How to English TEFL Podcast

Gav and Em
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

How to English TEFL Podcast is hosted by Gav & Em, two English teachers with 40+ years of combined teaching experience around the world. We explore real questions from English teaching and learning, including lesson planning, grammar, vocabulary, speaking, confidence, Business English, classroom management, technology and more. Expect practical TEFL ideas, honest classroom stories and different perspectives from two teachers who don't always agree on the best way to teach. Listen, learn and teach with Gav & Em.

  1. Sep 11

    How Should English Teachers Check Answers, Pronounce Names & Stay Motivated? | TEFL Tips – S07E16

    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 Should English Teachers Check Answers, Pronounce Names & Stay Motivated? | TEFL Tips – S07E16

  2. Aug 28

    Is Your Lesson Becoming the Teacher Show? | How to English TEFL Podcast - S07E15

    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.

    Is Your Lesson Becoming the Teacher Show? | How to English TEFL Podcast - S07E15

  3. Aug 14

    Should TEFL Teachers Use the Teacher’s Book? Do Students Really Learn Grammar? | Gav & Em Answer Your TEFL Questions – S07E14

    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?

    Should TEFL Teachers Use the Teacher’s Book? Do Students Really Learn Grammar? | Gav & Em Answer Your TEFL Questions – S07E14

  4. Jul 31

    Speak with Confidence: The Mindset Every TEFL Teacher Needs | Helen von Dadelszen - S07E13

    Build Real Speaking Confidence with Helen von Dadelszen | TEFL Tips, Communication Skills & Classroom CourageIn this episode of How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em, we welcome communication coach, vocal trainer, and author Helen von Dadelszen, who shares practical, science‑backed strategies for speaking with confidence — whether you’re a teacher, learner, or anyone who wants to communicate more clearly.Helen breaks down the myth of “I’ll speak when I feel confident” and shows how confidence is built through action, not something you wait for. You’ll learn how to manage nerves, slow your breathing, shift your focus, and create a classroom environment where students feel brave enough to speak.Perfect for TEFL teachers, English learners, public speakers, and anyone who wants to feel calmer, clearer, and more courageous.Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 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

    Speak with Confidence: The Mindset Every TEFL Teacher Needs | Helen von Dadelszen - S07E13

  5. Jul 17

    Will AI Replace English Teachers? The Future of TEFL - S07E12

    Will AI replace English teachers? What is the future of TEFL in a world of AI language-learning apps, instant translation and artificial intelligence tutors? In this episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we explore how AI is changing English language learning and ask what human TEFL teachers can offer that technology can’t. We also share practical teaching ideas for giving clear classroom instructions, using transcripts to improve English, and giving advice to fellow teachers without sounding critical. What is a TEFL teacher? A TEFL teacher teaches English as a foreign language to people whose first language is not English. Students may learn English for work, travel, relationships, entertainment or simply because they enjoy the language. Will AI replace English teachers?Gav thinks AI could eventually replace many human teaching roles, while Em believes future generations may place greater value on real human interaction. We discuss AI teachers, language-learning apps, automated feedback and why students might—or might not—continue choosing human teachers. How can AI help English learners?AI can help learners translate and summarise texts, practise conversations, receive feedback and generate transcripts. Used effectively, these tools can support independent English study alongside lessons with a teacher. How should teachers give clear classroom instructions? Keep instructions slow, clear and staged. Introduce the topic, explain the task before handing out materials, break complicated activities into smaller steps and check that students understand what they need to do before they begin. How can transcripts help students learn English? Transcripts can help learners notice vocabulary, grammar and useful phrases that they may have missed while listening. They can also be used for pronunciation practice, reading activities, language analysis and reviewing difficult sections of authentic spoken English. Should experienced teachers give advice to other teachers? Sometimes—but how the advice is phrased matters. We discuss when feedback is useful, when teachers may need to learn through experience, and how supportive phrases such as “That happened to me too” can be more helpful than simply pointing out what went wrong. In this episode: • What TEFL means and what TEFL teachers do • AI and the future of English language teaching • Human teachers vs AI teachers • How students can use AI to learn English • How to give effective classroom instructions • Concept-checking and setting up activities • Using transcripts for listening, vocabulary and grammar • Pronunciation practice with transcripts • Giving constructive advice to other teachers • Common TEFL teaching challenges Whether you’re an English learner, TEFL teacher, ESL/EFL teacher or someone interested in AI and education, this episode looks at how technology is changing language learning—and where human teachers might fit into its future. Timestamps00:00 – What a TEFL teacher actually is03:01 – Will AI replace human teachers?06:49 – Future generations: tech backlash or tech dependence?11:01 – Em’s method: how to give perfect classroom instructions17:14 – Why transcripts transform student progress21:04 – Using the How To English transcription corpus22:13 – The delicate art of giving advice to fellow teachers28:23 – Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod #TEFL #ESLTeaching #EnglishTeachers #TeachingTips #CELTA #LanguageLearning #TeacherLife #PodcastForTeachers #AITeacherTimestamps00:00 – What a TEFL teacher actually is03:01 – Will AI replace human teachers?06:49 – Future generations: tech backlash or tech dependence?11:01 – Em’s method: how to give perfect classroom instructions17:14 – Why transcripts transform student progress21:04 – Using the How To English transcription corpus22:13 – The delicate art of giving advice to fellow teachers28:23 – Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

