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What do we do when feedback stings, a grammar sentence stops us in our tracks or the lesson ends before we've wrapped things up? In this episode, we explore three very familiar teaching moments. Gav tends to apologise first when a learner is unhappy, while Em wants to investigate before accepting all the blame. We discuss involving the school and how Gav adjusted a conversational class when one learner wanted more grammar and vocabulary. Em shares a Business English negotiation sentence that caught her off guard. We unpack the conditional and discuss the follow-up email that helped her return to the learner's question. Finally, we compare organised recaps with positive, confidence-building finishes, including homework, attendance checks and those unexpected spare minutes. Articles and free practical downloads How Should English Teachers Respond to Negative Feedback? - S07E19https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-english-teachers-respond-to-negative-feedback-s07e19/ What Should Teachers Do When a Learner Complains About Too Much Small Talk? - S07E19https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-should-teachers-do-when-a-learner-complains-about-too-much-small-talk-s07e19/ What Should Teachers Do When an Unexpected Grammar Question Stops a Lesson? - S07E19https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-should-teachers-do-when-an-unexpected-grammar-question-stops-a-lesson-s07e19/ Why Does ‘Providing You Ordered More Units’ Use a Past Form? - S07E19https://howtoenglishpod.com/why-does-providing-you-ordered-more-units-use-a-past-form-s07e19/ How Can English Teachers End a Lesson with Clear Learning and a Positive Finish? - S07E19https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-english-teachers-end-a-lesson-with-clear-learning-and-a-positive-finish-s07e19/ Questions answered• How should teachers respond to negative feedback?• Should we apologise before investigating a complaint?• What if a learner wants less small talk and more exercises?• What can we do when we cannot explain a grammar sentence immediately?• Why does providing you ordered more units use a past form?• How can we finish a lesson with clear learning and a friendly goodbye? Chapters00:00 Welcome and today's questions01:03 Handling negative feedback04:53 Should we apologise first?09:02 Getting the school involved10:15 A complaint about too much small talk13:21 Unexpected language questions14:34 A negotiation sentence with providing17:23 Following up after the lesson18:31 How do you end a lesson?24:56 Checking next lesson's attendance25:24 Using spare minutes27:05 Wrapping up the podcast Teaching note: providing introduces a condition in the negotiation example. Our brief noun/gerund comments in the recording are a slip. Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod TEFL ESL EnglishTeaching TeacherDevelopment BusinessEnglish LessonPlanning

Can an English lesson be too much fun? A classroom game might be exciting for some students and stressful for others. So how do we keep lessons enjoyable while giving everyone time to think and learn?Join us, Gav & Em, as we explore classroom fun, cold coffee, cancelled lessons and the teaching habits we take home with us.Em remembers a lively grammar game that became overwhelming for one learner. We discuss competition, time limits and different learning speeds, plus ways to check whether students remember the language as well as the game.Then Gav introduces Cold Coffee Syndrome: when a student has so much to say during a coffee-shop lesson that their drink goes cold. A speaking success? Possibly. A waste of good coffee? Definitely worth discussing.We also chat about:• Whether English teachers ever switch off from noticing grammar and vocabulary.• How hours of online teaching might affect eye contact, interruptions and everyday conversation.• The mixed feelings behind cancelled lessons, from unexpected free time to guilt and worries about lost income.• Whether jokes about clauses, claws and grammatical tenses work with learners, or mainly entertain their teachers.There’s also a little unfinished business from our previous episode involving the word discover and a helping of humble pie.Whether you teach online, abroad or in a classroom, come and compare notes with us on the everyday realities of teaching and learning English.What about you? Do timed games bring out your competitive side or make you freeze? And how do you really feel when a student cancels?📖 Read the related articles from S07E02:When Classroom Fun Becomes Stress: How to Adapt Fast-Paced TEFL Gameshttps://howtoenglishpod.com/when-classroom-fun-becomes-stress-how-to-adapt-fast-paced-tefl-games-s07e02/How to Run a Conversation Lesson in a Coffee Shop Without Exhausting the Learnerhttps://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-run-a-conversation-lesson-in-a-coffee-shop-without-exhausting-the-learner-s07e02/How to Use Real-Life English Materials Without Losing Student Interesthttps://howtoenglishpod.com/how-to-use-real-life-english-materials-without-losing-student-interest-s07e02/Online TEFL Communication: Managing Turn-Taking, Eye Contact and Pair Workhttps://howtoenglishpod.com/online-tefl-communication-managing-turn-taking-eye-contact-and-pair-work-s07e02/What Should Freelance English Teachers Do About Cancelled Lessons?https://howtoenglishpod.com/what-should-freelance-english-teachers-do-about-cancelled-lessons-s07e02/Should English Teachers Use Grammar and Vocabulary Jokes in Class?https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-english-teachers-use-grammar-and-vocabulary-jokes-in-class-s07e02/🎧 Explore the episode guide:https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-s07e02/🌐 Find free teaching resources, lesson downloads and more podcast discussions:https://howtoenglishpod.com/☕ Support the podcast and buy us a hot drink, which we’ll try to finish before it goes cold:https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodMusic: “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Internationalhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/#TEFL #TeachingEnglish #HowToEnglish

