Teacher Talking Time: The Learn YOUR English Podcast
teachertalkingtime
100 episodes
1 week ago
Teacher Talking Time is a podcast for language teachers who want more: more clarity, more autonomy, and more lasting impact, both inside and outside the classroom.
Hosted by Leo and Andrew of Learn YOUR English, each episode features thoughtful, in-depth conversations with the educators, researchers, and teacherpreneurs shaping the future of language education. Guests have included Scott Thornbury, Bill VanPatten, David Little, Jennifer Jenkins, John Levis, Angelica Galante, Sarah Mercer, Enrica Piccardo, Claudia Fernández, Shawn Loewen, Paul Nation, Sheila Thorn, and many more.
From the latest in second language acquisition research to honest stories of teachers building lives and businesses on their own terms, every conversation invites you to think deeper, teach more intentionally, and take charge of your professional path.
We release two episodes each month - with full video versions on YouTube - to help you reflect, stay inspired, and grow as a teacher and changemaker.
Subscribe, listen, and join a global community of educators leading with intention.
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Teacher Talking Time is a podcast for language teachers who want more: more clarity, more autonomy, and more lasting impact, both inside and outside the classroom.
Hosted by Leo and Andrew of Learn YOUR English, each episode features thoughtful, in-depth conversations with the educators, researchers, and teacherpreneurs shaping the future of language education. Guests have included Scott Thornbury, Bill VanPatten, David Little, Jennifer Jenkins, John Levis, Angelica Galante, Sarah Mercer, Enrica Piccardo, Claudia Fernández, Shawn Loewen, Paul Nation, Sheila Thorn, and many more.
From the latest in second language acquisition research to honest stories of teachers building lives and businesses on their own terms, every conversation invites you to think deeper, teach more intentionally, and take charge of your professional path.
We release two episodes each month - with full video versions on YouTube - to help you reflect, stay inspired, and grow as a teacher and changemaker.
Subscribe, listen, and join a global community of educators leading with intention.
Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.
"How do we make research meaningful for the classroom? What really helps students acquire grammar? Can apps ACTUALLY support second language learning?"
These are some of the questions we tackled in our conversation with Dr. Shawn Loewen.
Shawn Loewen is Professor of Second Language Studies at Michigan State University, where he directs the doctoral program in SLS. His research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, the research-practice gap, and mobile-assisted language learning. He is the author of several influential books and serves as associate editor of The Modern Language Journal.
His new book, "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA" is out now.
In our discussion, we dive into:
whether the explicit vs implicit debate matters
if people can actually learn languages on "those apps"
pattern recognition and why some learners “just get it”
task-based language teaching vs. Instructed SLA
why most institutions don't really know what their approach to learning is
leveraging AI and technology for learning
bridging the gap between researchers and teachers
the limits and potential of communicative language teaching
FOR MORE FROM DR. SHAWN LOEWEN:
1. His book "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA"
2. Connect on LinkedIn
3. His publications
4. His website
Support Teacher Talking Time:
Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers.
My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
Collaborate with us:
Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education?
Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Join our Substack community.
2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Want to chat with us about your business? Book a free meeting here.
"I have no shame whatsoever in marketing my own courses because I feel proud. I know for sure that it works." We chat with entrepreneur Anna Aleksenko
Anna is an entrepreneur based in Georgia who runs Voice it English, a program that helps professionals turn English into their career superpower. She's been teaching for over 17 years and has had to reinvent herself many times: something every entrepreneur can relate to. With a focus on connection, community, and client results, we're thrilled to have Anna on the show.
Her mission is simple: To turn English from a daily challenge into her clients' career strong point.
In this episode, Anna discusses:
understanding that everyone has an accent
burnout and setting boundaries
expatriating and starting a new life
how language can shape identity
emotional barriers in language learning
moving from hourly to results-based pricing
focusing on ideal clients and how to identify them
leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition
the power of community
advice for new education entrepreneurs
FOR MORE FROM ANNA ALEKSENKO:
1. Connect on LinkedIn
2. Voice It English
3. Her free Friday speaking club
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Connect with us on our Substack.
