Cheeky Academics

Dr. Pravina is back with us for this episode! We talk about her latest projects at work and at Avid Education, how she manages her research, learning from her students, and what a day in her life looks like as a music lecturer. We also discuss about the K-pop wave and how music is connected not only with the people who listen to it, but also how it brings the world of fashion, food and culture together with it. As always, if you have any questions, drop us an email at cheekyacademics@gmail.com.

To wrap up our Women's History Month podcast series this year, Wayne speaks about the women who inspire him from his mother to his wife, daughter and more. This episode is dedicated to them and also to all those out there who have women supporting them. We want to remind you to say "thank you" to them if you haven't. A short greeting or a small gesture may go far so take the chance when you can. To all the women reading this or listening to this podcast, THANK YOU! You are appreciated, loved, and seen.

As we continue to share stories around the theme of Women's History Month, in this episode, Celena shares her experience of being an Asian American woman who has lived in two different countries. We also discuss equality in terms of pay, opportunities and qualifications at her workplace. Celena is also a graduate student who is exploring a topic that she is passionate about, which is a huge inspiration for women out there who are thinking about getting into graduate school. Tune in to listen to her story!

Opening poem: Mushrooms by Sylvia Plath | This month was a month of being inspired by the many stories about women. In this episode, Emily speaks with Carolyne Wilhelm who is doing her Master's degree in Peace and Conflict in Sweden. She talks about how her field of study is usually surrounded by men and the importance of women to continue to be curious about everything. Carolyne has also lived in Japan where she discusses dressing up as a woman compared to other countries she has lived in. Listen to her story as she goes through her journey in academia and how her past experiences have shaped her into who she is today. If you have any questions, email us anytime at cheekyacademics@gmail.com.

In this episode, Emily speaks with Dr Joseph Ramanair on his journey as an academic. What was it like doing a PhD many years ago and having to go through every book in the library for research compared to now in the age of the internet where everything is at your fingertips? We also discuss normalising technology in the classroom and how learners are more skilled with their devices today, although new challenges arise such as the importance of privacy and email etiquette. Finally, we talk about how Dr Joseph maintains a healthy lifestyle despite his busy schedule and, of course, pop the secret Cheeky Academic question at the end. If you have any questions for Dr Joseph, email us at cheekyacademics@gmail.com.

Clare is back for this episode as we dive deeper into her area of expertise—reading skills in English. Reading is more about the text. It also goes beyond the text, but how so? Tune in to this episode to find out more. This episode is suitable for those looking to improve their reading skills, studying English as a Second or Foreign Language, and educators who are interested in reading skills. If you have any questions for us or the Cheeky Academics podcast, email us at cheekyacademics@gmail.com anytime.

Everyone has their own unique story about what it's like to be a full-time academic with a family and a life to run. In this episode, Emily speaks with Clare about her experience in the field of academia and what got her interested in her field. Clare also talks about how she enjoys playing games with her kids, emphasising the importance of getting a good night's sleep, and her interest in exploring different cultures and languages around the world.

So you've been asked to teach about environmental issues and the steps you can take, but is your institution also going down that same path? In this episode, Chris Graham talks about the secret of bringing in green topics into the classroom and the steps that you can take as an educator (or even just a normal human being!) to make education greener for yourself, your students, and the future. Don't forget to check out the ELT Footprint global community on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

From climate change strikes to digitising education, we speak with Chris Graham from ELT Footprint in this episode to share insights on how the global pandemic has affected bringing environmental issues to the classroom. We also discuss how these issues are viewed in different parts of the world, the unquestionable importance of teachers as leaders, and how to take a more holistic approach in making your teaching methods greener. Find out more about ELT Footprint at https://eltfootprint.org or connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @eltfootprint

Happy New Year, listeners! We appreciate your patience as we were preparing for the launch Season 1 of 2022. In this episode, we spoke with one of Avid Education's tutors, Elaine, who comes from a multilingual background. What is it like for her to grow up in an environment with many languages? How did that impact her life then and today? We hope this inspires you to continue learning languages or pick up a new one if you have not done so. For any inquiries, email us at cheekyacademics@gmail.com anytime.

Within and beyond the books and the classrooms in academia, we address gender issues with Melodie Cook through her experiences in this episode. We hope that you will find some valuable takeaways from her stories.

What's it like moving to a new country, starting a new job and having a kid at the same time? Life may be tough but you can find your worth by giving it your all. In this episode, Emily speaks to Melodie Cook about dealing with challenges that stand in the way, facing with failures, and taking opportunities to connect with the people around you. Melodie also gives valuable advice to those who are new in academia and addresses some misconceptions in research.

"Where are you from?" is a question that teachers would surely be asked in their careers. Whether by students, parents, colleagues or employers, that happens to be a BIG question for our guest, Namiko Tsuruta. Guess what? It is not a one-word answer nor a simple one. If you are interested in learning about your identity and how to address it in the classroom or with people around you, this podcast is for you. You can find out more about Namiko's work at the Global Language Institute (https://www.gli-edu.jp/) and The Tokyo Life (https://thetokyolife.jp/).

There is not doubt that the pandemic has affected so many people's lives, including educators around the world. As a result, many institutions began seeing the value of technology in the classroom. In this interview with Phil, we talked about ways to approach technology and how it is necessary in education (whether we like it or not). Tune in and let us know what you think! Got questions? Email us at cheekyacademics@gmail.com anytime!

Teaching is not as easy as you think. Plenty of work, time, and sweat (also tears) go into this sector of education. How do we teachers find that work-life balance? Well, the answer depends on each individual. Tune in to this episode's interview with Phil Nguyen to find out more.

