TEFL Unlocked

Join Luan and Mairead as they chat about the power of storytelling in the ESL classroom, sharing practical ideas, personal experiences, and simple ways to make language learning engaging and memorable.

Not sure what to say in your teacher introduction video? Join us as we explore eight simple strategies to help you create a short, engaging and professional video that captures attention, builds trust and helps fill your classroom with eager learners.

Confused by CEFR levels? Join Luan and Mairead as they break down A1 to C2, explain learner abilities, and discuss why understanding language levels matters for teachers.

 Inspired by discussions from our practical face-to-face TTA training sessions, this episode tackles real classroom management situations and practical responses that teachers can apply immediately.

Feeling tired, unmotivated, or stuck in a teaching rut? Luan and Mairead share practical strategies to protect your energy, prevent burnout, and rediscover balance

In Part 2 of Don’t do that!, Luan and Mairead explore more common teaching habits that can unintentionally hold students back — from overplanning to missing signs of confusion in the classroom.  

This episode is a survival guide for new English teachers. Luan and Mairead unpack six common classroom mistakes that quietly damage student confidence, participation, and progress.

 Luan and Mairead tackle one of the biggest challenges for EFL teachers—classroom management. They discuss routines, pace, instructions, and relationships, and explain why behaviour is often a symptom, not the root problem.

Dictionaries are often overlooked in language teaching — but they can be one of the most useful classroom tools. Luan and Mairead share simple, effective dictionary activities alongside advice on choosing the right level of challenge for your learners.

How can you use the internet in your classroom without students going off-task? in this episode, we share tips to help you structure online activities, keep learners focused, and promote meaningful language use. 

 In part two, Luan and Mairead further explore a range of classroom tasks designed for larger groups, showing how clear structure and peer interaction can support active communication across different activity types.

Big groups can feel overwhelming, especially at first. This episode shares simple ways to manage noise, structure your lessons, and keep students speaking without trying to control every moment.

 In this special Q&A episode, we answer real questions from TEFL teachers worldwide—covering first jobs, post-certification uncertainty, and how to move forward with confidence in a changing industry.  

In this episode, Luan and Mairead explore the benefits of peer teaching and share practical strategies that boost engagement, encourage interaction, and bring more fun into the classroom.

  In this episode, we explore how to support neurodiverse learners in ESL classrooms. Discover practical strategies like structured lessons, multi-sensory activities, and flexible participation to create an inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Stuck in your teaching routine? This episode explores how observing fellow teachers can spark new ideas, improve classroom techniques, and help you grow through reflection, collaboration, and small, practical changes.

Curious about how AI can fit into your English lessons? Luan and Mairead explore how AI can save planning time, spark creativity, and personalise learning — without replacing the insight, care, and human connection that make teaching effective.

 In this follow-up episode, Luan and Mairead share practical, low-prep speaking activities for teens at every level. Discover simple classroom tasks that build confidence, encourage interaction, and get students speaking naturally.

Struggling to keep teens motivated in your English lessons? Luan and Mairead reveal top strategies for making lessons relevant, interactive, and fun – helping teens communicate naturally and confidently.

In this practical episode of TEFL Unlocked, Luan and Mairead break down the 5 stages of an effective reading lesson — from warmer to follow-on speaking — and share what to do, what to avoid, and why staging matters.

 Luan and Mairead break down why reading aloud often fails to develop comprehension, fluency, or natural pronunciation, and share strategies to make reading activities more meaningful and engaging for all learners.

New to TEFL? Join Luan and Mairead as they tackle the most common questions and worries for new teachers — from accents and grammar fears to lesson planning, classroom management, and teaching online. Gain practical advice and confidence to thrive in the classroom

Turn songs into learning tools! Luan and Mairead share practical ways to teach listening, vocabulary, grammar, and speaking — all through music, to make your English lessons more engaging, fun, and memorable.

Grammar lessons can be tricky, even for experienced teachers. In this episode, Luan and Mairead explore common mistakes—over-explaining, correcting too much, relying on worksheets—and share practical strategies to teach grammar effectively, keeping lessons engaging while helping students use language naturally.

In this episode of  TEFL Unlocked , Luan talks to Dr Andy Goldhawk about his new book,  The Language Teaching Toolkit,  and how it supports teachers at every stage of their career. Andy explains how thoughtful, adaptable activities can reduce planning time, build teacher confidence, and help learning really stick.