TEFL Commute

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TEFL commute is a podcast for language teachers. It is not about language teaching though inevitably it might crop up. All three of us are avid podcast listeners and like playing around making our own. TEFL commute is meant to be a light-hearted listen aimed at brightening your daily commute to c…

TEFL Commute


    • Mar 8, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 100 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from TEFL Commute

    Episode 100: TEFL Commute 100th Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 53:04


    Season 14 episode 7: Numbers is the last episode for this season and marks the 100th episode of our podcast. To celebrate the 100, we've done an episode on numbers. In this roundtable each of the team brings some numbers related to teaching to discuss. Since it is a milestone episode we also look back over some of our episodes and Shaun quizzes the team on TEFL commute related numbers.  Enjoy our 100th episode and see you later in the year for season 15. 

    Episode 99: Season 14 Episode 6: Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 39:34


    In this episode the team show they have the finger on the pulse of politics by talking about parties. Lindsay decides he wants to dissect 10 Downing street's party invite and this leads into a discussion about the party vocabulary, the language of the parties, and ELT and parties (both political and the fun kind) in ELT. Get ready for the TEFL commute does discourse analysis! 

    Episode 98: Season 14 episode 5: Drama

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 45:50


    We're back after our mid-season break and we're getting all dramatic. In this episode Ceri, Lindsay and Shaun discuss drama and ELT.  Are they ELT thesps? Do they use drama? What are the benefits? In addition Lindsay tells us about academic drama and Shaun finds out if they other two can recognise a Shakespeare quote. 

    Episode 97: Season 14 Episode 4: Hotch Potch

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 33:21


    We reach the half way point of the current season just in time for the festive season. In this episode the TEFL commute gang foolishly leave Shaun alone in a zoom room so expect some terrible jokes at some point.   In a different type of episode each of the regular commuters has their own little section as the commute team get ready for their Xmas Breaks.   

    Episode 96: Season 14 Episode 3: Volunteering

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 36:28


    In this episode the TEFL commute gang talk about volunteering and ELT. They start by talking about asking for volunteers in class before discussing their volunteering within the world of TEFL and how volunteering might be different to having a hobby. 

    Episode 95: Season 14 Episode 2: Authors

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 41:44


    In this episode, Lindsay Ceri and Sandy talk about authors and English language teaching. Did you know there are many famous authors who taught English? Why do materials writers not always consider themselves authors? We also have an interview with an English teacher who went into materials writing and then wrote a novel. And Sandy leads a classic TEFL commute quiz about books and writers and teachers.

    Episode 94: Season 14 Episode 1: Cheerful

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 44:30


    We're back, it's our 14th season and we get underway by discussing reasons to be cheerful. After nearly two years of the pandemic, lockdown, online teaching and very little commuting we begin this season by looking at some of the positives we've taken from this time. 

    Episode 93: Season 13 Episode 6: Words

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 50:18


    We bring our 13th season to a close with our round table episode. This season we talk words, words we like, words we don't like, words that have caught our attention and words that don't translate. The team are joined by @lexicojules to add a touch of gravitas to their discussions and get some insight into which of our chosen words might hang around. See you in the Autumn.

    Episode 92: Season 13 Episode 5: Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 44:24


    From old to young – in this episode the topic of teaching most certainly comes up as Lindsay Sandy, Shaun discuss teaching young learners. They discuss many aspects of the topic from looking at what ages are considered YL to if there is a point that is too young to learn a second language. The episode also features several YL trainers whose contributions give practical advice to those teaching this area

    Episode 91: Season 13 Episode 4: Old

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 51:33


    Are the TEFL Commute crew feeling their age? In this episode Ceri, Lindsay and Shaun discuss language associated with 'old', and consider language teaching with older students. Lindsay chats with Mark McKinnon about what it's like to teach senior learners, and Shaun leads the team through an Olde English quiz.

    Episode 90: Season 13 Episode 3: Plateau

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 38:18


    In episode 3, Shaun and Lindsay return to find themselves stuck on a plateau so use this as an opportunity to discuss what the so-called Intermediate plateau is in language learning, how it happens and what things can be done to try and avoid / get off it.