2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.
"There's this myth that kids learn faster than adults. Research shows it's not true; adults are actually better language learners" - Dr. Karen Lichtman.
Dr. Karen Lichtman recently moved to Binghamton University after ten years training language teachers at Northern Illinois University. Her research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, including age differences in language learning and implicit vs. explicit language teaching. Karen presents nationally and internationally to audiences of teachers and researchers.
In this episode, we dive into:
the bad teaching that exists and how to address it
the myth of children learning faster than adults
why adults make better language learners
why easier materials is almost always better
designing a beginner course from scratch
balancing implicit & explicit teaching
addressing skeptical teachers
the role of TPRS in language learning (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling)
FOR MORE FROM KAREN LICHTMAN:
1. Connect on LinkedIn
2. Her website
3. Her publications
4. Her book "Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS): An Input-Based Approach to Second Language Instruction."
Support Teacher Talking Time:
Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers.
My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Subscribe to the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
5. Connect with us on our Substack.
*This is episode two of our series highlighting education entrepreneurs. New episodes every first of the month.
Want to chat with us about your business? Book a free meeting here.
"If it doesn't go according to plan, what is the worst thing that could happen that is the minimum I can be satisfied with?" We sit down with entrepreneur Jessica Dias to discuss growing a business.
Jessica is an English teacher and founder of Jessy Academy — an online school that helps Brazilian learners break free from the intermediate plateau and develop real communication skills in English. She started her teaching business in 2020 and has since helped more than 2,000 learners speak with more clarity, confidence, and naturalness. After years of working in traditional schools, Jessica decided to ride solo and build a business that truly reflects her teaching philosophy: practical, human, and focused on real communication.
In this episode, Jessica discusses:
Overcoming Failure and Setting Realistic Goals
The Genesis of the Itch: From School to Side Hustle
Turning Passion into a Full-Time Business
Embracing Change and Growth
Building a Sustainable Business Model
Challenges of Running a Business
Balancing Client Work and Business Operations
Delegation and Use of AI Tools
Scaling While Maintaining Quality
Advice for Handling Business Slumps
FOR MORE FROM JESSICA DIAS:
1. Follow her on Instagram: @msjessydays
2. Jessy Academy
3. Her Clear Pronunciation Program
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
5. Connect with us on our Substack.
Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.
From beginner to intermediate in 9 months: yes, it's possible and Claudia Fernandez tells us how.
Claudia runs her Spanish program at the University of Illinois-Chicago using a task-based curriculum. One result was bringing fifteen A1 students to intermediate over 9 months. She shares her story and how others can do the same.
At the University of Illinois-Chicago, Claudia is a Clinical Associate Professor, where she directs the Spanish Basic Language Program using a task-based curriculum. Her research and teaching focus on task-based language teaching, materials development, and classroom-based language acquisition. She is an award-winning educator, published author, and active contributor to both national and international professional organizations in the field of language education.
In this episode, we dive into:
Implementing task-based language teaching from scratch
Why there is still pushback against TBLT
Mindset shifts every institution needs
Aligning tasks with assessments
Claudia’s experience of helping students go from absolute beginner to intermediate in 9 months
Effective task design
How learners acquire grammar through input-based approaches
Instruction habits that get in the way of learning
How to create needs analyses in task-based learning
FOR MORE FROM CLAUDIA FERNANDEZ:
1. Connect on LinkedIn
2. Her university page
3. Her publication on moving from grammar to proficiency-driven programs
Support the show:
Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers.
My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Subscribe to the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
5. Connect with us on our Substack.
*This launches the beginning of a new series of our show: education entrepreneurship. We'll release an additional episode monthly, highlighting entrepreneurial voices in our industry doing great things.
Want to chat with us? Book a free meeting here.
In this episode, we introduce the series and discuss what it takes to start and run your own business. Specifically, we explore the transition from traditional teaching roles to entrepreneurial ventures.
