EVERYTHING EFL

Lesson planning? So much to think about!!  There are so many resources out there, so many in-class variables and methodologies to consider, it can be overwhelming.  So let's cut through all the noise and talk about what you REALLY need to think about when you're planning.  I also give you a little pep talk at the end, just to remind you how talented and creative you are.  Trust your skills...

A very good question! I give you 9 good reasons to use more dialogues in your lessons and give you a bonus activity too, of course.  This episode is short 'n' sweet. Do me a solid and fill out my survey – it only takes 2 minutes, I promise!:https://forms.gle/rcJXj7k5rTZG848x7 Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher newsletter community here: http://subscribepage.io/0a49dr Contact me: ⁠erin@refreshyo...

Less time prepping?  Is that a thing?  Oh yes.  I list 8 reasons why I've stopped spending hours upon hours prepping my lessons.  I really hope some, if not all of these points resonate with you and change the way you think about spending your free, often unpaid time planning and preparing lessons for our students.  Work smart, not hard my gorgeous teacher! Do me a solid and fill out my survey...

Yep, we're going lexical again in a very practical episode with the lovely fellow Brit and Friend of the Podcast, Harry Waters, of Renewable English fame.  We play lexical ping-pong with chunks of grammar that we think your students will find very useful to build natural spoken English. The inevitable digressions include Chris Hemsworth, football T-shirts and which TV series is the best of all...

How do you see reading as part of your students' language acquisition? Stephen Krashen certainly knows more than I do about this, so who better to turn to than the world-renowned linguist, educational researcher and activist?  In this episode, I delve into his ideas on the power of self-selected reading.  I'm not saying he's right or wrong: I'm just throwing it out there in a bite-...

Writing: a word that often strikes fear into the heart of the student. How do your students feel about writing?  How do YOU feel about teaching it? In this episode, not only do I offer 4 things to consider when doing a writing task with your students, but I also throw in a bonus writing activity at the end. Enjoy! Do me a solid and fill out my survey – it only takes 2 minutes, I promise!: https://...

Fluency MC, AKA Jason Levine, is one of a kind: he’s a teacher, trainer and knowledge entertainer. Firstly, he tells me about his unique use of hip-hop in French schools to promote repetition and rhythm in an engaging way and then we discuss the importance of learner autonomy and how to get your students hooked on English without forcing it on them. Listen to the end to get a little taste of Jason...

One thing I've noticed that teachers do a lot is talk.  Newsflash: that's NOT your job!  In this quickie episode, I offer a few ways to lower your TTT so your students can breathe, process and think.  Enjoy. Do me a solid and fill out my survey – it only takes 2 minutes, I promise!: https://forms.gle/rcJXj7k5rTZG848x7 Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher newsletter community here: http://subscrib...

I am once again joined by the thoroughly lovely Hugh Dellar.  In episode 60, we took a deep dive into what the lexical approach is and in this episode, we take it in turns suggesting some simple ways to actually implement it into your classroom practice. This episode is full of easy-to-use, low-to-no-prep ideas that you can start on straightaway.  Dive in! Connect with Hugh via his website: https:...

I'm so happy to have Csabi Berger join me.  He's a language coach.  A what, I hear you cry?  Don't worry - he'll explain the differences between teaching and coaching and how you can implement some simple strategies to promote learner autonomy. Because that's what we want, right?  We want our students to develop an interest in language outside the classroom and become better le...

I know, we don't have much time to cram everything in our lessons but some things are worth taking time over: checking your students' understanding of vocabulary and instructions.  I mean, how hard is it? Not that hard, actually but I'm sure I'm not the only one who's guilty of neglecting a few concept-checking and instruction-checking questions from time to time......not sure...

Recorded in lockdown last year, I've been saving this one - Olly Richards is a linguistic powerhouse.  What better person to ask about language learning?   Do your students read?  Do they dislike reading?  Why?  Olly gives you real food for thought on this fascinating episode.  We covered so much ground.  This episode may well change your approach to reading and you may want to give it more pr...

