DEVELOPOD - The IATEFL TDSIG Podcast

In this episode, Sinem talks to Rachel Marie Paling, the creator of Neurolanguage Coaching®, about her journey from language teaching to developing a brain-friendly, coaching-based approach to language learning. Rachel explores how neuroscience and professional coaching principles can help educators better understand their learners, support autonomy and create more personalised learning experiences. She reflects on the changing role of the educator and the importance of moving beyond simply delivering language content towards facilitating meaningful learning and learner discovery. The conversation also touches on stress, emotional blocks, learner engagement and the ways in which understanding how the brain learns can transform both teaching and learning.

Rachel on social media: 

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpaling/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rachelmariepaling/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rachel.m.paling

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Helen talks to Leandra Dias Meddings, who reflects on her 25-year ELT career from classroom teaching to teacher training, materials writing, and academic management, exploring her journey from rigid, anxiety-driven teaching to a flexible, learner-centred approach shaped by Delta Module 2 and supportive mentors. She discusses key changes in ELT, including greater recognition of non-native teachers and needs-based learning, and shares future ambitions to teach young learners, pursue a PhD in linguistics, and continue combining writing with teaching. 

Leandra on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/leandra-meddings-42a7aaa2

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Helen talks to Rose Aylett, who reflects on her 20-year journey in ELT, from teaching and management to training and freelance work. She shares how critical pedagogy, global citizenship, and critical literacy have shaped her practice, and explores the importance of connection, mentorship, and community in professional development. Above all, Rose champions lifelong learning, adventure, and using education to create meaningful change.

Correction: IATEFL Global Issues SIG (GISIG) was 25 years old in 2020 (i.e. the SIG was founded in 1995), not 15 years old, that is one of the birthday celebrations that Rose and Helen discuss at 06:02.

Rose on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roseaylett/

Find Rose’s 2024 IATEFL plenary talk on critical literacy here:

https://youtu.be/Hor2Iyx80is?si=AsAq4hmzQfbHo1S6&t=288

Find Rose’s NILE ELT Global Citizenship in Language Education ONLINE course here:

https://www.nile-elt.com/products/GConline

Find Rose’s NILE ELT Global Citizenship in Language Education FACE TO FACE course here:

https://www.nile-elt.com/products/GlobalCitizenship

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Sinem and Rachael Roberts, a seasoned ELT professional with over 30 years of experience, discussed her career evolution from classroom teaching to teacher training, academic management, and materials writing. Rachael highlighted the complexity of language education and the importance of understanding its relational and contextual nature. She shared her journey into business coaching from 2002 onwards, and her 2026 Small Business Mentor Award. She emphasized the need for teachers to recognize their value and build sustainable businesses. Rachael also reflected on her IATEFL 2026 plenary, where she advocated for a profession that values expertise and ethical practices, urging teachers to take themselves seriously.

About Rachael:

Rachael Roberts is a business mentor and strategist who helps language teachers, teacher trainers and other educators build sustainable freelance businesses. After more than 30 years as a teacher, teacher trainer, materials writer and educational manager, she now supports experienced professionals to develop clear positioning, compelling offers and strategic marketing that attracts the right clients. She is the founder of Designed to Flourish and a regular speaker at international ELT conferences.

Links:

Website: www.earnlearnthriveinelt.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelroberts-eltbusinesscoach/

Youtube: @earnlearnthrive

LinkedIn & Instagram: @earnlearnthrive 

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Helen and Caroline Door talk about her journey from education marketing to teaching English. At the IATEFL 2026 conference in Brighton, she presented on managing young learners' sensory needs, drawing from personal experiences and research. Caroline highlights the importance of addressing sensory factors like light and temperature to improve learning environments. She emphasises the supportive atmosphere at IATEFL, which helped her overcome initial anxieties. Caroline also discusses the ethical use of AI in education and her interest in peace pedagogy. She encourages others to present at IATEFL and recommends the mentorship programme for first-time speakers.

If anyone would like a copy of Caroline's presentation on 'Managing young learners' sensory needs to create inclusive learning environments', they can e-mail her at [email protected]

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Helen talks with Natalia Wright, an experienced ELT practitioner and academic with over 30 years in the field, outlining her professional journey and key influences. Natalia completed her BA in 1990, later earning an MA from the University of Chichester and a doctorate from the University of Glasgow. She currently teaches at the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait. Natalia credits organisations like the British Council and the Norwich Institute for Language Education as shaping her development. She also reflects on the IATEFL 2026 conference, highlighting plenary talks by Patricia and Larissa that focused on language diversity and peace education. Although she was unable to attend in-person due to the war, she followed #IATEFL2026 via recordings and social media. She emphasizes the importance of ongoing professional development and staying connected to the global ELT community despite challenging circumstances. 

