All Things ESL

A thoughtful podcast on the field of English as a Second Language.

Unaccompanied Minors

Are you thinking the surge of unaccompanied minors will not affect your upcoming school year? Think again. Check out this new (albeit short) episode that reviews the news from immigrantsrefugeesandschools.org that gets you and your school prepared for what is ahead.

07-19
16:43

How to Grade ELLs Fairly

Hannah Benson explores the complications of grading beginner ESL students, both in the ESL classroom and in content classrooms. Colorin Colorado and Larry Ferlazzo's blog add insight to this topic as well as helpful tips from #ELLchat.

06-15
20:53

Comparing Elem, Middle, High School ESL

Which grades in K-12 do you prefer teaching ESL? Hannah Benson reviews her experiences in all three teaching posts: elementary, middle and high school ESL and the differences between them.

05-16
24:40

The Native Know-How Lesson

This time Hannah Benson gives her exclusive Native Know-How lesson which includes important tips you don't get from a book--such as how close do I stand when I talk? Should I bribe the police? And other such helpful tidbits.

04-13
21:52

Stories From the Classroom

Join in for a story time featuring stories from Hannah Benson's ESL classroom where the cultural seclusion of countries abroad produces humor of a different variety than conversations from a classroom in the home country.

03-17
17:38

The Sweetness of Teaching Revived

A new way for you to use your degree you never thought possible! Former public school teacher Cindy West explains how she discovered how to resurrect the sweetness of teaching.

02-16
25:53

Online Engagement

Teachers said online engagement was the number one issue in ESL today. Hannah Benson interviews YouTuber Teacher Michael, an EFL teacher for tips on how to keep students engaged...as well as ourselves!

01-15
23:51

Christmas Recap Special

25 minutes of 2020 recap for December 25th! Hannah Benson discusses (unscripted) her favorite episodes from this year. It's a look at lessons learned and an amazing year of stellar guests.

12-24
25:47

When Parents Opt Out

What do you do when parents want to take their children out of the ESL program? This time Hannah Benson talks with My Adventures in ESL blogger Millie Williams to talk about Opt Out options and procedure.

12-16
21:08

Long Term ELLs

How can we break students who have been in ESL for over 6 years and can't seem to get out? In this episode Hannah Benson explores the ESL limbo Long-Term ELLs with guest Susan Patterson.

11-17
22:43

Teacher's Unions

With immigrant rights and current discussions about border control, ESL teachers should be the first people interested in certain aspects of education politics, right? However, this episode explores whether or not the political interests of the teacher's union end up alienating their members, rather than making them feel empowered & included.

10-15
17:47

Racism and ESL

New immigrants are not always well-received into a community, even at the local education institution. This is an episode that explores what bias within ESL looks like: denied services, comments in the teacher's lounge, peer-student interactions. Also, what an ESL teacher can do to prepare a school for a new culture entering into a comfortable (read: resistant) school community.

09-16
21:22

#teacherstyle - A Discussion of Decorum

Hannah Benson explores the importance of teacher apparel as our field (and culture) becomes progressively more casual...and what that does to our global image as educators. Special guest Dr. Karen Swallow Prior.

08-15
22:22

Who You Gonna Call? Part II

Why should you teach reading for elementary ESL students when they are getting that instruction from their content teacher? Why/how should you spend time on advanced vocabulary for advanced ESL learners? Hannah Benson addresses these two vital parts of ESL reading instruction. Special guest Reading Specialist Evette Reid.

07-18
21:17

Who You Gonna Call? (Part I)

Hannah Benson gives the first award to Speech Language Pathology, explaining the difference between our fields, when/how to refer an ESL student to them, and giving credit for their aid in ESL advocacy, consultation, and resources. Guests Lisa Silvey and Audrey Lewis.

06-15
22:12

What ELSE can I do with my ESL degree

Hannah Benson explores the world of immigrant advocacy outside the realm of teaching in the classroom...or not teaching at all. Guests Dr. Sandra Hemphill (YouTube's "The Language Lady") and Laura Gardner.

05-20
20:36

All That Screen Time

Hannah Benson talks with Dr. Maria Davou of the Glossomatheia Langauge, Learning & Research Center in Athens, Greece about her recent article, "The Child and The Screen: What Now?" Dr. Davou gives helpful tips on how to tweak the goal of our lessons to gear the language student toward using technology for community purpose, not for learning in isolation.

04-23
21:16

What ESL Licensure Programs Offer

Hannah Benson reaches back in the files to hear again from previous guests about their educational background...and how much it actually prepared them for practical ESL teaching. Hannah outlines the "perfect" ESL certification program.

04-10
20:55

How COVID-19 Will Change ESL

Originally a Facebook Live Event, this episode discusses the pandemic of COVID-19, how it has affected ESL education online and within the school systems, which population of ELLs we are most concerned about, and what will happen as a result of the epidemic. Also, an interview with Laura Lanford about working for a 3rd party ESL teaching company verses starting her own tutoring business online.

03-27
19:55

Education...Interrupted SIFE

Hannah Benson talks with Carol Salva about how to get students with gaps in their education reading and writing quickly. Orly Clapholz describes one school that created a system for their SIFE population--and discusses the need for a national educational protocol for SIFE.

03-09
21:30

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