    Episode 89: Season 13 Episode 2: Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 44:48


    In this episode, we celebrate International Women’s Day with a takeover by Sandy Millin and Ceri Jones. They look at the history of the day, talk about their experiences as women in ELT, reflect on representation in ELT, and maintain the TEFL Commute tradition by having not one, but two quizzes!

    Episode 88: Season 13 Episode 1: Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 40:38


    Our 13th season begins by looking at animals. Lindsay ponders when we teach animal vocabulary, while Shaun gets carried away with onomatopoeic sounds. After joining us at the end of the last season, we welcome Sandy back with her new feature. Add in some quizzes, idioms and collective nouns and we have a bumper first episode of the season,

    Episode 87: Season 12 Episode 5: Podcasts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 50:47


    It’s the final episode of season 12 so it’s our traditional round table (well, round zoom) episode. This season’s theme is podcasts with Shaun and Lindsay joined by James, and a new additional to the TEFL commute team. This year’s rules are simple – bring one podcast related to language, one about teaching and one you’d recommend to others. So come listen and find out what we’ve chosen

    Episode 86: Season 12 Episode 4: Adventure

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 35:07


    In the penultimate episode of the season, Shaun and Lindsay discuss adventure. They look at how TEFL is often marketed as an adventure, and the part adventure plays in course materials as well as discussing how to go about utilising ‘adventure’ with students from timeless classroom activities through to the latest craze of escape rooms.

    Season 12 Episode 3: Fake

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 47:40


    It’s episode 3 already and this episode we talk ‘fake’, an interesting word that doesn’t always collocate with news! In the episode Shaun and Lindsay look at authenticity, imposter syndrome and whether ‘the man with 13 jobs, is real or not. In addition there is a ‘fake’ music quiz, and producer James gives us an idea for a fake news activity.

    Season 12 Episode 2: Dictator

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 38:48


    In the week of the US election it seemed fitting to do an episode called dictator but don’t worry, we are not giving him too much airtime. While we do look at Trump's impact on the English language, the episode also discusses authoritarian teachers, and explores the use of dictation as a teaching activity.

    Season 12 Episode 1: Normal

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 34:36


    Shaun and Lindsay kick off the 12th season of the TEFL commute by discussing ‘normal’. The talk about the use of the word ‘normal’, and discover the phrase ‘ the new normal’ is older than it seems. Lindsay regales Shaun with a tale of Mr. Average, and since it’s a new season we even let Producer James join the episode.

    Who's zooming who? The future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 14:41


    In the final instalment of our mini-series Shaun and Lindsay take ten-minutes to discuss the future. With lockdown beginning to undo in many places and schools working out how to start up again we discuss some of the ideas that have been suggested

    Who's zooming who? Breaks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 12:36


    In our penultimate instalment Lindsay and Shaun discuss taking breaks. We consider how to ensure that we take break in and between lessons and little trips for our well-being.

    Who's zooming who? Slow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 12:22


    In this instalment Lindsay and Shaun talk slow. No that will never happen, they only have ten minutes afterall. By slow we mean what to do when the internet slows. Lindsay gives you tips on making sure you have enough bandwidth while shaun gives you some ideas to help you with students on a slow connection.

    Who's zooming who? Breakout Rooms

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2020 12:26


    It's WZW 12 and this time Lindsay and Shaun talk about breakout rooms. In the ten minutes they cover What they are? How they work? And of course things that they are good for from jigsaw reading through to escape room games.

    Who's zooming who? Sounds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2020 12:07


    In one of our favourite instalments of WZW, Shaun and Lindsay discuss sound, how you can do listening lessons, and what you can do with sound effects in an online room. From animal noises through to sounds around the house the ten minute challenge suggests how they can be used in online lessons.

    Who's zooming who? Participation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2020 12:20


    In the 10th instalment of WZW Shaun and Lindsay talk about the participation tools that you find in online classrooms. From emojis to polls they go through the features suggesting ideas for using each - all in ten minutes of course!

