Thrive in ELT

Do you ever feel like you're not as focused as you'd like to be when it comes to planning, instruction, and reflection? The ELT profession requires an ability and willingness to adapt to a variety of changes. What doesn't change, though, is the need to support our students and ourselves so we can continue moving forward.  A focused process is necessary to get you through all of the weeks, months, and years you will serve your students in the classroom.  In this episode, I'm going to share with you the three-phase process I realized I had created that helps me stay focused at each step on my ELT journey. I believe it can help you, too, by concentrating on intentional, tangible actions at each stage.  Get ready to Plan, Do, Thrive! You can see a visual illustration of this process by going to today's show notes on my website at eltresourceroom.com/podcast/2-three-phase-process-for-focused-elt   Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page

Do you have everything you need to provide quality instruction to your students throughout the term? Is there anything in your course or lesson that requires students to know how to do before they can practice what they've learned? How many days prior to the start of a course or lesson do you usually begin planning? These are just some of the many reflective questions I'll be posing to you in today's episode where I go deeper into the first phase of the Plan, Do, Thrive Process.  Planning is the foundational phase. It's where you set your expectations for your course or lesson and determine what is best to help your students succeed. It's also the place where you set yourself up for success in the subsequent phases. In the Plan phase there are four main components we'll explore: being intentional, being realistic, being committed, and  being timely. Asking yourself the questions for each component will guide you in your thinking and evaluation of your own planning. I encourage you to block out some time to really sit with these questions and answer as thoroughly as you can.  Download the free reflective questions from the episode by going to today's show notes on my website at eltresourceroom.com/podcast/3-the-why-how-and-when-of-planning   Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page

What do materials, sequencing, and timing all have in common? They're the components we use every day to create quality, engaging lessons and courses for our students.   There are many things that may come to mind when you think about instruction -- giving information, asking and answering questions, or providing students with time to practice, think and discover rules and ideas on their own.  You most likely spend a lot of time planning, so the Do phase is when you honor yourself by following through with your intentional, realistic, committed, and timely effort. This doesn't mean you can't and shouldn't be flexible and make changes when needed, but it does mean you recognize what's better for your students -- sticking to your original plan or modifying if necessary. In the Do phase there are three main elements to keep you focused on your instruction: being aware of your plan, following your plan, and believing in your plan. I invite you to download the free resource I have for you that will help you as you plan and do in the coming days. In the 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction, I identify appropriate skill and level designations, explain why each resource is so meaningful, and provide you with direct links to the sources as well as several ready-to-use activities I've used myself. You can get the free resource by visiting my website or going to this link: https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page

How often do you reflect on your teaching and students' learning? Do you ever unfairly critique yourself? When was the last time you celebrated your ELT life? Each of these questions relates to the third phase in the Plan, Do, Thrive Process, which I'm talking about in this episode.  We often think of thriving as being successful. While success is definitely part of it, thriving doesn't necessarily mean everything is perfect or that an end goal has been met. Thriving means you're in the act of growing and developing. Here are the three actions you need to take to thrive: reflect, forgive yourself, and  celebrate the wins. There are many different ways to reflect, each one taking a different amount of time and having a specific purpose; all of them are valuable. You should choose the methods that fit your schedule and match your personality and goal. If you find yourself critiquing what you said or did in class -- or what you didn't say or do -- you're not alone. And if you ever feel guilty for not meeting your own expectations for serving your students, I know of many other instructors, including myself, who deal with that feeling right alongside you. Making the effort to forgive yourself is one step toward thriving. And while you may think you're too busy to stop and have a party, celebrating your wins is just as important as the first two actions! Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page

Are you providing online instruction again this academic year?  By now it's been a year and a half of teaching classes online for many in the ELT profession. We've certainly learned a lot, but there are still challenges that cause overwhelm and frustration. Probably like you, I spent much of last year teaching online. While things did get better, it wasn't always easy. In this episode, I talk about how to make online teaching work for you. I don't propose a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead provide questions to ponder and strategies to consider to help you decide what's best for you and your students in your unique circumstance. There are three major aspects to examine when making decisions in regards to online instruction in ELT: your expectations, technology, and things in your control. Obstacles and burdens abound in online teaching, especially when it's new or you're still figuring things out. However, there are steps you can take to make the experience manageable and viable. As you continue navigating the world of online teaching, be sure to check out the free 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction. You can get the free resource by visiting my website or going to this link: https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com   Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page