    Will AI Replace English Teachers? The Future of TEFL - S07E12

  6. Jul 3

    English Teaching Tips: Correcting Student Mistakes, Lesson Efficiency & Common Errors -TEFL - S07E11

    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 this episode, Gav and Em explore practical TEFL and English teaching questions from the classroom. We discuss maximizing valuable teaching time, increasing student participation, lesson planning (and whether not planning could ever be more efficient!), and knowing when subtle language mistakes need to be challenged. We look at real examples of common English learner errors, including the important difference between “I’m not interested” and “I’m not interesting,” and discuss why small mistakes can completely change the meaning of a conversation. We also tackle direct translations and expressions that sound natural to learners but not necessarily to advanced English speakers, such as “My neck is stuck,” “I do Home Office,” and calling a mobile phone a “handy.” What should an English teacher do when they understand the learner perfectly, but someone outside the classroom might not? Finally, Gav and Em compare how they keep track of their teaching hours: Em’s decidedly analogue paper system versus Gav’s new digital Google Sheets approach. In this episode: • How to improve efficiency in English lessons• Maximizing student talking time and participation • How much lesson planning is really necessary?• When English teachers should correct student errors • “But you understand me!” — why correction still matters• Interested vs interesting • Common English mistakes caused by direct translation• Fossilized errors in English learning • How teachers can explain unnatural English expressions• Tracking teaching hours: paper vs digital How do you deal with 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 — a podcast about teaching and learning English as a foreign language. #TEFL #EnglishTeaching #LearnEnglish #EnglishTeacher #TeachingEnglish #EnglishLearning #ESL #EFL #ESLteacher #CELTA #EnglishTeacher #TEFLPodcastTimestamps 00:00 – Welcome back to How To English (TEFL teacher intro) 01:59 – Teaching efficiency: quick wins for busy TEFL teachers 05:24 – Em’s practical upgrades for TEFL & ESL classrooms 10:24 – Similar words teachers should highlight (classroom examples) 13:55 – Confusing English words: how to teach them clearly 15:53 – “But you understand me though” — correcting typical learner errors 22:06 – Gav’s translation dilemma (false friends in real lessons) 24:24 – More false friends English learners struggle with 26:33 – Teacher admin: how to track your teaching hours efficiently 31:11 – Final thoughts & a surprising TEFL classroom moment

    English Teaching Tips: Correcting Student Mistakes, Lesson Efficiency & Common Errors -TEFL - S07E11