We chat about:
Why waiting until you're uncomfortable might be too late to start your business
The real difference between commitment and consistency and why one matters more
How teachers can build businesses without a one-size-fits-all model
What Andrew's beach business (and Bob the Book) taught him about resourcefulness, scrappiness, and getting started
Why belief in yourself is the most underrated strategy in entrepreneurship
Who this series is for and who it’s not for
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
5. Connect with us on our Substack.
50% off our CPD courses for podcast listeners - click here and use the code "TTT"
Does the grammar that is normally taught match the evidence corpus linguistics shows? Dr. Graham Burton helps us dissect the big beasts of English grammar.
Dr. Graham Burton is assistant professor at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy). His main research interests are applications of corpus linguistics to language teaching, materials development, pedagogic grammar, academic writing and multilingualism.
He has two recent book publications, Grammar in ELT and ELT Materials: Evaluating its History and Current Practice and The Big Beasts of English Grammar: An Exploration of Form and Function in Conversations
*Discount codes:
40% off Grammar in ELT using code ELT40 (valid until the end of July, 2025)
25% on ebook of The Big Beasts of English Grammar via Payhip only, using code bigbeasts25 (valid for 10 downloads only)
In this episode, Graham discusses:
Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching
Benefits of Corpus for Learners
The Big Beasts of English Grammar
Example-Driven Grammar Teaching
What Teachers Should Unlearn about Grammar
Challenges in Teaching Grammar
Prototypical vs. Natural Grammar Usage
Misconceptions in Grammar Teaching
The Evolution of Grammar Teaching
What the CELTA Should Do to "Re-do" Grammar
The History of Pedagogical Grammar
Why the word "grammar" was negative (and "structure" was used instead)
FOR MORE FROM GRAHAM BURTON:
1. The Big Beasts of English Grammar: An Exploration of Form and Function in Conversations
Discount of 25% on ebook via Payhip only, using code bigbeasts25 (valid for 10 downloads only)
2. Grammar in ELT and ELT Materials: Evaluating its History and Current Practice
Discount of 40% on hardbook or ebook, using code ELT40 (valid until the end of July, 2025)
3. Connect with Graham on LinkedIn
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.
"Don't teach at the students. Teach off them." Scott Thornbury becomes our first repeat guest and helps us dissect this and more.
Scott Thornbury is a teacher, teacher trainer, and award-winning author in English language education. He has taught and trained teachers around the world, including on the MA TESOL program at The New School in New York, and is widely recognized for his contributions to ELT methodology and teacher development.
He co-authored Teaching Unplugged (2009) and Dogme in Practice (2025), both with Luke Meddings. His latest book is called Scott Thornbury's 66 Essentials of Lesson Design.
In our chat, Scott delves into:
tensions between planning & spontaneity
what an effective lesson design process looks like
if the communicative approach can be rehabilitated
shifting from surface-level communication to meaningful interaction
adapting teacher training and institutional expectations
the role of technology in education
FOR MORE FROM SCOTT THORNBURY:
1. Visit his website
2. Book: Domge in Practice
3. Book: 66 Essentials of Lesson Design
4. Connect on LinkedIn
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business
2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs
5. Join our Substack community
Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.
Learner autonomy is something that happens INSIDE the classroom, not out of it. Teachers can't sit back and wait for their students to become autonomous.
This is part of what the esteemed Dr. David Little shared with us in our conversation.
David Little is Fellow Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin and a leading scholar in learner autonomy, linguistic diversity, and the application of the CEFR in language education. He played a key role in developing the European Language Portfolio and has led several national and international projects focused on language support for migrants and refugees. He currently coordinates the Council of Europe’s Romani–Plurilingual Policy Experimentation and is the author of influential works on educational inclusion and language learning.
In this episode, David discusses:
Understanding Language Learner Autonomy
Defining Autonomy in Language Learning
Pedagogical Models for Autonomy
Autonomy in Diverse Educational Contexts
Challenges and Collaborative Solutions for Teachers
Language Learner Autonomy and Writing
Developing Reflective Dialogue in Classrooms
Practical Advice for Fostering Learner Autonomy
FOR MORE FROM DR. DAVID LITTLE:
1. His page at Trinity College, Dublin
2. His Research Gate page
3. Language Learner Autonomy: Theory, Practice, and Research
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.
