How to English TEFL Podcast

🎙️ This week on How To English with Gav & Em, it’s all about the letter M! From matching activities and mnemonics to a modal murder mystery, we explore how memory, meaning, and mindfulness can boost English teaching and learning. Expect laughs, learning, and the return of our matching game—with desserts! If you enjoy the show and want to support us, you can buy us a coffee at ☕ ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodResources: 22. Elementary, My Dear Watson, Advanced Grammar Games, NelsonTimestamps:00:00 – Welcome and intro to the letter M00:56 – Matching activities: fun or time-wasters?04:30 – Dessert matching game 🍨10:30 – Mnemonics and the FANBOYS trick12:14 – What to do when students forget words15:55 – Memory techniques and personalization18:24 Modals through a murder mystery 🔍24:09 – Movie Time: What happens next? 🎥28:45 – Tip of the episode: Micro-teaching30:08 – Tip of the episode: Mindful moments32:59 – Final thoughts and wrap-up

🎙️Episode 12 – L is for… Language, Lead-ins & Limp Vocabulary! Welcome back to Gav & Em's How to English: Teach and Learn TEFL Podcast – the show for English teachers and learners who love a laugh with their language! This week, it’s L for... lots of things! From Language attrition to Learner autonomy, Lead-ins, and Listening, Gav and Em tackle the TEFL world one "L" at a time. Expect mini-lessons, metaphorical cushions, and a few questionable examples from your favourite language apps. 🐘🧦🐢💡 What weird sentence did Gav find in Korean? Why is Em polishing her keyboard on camera? And how many words should a student really learn each day?👉 Plus, enjoy a fun listening gap-fill on reporting verbs with characters like Sophie and Mark II. And teach students, Don't say say – say something better!References:https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-duolingo-sentences-silvermidnight/Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro & Greetings[00:01:42] Language, attrition & atrophy[00:07:55] Limitations of Language Apps[00:13:30] Lesson Notes [00:17:05] Learner Autonomy[00:22:14] Lead-ins that actually work[00:26:03] Listening Gap-Fill: Reporting Verbs[00:31:45] Tips of the Episode – Listening & Language Modelling[00:32:27] Modelling better classroom language[00:36:31] Ko-fi plug & goodbyesNext week: M is for… Mystery? Mistakes? Motivation? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

🎙️Hello and welcome to How to English TEFL Pod with Gav and Em. Your fortnightly dose of TEFL chat, classroom chaos, and questionable letter themes! This week it’s K, and we’re keeping up, keeping calm, and keeping it together... just about. Expect knowledge gaps, kinesthetic games, and a lot of Ks you didn’t know you needed. Fancy buying us a coffee or tea? Visit ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod – with a K!🥾Let’s kick it off!Online quizzes: https://www.jetpunk.com/Timestamps[00:00:00] – Intro & preamble: Gav and Em reveal the letter of the episode – K![00:01:21] – Topic 1: Keeping Up – trends in teaching, student needs, and unexpected lesson twists.[00:10:07] – Topic 2: Knowledge Gaps – recognising and responding to repeated student errors.[00:17:30] – Topic 3: Knowledge vs Information – what it really means to know something.[00:20:37] – Topic 4: Keeping Calm & Carrying On – burnout, low-energy lessons, and TED Talk breaks.[00:22:35] – Self-care tips for teachers – batch planning, snacks, mindfulness, and boundaries.[00:26:20] – Em’s Tip of the Episode: Kinesthetic Learning – from teddy bears to snowball fights.[00:29:04] – Gav's Tip: Key Language for… everyday situations, from hotels to immigration.[00:31:00] – Final thoughts, Krashen love, and Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

🎧 Welcome to Episode 10, Season 6 of Gav & Em’s How to English – TEFL Podcast! Get ready for a jam-packed (and jelly-filled) episode as we explore the letter J in the TEFL Alphabet Series! From jargon and jobs to jokes, Jeopardy, and even a jazzy pronunciation chant, this episode is full of practical tips, laughter, and a few unexpected tangents. ☕ Like what we do? Support us with a coffee!🔗 ⁠ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod⁠Gameshow music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JAMcQyRRIQ Timestamps00:00 – Intro & J is for Jog Your Memory02:33 – Jam, Jelly & Marmalade: A Fruitful Discussion05:50 – J is for Jargon: Buzzwords in Business English10:54 – Jokes in the TEFL Classroom: Pun or Punishment?15:28 – Joiners (Conjunctions) and a Clever Grammar Game21:51 – Jeopardy! Idioms Game for Language Learners25:41 – Jazz Chants: Rhythm, Pronouns, and Clapping28:35 – J is for Jobs: Guess the Occupation Game31:18 – Journaling, Joy, Jocular Moments & a Jaw-Dropping Journey