    Who's zooming who? Realia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2020 12:17


    Realia - the ELT term for Real world stuff we use in teaching. In this episode Lindsay and Shaun fill their ten minutes with the teaching ideas based around real world stuff. Enjoy.

    Who's zooming who? Guests

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2020 12:23


    This is time out Shaun and Lindsay talk about Ideas for using a guest in your online lessons. The ideas they talk about include a teacher swap, getting guest judges and even having mystery guests. Listen now to find out about those and other ways you can utilise getting a guest

    Who zooming who? Powerpoint.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 12:33


    Online teaching often means using a slide so for this installment Shaun and Lindsay give you tips for the perfect slidedeck. Ten minutes means ten tips so off we go....

    Who's zooming who? Warmers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 11:42


    It's another instalment of WZW and this time Lindsay and Shaun talk warmers, in their ten minutes they try and give you a few activities you could try with your online classes. Enjoy!

    Who's zooming who? Lockdown Syllabus

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 12:13


    In this instalment Shaun and Lindsay use their ten-minutes to suggest language areas that would fit into a lockdown syllabus. From the vocabulary of fridges to the grammar of wishes listen and decide if you agree.

    Who's zooming who? - Pictures

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 11:42


    In this instalment of WZW, Shaun and Lindsay talk about some of their favourite picture activities for online rooms. As usual they set themselves a ten-minute time limit which, when trying to share anecdotes and ideas, once again might prove to be challenge.

    Who's zooming who? - Zoom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 12:15


    Lindsay does like getting all meta so join this episode of who's zooming who we meet in zoom to talk about zoom. Shaun and Lindsay discuss zoom, zoom bombing and its effects and suggest some ways to ensure zoom security.

    Who's zooming who - where's the whiteboard?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 12:14


    In this instalment Lindsay and Shaun's ten-minute challenge is online whiteboards. They discuss the different things teachers are using as a whiteboard from washing lines to cupboards. What do you use?

    Who's zooming who - the language your students need now

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 13:21


    With very few teachers commuting but with Lindsay and Shaun still feeling the need to podcast, here's a spin off. Over a few mini episodes they will look at some of aspects of teaching live online, setting themselves the challenge to do it in just ten minutes.

    Season 11 Episode 4: Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 29:25


    In this episode, Lindsay is joined by Ceri to discuss all things home, which is perfect as they are both under quarantine at the moment! They talk about home expressions in English, how difficult it is for materials writers to find the right images of homes, and some activity ideas for lockdown. And as Shaun isn’t there, you don’t need to worry about hearing any of his jokes!

    Season 11 Episode 3: Sick

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 58:35


    In this episode we talk sick but don’t worry we won’t bang on about a certain virus! In this somewhat bumper episode we talk to Kate in Italy about what it’s like when the government imposes quarantine rules, and how to cope when a school is closed. Lindsay and Shaun talk about the best song to wash your hand to and discuss the metaphors of illness and the language we teach. Realising that neither of them had ever taught medical English, we speak to Ros Wright, who’s more of an expert on the matter. Finally, since we can’t do an episode in being sick without a few doctor doctor jokes, Shaun yet again tries Lindsay’s patience.

    Season 11 Episode 2: Private

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 44:58


    In this episode we talk privacy (and try to work out how to say it!). Lindsay and Shaun talk privacy in the classroom, private lessons and technology and privacy and the implications for the classroom. On this last point we talk with Chia Suan Chong who has written about this issue. Oh and we also 'fight' about which is better group or 1-2-1.

    Season 11 Episode 1: Exit

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 44:19


    Have you missed us? It's time for season 11 to get underway it might be the beginning of season but we're going to talk exits. In the episode Shaun and Lindsay about ways to end a lesson, different kind of sotry endings, exiting ELT and yes the politics of the UK. James also joins in the episode with a bit of jargon busting.

    Season 10 Episode 6: Deserted

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2019 34:40


    Another comes to end with our traditional end of season round table. So join Lindsay, Shaun, Ceri and James to see what they would take with them if they were stranded on a dessert island.

    Season 10 Episode 5: Disruption

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 39:07


    In episode 5 we get disruptive though Lindsay would probably say Shaun is every week! This episode we explore disruption in education both from a technology point of view and a disruptive classroom. And since we're being disruptive we bring back the TEFL fight feature, and there can be only one winner.