"It's such social injustice to expect people to use English like native English speakers, whichever country they're in." We dive into this and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) with Jennifer Jenkins.
Jennifer Jenkins is a British linguist and academic. She was Chair Professor of Global Englishes at the University of Southampton until her retirement in 2019. She is a leading figure in the study of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), and is an expert on communication in English between non-native speakers. She has published and lectured widely and is a founder editor of the Journal of English as a Lingua Franca.
In this episode, Jennifer tackles:
what English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) is
native speakers vs local speakers
why she was shunned from many rooms for her views
the cultural and linguistic bias in language testing
how tests are not predictive of academic success
the myth that ELF lowers English standards
the role of adjusting language rather than mimicking it
having a pioneer mindset even when people dismiss you
how international universities have hypocritical linguistic standards
the future of English as a global language
FOR MORE FROM JENNIFER JENKINS:
1. Her Google Scholar page
2. Her page at the University of Southampton
3. Accommodation in ELF: Where from? Where now? Where next?
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel
3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a complimentary meeting with us to help grow your business.
Learners can think a native teacher is a vaccine against poor pronunciation. Equally, native teachers can be misinformed in thinking that students should just follow them.
We dive into pronunciation, intelligibility, and teacher effects on learner performance with the great John Levis.
John is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Technology at Iowa State University. He is founding editor of the Journal of Second Language Pronunciation and the founder of the annual Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference. His research focuses on pronunciation, intelligibility, pronunciation, and accent. John has received university awards for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, for Career Achievement in Research, and was named Angela B. Pavitt Professor of English in 2018.
In our conversation, John talks about:
accent vs pronunciation
the nativeness principle vs the intelligibility principle
how he coined "the intelligibility principle"
high and low value features of pronunciation
why some vowel sounds don't matter
native and non-native teacher effects on learner performance
learners viewing native speakers as a vaccine for poor pronunciation
some native teachers believing learners should just follow them
getting "caught" with accent
For more from John Levis:
1. Pronunciation for Teachers
2. His faculty page
3. His publications
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a free 1:1 to strategize your goals for your teaching business.
Native speaker or non-native speaker? Monolingual or plurilingual? Why do we have a binary bias in modern society?
These are some of the questions we tackled with Dr. Angelica Galante.
Dr. Angelica Galante is an Associate Professor in Second Language Education and Applied Linguistics, and William Dawson Scholar at McGill University. As the Director of the Plurilingual Lab, Dr. Galante conducts studies with language learners, teachers and educational leaders in the areas of plurilingual education, language teaching and learning, linguistic discrimination and justice, teacher education, and curriculum design. She speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, and a bit of French and Italian.
In our conversation, Dr. Galante talks about:
Linguistic and Cultural Discrimination
Strategies to Combat Prejudice in Education
Plurilingual and Pluricultural Competence
Navigating Binary Bias in Language Discussions
Exploring Common Ground in Controversial Topics
The Role of Language in Identity and Mental Health
Practical Applications of Plurilingualism in Education
Balancing Plurilingualism and Language Acquisition
Challenges and Facilitators of Plurilingualism
For more from Angelica Galante:
1. Her professional page
2. McGill's Plurilingual Lab
3. Her publications
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a free 1:1 to strategize your goals for your teaching business.
Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.
Why do some teachers thrive as entrepreneurs while others struggle? We dissect this question.
Many teachers want to earn more, teach online, and gain more clients - but struggle to implement a sustainable strategy. We go over seven "Cs" to help.
In this episode, we dive into the "seven Cs of success for teacher entrepreneurship" and discuss:
confidence as a skill rather than a feeling
getting granular on goals
strategizing goal achievement at both the macro and the micro
reflecting on why having a business is (or isn't) a priority
how consistency compounds over time
why getting more clients is nearly impossible if you have nothing to sell
normalizing struggle and self doubt
first steps to starting your business in 2025
Your Action Plan from this Episode:
Pick one “C” to focus on this week.