🎙️How To English – S06E09: “I” Is for Intonation, Icebreakers & Inspiration! Join Em and Gav as they explore all things “I” in this insightful, fun, and packed episode of How To English TEFL Pod. From intonation exercises to inspiring students, surprising teacher roles, and even a lively information gap activity, this episode is full of ideas and laughs for English teachers and learners alike. 💬Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodReflection Questions:Self-Awareness1. What aspects of my teaching practice reflect my cultural background or values?2. Have I ever assumed my way of doing things is “normal” or “universal”?3. How do my personal beliefs influence the way I respond to student behavior or feedback?Perspective4. How might this lesson be experienced differently by a student from a collectivist culture vs. an individualist one?5. If I were a newcomer or international student in this class, how welcome or included would I feel?6. How do I create space for different communication styles—direct vs. indirect, expressive vs. reserved?Bias and Areas for Improvement7. Are there cultural groups or accents I subconsciously associate with “higher ability” or “better behaviour”?8. When was the last time I challenged a cultural stereotype—my own or someone else’s?9. Do I ever misinterpret silence, disagreement, or eye contact based on my own cultural expectations?Classroom Practice10. Do my teaching materials and examples reflect a variety of cultural contexts and perspectives?11. What strategies do I use to learn about my students’ backgrounds without stereotyping them?12. How do I handle culture-related misunderstandings or conflicts when they arise in class?Growth and Intention13. What have I learned from a student who challenged my assumptions?14. How do I stay open and curious when something feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable?15. What one thing can I do this week to increase inclusivity and cultural awareness in my teaching?Timestamps00:00 – Welcome!00:59 – Capital “I” as a pronoun03:00 – Inspiring students08:16 – Intonation and Em's bike11:44 – I didn’t sign up for this!18:30 – Information gap24:03 – Intercultural Reflection Questions29:39 – Interaction32:27 – Icebreakers35:20 – Wrap-up & a nice cuppa tea/KO-FI

🎧 S6 E8 – H is for Homework, Holidays & Hyperbole. This week, Gav & Em explore all things H in the world of TEFL! From homework habits and holiday balance to the drama of hyperbole in class – it's packed with tips, laughs, and teaching insights.✨ Tune in for: homework pros & cons, holiday chat for teachers & students, hyperbole, homophones & headset fails. Plus, some practical H tips for speaking skills. Support the pod: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodReferences:Hot trends and innovations https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/ten-trends-and-innovations-english-language-teaching-2024 UN Sustainabilty Development Goals https://www.tlbbhfoundation.org/learnteachsdgs-initiative/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAp00WYv3ncMZ6lcna5KmocYppz3nR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiLLABhCEARIsAJYS6umIgbnm7QPp0DIvZKHXgj9MThIcQSjjau0rsJMA94_ZQjVFf64FB0oaAsP0EALw_wcBTimestamps:(00:00) Intro & recap(00:34) H pronunciation(01:45) To huff or not to huff?(02:22) Homework – doing it or making excuses (05:28) Sending homework(13:19) Homophones, homonyms, and homographs.(16:50) Holidays – teacher & student holiday plans(19:49) Hot Trends in TEFL(21:46) Headphones and Hypotheticals(25:11) Speaking Tips beginning with H(29:15) Hyperbole – teaching exaggeration(31:51) Tips – have a break and handouts(34:39) What we didn't cover

🎙️ Gav & Em’s How to English – Season 6, Episode 7: G is for... Grammar, Games, Gnomes & Gap Fills! 🧠🌱 Welcome back to another giggle-filled yet deeply insightful episode of How to English TEFL Pod with your favourite hosts, Gav & Em! This week, the letter G sparks a cascade of conversations about everything from grammar preferences and group dynamics to gardening tools, gap fills, and even unicorns. 🦄✨✨ Support the show:If you enjoy the pod and want to help keep it going, treat Gav & Em to a coffee over at:👉 https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod📌Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review if this episode made you laugh, learn, or look at your shed in a whole new way.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your TEFL fix!Timestamps [00:00:00] – Intro [00:01:29] – The complexities of the letter "G" in pronunciation [00:03:12] – Do students really want grammar? Em and Gav reflect [00:07:30] – How to teach "either/neither/both" with ice cream and small children [00:09:17] – A gardening tool guessing game (with comedy sound effects!) [00:18:05] – AI-generated gap fill about unicorns (yes, really!) [00:24:11] – Group dynamics: getting quiet students talking [00:28:20] – Consider grading your language [00:31:55] – Going global: the beauty and challenge of international classes[00:34:36] – Teaching tip: Be a guide, not a grammar robot!