Why do students ask for a coursebook at the start of a course, then a few weeks later ask if they can just talk instead? In S07E18 of How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em, we look at why learners can lose interest in coursebooks and how teachers can balance structure with the conversations students actually want. We also ask where teachers really learn their best teaching lessons, whether teachers should learn their students’ language and culture before working abroad, how to say goodbye at the end of a course, whether an English teacher needs to be a walking dictionary, and how AI can help teachers and learners without replacing the learning. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 What’s coming up01:57 Why students stop wanting the coursebook05:20 Why coursebooks can feel repetitive07:43 Coursebook or conversation?08:26 Test-teach-test09:20 Mid-course reflection10:43 Where teachers learn their best lessons13:50 Learning from negative feedback15:27 A difficult first lesson abroad18:24 Should teachers learn students’ language and culture?20:19 How should teachers say goodbye?21:27 Does a teacher need to be a dictionary?23:18 Pros and cons of AI25:45 How Gav uses AI in lessons26:52 AI for tailor-made materials27:47 AI-written emails and learner confidence28:44 What can’t AI replace?30:12 Practical AI ideas31:48 Final questions READ THE S07E18 ARTICLES Why Do Students Ask for a Coursebook Then Stop Using It?https://howtoenglishpod.com/why-do-students-ask-for-a-coursebook-then-stop-using-it-s07e18/ Where Do English Teachers Learn Their Best Teaching Lessons?https://howtoenglishpod.com/where-do-english-teachers-learn-their-best-teaching-lessons-s07e18/ Should English Teachers Learn Their Students’ Language Before Teaching Abroad?https://howtoenglishpod.com/should-english-teachers-learn-their-students-language-before-teaching-abroad-s07e18/ How Should an English Teacher Say Goodbye to Students?https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-an-english-teacher-say-goodbye-to-students-s07e18/ Does an English Teacher Need to Be a Walking Dictionary?https://howtoenglishpod.com/does-an-english-teacher-need-to-be-a-walking-dictionary-s07e18/ How Should English Teachers and Learners Use AI?https://howtoenglishpod.com/how-should-english-teachers-and-learners-use-ai-s07e18/ EPISODE GUIDEhttps://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-why-do-students-stop-using-coursebooks-teaching-lessons-ai-goodbyes-s07e18/ More practical teaching articles, mini-lessons, checklists and free resources:howtoenglishpod.com

What helps you keep learning English when your confidence takes a dip? A little encouragement, somewhere comfortable to practise and a reminder that you’re already doing something impressive! In this episode of How to English with Gav & Em, we celebrate our community with five guest teachers. Originally recorded at the end of 2022, this year-end special offers practical mini-lessons for teachers and learners. Aleksandra shares phrases for cheering someone on. Mahi suggests ways to practise when speaking English feels embarrassing. Veronica explores gonna, wanna and other reductions in American English. Tanguy untangles beside and besides, while Dr Anne challenges the idea that learning more than one language causes confusion. We also discuss active listening, revisit your lovely feedback and remember that first lessons can feel daunting for students too. And yes, Em even treats us to a little singing! READ THE ARTICLES How Can English Speakers Encourage Someone Without Choosing the Wrong Tone? With Aleksandrahttps://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-english-speakers-encourage-someone-without-choosing-the-wrong-tone-with-aleksandra-s03e25/ How Can English Learners Take a First Speaking Step When They Feel Embarrassed? With Mahihttps://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-english-learners-take-a-first-speaking-step-when-they-feel-embarrassed-with-mahi-s03e25/ How Can Learners Recognise Gonna, Wanna and Other Reduced Forms in Spoken English? With Veronicahttps://howtoenglishpod.com/how-can-learners-recognise-gonna-wanna-and-other-reduced-forms-in-spoken-english-with-veronica-s03e25/ What Is the Difference Between Beside and Besides? With Tanguyhttps://howtoenglishpod.com/what-is-the-difference-between-beside-and-besides-with-tanguy-s03e25/ Does Using a Home Language Have to Conflict with Learning English? With Dr Annehttps://howtoenglishpod.com/does-using-a-home-language-have-to-conflict-with-learning-english-with-dr-anne-s03e25/ Episode guide:https://howtoenglishpod.com/episode-guide-december-special-s03e25/ GUESTS Aleksandra:https://www.instagram.com/distant_eng/http://distanteng.tilda.ws/ Mahi:https://www.instagram.com/english.withmahi/ Veronica:https://www.instagram.com/wannaspeakbyveroniq/https://www.youtube.com/@wannaspeakbyveroniq Tanguy:https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelearning_/https://www.nextlevelearning.fr/ Dr Anne:https://www.instagram.com/laenglishtutor/https://linktr.ee/laenglishtutor Enjoy the show? Buy us a coffee or tea:https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Thank you to everyone who listened, shared an activity, contributed a lesson or sent us a kind word. Your encouragement keeps us going! CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and supporting the show00:58 Celebrating teachers and learners02:06 Listener feedback and welcoming first lessons08:08 Why active listening matters10:48 Introducing our five guest teachers12:17 Aleksandra: phrases to encourage learners14:39 Mahi: overcoming embarrassment when speaking English16:48 Veronica: reductions in American English18:11 Reductions versus contractions26:25 Tanguy: beside or besides?29:56 Dr Anne: learning more than one language33:49 More listener feedback and thank-yous37:14 Looking ahead to the next year38:04 Final goodbyes