  7. Jun 19

    The Perfect Lesson Recipe: Homework, Holidays & When Students Don’t Get It - S07E10

    What are the ingredients of a great English lesson? In this episode of How to English TEFL Pod, 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, they ask what actually makes a good homework task, why taking a holiday can help teachers hear their students with fresh ears, and what to do when learners just don’t get a grammar point. Gav shares a tricky experience teaching wish, while Em explores the surprisingly complicated world of online lesson invitations, 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, 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! 🍰 👉 Support our podcast https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Timestamps 00:00 – TEFL podcast intro 02:08 – What makes a great homework task? 04:45 – Fun, interesting & relevant homework ideas 09:28 – TEFL holidays & freelance lifestyle 13:32 – Returning to teaching after a break 16:12 – Zombie apocalypse teaching scenario 19:03 – Online teaching invites & Issues 26:00 – When students don’t understand "Wish" 33:10 – Lesson cake metaphor 38:20 – Outro

    The Perfect Lesson Recipe: Homework, Holidays & When Students Don’t Get It - S07E10

  8. Jun 5

    Does CELTA Really Prepare You to Teach English? | TEFL Teacher Reflections - S07E09

    What stays with you after years of teaching English? And how much of the teacher you become comes from your original training? In this episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we look back at our TEFL journeys and the experiences that have shaped us as English teachers. We revisit our CELTA training and talk about what we still use today, what frustrated us, and whether teachers sometimes spend too long eliciting an answer when it would be easier just to tell the students! We also get into the unmistakable influence teachers can have on their students. What happens when you inherit another teacher’s class? Can you immediately spot the habits and classroom culture that have already been established? Then there’s the pressure of the first lesson: making a good impression, dealing with nerves, making mistakes and establishing the kind of classroom you want from the very beginning. Along the way, we also tackle some rather important TEFL questions: unusual places we’ve taught, ridiculously long journeys to lessons, competitive classroom games, student pets and the essential items that keep teachers going. If you’re an English teacher, TEFL/TESOL professional, CELTA trainee or language learner, join us for a relaxed look at how teachers develop—and how our experiences follow us into the classroom. In this episode: CELTA memories • teacher training • eliciting vs giving answers • classroom dynamics • inheriting students • correcting bad habits • first lessons • teacher nerves • making mistakes • TEFL experiences What did your teacher training teach you that you still use today? Let us know in the comments. #TEFL #CELTA #EnglishTeaching #ESLTeacher #ELT #TeachingEnglish #TESOL #EnglishTeachers #TeacherTraining #HowToEnglish Resources: Quiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=proOvlY-WKk ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro with TEFL nostalgia 03:17 – Gav’s “true or false” quiz begins 😄 03:47 – Weirdest places we’ve taught English 04:40 – Cutest (and strangest) student pets 06:02 – Longest commutes & travel stories 07:09 – Funny things students have called us 08:02 – Essential TEFL survival items ☕ 08:32 – When classroom games get too competitive 11:02 – CELTA reflections: love it or hate it? 17:05 – Teaching style, classroom vibe & being approachable 18:22 – Can you spot another teacher’s influence? 23:18 – Bad habits students bring with them 25:24 – First lessons, pressure & first impressions 26:59 – Surviving the “autopilot” lesson blur 31:06 – Being human, making mistakes & wrapping up

    Does CELTA Really Prepare You to Teach English? | TEFL Teacher Reflections - S07E09
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How to English TEFL Podcast is hosted by Gav & Em, two English teachers with 40+ years of combined teaching experience around the world. We explore real questions from English teaching and learning, including lesson planning, grammar, vocabulary, speaking, confidence, Business English, classroom management, technology and more. Expect practical TEFL ideas, honest classroom stories and different perspectives from two teachers who don't always agree on the best way to teach. Listen, learn and teach with Gav & Em.

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