🎙️ Welcome to Gav & Em’s How to English TEFL Pod – Season 6, Episode 6! This week, it’s all about the letter F in their A to Z of EFL series – and what a fantastic episode it is! Expect fun, fails, feedback, and fossilized errors as Gav & Em chat about their favourite F-words (the safe ones 😄). ☕ Love the pod? Support Gav & Em at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodReferences:Five-Minute Activities :A Resource Book of Short Activities - Cambridge Handbooks for Language TeachersAnki and Memrise repetition systemsVICTORIAN LONDON VIBES — Rainy Violin Music from the Gaslamp Era YouTube - Tunes Through TimeLifescapes The Classics, Dirk Freymuth (Artist)Dark Dramatic Choir - Overlord (Original Composition) Lucas KingIrish Reel Music - Rowdy Sailors - Fantasy & World Music by the FiechtersSTAR WARS I Melodies Glyn R. BrownParlormuse | Apple Blossom March - Steampunk Victorian Music - ParlormuseMelodies of the Middle Ages - Calming Medieval Music for Study , and Relaxation - Medieval Horizons Musicpirate with radio full video - dogur_devElevator Music (Kevin MacLeod) - Background Music (HD) - Gaming Sound FXMircrosoft Copilot Google Gemini Open AI ChatGPTTimestamps[00:00:00] Intro[00:02:15] Flops in the classroom[00:09:11] From Dickens to Shakespeare[00:16:39] Fossilized errors [00:19:06] Fast English [00:24:00] Five-minute activity[00:29:00] F-word vocabulary quiz [00:31:16] Fact-check [00:32:37] E-friends[00:35:11] OutroSo grab your flashcards, engage your ears, and get ready for another fun and full-on episode of TEFL talk with Gav & Em!

Join Gav & Em for another fun and insightful episode of How to English TEFL Pod as they continue their A to Z of TEFLing—this time focusing on the letter E! Expect engaging discussions on essential TEFL topics, practical teaching and learning tips, and plenty of laughs along the way. Don't forget to show your support here https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod ☕Plus, a spontaneous grammar challenge, classroom eating habits, and a fun word-guessing game! 🎧🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast platform. Or find all the transcriptions here: https://howtoenglishpod.com/Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro[00:00:00] E for Elephant[00:01:41] Elicitation[00:08:44] Eating [00:12:00] Equity in Language Education [00:13:27] Echo Reading[00:19:02] Exposure[00:24:17] KO-FI.COM/HOWTOENGLISHPOD[00:24:33] E words for Teaching and Learning[00:29:36] Exploiting Lesson Materials (not students[00:33:51] Outro

🎙️ Welcome to How to English – Teach and Learn with Gav & Em! 🎙️In this episode, we're diving into the letter D in our A to Z of TEFL series! We chat about the dos and don’ts of English learning, the importance of determination and discipline for both teachers and students, and whether you should focus on accuracy or fluency first. 🍩 Plus, we discuss doughnuts in the classroom, why pronunciation matters (important vs. impotent 😆), and the origins of words like ‘nightmare’ and ‘quarantine’.We also demo a Dictogloss activity, a great classroom task to improve listening and writing skills, and share team-building strategies to keep your students engaged. Finally, we wrap up with top teaching tips and explore how AI can help customize your lesson difficulty.☕ Support us on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod 🍩Timestamps:[00:00:00] Welcome to How to English – Teach and Learn with Gav & Em[00:00:38] What’s this podcast about?[00:01:21] D for Doughnuts… and TEFL skills! 🍩[00:03:37] Dos and Don’ts of English learning[00:11:16]  Defining words (origins): Nightmare, quarantine & more![00:19:07] TEFL activity: Dictogloss demo ✍️[00:28:58] Direction & motivation in teaching[00:33:00] 🔥 Tips of the week! TEFL success skills[00:37:54] More D-words we didn’t cover (drilling, dialogues & more!)[00:38:38] D for Done – See you next time!💬 What are your favorite TEFL tips? Drop a comment below! 👇🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and follow for more TEFL talk! ✨ #TEFL #EFL #HowToEnglish

Welcome back to How to English with Gav & Em! This episode is all about the letter C in TEFL. They're talking about C1/C2 exam tips, the art of Concept Checking Questions (CCQs), the role of culture in the classroom, and even some cheesy English chat-up lines—because why not? ☕ Love the show? Support us at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodJoin them for a mix of insightful teaching advice, lighthearted banter, and plenty of laughs. Plus, they explore confidentiality in TEFL, business buzzwords, and why keeping things simple and controlled can transform your teaching approach. References: https://www.theknot.com/content/pick-up-linesTimestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro 02:35 – C1 & C2 Exam Tips 📝 09:40 – CCQs: What Are They & How to Use Them? 🤔 14:05 – Cheesy Chat-Up Lines: A Fun Classroom Activity 💬 18:37 – Confidentiality in TEFL: What Should Stay in the Classroom? 🔒 25:07 – Business Buzzwords: Spot the Real from the Fake! 📊 32:42 – Culture in TEFL: How Much Should We Teach? 🌍 37:14 – Final Teaching Tips: Simplicity & Giving Students More Control 🎯

