TESOL Pop TESOL Pop

Teacher and materials writer Silvina Mascitti shares three lesson plans from her library of free materials at EFL Creative Ideas. Silvina walks through the various lesson stages for each lesson and shares insights into how she uses the materials with her adult learners.
KEY TALKING POINTS
Lesson Structure
Silvina outlines her typical lesson structure: before, while, and after framework focusing on meaningful language points. Each lesson includes engaging activities such as discussion questions, visuals, and follow-up tasks to reinforce learning.
Lesson 1: Are you a Foodie? (A2 Elementary level)
Silvina introduces a relatable lesson on food, utilising an advert and visual elements to engage low-level students. Lexical focus includes phrases like "sounds fancy" and "looks good," with a follow-up task on discussing dining experiences.
Lesson 2: The Power of Surprise (B1 Intermediate level)
This lesson adapted from Psychology Today encourages discussion on surprise, with activities including mind maps and reading comprehension tasks. Lexical focus includes words related to self-confidence, with a follow-up role-playing scenario.
Lesson 3: Memories (B2 Upper-Intermediate level)
Designed for higher levels, this lesson integrates visual elements and discussions on memories. It includes excerpts from Marcel Proust's work and connects to Maroon Five's song "Memories," with activities including vocabulary mind mapping and discussions on childhood memories.

ABOUTSilvina Mascitti is an enthusiastic, qualified teacher of English and materials writer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has worked in ELT for more than 20 years. She taught English in schools and companies in Argentina. She got a Fulbright scholarship and taught Spanish at a university in the USA. Currently, she lives in Spain and teaches adults online. She also creates materials for her own lessons and shares them for free on her website EFL Creative Ideas. Silvina also works as a freelance materials writer for highly-recognised platforms and language schools.
REFERENCES
Lesson 1: Are you a foodie?
Lesson 2: The power of surprise
Lesson 3: Memories
TRANSCRIPT
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CREDITS
Producer Laura Wilkes
Editor Haven Tsang
Thanks to our lovely guest, Silvina Mascitti.

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Retired teacher Chris Starling shares a few of his favourite works of literature that inspired him as a linguaphile and educator. We hope Chris' book list inspires you to continue the conversation by sharing your favourite titles with your teaching community and in the comments section on the TESOL Pop website.

KEY TALKING POINTS
Discussion of "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" by Joan Didion:
"Slouching Towards Bethlehem" is a collection of 1960s journalism by Joan Didion, offering a critical look at the counterculture movement.Chris appreciates Didion's style and personal approach to journalism, which invites readers into her world and provides insightful commentary.Favourite quote: "This is the California where it is possible to live and die without ever eating an artichoke…"
Discussion of "Fugitive Pieces" by Anne Michaels:
Chris describes "Fugitive Pieces" as a powerful exploration of memory, personal history, and self-construction set against the backdrop of the Holocaust.He praises Anne Michaels' poetic writing style and the depth of insight each reading offers.Favorite quote: "The past is never dead, it's never even past."
Discussion of "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens:
Chris highlights Charles Dickens' storytelling prowess in "Bleak House," emphasising its intricate plot and rich character development.He discusses Dickens' use of symbolism, particularly the fog, to represent societal issues and interconnectedness.Favourite quote: "Fog everywhere... Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners."
ABOUT
Chris qualified as a librarian and then as a teacher of English, careers he followed with pleasure for over 30 years although he was drawn away from the librarianship side quite early. His longest service, over 20 years, was in a school where the students had over sixty home languages.
REFERENCES
Didion, J. (1968) Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Farrar, Straus and GirouxMichaels, A. (1996) Fugitive Pieces. McClelland & Stewart Ltd.Dickens, C. (1852-1853) Bleak House. Bradbury & Evans
Links to later editions of these title can be found on the TESOL Pop website.
TRANSCRIPT
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CREDITS
Producer Laura Wilkes
Editor Haven Tsang
Thanks to our charming guest, Chris Starling.

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Founder of Charlie's Lessons shares three key questions to remember when choosing technology for your teaching context.

KEY TALKING POINTS
Core Set of Tools
Charlie emphasises the significance of technology in his daily routine, relying heavily on the Google suite of apps for communication and organisation. He highlights the role of technology in facilitating communication with teachers, students, and school administrators.
Integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence)
The conversation shifts to the integration of AI in educational settings, with Charlie acknowledging its potential in catering to students' specific needs. However, he underscores the importance of testing and refining AI-generated materials to ensure their suitability for classroom use.
Tips for Choosing Technology
Charlie offers practical advice for educators navigating the vast array of available technologies, focusing on factors such as cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and unique functionalities. He emphasises the need to assess whether a particular technology addresses specific teaching challenges or merely adds to the existing toolkit.
ABOUT
Charlie, originally from Bath, ventured into TEFL in Thailand before teaching in South Korea. Despite intending to go to Japan, he settled for South Korea for a year in Busan. With 3 years of experience, he pursued a CELTA course at Bath College, enabling him to teach in Europe. Arriving in Cadiz, Spain in 2012, he later moved to Seville before returning to Cadiz as Director of Studies of Foreign Languages at CLIC IH Cadiz. With a DELTA qualification, he shares teaching experiences and educational technology expertise through his website and YouTube channel, injecting humour into his endeavours.
Learn more about Charlie's work by visiting his YouTube channel here.
TRANSCRIPT
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CREDITS
Producer Laura Wilkes
Editor Haven Tsang
Thanks to our great guest, Charlie.