What should you do when a grammar lesson starts falling apart? Stick rigidly to your plan, stop and reset, or follow the language your students are actually producing? In S07E17 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em discuss the reality of teaching when lessons refuse to behave themselves. Em shares a present continuous lesson involving unclear instructions, technical problems, students in different locations and an activity that gradually drifts away from the original plan. This raises a bigger TEFL question: when should teachers stick to their lesson plan, and when is it better to go with the flow? They explore emergent language after a student unexpectedly moves the lesson towards the past continuous, how teachers can “park” a useful question without ignoring it, and whether one student’s curiosity should change the direction of the whole class. Gav and Em also compare their teaching energy across the week. Is Monday teaching different from Friday teaching? Do teachers correct more when they are fresh? Can being tired sometimes produce a more relaxed, natural classroom? Finally, they remember teachers who influenced them years ago. What made those teachers special, and what can reflecting on your own favourite teacher reveal about the teacher you want to become? Plus, Gav explains how howtoenglishpod.com is developing into a practical resource bank of TEFL articles, episode guides, teaching ideas and podcast discussions. 📚 RELATED S07E17 TEACHING ARTICLES How Should TEFL Teachers Recover When a Grammar Lesson Goes Wrong?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-should-tefl-teachers-recover-when-a-grammar-lesson-goes-wrong-s07e17/ Should You Stick to the Plan or Go with the Flow in a TEFL Lesson?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/should-you-stick-to-the-plan-or-go-with-the-flow-in-a-tefl-lesson-s07e17/ Does Your Teaching Style Change From Monday to Friday?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/does-your-teaching-style-change-from-monday-to-friday-s07e17/ What Makes a Teacher Memorable?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/what-makes-a-teacher-memorable-s07e17/ How Can Thinking About Your Favourite Teacher Improve Your Own Teaching?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-can-thinking-about-your-favourite-teacher-improve-your-own-teaching-s07e17/ Where Can TEFL Teachers Find Practical Teaching Resources and Podcast Articles Online?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/where-can-tefl-teachers-find-practical-teaching-resources-and-podcast-articles-online-s07e17/ 🌐 More practical TEFL ideas, episode guides and teaching resources:https://howtoenglishpod.com ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – What happens when a grammar lesson falls apart?01:29 – Teaching the present continuous03:06 – When students understand the grammar but not the task05:06 – Stick to the plan or go with the flow?07:01 – Present continuous naturally becomes past continuous09:34 – How to “park” a useful student question11:59 – Thinking fast and adapting TEFL lessons12:16 – Does teaching style change from Monday to Friday?16:43 – Friday teaching, natural speech and correction19:47 – What makes a teacher memorable?21:36 – How favourite teachers influence our teaching23:07 – Qualities of a good teacher25:04 – Turning a TEFL podcast into a teacher resource bank ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED What should teachers do when a grammar lesson goes wrong? When should you stick to a lesson plan or follow emergent language? How can you handle a useful student question without losing the lesson? Does teaching style change during the week? What makes a teacher memorable? How can your favourite teacher influence your own teaching? #TEFL #EnglishTeaching #LessonPlanning #TEFLTeachers #ESLTeaching #GrammarTeaching #TeacherDevelopment #ClassroomIdeas #EmergentLanguage #TeachingTips #ELT #EnglishTeachers

Why can teaching just one English learner feel more demanding than teaching a whole class? Join us, Gav & Em, as we explore the rewards, challenges and everyday realities of one-to-one English lessons. Private lessons give us space to personalise learning, build confidence and focus on what a student really needs. They also require plenty of energy, quick thinking and a working relationship that suits both people! We discuss:🔹 Why one-to-one lessons can feel so intense🔹 Whether silent exercises belong in paid lesson time or at home🔹 How to agree realistic homework and course expectations🔹 Who should lead: the teacher or the learner?🔹 How to build rapport while keeping professional boundaries🔹 Why thinking time matters in conversation lessons🔹 How to correct and upgrade language without stopping every sentence🔹 Why learners should ask their teacher questions too🔹 How to adapt coursebooks and pair work for individual lessons We agree on the importance of understanding the learner, but we don’t always agree on how to use lesson time! Em usually saves independent exercises for homework, while Gav sees a place for short writing tasks with immediate feedback. Em also shares her one-to-one teaching poem, capturing the hidden effort behind keeping a conversation lesson going. Teachers who have ever finished a friendly chat feeling completely exhausted may recognise themselves! 🌐 EXPLORE THE ARTICLES How Can Teachers Manage the Intensity of One-to-One English Lessons?