✨Welcome to How To English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em!✨ Join us in this fun and insightful episode as we explore the letter B in the A to Z of TEFL! 📚 From beginnings in teaching to Business English, from body language to baffling British expressions, we've got plenty of engaging discussions, practical tips, and a bit of laughter along the way! Support our podcast! ☕ If you enjoy what we do, consider buying us a cuppa at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod📌 Find all previous episodes and transcriptions at http://howtoenglishpod.comReferences:🔗 ChatGPT https://chatgpt.com/🔗 Grammarly https://app.grammarly.com/👉 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy the episode! See you next time for C! 🎙️✨Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome & Intro 🎧02:00 – The importance of a good beginning in teaching 🏫04:30 – Business English: What to ask your students 🤝08:00 – Essential Business English topics 📊14:00 – Backchaining: A pronunciation trick 🗣️18:00 – Body language in the classroom 👀20:00 – Baffling British expressions – Bob’s your uncle! 🇬🇧24:00 – Books in TEFL – Are they still relevant? 📖27:00 – Bogus language learning myths debunked 🔍32:00 – Backflash: A better way to review past lessons 🔄

🎙️How to English TEFL Pod – Season 6, Episode 1 🎉 We’re back with a brand-new season! This time, we’re taking an A to Z approach to teaching and learning English. In this episode, Gav and Em explore everything starting with the letter A - covering fun language games, AI in teaching, and accuracy versus fluency. Plus plenty more. References: Benefits of note making: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/amerjpsyc.124.1.0063 Timestamps [00:00] Welcome to Season 6! [02:15] What’s new this season? [05:30] Fun alphabet games to play in class [10:45] AI in teaching – how Em used ChatGPT [16:20] Exploring VR language learning and its benefits [21:05] A quick-fire Animal Homes game [25:30] Teaching tip: The power of "And…" for fluency [29:45] Accuracy vs. Fluency – which should come first? [34:00] End-of-episode teaching tips 💛 Support us on Ko-fi! → https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Hit play, enjoy, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! 🚀

Join Gav and Em in this exciting wrap-up episode as they celebrate the end of an incredible Season 5 of How to English TEFL Pod! Reflecting on a year filled with teaching tips, student advice, and laugh-out-loud moments, this is your chance to revisit the highlights that made this season so memorable. Don't forget to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod to show your support and check out all the podcast transcriptions here: http://howtoenglishpod.com/ Music: Fluffing a Duck by Kevin Macleod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hBDh3dRvLc Blankety Blank Full Opening Title Sequence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjU5zZeD1yQ Action Tense Cinematic Teaser Trailer Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEN2bmZPKF0 Background music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqwnTNRtQ80 Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: End of Year Special 01:15 – Reflections on teaching and learning in 2024 06:45 – Best Student Tips from Season 5 12:30 – Top Teaching Tips 19:50 – Funniest Memorable Moments 25:00 – What’s Next? Discussing the future of Gav & Em’s podcast 29:45 – Will there be a Season 6? 32:00 – Final thoughts and a big thank you to listeners

Welcome to How to English TEFL Podcast with Gav & Em, your go-to show for everything teaching and learning English as a foreign language! In this episode, we dive into the world of coursebooks and share tips on how to make them more engaging and personalized for students. We also tackle the complexities of perfectionism, exploring what it means for teachers and students, and why imperfection is part of the learning journey.Other highlights include:Practical strategies for tailoring lessons to student needs.A hilarious take on formal vs. informal language through translation fails in our Quiz of the Week.Discussions on leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to create resources on the fly.Reflections on the joys and challenges of being a TEFL teacher.Don't forget to check out this episode's transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/1XK69QvlP8LIf you'd like to support us, grab us a coffee at our Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodHit play, and let's dive into the world of TEFL together! References: Simple to advance words: https://mrmrsenglish.com/500-daily-used-normal-vs-advanced/#google_vignette Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - Coursebooks Revisited 3:15 - Personalising Lessons 5:52 - Exploring Perfectionism 9:05 - Perfect Students and Teachers 13:00 - Creating the Perfect Classroom or Online Space 14:30 - Supporting the Show at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod 15:45 - Why We Love TEFL 18:00 - Indifference in English 22:00 - Online Training and AI Tools 28:30 - Quiz of the Week 35:45 - Closing Thoughts 36:30 - Outro