Journal daily to track your progress and reflect on your journey.
Share your experience in our community to inspire and be inspired.
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a free 1:1 to strategize your teaching business goals.
Black Friday 2024: 50% off CPD (click here).
Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.
If you use vocabulary and grammar tests, you don't teach communicatively. Audrey Rousse-Malpat tells us why.
Audrey Rousse-Malpat is an assistant professor in second language acquisition at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She is also an entrepreneur and leads a teacher training company called Project Frans specializing in usage-based pedagogies for French as second language. She hosts the "Je suis #profdeFLE" ("I am a French language teacher") podcast.
Her research focuses on the AIM method: the Accelerative Integrated Method. In our conversation, she argues why it's a method education should adopt.
In our conversation, Audrey talks about:
thinking like a scientist
schools as factories
AIM (Accelerative Integrated Method) and how it works
feeling like the Marry Poppins of error correction
structure-based teaching vs Dynamic usage
why teachers need to relinquish control
what went wrong with the communicative approach
tips for implementing AIM
multilingual approaches in higher education
For more from Audrey Rousse-Malpat:
1. Project Frans
2. Connect on LinkedIn
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a free 1:1 to strategize your teaching business goals.
Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.
Education is designed around focusing on the learner first and the teacher as a medium to support the learner. Sarah Mercer tells us why this leads to unhealthy teachers.
Sarah Mercer is a Professor of foreign language teaching at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research interests include all aspects of the psychology surrounding the foreign language learning experience. She is co-editor of Multilingual Matters’ Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching book series, currently vice-president of IAPLL, and ambassador for IATEFL.
In this episode, Sarah expounds on:
why connecting with learners is fundamental
cell phone addiction and what we CAN'T do about it
re-framing what "student-led" means
defining "engagement" and pedagogical caring
students faking engagement out of respect for their teacher
burnout and stress are the result of the systemic element of teacher well-being
For more from Sarah Mercer:
1. Visit her website
2. Read her publications
3. Her handbook "Teacher Wellbeing"
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a free 1:1 to strategize your teaching business goals.
Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.
ELT is full of disasters, including the destruction of the communicative approach. Dr. Enrica Piccardo tells us why.
Dr. Piccardo is a Professor of Applied Linguistics and Language Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Her research spans language teaching approaches/curricula, multi/plurilingualism, creativity and complexity in language education.
She recently published The Action-oriented Approach. A Dynamic Vision of Language Education 2019) Bristol: Multilingual Matters, co-authored with Brian North.
In this episode, Dr. Piccardo discusses:
leveraging the messiness of learning
how Headway destroyed the communicative approach
multiple disasters in ELT: the separation of languages, the native speaker model, organizing curriculum around grammar, and others
how we're still teaching in a grammatical way because it's easier
what mediation is, its role in learning, and its 3 types
updating the CEFR to include mediation
the link between mediation and plurilingualism
the action-oriented approach and its benefits
why teachers need to delegate learning
For more from Dr. Enrica Piccardo:
1. Check out her new book here.
2. Her University of Toronto profile
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Book a free 1:1 to strategize your teaching business goals.
Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.
What do toad venom, the 5 stages of grief, and precarity all have in common? Andrew, Leo, and Mike explain.
Sustainability in the ELT industry as a teacher is pretty simple:
1. It is precarious
2. We all need to earn more money
3. It's unlikely to do that by having just one job.
In this episode, we discuss strategies to earn more by creating your own offer. Specifically, we dive into:
the 5 stages of grief pertaining to precarity
two paths teachers have: stay in ELT or move on
why earning more money is a requisite to stay in the industry
how to create a compelling offer that will actually sell
why focusing on lesson frequency is restricting
not creating solutions to problems no one cares about
toad venom and how you can apply it to your teaching business
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Escaping precarity in ELT? Join our free support group here.
Want to move faster? Book a free 1:1 to strategize your teaching business.
