Learning Off the Syllabus

 In this segment of Teacher Real Talk, Farnaz and Dr. Antonella Valeo discuss the importance of mentorship in TESOL, and why mentoring doesn’t have to be about being the absolute “perfect” teacher or having all the right answers. They reflect on why mentorship doesn’t have to be a one-way relationship, and how newer teachers can have just as much to contribute as experienced ones. They also talk a...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk, HaEun Kim (PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics) and Farnaz have an enriching conversation on the complex relationship between language education and displacement. They reflect on HaEun's work with refugee educators in Kenya and what relationship-based educational programming can teach us about shifting students’ approaches to learning and knowledge. Also,...

In this segment of Director's Chair, Dr. ⁠Maria-Lourdes Lira-Gonzales ⁠ and Farnaz have a conversation about how teachers' experiences as language learners can shape the way they teach. Drawing on Maria’s own journey across languages and cultures, they talk about accents, confidence, identity, and the ways other people’s responses can influence how comfortable learners might feel using a l...

In this segment of Student Voice Spotlight, Farnaz sits down with one of her former students, Adil, to have a thoughtful conversation about the realities of learning English while navigating work, stress, and long-term goals. Adil and Farnaz met during her time teaching at Conestoga College in Ontario, Canada. Adil has always been a dedicated learner, motivated to reach her ultimate goal: becoming...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk , Farnaz and Daniel Shaw (MA, TESOL and Applied Linguistics) explore what meaningful student support looks like in ESL and EAP. They discuss the social, emotional, and systemic challenges that shape multilingual learners' experiences, reflect on the role of educators in building trust and connection, and examine how institutions can better support both stud...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk , Farnaz and Rebecca Schmor (PhD, Language and Literacies Education) talk about what it means to embrace plurilingualism in English language education. They get into the relationship between language and identity, examine why English-only policies continue to persist in many institutions, and discuss how these beliefs influence both teaching and learning. The c...

In this segment of Learning Off the Syllabus , Farnaz and Vanessa (MA, English Literature) have an open conversation about what it means to support student learning in the GenAI era. They unpack the shift from resistance to adaptation in educational spaces and the challenges of assessing student work in meaningful ways. They also reflect on how AI is reshaping writing support services, with studen...

In this segment of From the Director’s Chair , Farnaz has an insightful conversation with Francesca Boschetti⁠⁠ (PhD, English) about what it means to lead in a profession where perceptions of credibility and authority are often influenced by factors beyond expertise. They explore how assumptions about age and gender can shape professional experiences, leadership journeys, and the ways individuals...

In this special minisode of Learning Off the Syllabus, marking the end of Season 1 (yay!), Farnaz is joined by longtime friend, former colleague, and instructional designer ⁠Ela Kaca , as they read through and react to stories sent in by members of the TESL community; laughing at the funny ones, reflecting on the heavier ones, and sharing some of their own experiences along the way. Together, they...

In this segment of Let's Talk Design , Farnaz and Graham (MEd, Digitally-Mediated Adult Learning) have a wide-ranging conversation about teaching, assessment, and what it means to work inside systems that don’t always prioritize learning (that's right, we said it!). Discussing Graham's chapter on "The New Colonization of Educational Lifeworlds", they unpack how institutional pressures actually sha...

In this segment of Let’s Talk Design , Farnaz sits down with Ruba (PhD candidate in Language and Literacies Education) to explore what decolonizing ESL education can look like in everyday classroom practice. Throughout the conversation, Ruba shares practical examples (that move beyond tokenism and surface-level diversity) to illustrate how small acts of resistance and intentional classroom choices...

In this segment, From the Director’s Chair , Farnaz sits down with Shawna (EdD Candidate, Higher Education Leadership) to talk about the strange, often accidental paths that lead people into ESL. Starting with Shawna’s journey from studying biology (!!) to becoming an academic leader in EAL, they reflect on the role of chance, curiosity, and unexpected opportunities in shaping careers in language...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk , Farnaz and Danny (MEd, Adult Education and Community Development) explore the idea of “neutrality” in the language classroom. Reflecting on the impact of political crises, including what’s happening in Iran and Gaza, they talk about how real-world events show up in very real ways for students and colleagues in ESL and EAP programs, raising broader questions a...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk , Farnaz and Celine (MEd, Curriculum & Pedagogy) chat about the difference between empathy and compassion in language education, the importance of seeing learners as people, not just students, and the need for healthy boundaries when dealing with student trauma. They share some memorable classroom stories and reflect on how building trust and strong relatio...

In this segment of Student Voice Spotlight , Farnaz engages in a heartfelt conversation with her former student, Kemal, who shares his immigration journey and reflects on the importance of letting go, the process of unlearning, and the significance of small gestures in building relationships in a new country. They talk about the disorientation of feeling like a beginner again after years of profes...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk, Farnaz and Nataly (MA, English Literature) talk about storytelling, community, and vulnerability through the lens of Stories of Home , an online anthology that centres personal narratives from learners and educators. They reflect on what it means to ask people to share parts of themselves in a language that may not feel fully theirs, and how vulnerability, tru...

In this segment, From the Director's Chair ,  Farnaz and David (MA, TESOL) explore what it really means to lead in ESL and EAP in Canada during times of rapid change and ongoing uncertainty. They reflect on the transition from teaching to leadership, the realities behind decision-making in educational institutions, and the tension between pedagogical values and operational pressures (think class s...

In this segment of Let's Talk Design , Farnaz and Mike (MA, Applied Linguistics) get into the concept of multimodality in teaching, emphasizing its importance in accommodating diverse learning styles and engaging students in a media-saturated world. Mike shares innovative teaching approaches that incorporate multimodality, including a lesson plan that utilizes AI music creation, highlighting the n...

In this segment of Teacher Real Talk , Farnaz and Sharmaine (EdD) discuss the misconceptions surrounding English language teaching, the importance of pedagogical qualifications when it comes to curriculum design, and the impact of institutional decisions on ESL and EAP programs today. They also talk about what the future of language education might look like in light of AI and changing educational...

Welcome to Learning Off the Syllabus, where the real learning unfolds! Learning Off the Syllabus started from the conversations we don’t usually get to have in English Language Teaching; the ones after class and sometimes after hard days, over coffee (or wine) or the ones sitting quietly in our heads. I’m Farnaz. I’ve spent years teaching, designing curriculum, training educators, and working alon...