Teacher Talking Time

teachertalkingtime

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, 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.

  1. FEB 17

    You Can't NOT Teach Grammar (And Why We’re Doing It Wrong) - Caitlyn Pineault

    "Designing curriculum around proficiency goals for your program  is a way of making them a positive, empowering tool instead of something that's punitive" - Caitlyn Pineault.  Caitlyn teaches undergraduate second language acquisition courses at Georgetown University with a dedication to connecting research and practice for language teachers. Her work can be found in the Modern Language Journal and the Foreign Language Annals. She is also the co-founder of the recurring column “Collective Wisdom: Teacher and Researchers in Dialogue” in The Language Educator.   In this episode, we chat about:  Bridging Research and Classroom Practice The Role of Feedback in Language Learning Student's Frustration with Language Learning Challenges in Changing Teaching Practices The Role of Rubrics in Reflecting Teacher Values Assessment and Its Impact on Language Programs Implementing TBLT in Different Educational Contexts The Future of Language Education and Teacher Mindset *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM CAITLYN PINEAULT: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit her website  3. Collective Wisdom: Teacher and Researchers in Dialogue”   OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.

    1h 27m
  2. JAN 31

    Don't go Viral: The real keys to creating IMPACTFUL content - Laura Wilkes

    "You don't have to feel confident to be great at what you do."  We talk with Laura Wilkes, founder of Communicating for Impact, about content creation, putting yourself out there, and what it really takes to build a full-service production house. Laura has 15 years of experience in education leadership and media production for global education brands. She started Communicating for Impact after seeing how high-quality, strategic media can accelerate growth for experts and mission-driven organizations.   In this episode, we chat about:  passions vs businesses going from reluctant leader to confident director the role of authenticity and creativity in content creation Laura launching her own creative production house how to stand out in saturated markets understanding buyer psychology  the mechanisms needed to take the entrepreneurial leap  *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM LAURA WILKES: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out Communicating for Impact 3. Follow her YouTube channel   SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.

    1h 7m
  3. JAN 15

    There's a problem with the word "INCLUSION." We should use THIS instead - Ben Goldstein

    Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "You can be included and still not feel that you belong" - Ben Goldstein.  We sit down with Ben to talk inclusion in ELT - and what that actually means (and what it doesn't).  Ben is a writer, teacher trainer and conference speaker. He taught materials writing for many years on the online MATESOL program of the New School in New York.  He has published two methodology handbooks for teachers: Working with Images and Language Learning with Digital Video. 30 Ideas on Inclusion in ELT, a pocket handbook for teachers has also just been published by Cambridge.   In this episode, Ben discusses:  defining inclusion in education challenges and misconceptions of inclusive teaching belonging vs inclusion why "inclusion" isn't the best word to use how being critical of inclusivity is alright holistic strategies for teachers to use engagement, representation, and action in UDL   FOR MORE FROM BEN GOLDSTEIN: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Ben's book "30 Ideas on Inclusion."  3. Visit his website bengoldstein.es   OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without 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. 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.

    1h 23m
  4. JAN 1

    The biggest risk isn't being WRONG, it's being CONFUSED - John Healy

    Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "Make a decision about which direction you wanna head towards. Start walking and don't do anything else for 30 days" - John Healy We chat with John Healy about education businesses, how indecision stagnates us, and what teachers can do to execute as entrepreneurs.  John Healy is the founder of My Speaking Score - an AI-powered platform that helps non-native English speakers prepare for the TOEFL Speaking test with confidence. From building a consulting business to teaching in Korea to now founding an edtech company, John's career in ELT is vast. He joins us to talk teaching and education businesses.    In our discussion, we dive into: navigating self-doubt  analyzing risk - and why people should take more of them why people are reluctant to make decisive decisions  outcome businesses vs hourly rates balancing passion and profit in education powering through early business struggles how ideas are easy and execution is difficult being obsessive over getting your customer their results    FOR MORE FROM JOHN HEALY: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out My Speaking Score   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without 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. 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.

    1h 27m
  5. 12/03/2025

    You'll never feel ready: do you want to build a teaching business or not? - Mariela Mondaca

    Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "So many people are out there doing great things and they aren't ready, either, so I asked myself: Why not me?"  We chat with teacher and entrepreneur Mariela Mondaca.  Mariela is an English teacher, teacher trainer, and entrepreneur who has turned her 25 years of classroom experience into an online business. She designs programmes that bring together speakers of English as a foreign language from around the world, creating supportive communities where wellbeing-based topics spark conversation and help learners achieve real English fluency. She runs Fluent Connections.  In this episode, Mariela discusses:  Overcoming Self-Doubt and Taking the Leap Believing in Your Own Path Dealing with Self-Doubt and Anxiety Starting and Growing a Teaching Business Finding Your Niche and Evolving Learning from Mistakes and Adapting Advice for New Teaching Entrepreneur The Turning Point: Strategy and Mindset A Week in the Life of a Teacherpreneur Starting Over: Key Steps and Lessons Learned Reflecting on Personal Growth and Transformation FOR MORE FROM MARIELA MONDACA: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Follow on IG: @profe_mariel 3. See her programs   Support Teacher Talking Time: Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without 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. 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.

    46 min
  6. Can learning apps REALLY support language learning? The research may be surprising  - Shawn Loewen

    11/14/2025

    Can learning apps REALLY support language learning? The research may be surprising - Shawn Loewen

    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.

    1h 29m
  7. 10/31/2025

    It's magical to feel PROUD of something you created - Anna Aleksenko

    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.

    58 min
  8. 10/14/2025

    Kids do NOT learn languages faster than adults. That's a MYTH - Dr. Karen Lichtman

    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.

    1h 25m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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, 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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