The DIESOL Podcast | EdTech in ESL

What are "Agents" and "GPTs" and most importantly, what does it matter in the ELT setting? We break it down and talk about some of the implications for what these "next wave" implementations of AI might mean for you and your future teaching. Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/94 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe to the show on  YouTube Subscribe on Patr...

This month we interviewed Clare Kaneko, current president of JALT ( Japan Association of Language Teaching) . We spent time chatting about the mission of the organization, how it's structured, and what they do as a PD organization for language teachers. We also discussed the upcoming 2023 JALT conference happening from the 24th to the 27th of November in Tsukuba Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/93 Wan...

All good things come to an end. Do not worry! We are still here, just no longer on Twitter. This year we are saying our official goodbye to Twitter. Brent and Ixchell discuss why they made the decision to leave the platform and why they felt it no longer aligned with the reason they initially joined. Have you been considering transitioning to other platforms for similar reasons? We have a few tips...

We all know students can have some scary habits that block their language learning. To step into the Halloween Season, listen in as we share some ideas about how to help them escaped the "haunted house" of bad habits! Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/91 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe to the show on YouTube Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Coffee...

Ryan O'Donnell has been building out slide decks to play classroom versions of famous game shows for years. Join us as he shares some favorites and we figure out applications for ESOL classrooms! Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/90 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe to the show on YouTube Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Coffee Thank you!!

Every student has some amazing technology in the palm of their hands, but how often do we ask them to use their cameras in class? In this episode, Ixchell & Brent explore some possibilities for students to better engage with language through their cameras! Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/89 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe to the show on YouTube Sub...

There's a lot of concern around AI and what will happen to teaching jobs, especially in the field of TESOL. Are they legitimate? Will AI Kill TESOL? Certainly disruption is inevitable, so listen in as Brent and Ixchell discuss the possibilities and where concerns are legitimate vs where people can take control of their own teaching futures. Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/88 Want to support the show?...

Happy beginning of summer! ChatGPT isn't even a year old and we have seen the number of tools relying on AI grow exponentially since its inception. Is there something you want to try out before starting back in the fall? Here's what we have for you! In this episode Brent and Ixchell give you twelve AI tools to explore this summer at your leisure. Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/87 Want to support the...

Join in on this open conversation with Katie McNamara about Media Literacy, changes in teacher preparedness for working with ELLs, developing a sense of inclusion, and more! Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/80 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Coffee Thank you!!

School's out for the summer! Many students will return to their home country and take a break from the books. Inevitably, there will be less language interaction in English, and students worry about their skills decreasing over the summer. How can students ensure they still practice independently until the return of fall term? In this episode Brent and Ixchell share some fun ideas for students to...

Why are language learners so drawn to learning the curse words so often as they begin playing with their target language? Should we be teaching cursing in class? In what context? Explicit language has huge cultural implications and is one of the first things ELLs learn, but we almost never teach it. Listen in as we discuss teachers' responsibilities around bad language. Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.or...

Join us as we speak with Taiwanese ESOL instructor Maj. Jojo. who has begun incorporating ChatGPT into his language classes for EFL learners in Taiwan. Show Notes: www. DIESOL.org/83 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Coffee Thank you!!

How necessary or useful are idioms for language learners? Can idioms be more of a roadblock at different language proficiency levels? Join Brent and Ixchell in a conversation about how to strike a balance in teaching and exploring language through idioms. Show Notes: www. DIESOL.org/82 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Co...

The conversation around Artificial Intelligence is only starting to grow. There's a lot to continue to explore. In previous episodes we made predictions about the future of AI in our field, then we discussed theory with Eric Roth upon the launch of ChatGPT. Now that we've had some time to play with it, we're talking practical uses in the classroom and in the office.  Of course, this conversation i...

In this episode, special guest, Sallie Finklea joins us to discuss English War Games, a unique approach to gamification in the ESOL classroom. We chat about how she comes up with language-related scenarios that promote speaking and authentic use of language while supporting autonomous learning. High tech or low tech, this approach can be applied to engage students in week-long segments of a concep...

Ixchell & Brent break down students names and nicknames and cover the blurry lines between encouraging them to use their given names, helping them understand their "English name" meanings, and respecting the names that students choose for themselves. Show Notes:  www. DIESOL.org/79 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Coffee...

In Episode 78, we sit down with Jose Goulette to talk about simple and practical ways to engage students and motivate learning. Jose has easy ways to turn everyday resources like Uno cards and strings & pencils into fun learning activities with the class. Join in to hear how Jose integrates Gamification & Game Based Learning into his classes without a lot of extra effort.  Show Notes:  www. DIESOL...

Happy Year of the Rabbit! In this episode, Brent and Ixchell share 23 tools to explore or have on your radar. AI and implications of ChatGPT are taking the education world by storm--how will new tools shape and define the way we approach teaching? What oldies but goodies are worth looking at again in 2023? Join us as we talk through what caught our attention for the new year. Show Notes:  www. DIE...

A couple of weeks ago, ChatGPT exploded onto the scene, and teachers across the globe are scrambling to understand how this automated writing technology will affect every aspect of their teaching, pedagogy, and careers. While nobody has the answers, it's important to open up the conversation and make sure ESOL Teachers have an idea of what they're stepping into. This open conversation with Profess...

Flippity.net has provided a handy way to turn basic information into interactive games and resources for years. Brent & Ixchell look at a number of ways TESOL Teachers can use Flippity in the ESOL Classroom. If you have any of your ideas, please share them using the show notes below! Show Notes: www. DIESOL.org/75 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe...

The connection between coding and teaching English Language Learners may seem like a far stretch, but Holly Sawyer has made the link and has helped students learn practical, future ready skills at the same time as improving their language. Join us as we hear from Holly about her innovative approach to teaching English with coding, game development, robotics, and more.  Show Notes: www. DIESOL.org/...

What do we mean when we speak of accessibility in the language classroom? Are there guidelines available for assessing what we currently provide for our students? What factors do we need to keep in mind when making materials accessible for language learners? In this episode Brent and Ixchell discuss the importance of accessibility in TESOL and share some points to consider to ensure your material...

All of us are guilty of implementing some "not best" practices. For this spooky special episode, Brent & Ixchell discuss 13 of the worst offenders in the English Language Learning classroom. How many of these are YOU guilty of?? 👻 Show Notes: www. DIESOL.org/72 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in your podcatcher! Subscribe on Patreon   or  Buy us a Coffee Thank you!!

We know that speaking another language helps English language teachers to understand and support language learners use of their L1 as a tool to navigate and negotiate the L2. But what about teachers who might be monolinguals? How can they help ELLs language learning experience? What is a Heritage Language (HL) and how does it come into play as a student learns English? Join us in this episode to f...

What are choice boards? How can we differentiate instruction for multiple skill levels and in different modalities? Do choice boards support creativity and engagement? In this episode, we share research on differentiating instruction with choice boards and give some tools and ideas to start building your own. Show Notes: www. DIESOL.org/70 Want to support the show? Leave us a review right here in...