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Writing Tutor and Coach, Paul Duke, shares what distinguishes a good piece of writing from a great one and how coaching can help learners become great writers.

KEY TALKING POINTS
Teaching vs. Tutoring vs. Coaching
Paul explains the differences between teaching, tutoring, and coaching, emphasising the focus on introducing subject matter, improving existing skills, and achieving specific goals, respectively.
Characteristics of Great Writing
Paul highlights the importance of precision, clarity, persuasiveness, and engagement in great writing, emphasising its power to change the reader's thinking and entertain.
Tips for Developing Writing Skills
Paul shares tips for coaches to help students develop writing skills, including thoughtful analysis of strengths and weaknesses, customised programs, targeted feedback, and iterative revision.

ABOUT
Paul is a Canadian English teacher, writer, content creator, and coach who works with writers to develop and enhance their skills. In addition to being the co-host of the Trouble With Writing Podcast, he is also known on Youtube as The Grammar Detective. On that channel, he hosts the weekly livestream Hard-Boiled English Live, and the web series English Weirdness. Recently, he has launched a brand new Youtube channel focused on English writing skills called The Writing Workshop.
Learn more about Paul's work by following him on LinkedIn here.
TRANSCRIPT
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SUPPORT
Say thanks with coffee.
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CREDITS
Producer Laura Wilkes
Editor Haven Tsang
Thanks to our fab guest, Paul Duke.

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Teacher Samvidha Srinath talks about using clips from popular TV shows in her classes, the benefits it brings to her teenage learners, and how she uses the material in class.

KEY TALKING POINTS
Advantages of Using Authentic Media:
Samvidha explains how using clips from films and TV shows in the classroom motivates and engages students. Authentic material also exposes students to the target language and various topics covered in the media. Examples from Samvidha's classes, including the TV show "Young Sheldon," illustrate the effectiveness of using relevant media.
Selecting Appropriate Material:
Samvidha shares her top priorities when choosing media for language classes, emphasising cultural appropriateness and relevance to students, and matching the material to students' language proficiency levels.
Implementation Strategies:
Differentiated materials and support are essential for addressing the diverse needs of learners in the classroom.
Long-term media use (2 to 4 months or a school semester) allows for deeper engagement and language production from students.
ABOUT
Samvidha is currently training to become a teacher at secondary school level and specialises in teaching languages. She not only loves teaching, but is also a passionate language learner herself. She is fluent in five languages and is learning Korean and Japanese. 
Apart from this, Samvidha is also a writer and blogger. She runs her own blog called books and coffee (BOCO for short) where she writes about language learning, education and everything else she’s passionate about.
To learn more about Samvidha's work, visit her blog.
TRANSCRIPT
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SUPPORT
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CREDITS
Producer Laura Wilkes
Editor Haven Tsang
Thanks to our lovely guest, Samvidha Srinath.

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Founder of PolCa Languages, Ania Karwowska, discusses myths surrounding dyslexia and language learning. Ania draws from research to address three prevalent myths and what we can do instead to support learners.

KEY TALKING POINTSMyth 1: Dyslexic-Friendly Fonts
Ania debunks the idea that specific fonts are more accessible for dyslexic learners. She emphasises that dyslexia is a neurological condition and not a vision issue. Thus, alternative fonts do not effectively aid dyslexic learners in reading. Ania stresses the importance of teaching reading skills rather than relying on fonts.
Myth 2: Color Overlays
Similarly, Ania explains that colour overlays do not alleviate dyslexia-related challenges in reading. She clarifies that dyslexia is rooted in brain function and recommends focusing on structural language approaches to address dyslexic learners' needs.
Myth 3: Specific Teaching Methods
Ania highlights the misconception that specific teaching methods are superior for dyslexic students. She advocates for a structured approach to language learning, emphasising phonological aspects. Ania discourages methods that oversimplify reading or attribute dyslexia to vision issues.
Tips for Teachers
Ania provides practical advice for teachers working with dyslexic students. She suggests starting with a needs analysis, identifying areas of difficulty in writing, and focusing on fundamental language structures. Ania stresses patience, gradual implementation of changes, and fostering open dialogue with learners.
ABOUT
Ania is the founder of PolCa Languages, where she shares her research and learning on dyslexia in bilingual children.
She is also an English Philologist, Orton Gillingham and Phonographix educator, as well as the mother to a bilingual dyslexic son.
To learn more about Ania’s work, visit her website.
TRANSCRIPT
Watch with closed captions.
SUPPORT
Say thanks with coffee.
JOIN OUR EVENTS
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LEARN HOW TO PODCAST
The Podcast Pathfinder
CREDITS
Producer Laura Wilkes
Editor Haven Tsang
Thanks to our fab guest, Ania Karwowska.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.