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-can-teachers-manage-the-intensity-of-one-to-one-english-lessons-s01e19/ Should One-to-One Students Do Silent Work During Lessons?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/should-one-to-one-students-do-silent-work-during-lessons-s01e19/ What Should a One-to-One English Needs Analysis Cover?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/what-should-a-one-to-one-english-needs-analysis-cover-s01e19/ How Should You Plan a One-to-One English Course?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-should-you-plan-a-one-to-one-english-course-s01e19/ Who Should Lead a One-to-One English Lesson?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/who-should-lead-a-one-to-one-english-lesson-s01e19/ How Do You Build Rapport Without Losing Authority in One-to-One Lessons?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-do-you-build-rapport-without-losing-authority-in-one-to-one-lessons-s01e19/ How Can Teachers Adapt Group Coursebooks for One-to-One Lessons?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-can-teachers-adapt-group-coursebooks-for-one-to-one-lessons-s01e19/ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction01:28 Why one-to-one lessons feel intense02:43 Independent exercises: classwork or homework?04:18 Our debate about exam writing in lesson time05:53 Agreeing expectations and homework06:54 Rapport, authority and who leads10:25 Different opinions and professional boundaries11:56 Using homework to develop conversation12:50 Pacing, thinking time and silence13:39 Personalising lessons and useful takeaways14:38 Em’s one-to-one teaching poem16:31 The hidden work behind conversation lessons17:39 Reformulating and correcting speaking mistakes18:47 Encouraging learners to ask questions21:03 Teaching two learners together22:37 Books and adapting group materials24:08 Final thoughts and goodbye ☕ Support How to English:https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod 🌐 Teaching tips, guides and free lesson materials:https://www.howtoenglishpod.com/ How to English TEFL Podcast with Gav & Em explores teaching and learning English as a foreign language through practical ideas, honest classroom experiences and a little teacher humour. #TeachingEnglish #OneToOneTeaching #TEFL #ESL #EnglishTeacher #PrivateEnglishLessons #LearnEnglish

Why are your students learning English? How should teachers check answers without wasting lesson time? And what should you do when you have no idea how to pronounce a new student’s name? In S07E16 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore everyday questions English teachers face. They begin with one deceptively simple word: why? Why do we teach? Why are our students in the lesson? And why is it worth revisiting their goals as a course develops? Drawing on their TEFL experience, Gav and Em discuss what keeps them teaching: language, flexibility, career opportunities and helping learners communicate. Then comes email and admin: homework, timetable changes, cancellations, new classes and those messages sent five minutes before the lesson. They also tackle student names. Should teachers research pronunciation before the first lesson? What happens when the same name is pronounced differently in different countries? Finally, Gav and Em disagree rather spectacularly about checking students’ answers. Should learners compare answers in pairs before whole-class feedback? If everyone already has the correct answers, is checking them again useful confidence-building — or a waste of lesson time? Along the way, they share practical techniques including peer checking, student nomination, varying who answers, testing what learners remember and personalising answers. Whether you teach TEFL, ESL, EFL, Business English or general English, this episode offers practical classroom ideas — and proof that experienced teachers don’t always agree on the “right” way to do things. EPISODE GUIDE + TEACHING RESOURCES Episode guide:https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/episode-guide-how-should-english-teachers-check-answers-pronounce-names-stay-motivated-tefl-tips-s07e16/ How Often Should TEFL Teachers Revisit Learners’ Goals?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-often-should-tefl-teachers-revisit-learners-goals-s07e16/ Is TEFL a Good Long-Term Career? What Keeps Teachers in the Jobhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/is-tefl-a-good-long-term-career-what-keeps-teachers-in-the-job-s07e16/ How Can TEFL Teachers Manage Email and Admin Without Letting It Take Over?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-manage-email-and-admin-without-letting-it-take-over-s07e16/ How Should English Teachers Pronounce Students’ Unfamiliar Names?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-should-english-teachers-pronounce-students-unfamiliar-names-s07e16/ What Is the Best Way to Check Students’ Answers in an English Lesson?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/what-is-the-best-way-to-check-students-answers-in-an-english-lesson-s07e16/ More practical TEFL articles, teaching tips and resources:https://howtoenglishpod.com Support Gav & Em:https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod CONTENTS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – What’s coming up?01:01 – Welcome to S07E1602:13 – Why are we teachers?03:32 – Why are your students learning English?04:59 – Why Gav and Em still enjoy teaching06:50 – Career opportunities in TEFL09:11 – Why teachers and learners should keep asking “why”10:05 – What emails do TEFL teachers receive?14:20 – When should teachers answer emails?16:33 – The five-minutes-before-class email17:32 – How do you pronounce a student’s name?18:03 – Researching names before a lesson22:10 – How should teachers check students’ answers?22:51 – Should students check with a partner?24:03 – Gav and Em disagree27:04 – Do you need whole-class feedback?29:40 – Checking answers to build confidence31:56 – Who should answer each question?33:25 – Keeping students on their toes34:33 – Stop students simply reading the answers35:03 – Personalising answers35:26 – Ko-fi, teaching resources & goodbye