What procedures do you have in place for your online teaching? Are they helping both you and your students succeed? While our situations aren't exactly the same, I would bet that we have more in common than we might think.  Today I'll be talking about my key takeaways from teaching online in the 2020-2021 academic year. The three strategies that I'll be sharing with you -- establishing routines, building rapport, and creating activities that allow students the opportunity to interact with materials -- made my online life more manageable and ultimately more successful than if I hadn't put them into action. My goal for you in this episode is twofold. I want you to be able to: gain strategies that you can immediately apply to your unique teaching situation and begin to evaluate your current strategies for their effectiveness. Teaching online takes a great amount of time and effort to do well. Over time it also takes a mental toll.  If you have a specific question or issue you're struggling with, you can always schedule a one-on-one coaching call on my website. I would love to help you get to a more energized and encouraging place.   Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn   Schedule a 1:1 Coaching Call: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/appointment-scheduler/60f8878ee24d901560842292/schedule?isIframe=true

What resources do you have to teach your ESL/EFL students online? Are they providing you with everything you need right when you need it most? In the world of ELT, resources are your support system. They can help you introduce an idea, extend upon previous lessons, or reinforce a specific skill. Using resources to help you teach in person is probably second nature to you. But what happens when the materials you were using in person no longer work -- or at least as easily -- online? In today's episode I share with you the essential resources you need for teaching online: physical and digital materials, the systems you use, and the people around you. As you continue navigating the world of online teaching, be sure to check out the free 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction. You can get the free resource by visiting my website or going to this link: https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

Where do you go to find reliable materials for your adult students? What's your process for choosing the right ones? In today's episode I talk about the process for choosing the (so-called) best resources. But what really defines "best"?  As instructors, you and I don't want just "okay" or "pretty good." That's not going to serve our students or ourselves well. However, what's good for me might not necessarily be good for you. What's important is that you look at your unique situation: your students, your curriculum, and your expectations.  After looking at the steps of this process, I also walk you through an example of finding and selecting materials that support a specific objective in an advanced oral skills class I teach. Wherever you like to search for meaningful resources, I hope that today's episode provides you with helpful tips and a practical model you can follow. If you're looking for age-appropriate materials for your students, be sure to download the free 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction at this link >>> https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com or by going to today's show notes on my website at eltresourceroom.com.     Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

What was your most recent gratitude-filled ELT moment? Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? Being grateful when teaching can be difficult. Stress and exhaustion can set in, and sometimes the things we even enjoy doing -- like looking for supplemental resources and catching up on the latest issue of a professional journal -- can feel monotonous.  In today's episode I share with you some interesting findings I came across not long ago about the benefits of being grateful.  I'll also tell you how I went from having mostly negative emotions to positive ones during the previous academic year. While changes didn't occur overnight, I've seen a marked shift from January 2021 to today because of my efforts to take notice of everything I'm grateful for in my life -- including many things in my work life.  For the full show notes, visit www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/10-gratitude-in-elt   If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review in your podcast app.   Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

What has been your experience teaching academic writing in the ELT setting? What are the strategies you find yourself using over and over again? In this episode I'll be sharing five tips to help you stay focused and keep moving forward in your academic writing instruction. I'll also share a not so uncommon experience of overwhelm -- starting something new or getting back into something you haven't done in a long time. Be sure to check out the full show notes for links to the resources I mention in today's episode.   Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

Do you ever ask yourself that question? Following week after week of planning lessons – and then changing them – your teaching world comes to a screeching halt. You have no classes to prepare for or lessons to teach.  It's the transitional time between one semester and another. The odd part is that you can't stay in the past and you can't move toward the future without taking the steps to link the two. So how do you do that? You focus on thriving. In today's episode I share six steps to take you through this change in seasons.    Check out the full show notes at eltresourceroom.com/podcast/12-the-semester-is-over-now-what    Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

What does it look like when you serve your students well? Is it well-planned, engaging lessons? Opportunities for students to practice with meaningful resources? Talking through questions and challenges both in and out of the classroom? It's definitely all of these and more. But at what cost? One of my core value statements in serving you is: Service to students and self must be balanced. This is not an easy thing to do!  While you're grateful for your role as an instructor in ELT, you're also exhausted and frustrated at times. Towards the end of a semester you may even find yourself less motivated and more forgetful. These are not the conditions for serving your students well. In today's episode I'm talking about the reason you need breaks – and not just the two-week holiday kind. Research shows that you need regular breaks for your mind and body.  After listening, I challenge you to make a conscious effort to find ways you can serve yourself so that service to your students remains valuable and uninterrupted.   Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

