was shunned from many rooms for her views the cultural and linguistic bias in language testing  how tests are not predictive of academic success the myth that ELF lowers English standards the role of adjusting language rather than mimicking it  having a pioneer mindset even when people dismiss you how international universities have hypocritical linguistic standards  the future of English as a global language    FOR MORE FROM JENNIFER JENKINS: 1. Her Google Scholar page 2. Her page at the University of Southampton  3. Accommodation in ELF: Where from? Where now? Where next?   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Book a complimentary meeting with us to help grow your business.  Learners can think a native teacher is a vaccine against poor pronunciation. Equally, native teachers can be misinformed in thinking that students should just follow them. We dive into pronunciation, intelligibility, and teacher effects on learner performance with the great John Levis.  John is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Technology at Iowa State University. He is founding editor of the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation and the founder of the annual Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference. His research focuses on pronunciation, intelligibility, pronunciation, and accent. John has received university awards for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, for Career Achievement in Research, and was named Angela B. Pavitt Professor of English in 2018. In our conversation, John talks about: accent vs pronunciation the nativeness principle vs the intelligibility principle how he coined "the intelligibility principle" high and low value features of pronunciation  why some vowel sounds don't matter native and non-native teacher effects on learner performance learners viewing native speakers as a vaccine for poor pronunciation some native teachers believing learners should just follow them getting "caught" with accent For more from John Levis: 1. Pronunciation for Teachers 2. His faculty page 3. His publications  Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com  Ways we can help you right now: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days 3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Book a free 1:1 to strategize your goals for your teaching business.  Native speaker or non-native speaker? Monolingual or plurilingual? Why do we have a binary bias in modern society? These are some of the questions we tackled with Dr. Angelica Galante.  Dr. Angelica Galante is an Associate Professor in Second Language Education and Applied Linguistics, and William Dawson Scholar at McGill University. As the Director of the Plurilingual Lab, Dr. Galante conducts studies with language learners, teachers and educational leaders in the areas of plurilingual education, language teaching and learning, linguistic discrimination and justice, teacher education, and curriculum design. She speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, and a bit of French and Italian. In our conversation, Dr. Galante talks about: Linguistic and Cultural Discrimination Strategies to Combat Prejudice in Education Plurilingual and Pluricultural Competence Navigating Binary Bias in Language Discussions Exploring Common Ground in Controversial Topics The Role of Language in Identity and Mental Health Practical Applications of Plurilingualism in Education Balancing Plurilingualism and Language Acquisition Challenges and Facilitators of Plurilingualism For more from Angelica Galante: 1. Her professional page 2. McGill's Plurilingual Lab 3. Her publications  Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com  Ways we can help you right now: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days 3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 

Book a free 1:1 to strategize your goals for your teaching business.  Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.   Why do some teachers thrive as entrepreneurs while others struggle? We dissect this question.  Many teachers want to earn more, teach online, and gain more clients - but struggle to implement a sustainable strategy. We go over seven "Cs" to help.  In this episode, we dive into the "seven Cs of success for teacher entrepreneurship" and discuss: confidence as a skill rather than a feeling getting granular on goals strategizing goal achievement at both the macro and the micro reflecting on why having a business is (or isn't) a priority  how consistency compounds over time why getting more clients is nearly impossible if you have nothing to sell normalizing struggle and self doubt first steps to starting your business in 2025 Your Action Plan from this Episode: Pick one “C” to focus on this week. Journal daily to track your progress and reflect on your journey. Share your experience in our community to inspire and be inspired. Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com  Ways we can help you right now: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days 3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.