ELT provides the wrong input: language as it should be spoken not as it is spoken. This is wrong and Sheila Thorn gives us another way.
Sheila Thorn is a teacher, teacher trainer and materials writer whose niche focuses on teaching listening. She founded The Listening Business in 1998 and is the author of countless seminal books that have moved our industry forward. She has recently embarked on a new career as an artist, specialising in portraits of people and animals.
Her latest publication, "Integrating Authentic Listening into the Language Classroom" is a must-read.
In this episode, Sheila discusses:
ELT having the wrong input
coursebooks as impoverished language
learners being scared of real language
how teacher training fails teachers as much as coursebooks fail students
the 5 listening goals every learner should have
a 3-pronged approach to teaching listening
the problem she is trying to solve in ELT
For more from Sheila:
1. The Listening Business
2. Connect on LinkedIn
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Join our free support group for teachers building their business.
Grammar instruction or grammar learning? We dive into this with today's guests.
Tania Ionin is a Professor of Linguistics and Director of Graduate Studies in Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her areas of expertise include second language acquisition and experimental semantics, with a focus on the nominal domain.
Silvina Montrul is Marjorie Roberts Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is the director of the Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism Lab, founder and director of the University Language Academy for Children, and former director of the Doctoral Program in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE).
Together, they have written and published the book "Second Language Acquisition: Introducing Intervention Research."
In this episode, they discuss:
grammatical knowledge in the context of language acquisition
what intervention research is
why we expect too much of adult learners
how instruction contributes or doesn't contribute to grammar acquisition
efficacious conditions for grammar instruction
how educators can influence the learning of grammar
why studying monolinguals helps to understand L2 acquisition
literate vs illiterate native speakers for a study on grammatical knowledge
For more on today's guests:
1. Get their book "SLA: Introducing Intervention Research"
2. Silvina's website
3. Tania's website
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. Book a free 1:1 chat to strategize your teaching business.
2. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
3. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.
Join our free support group for teachers building their business.
So many teachers focus on teaching when they should focus on something else. In this episode, we dive into this with the great Bill VanPatten.
Bill VanPatten is an award-winning scholar and teacher with an international reputation in the fields of second language acquisition and second language teaching. He is a requested speaker at conferences and meetings and over the course of his career he has given over 500 keynote speeches, plenaries, invited talks, and workshops.
We chat with Bill about why:
the majority of teaching is not in accordance with SLA research
Krashen was right
teachers need to get rid of the "Atlas Complex"
most people don't understand what a communicative classroom means
grammar rules are not psychologically real
many researchers don't want to talk to teachers
understanding how non-college educated L1 speakers process language shows explicit instruction's ineffectiveness
if learners can do your assignments using AI, the assignment is flawed
For more from Bill:
1. Visit his website.
2. His recent article "Krashen forty years later: Final comments"
Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.
If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
Ways we can help you right now:
1. 5in30: Get 5 clients in the next 30 days
2. Just starting your business? Get free guidance in our support group.
3. Already have clients? Share your vision with us: book a free chat to strategize your business goals.
4. Follow us on IG: @learnyourenglish
Teacher Talking Time: The Learn YOUR English Podcast
Teacher Talking Time is a podcast for language teachers who want more: more clarity, more autonomy, and more lasting impact, both inside and outside the classroom.
Hosted by Leo and Andrew of Learn YOUR English, each episode features thoughtful, in-depth conversations with the educators, researchers, and teacherpreneurs shaping the future of language education. Guests have included Scott Thornbury, Bill VanPatten, David Little, Jennifer Jenkins, John Levis, Angelica Galante, Sarah Mercer, Enrica Piccardo, Claudia Fernández, Shawn Loewen, Paul Nation, Sheila Thorn, and many more.
From the latest in second language acquisition research to honest stories of teachers building lives and businesses on their own terms, every conversation invites you to think deeper, teach more intentionally, and take charge of your professional path.
We release two episodes each month - with full video versions on YouTube - to help you reflect, stay inspired, and grow as a teacher and changemaker.
Subscribe, listen, and join a global community of educators leading with intention.