Your extended break was so good – you're rested and your brain isn't foggy. Why? Because there was no weekday alarm and you could enjoy that favorite hot beverage at a leisurely pace! But a new semester is approaching and you're starting to feel a bit stressed and maybe even a little gloomy. And it's not that you don't like what you do. In fact, you really enjoy it.  It's just that you know that alongside the satisfying moments comes busyness and ultimately, stress. When you start to dread going back to work or the classroom, it can be really hard to become motivated. The good news is that you have control over how you react to these thoughts and feelings, and you can make an action plan instead. So today I'm sharing with you four things that will help you get motivated for a new semester. These don't have to be completed in any particular order, and you can even decide if you want to try all four or just one. I would love to hear how you're motivating yourself to get started in your upcoming semester, so let me know by connecting with me on social media or replying to one of my emails.  Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

Textbooks. They can provide you with a foundation when teaching a new course, structure for lesson planning, and ideas for supporting activities. But you may have also felt bound by them at one point or another. In today's episode, I'm answering four questions I'm often asked when it comes to using ELT textbooks: How is it possible for me to get through all of this?  Do I need to cover everything, or can I pick and choose what to use?  How do I know what I should use?  Do I have to use the textbook?  The answers lead to considering the purpose of textbooks and, finally, to helping you figure out if using textbooks in your English language courses is a hindrance or help. If you're looking for age-appropriate materials for your students, be sure to download the free 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction at this link >>> https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com or by going to today's show notes on my website.  Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

Have you seen (and maybe even participated in!) more professional development opportunities than you ever imagined before 2020? With all of the conferences, webinars, and available recordings, it can be easy to find yourself overwhelmed with deciding which ones to attend and even if you should participate. In today's episode I'm going to share what my own professional development journey has looked like over the years and what you can do to take your next step toward growing as an ESL or EFL instructor. You'll want a pen and notepad for this one – it's time to map out your own PD timeline and figure out where your unique place is in the ELT professional development experience!    Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Page LinkedIn

Why do you choose to participate in professional development? To learn something new? To grow in a particular area? Professional development is a necessary and beneficial activity you can, and should, participate in. But sometimes, it can pose problems that get in the way of taking part.  In this episode I talk about the problems that can keep you from saying yes to an opportunity or from even wanting to say yes. I also suggest several practical solutions so you can get past the issues and move forward growing in your role as an ESL/EFL instructor.     Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page

Where are you on your ELT professional development journey? Do you know the direction in which you're headed? Do you know why you're going there? There's a lot more to choosing PD opportunities than simply choosing. You need a personal PD plan – a plan that's created just for you, your preferences, and needs. A plan that's created by you. In today's episode I share four important reasons why you need your own PD plan.    Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page

What do you do after a professional development event? Do you make an immediate plan to put what you've learned into action? Or do you set aside the notes and thoughts telling yourself you'll get to them later? I've done both, and I'm sure we'd agree on which one is more difficult!  If you're a person who values professional growth, then you have to be intentional about following up on the PD opportunities in which you take part.  In today's episode I take you through three steps – three solutions – that will focus you on getting the most out of those opportunities and ensure that your growth doesn't stop at the close of an event. Don't forget to download the free 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction at this link >>> https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page

Did you know that our brains are actually hard-wired to take the easy way out? I don't know about you, but that makes me feel a little bit better about some of my professional decisions!  Although I'm not suggesting you go all in, taking a small step forward on the less easy path can encourage necessary growth. In today's episode, I give examples of what "presenting" can look like. (Hint: Conference presentations are just one of many.) Then I share two reasons why presenting, and not only attending, PD can be a next step in your journey toward ELT growth.  The key is to start small and move along at your own pace, making choices that are right for you in your ELT life. Don't forget to download the free 12 Meaningful ESL/EFL Resources for Adult Instruction here >>> https://12resources.eltresourceroom.com   Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page

Does just thinking about presenting or working on certain professional development activities by yourself make you feel a little nervous or overwhelmed? What if instead of going it alone you made strides toward growth with someone? In today's episode you're going to get a lot of good insight about PD collaboration from Ashley Micklos, the Curriculum Director and an instructor at the Wisconsin ESL Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. In our conversation, Ashley talks about her own professional development journey in ELT and how collaboration has been a part of that process. She also shares about the different ways she's collaborated and provides encouraging words for you to do the same.   Connect with Heather: Website LinkedIn Facebook Page