Reflection.  It cannot be underestimated as part of your students' (and your) learning process.  In this lesson, I talk about the benefits of reflection and then dive into a lesson plan that you can copy, adapt and do with your students.  Best of all, click on the link below and you can have the lesson Powerpoint for your very own! Change it, add to it, do what you like with it: you know your...

We all have them: those students who finish a task before everyone else.  How can you keep them engaged and occupied?  If you think the answer is doing an extra worksheet, you've come to the right place because that is DEFINITELY NOT on this list!  We can do better than that: give your students challenges; make them think; get them moving; give them room to breathe; all of the above. My challe...

In an ideal world, our students would spend all their spare time working on their English skills and be highly motivated to do so.  But in reality buuuuut................we all know that for some students, learning English is a mountain.  How do you help your students take those first steps? In this episode, I give you tips on how to approach learning goals with your class and also how to keep on...

Grammar stress?   Not sure how to teach it effectively?   Not enough time for meaningful practice because you've just spent half the lesson teaching ALL the rules? This week, I chat with the ever-so-lovely ELT powerhouse Jo Gakonga.  We talk about the issues surrounding teaching and learning grammar, how you can teach it more effectively and with less stress, and more importantly, how your stu...

Positivity is everything when learning.  It can open up so many doors: confidence-building, community building, promoting a healthy self-esteem........here are 10 super-easy, no-to-low prep ways for adding some positivity into your class. Click below for your free pdf: https://www.subscribepage.com/p5j4r6?fbclid=IwAR29a4TH6hgAz8G1OlFOCjt1m3-_1xghnfnm2oRqUh2TL_sr3-KfQ92f-aI Theme music by @sean.cas...

I can't believe it's been almost two, count 'em, two years, since I've taught in an actual classroom with actual students just (an officially designated number of) metres away.  Yes, things are a bit different: social distancing, no handouts, no mingling......but the principles of the first lesson (regardless of how you're teaching) are always the same: get to know your student...

Presentations.  A word that often strikes fear into the heart of the most capable student.  I take you through the things I've learnt from experts and stuff I do when prepping my students for a presentation.  Do you really need to be this thorough?  I say yes.  Have a listen and see whether you agree with me.  I approach presentations from 3 angles: psychologically, visually and linguistically...

Ho Ho Ho!  I'm rereleasing my fabulous Christmas episode from 2021.  I'm joined by my lovely friend and teacher Sinead McMorrow, and we hope you can use some of these fun activities, some of them sent in by our lovely followers.   These activities are suitable for different levels, nationalities and mainstream schools. Dive in and have some festive fun in your classroom!   Watch this episo...

Ever wondered why your projects with students fall a little flat? I give you some quick, practical advice on how to structure you projects and presentations with 4 easy steps to follow: pre-project tasks, delivering instructions, the project itself and the presentation, should you choose to follow up with one. Did I miss anything? If you found this episode useful, hit that subscribe button and I’l...

So much vocabulary, so little time!  How can you mix it up and keep it interesting for your students when it's time to review all that stuff they've learnt?  And lets not forget about all that emergent language you've been taking note of.  Here are my top ten ways to review, reuse and recycle that language in subsequent lessons. Grab your pen and get ready for some old classics! We sho...

My guest this week is the wonderful Ola Kowalska.  Teacher, school owner, CELTA Trainer, mentor, business coach, mum and all-round superwoman, Ola gives you her top tips for breaking out and starting your own business. Whether you want to teach students or other teachers, her invaluable advice is a great starting point. We chatted about pandemic-perspective changes, headspace, wanky business buzz...

This week I am joined once again by the inspirational Anjalee Beverly (check out Episode 36 if you haven't already). She is all about building community in the class room before really getting down the nitty-gritty of teaching. Anjalee is a mainstream school teacher: how many of these ideas can you steal and adapt from this episode for your class? 1. Class Agreements 2. Affirmations 3. Communi...

In the second of the 'I'm on holiday so I've decided to give you a couple of different episodes' series, I delve into the infamous and sweeping romance that is New English File's Rob and Jenny.  I give you a run-down of the story told throughout the course book series and attempt to critically analyze their relationship. Warning: it ain't pretty.  Don’t forget to engage on...