How much should a teacher actually talk in an English lesson — and when should they simply get out of the way? In S07E15, Gav and Em discuss what teachers really do in the classroom (and what they don’t!). We explore whether a lesson should ever become “The Teacher Show”, how teachers can guide conversations without dominating them, when to jump into a discussion, and why timing matters when correcting errors. We also talk about supporting lower-level learners, encouraging students to help each other, and remembering that while teachers may think about English all day, an English lesson might be just one small part of a student’s busy week. Plus: a simple tip for learners — keep notes of interesting English you hear, read or see during the week and bring those questions to your teacher. ⏱️ KEY MOMENTS 00:00 – What do teachers really do in the classroom?02:26 – Why your lesson shouldn’t be “The Teacher Show”03:57 – Do students actually need a teacher?06:26 – Should teachers give their opinions?07:15 – Stepping back and delayed error correction09:54 – The teacher as an orchestra conductor11:43 – When should you correct errors?13:05 – Getting a speaking activity started13:58 – Supporting lower-level learners16:04 – What does “lower-level” actually mean?20:52 – Students teaching students24:01 – The lesson from the student’s perspective ☕ Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod🌐 Visit us: howtoenglishpod.com How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em — a podcast about teaching and learning English as a foreign language.

In this episode, Gav and Em tackle the real questions TEFL teachers ask every day: What exactly is a student’s book supposed to do? Is the teacher’s book worth using — or is it overwhelming? How do you fix confusing coursebook tasks? Do students actually learn grammar from lessons, or somewhere else entirely? Why do learners forget grammar rules even after you’ve taught them? Where does real learning happen — in the book, in conversation, or online? With practical examples, honest stories, and classroom‑tested hacks, this episode helps teachers rethink how they plan, how they use materials, and how they support learners in a more natural, intuitive way. Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Visit our homepage: https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/Timestamps 00:00 – How do TEFL teachers use quiet weeks to get organised? 01:20 – What are TEFL learners actually looking for in a coursebook? 03:00 – What is a student’s book, and how does it support learning? 05:00 – Why do coursebooks teach through topics instead of grammar labels? 06:00 – What’s inside a teacher’s book, and why is it so overwhelming? 09:00 – Should teachers rely on the teacher’s book or trust their instincts? 16:00 – What do you do when a teacher’s book activity is badly designed? 20:00 – How do you adapt confusing listening tasks for real learners? 24:00 – Does teaching grammar actually work, or do students forget it anyway? 30:00 – Where does learning really happen — and how do teachers reinforce it?

Build Real Speaking Confidence with Helen von Dadelszen | TEFL Tips, Communication Skills & Classroom Courage How can teachers and English learners become more confident speakers without waiting until they suddenly feel ready? In this episode of How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em, we welcome Helen von Dadelszen, communication coach, vocal trainer, former TEFL teacher and author of Courageous Action. Helen challenges the idea of “I’ll speak when I feel confident” and explains why confidence is built through action. We discuss practical ways to manage nerves, slow your breathing, speak more calmly, shift the focus away from yourself and create a classroom where students feel safer speaking English. Gav and Em also explore helping shy learners, using pair work to reduce pressure, avoiding over-correction and encouraging small courageous actions that gradually build confidence. In this episode:✅ Why confidence often comes after action✅ How to manage nerves before teaching or speaking✅ Simple breathing techniques✅ Why nervous speakers often talk too quickly✅ How slowing down improves communication✅ Helping shy students speak more✅ When not to correct speaking mistakes✅ How real learners build confidence 📚 S07E13 Teaching Articles Breathing Techniques for Teachers and Learnershttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/breathing-techniques-for-teachers-and-learners-helens-vocal-coaching-tips/ Encouraging Small Courageous Actions in Englishhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/encouraging-small-courageous-actions-in-english-inspired-by-helen-von-dadelszen/ Helping Shy Students Speak More in Englishhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/helping-shy-students-speak-more-in-english-advice-from-helen-gav-em/ How can I help my students feel confident speaking English?