British Council - Teaching English

Welcome to this special final episode of series three of the TeachingEnglish podcast! Chris and We'am look back at some of the highlights from the series. They also talk to a panel of ELT experts who answer the questions from you, our TeachingEnglish community listeners. First, we ask IATEFL vice president  Chris Graham  about teacher associations and their benefits. Chris gives his...

In this episode, we ask the question: How can I use the creative arts to teach English? Chris and We'am talk about how art in the classroom can help create a positive atmosphere for learning. First they talk to Chrysa Papalazarou . She talks about how the use of visual art can capture the attention of learners and help develop emotional intelligence. Next, Dr Sirhajwan Idek talks about the Dau Dau...

In this episode, we ask the question: how can I motivate my students? Chris and We'am discuss what motivation in English teaching means to them and the importance of motivation for learners. First they talk to  Liam Printer , an expert in motivation in language teaching. He explains the different types of motivation and how we can help learners to really enjoy learning. Next they ta...

This week, Chris and We’am discuss critical thinking – what does it mean, why is it important and what role does it have to play in English language teaching? Chris and We’am start by talking about critical thinking as a mindset rather than as a skill separate to other learning. First up, they talk to  Paul Dummett , who helps define what we mean by critical thinking before going on to discus...

In episode 6 we ask the question: How can we use play to teach English? First up this week, Chris talks about how he has used play in his teaching, and introduces We'am to a game from his childhood days. Then they talk to  Elly Setterfield , a young learner ELT specialist. Elly discusses the Lego Foundation's definition of play and how it can be incorporated into English language teaching. Ne...

In episode 5 we ask the question: How can we assess more fairly and effectively? We start by discussing the ideas of validity, reliability and accessibility in assessment. Then we talk to  Professor Barry O'Sullivan , Head of Assessment Research and Development at the British Council. Barry explores current issues around fair assessment and how it might change in the future. Finally, we...

In this episode, we discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on English language teaching. We start by discussing what AI is and its potential to make our lives as teachers easier. We talk to  Svetlana Kandybovich , an AI educator and expert from Montenegro, about the pros and cons of AI. Svetlana emphasises the importance of human reasoning and the role of the teacher in the learning pr...

Welcome to episode 3 of series 3 of our podcast. In this episode, we ask the question: do I need to sound like a 'native speaker'? After discussing what we mean by native and non-native speakers of English, we have a conversation with  Professor Jenny Jenkins , emeritus professor of Global Englishes. Jenny argues that 'native English' is a loaded and problematic term and she draws o...

It's episode 2 of our new series, and this week we are discussing how to teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively. We talk to Jo Cummins , freelance ELT teacher, trainer and materials writer. Jo shares some ideas for communicative activities in the classroom that can help students move from passive grammar and vocabulary knowledge to active use of language for communication. We also look...

The TeachingEnglish podcast is back! In episode 1, we're discussing how we can achieve gender equity in the classroom. We talk to Dr Aisling O'Boyle , Director of the Centre for Language Education Research at Queen's University, Belfast. We look at how discrimination against women in areas like education has deep historical roots, but we now have more useful language to discuss it. We talk about h...

In this final episode of series 2, we ask 19 experienced ELT professionals to give us their top tips for teaching English effectively. These tips cover five key areas, namely: the importance of personalisation and context; criticality; humanistic approaches to teaching language; using social media; and general pedagogy. These concise, focused suggestions will hopefully maximise the learning experi...

Looking at the world of ELT from the perspective of fairness, justice, and equity, there is much to admire. However, it is far from perfect, and in this episode we look at some of those areas in which significant improvement could be made. In our field report, we hear from three individuals whose organisations are trying to make ELT a better place in terms of fairness in working conditions, inclus...

Building on what we discussed in episode 4 about ‘Academic English’, we take a step back and look at the wider context within which it sits – English for Specific Purposes (ESP). At first, who better than Viviana Cortes – the editor-in-chief of the Journal of English for Specific Purposes – to share with us an overview of ESP, discussing its history, present and its future. In our field report, we...

Teacher professional development is a crucial part of being a good teacher. However, we often think that ‘good training’ can only be obtained from ‘expert trainers’ at large conferences or through online workshops. And whilst these can definitely be hugely beneficial, many teachers forget that there is so much that they can learn from their own colleagues in their own contexts. In our interview, w...

Many parts of the world are currently experiencing significant levels of violence and conflict. The role of education and language learning in these areas is very important, and can provide short and long term benefits for people in these situations. This episode is released on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and in recognition of this our field report focuses on a Britis...

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your context, story will almost certainly be an important part of the teaching and learning context. However, what is meant by the word’ story’ may differ from place to place, ranging from the type of traditional tale found in coursebooks, to oral narratives created by students themselves, to digital creations found online. To develop our understanding o...

Just the phrase ‘academic English’ can sometimes make students – and teachers - feel nervous and afraid. In this episode, in the company of Tracey Costley from the University of Essex, we show that academic English doesn’t have to be quite as scary as it sounds, and that academic English can actually be accessible for everyone. In the field report, we find out about a fantastic initiative between...

Teachers often ask to what extent they should be responsible for teaching challenging material in the classroom, for example topics such as sex, sexuality, racism, politics, religion and economic inequality. Given that in most teaching situations, teachers will have to teach difficult issues at some point, it is important to think about the best way to do this, in order to minimise any problems or...

In recent times, the influence of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the metaverse in our daily lives has increased. This influence has also been very noticeable in English language teaching in many parts of the world. In this episode, we talk to Nergiz Kern, a leading expert in this field, who talks to us about the past, present and future of these educational technologies. She shares w...

It’s the first episode of Series 2 of Teaching English with the British Council, and we’ve got world cup fever. We’re looking at how teachers can use football to teach English – as well as other languages – effectively. We interview the founders of Languagecaster and Multilingua FC, who provide a range of resources and materials to help students interested in football improve their English languag...

In our second series of this ten-part podcast series from the British Council, we try and provide solutions to some of the key questions being asked by English teachers around the world. Each episode explores a specific topic through interviews, a focus on recent developments and reports on British Council initiatives in English language teaching. Practical show notes and trans...

When working in a busy and stressful educational environment, it’s important that teachers support and help each other as much as possible. In this episode, we hear from several teacher networks around the world about how they support their members, the projects they are doing, and the impact which they are having. Following this, we speak to Pauline Blake-Johnston, who has a wide range of experie...

COVID-19 has affected so much of how we deliver education and language teaching. As schools (in some parts of the world) return to something approaching normality, it’s important to consider the mental health impact of the pandemic. Confronted with other challenging issues as well, such as climate anxiety, students are looking to teachers for mental health support more than ever before. In this ep...

Students’ home languages should be seen assets in the English language classroom – but all too often they are viewed as problematic and detrimental. In this episode, the writers of the British Council publication Using multilingual approaches: moving from theory to practice share activities you can use in your classroom that celebrate the languages your students speak. Following these practical su...

We are now into the last decade of the United Nations’ Sustainable Goals, and their emphasis on promoting education, improving health outcomes and eradicating poverty have never been more crucial. Despite their importance, many students around the world know little about them. In this podcast, we hear from three ELT writers who contributed articles to the British Council publication Integrating gl...