Talking TESL

It can be very challenging to be a young teacher in secondary. Students push your boundaries and question your legitimacy as an authority figure based on your appearance, and it can be difficult to know how to approach these situations. In this 15-minute episode of Talking TESL, B.Ed. student Yasmine shares one such experience while in a secondary internship. She explains her feelings and how she...

Sometimes struggling during an internship (or even in your first year) can make you feel like you are not in the right field. B.Ed. alumnus Gonzalo talks about an experience that tested his resolve, and ponders the question whether teachers are born or made. Have a 15-minute teaching story you would like to share? We want to hear! Send us a message via any of our social media platforms. Music by N...

Many students would like to teach abroad after finishing their teaching degree. However, the process of finding the right school, as well as applying, interviewing, and preparing for the new experience can be daunting and overwhelming. On top of that, teaching in a different country can feel like stepping into the unknown, linguistically and culturally. In this episode of Talking TESL, B.Ed alumna...

Typically, teaching is a unionized job. Unions are wonderful support systems that advocate on behalf of workers. However, sometimes at the beginning of your teaching career, it can be difficult to understand exactly how your union is there to help you. Especially in your first year, it is often challenging to find the time to really understand the ins and outs of your union. To answer all union-re...

Teaching in CEGEP is a career goal for many teachers. This educational system, which is unique to Quebec, acts as an intermediary between high school and university. It is a time where students can explore their interests and transition gently into a stage of life with more responsibility. Teaching in this system can be a lot of fun – and a lot of work! In this episode, Sivan and her friend Alex s...

One unique aspect of the TESL program is that we have numerous students who are also mothers. In a very special interview, we sit down with two mothers working towards their teaching degree. They discuss their personal challenges, some tips, and how they feel motherhood has influenced their experience in the program. Music by Bensound

To progress in our field we need to constantly be thinking critically about current practices and the status quo of teaching. In this 3-part series, we have defined critical pedagogy and discussed its history and relevance to our current teaching conditions. We have also explored the neocolonial aspects of teaching ESL abroad in developing countries. In the final episode of this series, we'll be b...

In this second part of our series on critical pedagogy, we cast a critical eye on perhaps one of the most familiar TESL contexts: Teaching English as a Second Language abroad, especially in developing countries. There is no question that for many teachers, TESL represents an enriching travel opportunity. Many teachers begin their careers on gap years teaching in Asian countries, where the demand f...

“When we teach, we legitimize certain views of the world, which means that others are disregarded.” (Grady, 1991) Teaching is an act of empowering students to become independent thinkers and actors in society. But how can we do that? What does taking on that role demand of us teachers? Critical Pedagogy is a teaching philosophy coined by educator and philosopher Paulo Freire in his seminal work, P...

Internships are an integral part of the TESL program. They are an opportunity to learn through doing, make connections with others in the field, and put the theory learned in class into actual practice. The internships may represent one's first foray into actual teaching in front of students. They can be all at once exciting, terrifying, challenging, and rewarding. In this episode, we are joined b...

The education system here in Quebec is full of programs, organizational structures and terms that to those unfamiliar can feel quite daunting and overwhelming. How does our evaluation system work? What are the competencies teachers must cover throughout the year? What kind of terminology does a new teacher need to know in order to navigate our educational system? In this episode, we are joined by...

Assessing students can be a point of stress for a lot of teachers. There are so many questions to consider: are my assessments fair? Have they been scaffolded? Is there a golden ratio between formative and summative assessments? What format should they be? Are my rubrics clear? Do my assessments reflect the competencies? In this episode we are joined by Professor Heike Neumann to discuss this cruc...

Hi fellow TESL-enthusiasts! Talking TESL will be taking a month-long break. But don't worry! We'll be back in September right in time for the new school semester with plenty new interviews featuring teachers, TESL specialists, learners, and TESL students. Stay tuned, and we wish you all a wonderful summer! 

The first year teaching can be exciting as it is daunting. It's that step TESL students have been preparing years for. To really get into the nitty-gritty of that first year, we are joined by two graduates of the B.Ed. in TESL, Pilar and Rosa Li, to discuss their diverse experiences. How can new graduates best prepare for the year ahead? What do these new teachers wish they knew? What were some of...

CEGEP is a wonderful institution unique to Quebec. Rather than diving straight into university at the tender age of 18, students are able to explore their interests and get a taste of independence. The CEGEP years are a special time for many students, as they are usually one step in childhood, and one in adulthood. It is also a fascinating teaching environment, where oftentimes teachers play a rol...

For some, grammar has a reputation for being the "boring" aspect of language learning. However, grammar is fascinating! All languages have their own unique grammatical system, and there is so much potential for it to be taught in a way that is engaging. For that reason, in this episode we are joined by Professor Mark McAndrews to talk all about the history and different approaches to teaching gram...

Teacher shortages in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, often force these Inuit communities to hire teachers from “the south.” For these teachers, taking these contracts can represent a life-changing decision that is equal parts rewarding and challenging. In this episode, we are visited again by Sebastien, a graduate of the B.Ed. in TESL. This time, we discuss Sebastien’s experience teaching in Kuujjuaq, N...

Teaching in a different country is a goal for many students pursuing their teaching degree. In this episode, we are joined by Sebastien, a graduate of the B.Ed. in TESL, who is here to share his experience teaching in Colombia, South America. Why did he decide to teach in Colombia? What kind of culture shock did he face? How did he adapt to the new teaching environment? How did he learn Spanish? M...

Thinking of teaching in high school? In this episode of Talking TESL, we are joined by Nicolas, a graduate of the B.Ed. in TESL who is happy in his career teaching secondary. We discuss Nick’s teaching trajectory after graduation, classroom management techniques, the highs and lows of high school teaching, and how teaching high school involves being a part-time psychologist. Music by Nomerodin1

More often than not, the best way to learn is by doing. In this episode, we are joined by Catherine, an undergraduate student completing her B.Ed. in TESL. She decided to take some time off from school in the middle of her studies in order to teach in high school. We discuss her experiences as a young teacher, how she went about finding an appropriate contract, and how she dealt with classroom man...

Many B.Ed. graduates aspire to teach in elementary schools after graduation. In this episode, we are joined by Alex, who is a graduate of the B.Ed. in TESL at Concordia University. Alex teaches at an elementary school in Laval, and he is here to talk about his day-to-day life, how to land jobs after graduating, and the importance of making mistakes and constant reinvention. Music by Nomerodin1

Hello TESL enthusiasts! Welcome to Talking TESL, the official podcast of Concordia University’s TESL Resource Centre. We’re here to help you survive and thrive throughout your teaching degree program and starting off your teaching career! With Talking TESL you can expect interviews with B.Ed students to give you advice about the program, conversations with ESL teachers at elementary schools, high...