Do you enjoy storytelling or listening to audiobooks? Are you learning English and would like to enhance your listening skills? You've come to the right podcast. This is the launch of our new short series where we tell you interesting stories that we have found online. In this first episode, we share "The Lucky Cat" by Hana Lang. Retrieved from Reedsy where you can read thousands of stories from people around the world. Enjoy!

Ever wondered if it were possible to pursue a postgraduate course in your second language? In this episode, we spoke to special guest Hidayat Polim from Indonesia about his journey of completing his Master's degree in English, which is not his first language. Tune in to listen to his story packed with real-life experiences and valuable advice! For more information, you can also visit https://steamplus.jp/.

Want to get into research? Curious about how to apply for a PhD? What are some things to look out for and also avoid?Be ready to impress your future institution from these insightful tips from Eva Lantsoght who runs the PhD Talk podcast and blog. Listen in to find out how the process of completing a PhD application from the perspective of an experienced person in the field. Don't forget to check out PhD Talk's podcast and blog too!

What is language privilege? In this week's episode, Emily had an interesting conversation with Margaret from Get Unbothered podcast about the privileges of the English language. Having both experienced living in a country where English is not a main language, this episode shines light on how two people from different backgrounds in English and their stories about how they see the world as English speakers. Extra bonus from Margaret as a someone who has learned American Sign Language (ASL) and her experience with using it in Japan! Don't forget to check out Margaret's podcast, Get Unbothered.

You may know about famous musicians like Robert Schumann but did you know that his wife, Clara Schumann, was a music prodigy? In this episode, let's talk about feminism in music back in the Romantic period (and we mean WAY back). Hosted by Emily and featuring special guests from a Malaysian university who would like to share their passion about stories of women in music worth listening to.This episode was recorded on the last day of Women's History Month.

A drink bar is something you can find in family restaurants and does not have alcohol all the time. So why is it called a bar? If free time is not free, what does "no time" mean?In this special two-part episode, lecturer Jackson Lee returns to test Cheeky Academics Host Emily on her knowledge of more words used in the Land of the Rising Sun. This episode is ideal for those who are interested in how English is used in the local context of Japan. Listen and play along!

Salaryman? Career woman? What does "don't mind" actually mean? In this special two-part episode, Emily discovers how English is used in Japanese daily life with English Language university lecturer Jackson Lee, who has been living in Japan for a couple of years. If you are not familiar with Japanese language or would like to find out how English is used in a local context, this "Guess the Meaning" episode is for you.

Continuing from the last episode, Emily and the girls recall some of their precious moments as English teachers in Japan—particularly the ones that make their heart soar.p.s. Can you identify all the different characters voiced in this episode? ;)

In this podcast, Emily discusses how teaching in Japan has impacted the lives of some English teachers living in Japan. Listen to their stories about gaining confidence to step in front of the classroom every day, dealing with challenging situations, and what are some of the moments that made this job so worth it.For the next part of this podcast, tune in next week!

In this episode, English teacher Donald Ball a.k.a. Don talks about how he conducts his lessons and the interesting stuff students have written about for tasks. Sometimes you wonder how their thought process goes which is the perfect opportunity for teachers to investigate and learn from students!

Life can take a person to many places. As for high school English teacher Donald Ball a.k.a. Don, he began his journey to the Land of the Rising Sun from a young age. From learning how to write his name in Katakana to arriving in Japan the same year as the 2011 disaster, Japan eventually became a place that he now calls home.

Welcome to the Cheeky Academics where we talk about language learning, music education, pedagogy and anything related to academia.

This episode talks about how we were made to see ourselves through the lenses of others. As teachers, it is imperative that we are always presentable—and it is not easy nor cheap to be so every day. The energy we deliver in the classroom also impacts how much learning takes place. Also, how did the pandemic affect the way we dress and groom to give our best impressions? Tune in to find out more.

Are you a music student? Tired of people asking you to play your instrument for them? We can relate. If you're not a music student but would like to be one, hopefully these tips can give you some pointers. Playing an instrument sounds cool—especially if you want to share your music online—but have you considered investing in maintenance too? Listen to our stories before you sign up for classes or invest in an instrument.Hosted by Emily and Dr Pravina.

Sometimes, teachers get stuck. It's not because we ran out of luck. In this podcast, Dr Pravina shares some useful tips for music teachers who want to spice up their lessons. This is great for both new and current music teachers. It's about time we make scales more fun!

"Excuse me, we need you to teach this class in five minutes.""I'm sorry, I really think you might be pushing the limits."Have you ever done impromptu classes? Must be scary! Here are some tricks and tips for elementary and junior high students who are learning English.

Moving to new place is a terrifying experience, but when you relax and breathe, it's not all that serious. In this episode, Emily shares her first impressions and some memories when she first moved to Japan to teach English.

Students be like, "Can you hear me out?" Oh, come on, smile! Don't show me that pout. The honesty tables have turned for this podcast. If you ever thought about becoming a music student, here's some food for thought—from student to student.

Honesty is the best policy. Nothing at all like hypocrisy. At least that's what they say, but what does that portray? In this episode, Dr Pravina shares with Emily five things she hopes to tell her students more—with 100% honesty.

This idea she had was pretty much gold. But then as time passed, she grew very old. Would it be right to just steal someone's cake? She didn't say that it was a mistake!In this episode, Emily and Dr Pravina address the issues about plagiarism in the world of academics and beyond.

Would you rather change your past or make your future a blast? Make up your mind now or regret somehow. This is Emily and Dr Pravina playing 'Would You Rather' round 2. How many times did we clink that wine glass?

Decisions are not all that serious. Some of them might sound quite mysterious. Thinking about doing something crazy like going bald? Emily and Dr Pravina would certainly applaud. Tune in to find out how our game of 'Would You Rather' went. (Hint: It was F-U-N!)