    Season 10 Episode 4: Backpack

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2019 31:25


    In episode four Shaun and Lindsay address most teachers' daily accessory - the backpack. They share some and I quote Lindsay here "fun facts about backpacks" and discuss what they always carry in theirs. They also discuss why some refer to ELT as a backpack profession.

    Season 10 Episode 3: Fear

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2019 40:30


    Since Halloween is upon us (well, to be honest, it's been and gone) Shaun and Lindsay discuss fear. They talk about teacher fears, scary teachers and finally other things that make students afraid. We also explore some common phobias in the return of our listener quiz.

    Season 10 Episode 2: Recipes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2019 31:56


    Time to talk food, in this episode, we explore recipes in ELT. In this episode, Lindsay and Shaun discuss the language of recipes and what makes them such a useful and often used piece of ELT material? What is it that makes them a good metaphor for teaching? On a less serious note, Lindsay discovers the joys of traditional English recipes and is that the returning sound of angels?

    Season 10 Episode 1: Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2019 47:33


    We're back and to start the new season we've gone green. We meet two of the people behind ELT footprint to talk about the ELT profession with regards to climate change.

    Season 9 Episode 6: Songs about teaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2019 46:45


    We close out our 9th season with a lighthearted round table on songs about teaching. Ceri, James, Lindsay, and Shaun discuss their favourite songs about a) teaching, b) teachers, c) education in popular music and d) songs that should be about teaching. Do you agree with our choices? Listen and find out.

    Season 9 Episode 5: Pairs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2019 39:40


    In our latest episode, Lindsay and Shaun discuss pairs - why do teachers love pair work but then refuse to work in pairs in a workshop? Do we use pair work too much? Lindsay shares some of his favourite ways of putting people in Paris (yes, Paris) and the duo discuss binomials, reduplications and the rules governing the word order within them.

    Season 9 Episode 4: IATEFL Debrief

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 34:01


    We're back after our conference enforced mid-season break. In this episode we are post-IATEFL and more significantly post TEFL commute games night. We took our recording stuff with us so this episode features amongst others Ceci, Ceri, Chia, Craig (our new number one fan :-)), Graham, Daniel, Dennis, Mike, Olga, Tyson, Sandy, Vicky, and lots of games!

    Season 9 Episode 3: Perfect

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2019 39:39


    This is the perfect episode! Lindsay and Shaun explore the perfect aspect and what makes it so fun / hard/ difficult (delete as appropriate) to teach. They also explore what makes a perfect classroom and a perfect student. Finally, they discuss how close they are to being perfectionists.

    Season 9 Episode 2: Instructions

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 34:48


    In episode two Lindsay and Shaun discuss instructions and the complexity they hold for teachers. We discuss what makes a good instruction, how we wish other jobs took on board ELT instruction giving, as well as what makes them go wrong. Later in the episode, we consider what ELT activities have complicated instructions and Lindsay shares some advice about writing good instructions. There is also a surprise guest appearance from a high-demanding ELT Author sharing his wisdom on instructions.

    Season 9 Episode 1: Sleep

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2019 35:07


    We're back with a new season and in this episode Shaun and Lindsay discuss sleep. They talk about sleep vocabulary and look at the importance of sleep on learning as well as discuss different sleep routines. Then, Lindsay gets 8 seasons of joke revenge by putting Shaun on the spot. Welcome back.

    Season 8 Episode 6: Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2018 35:16


    In this episode Lindsay, Shaun and James (yes we've let him on mic again) give it their best shot at a cheesy Christmas episode. After stumbling across a website that proclaims the recipe for an unforgettable Xmas lesson for adult learners we decided to put it to the test....Happy Christmas everyone.

    Season 8 Episode 5: Stereotypes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2018 33:35


    In the penultimate episode of this season Shaun and Lindsay talk stereotypes. They discuss teaching stereotypes in movies and what the real-life equivalent might be. They also consider if they have any stereotypical behaviours in the classroom before touching on class materials and the students they teach.

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