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/s07e13-how-can-i-help-my-students-feel-confident-speaking-english/ How Real Students Build Confidence in Englishhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-real-students-build-confidence-in-english-stories-from-gav-ems-classrooms/ How Teachers Can Manage Nerves Before Teachinghttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-teachers-can-manage-nerves-before-teaching-helens-science-backed-tips/ How to Build Speaking Confidence in the ESL Classroomhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-to-build-speaking-confidence-in-the-esl-classroom-with-helen-von-dadelszen/ How to Teach Speaking Without Over Correctinghttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-to-teach-speaking-without-over-correcting-confidence-friendly-techniques/ Shifting the Spotlight: How Teachers Reduce Self Consciousness While Teachinghttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/shifting-the-spotlight-how-teachers-reduce-self-consciousness-while-teaching/ 🌐 More TEFL guides and podcast episodes:https://howtoenglishpod.com Support the show:ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Meet Helen: Why Confidence Isn't What You Think02:01 The Biggest Myth About Confidence05:11 3 Simple Ways to Calm Your Nerves07:25 What Helen's Advice Changed for Us10:03 Why You Should Act Before You Feel Ready11:53 The Breathing Trick That Actually Helps14:02 Why Speaking Slower Makes You Sound More Confident16:23 Stop Thinking About Yourself19:47 How Great Teachers Build Student Confidence24:43 How English Learners Became More Confident26:52 Why English-Only Lessons Really Work27:35 Final Thoughts & Thanks for Listening

Will AI replace English teachers? What can human TEFL teachers offer in a world of AI tutors, language-learning apps and instant translation? In S07E12 of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em discuss how artificial intelligence is changing English teaching and learning. Gav believes AI could eventually replace many human teaching roles. Em hopes future generations will value genuine human contact even more. Will learners prefer affordable, endlessly patient AI teachers, or continue choosing people who understand their personalities, confidence and individual needs? We also share practical teaching ideas. Em demonstrates how she sets up an information-gap activity by introducing the topic, organising the groups, explaining the task before distributing materials and checking that everyone understands. We explore how transcripts can help learners notice vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. However, transcripts should support listening practice rather than replace it. Finally, we discuss when experienced teachers should advise their colleagues. When should you intervene, and when should you let someone learn through experience? Sometimes “That happened to me too” is more helpful than explaining everything they did wrong. In this episode: • What TEFL teachers do• AI teachers and language-learning apps• Human teachers versus AI• Using AI to learn English• Giving clear classroom instructions• Setting up group activities• Using transcripts for listening and pronunciation• Giving supportive advice to teachers• Building a stronger teaching community 📚 Related S07E12 articles: The Future of TEFL Teachers in an AI Driven Worldhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/the-future-of-tefl-teachers-in-an-ai-driven-world/ Why Students Still Choose Human TEFL Teachers in an AI Driven Worldhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/why-students-still-choose-human-tefl-teachers-in-an-ai-driven-world/ How Students Can Use AI to Learn English More Effectivelyhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-students-can-use-ai-to-learn-english-more-effectively/ How to Give Clear Instructions in TEFL Lessonshttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-to-give-clear-instructions-in-tefl-lessons/ How TEFL Teachers Can Build Better Classroom Activities Through Clear Setup and Group Dynamicshttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-tefl-teachers-can-build-better-classroom-activities-through-clear-setup-and-group-dynamics/ Using Transcripts to Improve Listening, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation in TEFLhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/using-transcripts-to-improve-listening-vocabulary-and-pronunciation-in-tefl/ When (and When Not) to Give Advice to Fellow TEFL Teachershttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/when-and-when-not-to-give-advice-to-fellow-tefl-teachers/ How TEFL Teachers Can Build Community Support and Engage Learners Beyond the Classroomhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-tefl-teachers-can-build-community-support-and-engage-learners-beyond-the-classroom/ Timestamps 00:00 – What a TEFL teacher actually is03:01 – Will AI replace human teachers?06:49 – Tech backlash or tech dependence?11:01 – Giving clear classroom instructions17:14 – Using transcripts to support learners21:04 – The How to English transcript collection22:13 – Giving advice to fellow teachers28:23 – Final thoughts TEFL,ESLTeaching,EnglishTeachers,TeachingTips,CELTA,LanguageLearning,TeacherLife,PodcastForTeachers,AITeacher

How can English teachers make lessons more efficient? When should you correct a student’s mistakes? And what do you say when a learner responds, “But you understand me, though?” In S07E11 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em explore practical questions about lesson efficiency, error correction and those tricky mistakes that learners continue making even after repeated correction. We discuss how teachers can maximise valuable classroom time, increase student participation and decide how much lesson planning is genuinely useful. Could planning less sometimes make a lesson more responsive and efficient? We also look at subtle errors that can completely change what a learner means. There is a rather important difference between “I’m not interested” and “I’m not interesting,” even though the grammar differs by only two letters. Then there are expressions caused by direct translation and first-language interference. What should teachers do when learners say “My neck is stuck,” “I do Home Office,” or call a mobile phone a “handy”? We may understand them perfectly in the classroom, but will everyone outside it? Gav and Em consider when correction is necessary, how teachers can make corrections memorable and why pretending not to understand can sometimes show learners the real-world consequences of unclear language. Finally, we compare how we record our teaching hours: Em’s dependable paper system versus Gav’s new digital Google Sheets approach. In this episode: • Improving efficiency in English lessons• Increasing student talking time and participation• Deciding how much lesson planning is necessary• Knowing when to correct learner errors• Responding to “But you understand me, though”• Teaching interested versus interesting• Correcting errors caused by direct translation• Dealing with repeated and fossilised mistakes• Making error correction memorable• Tracking teaching hours on paper or digitally 📚 Read the S07E11 articles: Correcting Subtle Errors: How to Handle “Interested vs Interesting” and Other Tricky Mistakeshttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/correcting-subtle-errors-how-to-handle-interested-vs-interesting-and-other-tricky-mistakes/ Error Correction Techniques: Performances, Pretending, and Real-World Consequenceshttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/error-correction-techniques-performances-pretending-and-real-world-consequences/ L1 Interference: Teaching Students to Stop Saying “My Neck Is Stuck”https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/l1-interference-teaching-students-to-stop-saying-my-neck-is-stuck/ TEFL Lesson Efficiency: How to Maximise Learning Without Rushinghttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/tefl-lesson-efficiency-how-to-maximise-learning-without-rushing/ TEFL Time Management: Tracking Teaching Hours (Analog vs Digital)https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/tefl-time-management-tracking-teaching-hours-analog-vs-digital/ “But You Understand Me Though”: Handling Fossilised Errors in TEFLhttps://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/but-you-understand-me-though-handling-fossilised-errors-in-tefl/ How do you handle repeated mistakes in your English lessons? And teachers, how do you keep track of your teaching hours? Let us know in the comments. How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em is a podcast about teaching and learning English as a foreign language. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back to How to English01:59 – Teaching efficiency: quick wins for busy TEFL teachers05:24 – Em’s practical upgrades for TEFL and ESL classrooms10:24 – Similar words teachers should highlight13:55 – How to teach confusing English words clearly15:53 – “But you understand me, though” and typical learner errors22:06 – Gav’s translation dilemma24:24 – More false friends English learners struggle with26:33 – Tracking teaching hours efficiently31:11 – Final thoughts and a surprising classroom moment #TEFL #EnglishTeaching #LearnEnglish #EnglishTeacher #TeachingEnglish #ESL #EFL #TEFLPodcast

What are the ingredients of a great English lesson? In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em cook up their perfect lesson recipe with interesting content, a pinch of challenge, plenty of practice and, of course, a sprinkling of homework. Along the way, we ask what makes homework genuinely useful, why taking a holiday can help teachers hear their students with fresh ears, and what to do when learners just don’t understand a grammar point. Gav shares a tricky experience teaching wish, including present wishes, past regrets and wish you would. Em explores the surprisingly complicated world of online lesson invitations, different time zones and accidentally deleting an entire series of classes. There’s also a zombie apocalypse, an almost endless supply of teaching materials, long articles, strange second conditional questions, cake metaphors and plenty of the usual TEFL chat. Whether you’re an English teacher or learner, grab yourself a slice and enjoy the episode! 🍰 📚 Explore the practical teaching guides from this episode: What Makes Homework Effective in TEFL? A Complete Q&A Guide for Teachers – S07E10https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/what-makes-homework-effective-in-tefl-a-complete-qa-guide-for-teachers/ How Freelance TEFL Teachers Should Manage Holidays and Burnout: A Practical Q&A Guide – S07E10https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-freelance-tefl-teachers-should-manage-holidays-and-burnout-a-practical-qa-guide/ How to Reset Your Teacher Ears After a Break: A TEFL Q&A Guide for Better Listening and Better Lessons – S07E10https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-to-reset-your-teacher-ears-after-a-break-a-tefl-qa-guide-for-teachers/ How to Set Up Online Lessons Without Time Zone Mistakes: A TEFL Q&A Guide for Teachers – S07E10https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-to-set-up-online-lessons-without-time-zone-mistakes-a-tefl-qa-guide-for-teachers/ What to Do When Students Don’t Get It: A TEFL Q&A Guide for Clarity, Confidence, and Classroom Success – S07E10https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/what-to-do-when-students-dont-get-it-a-tefl-qa-guide-for-clarity-confidence-and-classroom-success/ How to Teach WISH in TEFL: Present Wishes, Past Regrets, and “Wish You Would” Explained – S07E10https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-to-teach-wish-in-tefl-present-wishes-past-regrets-and-wish-you-would-explained-qa-guide/ 🌐 Find more practical TEFL articles and podcast episodes:https://howtoenglishpod.com Timestamps 00:00 – TEFL podcast introduction02:08 – What makes a great homework task?04:45 – Fun, interesting and relevant homework ideas09:28 – TEFL holidays and the freelance lifestyle13:32 – Returning to teaching after a break16:12 – Zombie apocalypse teaching scenario19:03 – Online teaching invitations and problems26:00 – When students don’t understand wish33:10 – The lesson cake metaphor38:20 – Outro