More about Natalia:

Her researcher account: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8108-1241

She recently co-edited a book, to be published in July, that she positions in the context of de-globalisation, a topic resonant with some of the IATEFL plenary speakers' talks. Here: https://link.springer.com/book/9783032270405 

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Anna Loseva chats with Helen. She shares her ELT to EAP journey from tutoring at 19 to teaching in Moscow, Japan, and Vietnam. She highlights the impact of supportive and communicative management and workplace environments, the value of professional community (Twitter, ITDI), and her focus on academic skills in higher education. Proud of moving to Japan in 2015, she encourages listeners to take small steps toward big development goals.

In this episode, Anna mentioned:

- Six Things by Lindsay Clandfield

- Sandy Millin's blog (in the unlikely case someone still doesn't know about it)

- iTDi

- her blog

Follow her social media accounts on Facebook or LinkedIn.

In this episode, Helen chats with Matthew Ellman, a teacher, trainer, and author, discussing his journey from music to accounting and then ELT. He highlights his work with Cambridge University Press, focusing on teacher development and training, and they discuss Matthew's dissertation on video-supported feedback, which won the British Council's MA Dissertation Award in 2018. They also consider the importance of context in teaching and the impact of social media and AI on ELT. Matthew advocates for critical reflection on AI's role in classrooms and the need for teachers to assert their expertise. He also discusses his approach to training trainers, emphasizing practical, professional, and personal aspects. He encourages teachers to be critical when considering how they are using AI in the classroom and ensure that the use actually benefits themselves and learners, to reflect on its use, and share what they’ve experienced with the ELT community so we can all learn together.

Matthew’s dissertation: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/matthew_ellman_university_of_birmingham_dissertation.pdf 

His book on Amazon: From Teacher to Trainer. 

Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewellman/

Matthew on BlueSky: @mattellman.bsky.social

In this episode, Helen interviews Emma Walker of Pronunciation with Emma, who describes her journey from early reading support work at age 16 through linguistics studies, CELTA, and a TESOL master’s to becoming a pronunciation specialist and major YouTube educator. Emma explains how her passion for phonetics and classroom experiences with learner listening difficulties led her to focus on pronunciation and listening as closely linked skills, filling a gap she saw in ELT resources. She discusses her pandemic-era experiment teaching through video games on Twitch, the growth of her online pronunciation platform, and the challenges of building a niche business despite skepticism. Reflecting on changes in ELT, she notes that pronunciation now receives more attention and acceptance, including accent diversity, and says that while her future path may evolve, she expects to remain in teaching or coaching and is most proud of her persistence and resilience in building her career. Emma encourages listeners to believe in themselves, because motivation can come and go but determination and consistency can take us there.

Emma’s Website: https://pronunciationwithemma.com

Emma’s YouTube Channel “Pronunciation with Emma”: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfm92h83W2i2ijc5Xwp_IA   

Emma on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawalkerteacher/ 

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast 

In this episode, Helen and Emily discuss her eclectic career, including teaching, teacher training, authoring books like Voices for National Geographic Learning, running online courses, and creating doodle and sketchnote visual resources. Emily describes teaching ESOL learners from refugee backgrounds and embraces a nomad lifestyle, traveling while working remotely. She highlights persistent issues in ELT like native speakerism and lack of LGBTQ+ representation, though she notes growing awareness of diverse Englishes and localisation in teaching materials. Looking ahead, Emily will continue visual recording and write about her digital nomad experiences. Emily emphasises how supportive the ELT community is and encourages us to: embrace creativity and messiness in teaching and learning, network and take opportunities, and feel the fear, turn off your inner troll, and draw anyway!

Emily’s website: www.EmilyBrysonELT.com   www.EmilyBrysonELT.com/freebies/   

www.EmilyBrysonELT.com/all-courses/  www.EmilyBrysonELT.com/resources/ 

Contact Emily via LinkedIn or Instagram and Facebook @emilybrysonelt or via her website www.EmilyBrysonELT.com/contact

In this episode, Emily references:

Voices & Impact: https://www.eltngl.com/sites/Voices/home & https://www.eltngl.com/sites/impact/home   

Chia Suan Chong - Successful International Communication: https://chiasuanchong.com/about-me/

Rachael Roberts, Business Coaching: www.EarnLiveThriveinELT.com

Jennifer Murray, Copywriting Support: https://www.bestwordscopywriting.com/   

Canva: www.canva.com  

To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast