The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast

In this episode of the Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, hosts Anna and Shé discuss the importance of building rapport in the classroom, revisiting techniques adapted for online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest Bob Nguyen shares his journey of integrating technology into teaching, emphasizing authentic student connection through tools like Padlet, Mentimeter, and Gather Town. Bob also highlights the pedagogical principles that improved his teaching practices both online and in-person, focusing on inclusivity and genuine interactions. The episode concludes with reflections on transferring these insights back to traditional classroom settings.

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the increasingly popular—yet often misunderstood—lifestyle of digital nomadism in English Language Teaching (ELT). Our guest, teacher trainer, materials writer, and visual thinking advocate Emily Bryson, joins us from the road to talk about the real logistics, trade-offs, and intentional choices that come with taking your ELT career on the move.We dig into everything from makeshift workstations and managing multiple income streams to travel-induced burnout, marketing myths around passive income, and the hidden labor of constant relocation. Emily also shares her evolving reflections on privilege and global mobility, climate impact, and what it means to work remotely in an ethical and grounded way.Whether you're considering life as a digital nomad or are simply curious about how other ELT professionals manage remote work and international living, this episode offers practical insights and heartfelt reflection on finding balance between purpose, place, and profession.

TESOL 2025 was a whirlwind! We interviewed educators from around the globe, discussing AI, advocacy, community, and more. Hear their insights and feel the energy of the convention. Watch or listen to our video episode now! 

In this episode, we dive into the pervasive issue of native speakerism in English Language Teaching with educator and advocate Meri Maroutian.Meri shares her journey into the profession, the biases she's faced, and the reflective, practical tools she now offers to help others tackle this issue—like her three-part masterclass designed to dismantle accent bias and outdated teaching models.We also hear from listeners about how native speakerism has impacted them, and reflect on how all of us—whether classroom teachers, trainers, or administrators—can work toward a more equitable profession.

E 65 - “The world comes to TESOL!” (with Dr. Debra Suarez)In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Debra Suarez, President of TESOL International Association, to explore what's in store for TESOL 2025 and reflect on the evolving landscape of English language teaching.From AI in ELT and translanguaging to teacher advocacy and building global communities of practice, this conversation is packed with insights for educators preparing for the convention and beyond. Dr. Suarez shares her inspiring career journey, discusses the importance of adapting—not transplanting—teaching methodologies, and gives us a sneak peek at her keynote: The Joy of TESOL.

E 64 - Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Supporting Multilingual Healthcare Professionals (with Shweta Rumkumar) Happy 2025! In this episode, we dive into the essential intersection of soft skills and intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) contexts. Join Shé and Anna as they chat with special guest Shweta Ramkumar, an educator specializing in coaching multilingual healthcare professionals to navigate diverse workplace dynamics. Whether you're an ESP teacher, a language professional, or someone curious about integrating soft skills into specialized training, this episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking discussions.

Shey and Anna wrap up 2024 by looking back on personal milestones, professional breakthroughs, and podcast highlights—from raising multilingual children to using AI in the classroom. Join them for a candid chat about motherhood, teacher training abroad, balancing multiple roles, and where the podcast is headed next year. Get ready for reflections, lots of laughs, and a peek at future plans for 2025! 

Raising multilingual children takes some planning and intention. Join us as ESOL teacher and multilingual mama Anna (Anya) Burt walks us through what it takes to raise multilingual children, the myths surrounding bilingualism, and practical approaches to introducing languages to your children.

In this episode, Anna and Shey chat with Aileen Hale, international teacher trainer, consultant, and creator of Travel with Purpose, a podcast about language and culture acquisition through service learning. Join us to reflect on what it means to teach in an international context and how to do so in a meaningful and respectful way. 

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Ben Buckwold, CEO and Founder of Ellii (formerly ESL Library) and Tara Benwell, Ellii's VP of Publishing, as we dive into the world of materials writing!

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked role of silence in the language classroom. Discover how integrating moments of quiet can enhance learning, foster self-reflection, and support social-emotional learning (SEL). Luis Javier Pentón Herrera shares his insights and practical tips for teachers looking to bring quiet into their classrooms. Tune in now and learn how silence can be a powerful tool in your teaching toolkit! Reflect with us: What role does silence play in your language classroom?

On this episode, guest Eric Trader shares his experience as the director of a community-based learning center serving a multilingual population with diverse needs. Join us and be inspired by Eric's optimism, creative problem-solving, and his lovely singing voice!

On this episode, guest Angela Tribus Ramos shares her perspective on teaching networking, considering all of the cultural nuances involved in this challenging skill. From reducing anxiety around small talk to Hofstede's cultural dimensions and, yes, our passion for birding

How do you sustain your professional development as an educator? In this episode, guest Yulia Kharchenko shares a framework she and her colleagues have developed to ensure future teachers are prepared for future challenges in the teaching profession…

How do you create a welcoming atmosphere for all students?

We're just recovering from our week in Tampa, Florida, for the TESOL 2024 Convention. And wow, what a week!

Have you engaged in advocacy efforts as a language teacher? ✊ In this episode, guest Rosemary Colón talks about her experience at the 2023 TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summit and shares entry points for teachers to find their footing as advocates for English language learners. #advocacy #multilinguallearners #teacheradvocates#ELT #TeachEnglish #ESL #EFL #TESOL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning Advocacy Tools & Resources: TESOL International's Advocacy Page  Office of English Language Acquisition Migration Policy Institute X | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/teacherthinkaloud/support

In this episode, guest Anna Ayrapetyan, a university professor in Armenia, walks us through her innovative approach to get students practicing speaking outside of the classroom: podcasts!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Episode 50…can you believe it?!

In this episode, guest Amy Joy Rovirosa, the creator of @your_fav_english_teacher, tells us about what it takes to get your English language teaching YouTube channel off the ground and how learners can leverage YouTube for greater language gains. Complete with excerpts from her fantastic videos! Watch the episode video on our YouTube channel or Spotify for the full effect.

In this episode, guest Jeff McIlvenna talks through his approach to using ChatGPT in the English language classroom, from amplifying teacher creativity to personalizing student learning. This is the first of many more episodes we hope to bring to you on this ever-evolving topic.

Don't forget to take your vitamins! In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with friend of the podcast Ekaterina Pipia about her experience facilitating an exciting project with @PH_Int at @ibsu1995 in Tbilisi, Georgia, in which civics, technology, and English language came together into a harmonious, healthy concoction…

We're back! Just a light little topic for our first episode after our summer break…

In this episode, Anna and Shey look at how the landscape for professional development evolved over the course of the pandemic and learn how international colleagues continue to reap the benefits of increased hybridity and other “forced habits” post-pandemic… Listen now! A huge thank you to our contributors for this episode! We love reflecting with our listeners!  Reflect on your PD with our tool: PDF Printout Interactive Quiz SAMR and Bloom's Taxonomy: Assembling the Puzzle, Puentedura for Common Sense Media, 2014. #PostPandemic #ProfessionalDevelopment #CPD #CPL #ESL #EFL #ELT #ReflectiveTeaching #TeachEnglish #ReflectivePedagogy #ESL #EFL #Teaching #Education #LoveTeaching #GlobalELT #Teacher #English #LanguageLearning #ReflectivePractice Questions for reflection: How has your approach to PD evolved since the pandemic?  What “forced habits” have altered your PD for the better?  What ideas in the episode podcast resonated most with your experience? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/teacherthinkaloud/support

“Global citizenship can happen in our back yard.”

Not much represents a culture better than its stories. In this episode, Anna and Shey chat with Dustin from Sandman Stories Presents about storytelling, teaching, and cross-cultural understanding.  Listen and travel the world through folklore!

E42 - Stop hovering! (with Miriam Plotinsky) Are you a helicopter teacher or a hover-free teacher? In this episode, Shey and Anna chat with author Miriam Plotinsky about her book Teach more, hover less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom, and explore ways to implement an approach to teaching that is truly student-centered. Further listening: Explore strategies for augmenting student talk time: E2 - Shut up and let them talk! For an exploration of efficient lesson planning: E8 - Sometimes you plan, sometimes you don't For a discussion around increasing collaboration and learner accountability with peer review activities: E19 - The why and how of peer review For a discussion about project-based learning and its use in increasing learner autonomy: E27 - Why we

E 41- Media Literacy 102: Disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracies... oh my! Media literacy is an essential skill in our world today and one that needs to be addressed in the English language classroom!

We had such a wonderful time at TESOL 2023 in Portland and enjoyed meeting new and old friends there. Like last year, we wanted to bring a small piece of the conference to you. In this video episode, Anna and Shey share their reactions to the 2023 TESOL Convention, integrating ideas from a variety of other conference attendees and friends they encountered at the conference. Listen and (re)live the experience! ⭐ We want to hear from you! For our upcoming episode on professional development in the post-pandemic world, we're looking for your ideas on how PD has changed for you. Where are you on your professional development journey? How has your PD evolved since the pandemic started?

Media literacy is an essential skill in our world today.

E 38 - Incorporating music in ELT (with Heather and Ece of English as a Singing Language) In this episode, Anna and Shey speak with Heather McNaught and Ece Ulus (of the podcast English as a Singing Language) about why teachers should consider incorporating music into language instruction.

We're back!!! In this special episode, Anna and Shey discuss and react to contributions from some of our Friends of the Podcast. Listen and join the conversation about teaching contexts around the world.

We are still (blooper) reeling from 2022... See what we did there?!

We've talking about assessment design and rubrics…but what about equity in assessment? In this episode, Anna and Shey speak with Albert Shaheen about his dive into equitable assessment and grading practices.

The pandemic was a challenging time not just for teachers, but also for administrators. In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with Lina Jurkunas about the challenges she faced in taking on her new role as IEP director during the pandemic and the lessons she's learned about leadership along the way.

It's not always easy to recognize #trauma in our students, since everyone responds to trauma differently. In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with guest Sherry MacKay about how to define trauma, how it might appear in our classrooms, and how teachers can be sensitive to students experiencing trauma.

How do you feel about #rubrics?

Teaching grammar: You either love it or you hate it...

Perhaps the title of this episode doesn't fully correspond to your feelings about assessment; regardless, classroom assessment is something we need to face up to!

E30 - Drama in the classroom: beyond the role play (with Richard Silberg) We've all used role plays in class, but have we truly explored what drama can unlock for language learners?

What are your favorite TED Talks for teaching? In in this episode, Shey and Anna go through their list of top 10 TED Talks for teaching. Listen for ideas on which talks to use and how to use them. Intercultural Competence and Identity The Danger of a Single Story, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (19 mins) Don't ask where I'm from, ask where I'm a local, Taiye Selasi (16 mins) How language shapes the way we think, Lera Boroditsky (14 mins) Weird or just different, Derek Sivers (3 mins) On being wrong, Kathryn Schulz (18 mins) Kathryn Schulz's book, Being Wrong Recipes for Success 10 ways to have a better conversation, Celeste Headlee (11 mins) Grit: The power of passion and perseverance, Angela Lee Duckworth (6 mins) Try something new for 30 days, Matt Cutts (3 mins) Inside the mind of a master procrastinator, Tim Urban (14 mins) Every kid needs a champion, Rita Pierson (8 mins) “Why Procrastinators Procrastinate” on Tim Urban's blog, Wait but why? Additional Resources TED Ed Questions for Reflection How do you use TED talks in your language classroom? What's your favorite TED talk and why does it resonate with you? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support

Professional development can feel overwhelming! In this episode, Shey and Anna interview Ramin Yazdanpanah on his approach to PD, teacher well-being, and life. Find your center with us in this episode.

We're back from our summer break! Gear up for the new school year and consider weaving project-based learning into your curriculum. In this episode, Anna and Shey discuss why they love project-based learning and provide some examples of projects they and other listeners have implemented in the past.

Teachers are amazing, carrying with them a plethora of transferable skills that others can learn from or that they can apply to different facets of life and work. In this episode, Shey and Anna share some of the takeaways their non-educator listeners have taken from the show and celebrate the incredible skills educators bring to the table. Questions for reflection: What can people learn from educators? What are some skills that teachers have that you think would transfer well into other disciplines? Join us for our Teacher Think-Aloud PLN launch event, July 25, 2022, 8 AM Pacific on Zoom!

At some point, we've all handled conflict in our classroom---among students, between a student and the teacher... In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with guest Joe Voigts about his approach to conflict in the classroom, from handling disagreements among his Israeli and Palestinian students in Jerusalem to butting heads with his high-schoolers on the South Side of Chicago. Listener quote: "There were times that students treated me disrespectfully. I knew that they were teenagers and if I had reacted harshly, the situation would have been so much worse. What I did was to pretend I hadn't heard what had been said. I continued the lesson and when the class ended, I asked that student to stay for a couple of minutes. I talked to him and he felt sorry for what had happened. The consequence of this reaction of mine was so positive. That student was so happy that I didn't say anything to him in front of the eyes of his friends and he turned to the most active student in the class." - Amir References & Resources: High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out, Amanda Ripley The Power of Storytelling to Build Cross-Cultural Connections Joe Voigts, TESOL The Restorative Practices Handbook: For Teachers, Disciplinarians and Administrators, Bob Costello & Ted Wachtel Questions for reflection: How do you feel when conflict comes up in the classroom? What general advice would you give to teachers for handling conflict when it arises? What strategies can you suggest for handling conflict in a positive and productive way? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support

In a world overrun by social media, why not use them to make learning engaging? In this episode, Shey and Anna discuss the pros and cons of social media in the classroom and present an objectives-based framework and examples for unleashing their potential as tools for learning. Check out our episode-related resources, our blog post on the topic, and Anna's handy-dandy resource for integrating social media into your classroom, on Teachers Pay Teachers. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support

Performance reviews and observations by supervisors are a common practice in the world of education, but whether they contribute to our growth as teachers depends on a multitude of factors. In this episode, Shey and Anna discuss some of their best and worst experiences with observations, and they shed light on what makes observations successful, from both the observer's and the teacher's side. What have your best and worst experiences been? What makes observations effective in your view? Check out our episode-related resources. Also, take a look at our Twitter poll to see our audience's responses to the question of whether they enjoy performance reviews. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support

Questionable title choice...but reviewing should be fun! And, more importantly, effective. In this episode, Shey and Anna discuss some of their strategies for making reviewing engaging and beneficial. How to you make reviewing a success? Check out our episode-related resources and Anna's fun sentence combining review activity. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support

Should English language teachers take it upon themselves to discuss current events in the classroom? TL;DR - Yes! But how? In this episode, Shey and Anna explore the different considerations to take into account when breaching news topics, from students' proximity to news events to media literacy to language proficiency. Check out our episode-related resources. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support

We're exhilarated and exhausted after TESOL 2022! In this episode, Shey and Anna recount their key takeaways from the conference and share the thoughts and voices of other conference participants they interviewed in Pittsburgh. What ideas did you come away with? Check out our slide deck from our presentation, "The Power of Podcasting: How to Launch an ELT Podcast." Power to the people! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teacherthinkaloud/support