Does CELTA really prepare you to teach English? Which teacher-training techniques remain useful after years in the classroom, and which ones need adapting? In S07E09 of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em look back at their CELTA training and the experiences that shaped them as English teachers. We discuss how teachers can adapt coursebook activities without stretching them beyond usefulness. Should every task be extended and fully exploited, or is it sometimes better to recognise that learners understand and move on? We also compare eliciting with simply giving students an answer. Encouraging learners to predict, analyse and experiment can be valuable, but repeatedly asking “What do you think?” may frustrate someone who needs a quick, clear explanation. The conversation explores the influence teachers have on classroom culture. What happens when you inherit another teacher’s class? Can you spot established habits in the way learners sit, interact, answer questions or speak to one another? We also discuss creating a friendly and approachable classroom, dealing with first-lesson nerves, recovering from mistakes and managing games that become far more competitive than expected. Along the way, we share memories of unusual teaching locations, long journeys to lessons, student pets and the essential items that keep TEFL teachers going. Whether you are an English teacher, CELTA trainee, TEFL/TESOL professional or language learner, this episode offers practical ideas and an honest look at how teachers continue developing long after their initial training. 📚 S07E09 TEACHING ARTICLES How Can TEFL Teachers Adapt Coursebook Activities Without Over-Exploiting Them?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-adapt-coursebook-activities-without-over-exploiting-them/ Should English Teachers Elicit Answers or Just Tell Students?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/should-english-teachers-elicit-answers-or-just-tell-students/ How Can TEFL Teachers Create a Friendly, Approachable Classroom?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-can-tefl-teachers-create-a-friendly-approachable-classroom/ How Do You Take Over a TEFL Class From Another Teacher?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-do-you-take-over-a-tefl-class-from-another-teacher/ How Do You Teach a Successful First TEFL Lesson When You’re Nervous?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/how-do-you-teach-a-successful-first-tefl-lesson-when-youre-nervous/ What Should TEFL Teachers Do When Classroom Games Get Too Competitive?https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/what-should-tefl-teachers-do-when-classroom-games-get-too-competitive/ What did your teacher training teach you that you still use today? Let us know in the comments. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro with TEFL nostalgia03:17 – Gav’s “true or false” quiz begins 😄03:47 – Weirdest places we’ve taught English04:40 – Cutest and strangest student pets06:02 – Longest commutes and travel stories07:09 – Funny things students have called us08:02 – Essential TEFL survival items ☕08:32 – When classroom games get too competitive11:02 – CELTA reflections: love it or hate it?17:05 – Teaching style, classroom atmosphere and approachability18:22 – Can you spot another teacher’s influence?23:18 – Bad habits students bring with them25:24 – First lessons, pressure and first impressions26:59 – Surviving the “autopilot” lesson blur31:06 – Being human, making mistakes and wrapping up Resources Quiz music:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=proOvlY-WKk #TEFL #CELTA #EnglishTeaching #ESLTeacher #ELT #TeachingEnglish #TESOL #TeacherTraining #HowToEnglish

How can you make your English lessons more creative, spontaneous and engaging? And what should you actually do in the first five minutes of a class? In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast with Gav & Em, we share practical TEFL ideas for English teachers and learners, including how we start our lessons, how to avoid classroom monotony, and why teaching English gives us so much freedom to experiment. We also look at what happens when you ditch the lesson plan and improvise! Gav shares a spontaneous business English email lesson where students write, analyse and reply to real emails, while Em explains how a student's upcoming meeting led to an unplanned listening lesson using a Jackie Chan interview. Plus, we discuss some of the websites and online resources we use while teaching English, including YouTube, Wikipedia, news sites, Google Images, Test-English, BBC resources, TED-Ed, Spotify and Google Translate. In this episode: 🎓 How do you start the first five minutes of an English lesson? 💬 Is asking students “How are you?” every week too repetitive? 🎨 How can TEFL teachers be more creative and spontaneous? 📧 How can you turn real emails into a Business English activity? 🎧 How can authentic videos and different accents build listening confidence? 💻 Which websites are useful during English lessons? 🌳 And is the grass really greener on the other side? Whether you're an English teacher, TEFL teacher, ESL/EFL teacher, trainee teacher or English learner, join Gav and Em for practical teaching ideas, classroom experiences and plenty of laughs. ☕ Support How to English Pod: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod #TEFL #EnglishTeaching #TeachEnglish #ESL #EFL #EnglishTeacher #TEFLTeacher #LearnEnglish #EnglishLearning #TeachingEnglish #LessonIdeas #LessonPlanning #BusinessEnglish #EnglishListening #TeacherTips #ELT #EnglishPodcastTimestamps00:00 – Intro & episode overview01:28 – Strengths and weaknesses as TEFL teachers09:04 – Exploring teaching weaknesses (and honesty time)20:21 – How to deal with distracted students24:27 – Starting from scratch with new students27:23 – Recognising student progress & using praise32:10 – Listener shout-out & teaching reflections33:11 – Outro & support the pod