Check out this rerun of an earlier episode – now fully transcribed!

Visit Gav & Em's website for all the other shows: http://howtoenglishpod.com/

How can teachers make every learner feel welcome, comfortable and confident in the English classroom?

Gav and Em are joined by Pete, Director of Marketing and Sales at International House Manchester, to explore how a supportive student experience begins before learners even arrive. Pete explains how IH Manchester introduces students to their homestay hosts, provides virtual school tours, shares social activities and ensures staff are approachable and available.

Gav and Em consider how the same principles can be applied in any English lesson. Drawing on their classroom experience, they discuss welcome emails, inclusive seating arrangements, student input, clear expectations and showing genuine interest in learners as individuals.

How can students help teachers feel welcome too? Should teachers prepare learners for everything or sometimes surprise them? What can you do when somebody struggles to fit into a group? You’ll hear practical ideas for building trust, encouraging questions, responding positively when learners feel lost and creating opportunities for collaboration.

The conversation also examines classroom atmosphere, authentic materials, creativity, speaking time and balancing confidence with error correction. Plus, discover how the Danish concept of hygge could help you create a comfortable learning space.

If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Visit https://howtoenglishpod.com for practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use.

Useful links

International House Manchester:
https://ihmanchester.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ihmanchester/
https://www.youtube.com/@ihmanchester

Things to do in Manchester:
https://www.timeout.com/manchester/things-to-do/22-great-things-to-do-in-manchester

Motivating students:
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/motivating-students-to-learn-english/

What is hygge?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygge

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to How to English
01:23 Manchester attractions vocabulary quiz
08:20 Introducing Pete and IH Manchester
09:32 Welcoming students before they arrive
14:43 What teachers can learn from IH Manchester
15:59 Making learners feel welcome in class
18:57 How students can welcome their teacher
20:42 Welcome emails, learner needs and course design
22:25 Creating an inclusive classroom environment
24:13 Preparing learners for classroom surprises
26:30 Encouraging questions and requests for help
28:36 Helping learners become part of the group
31:02 Practical ways to build a welcoming classroom
34:02 Balancing confidence and error correction
36:14 Learn a Word: hygge
37:44 End

Check out this rerun of an earlier episode – now fully transcribed!

References:

ELT Journal from Oxford Academic, https://academic.oup.com/eltj

Useful online resources from International House, https://www.ihteachenglish.com/resource/11-useful-online-resources-elt-teachers

Teacher podcasts, ELT Chile: https://www.eltinchile.com/ ⁠The TEFLology Podcast⁠: https://teflology-podcast.com/ 

How many hours does it take to learn a level in English? https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/faq/how-long-to-learn-english/ https://anchor.fm/everything-efl

Learning English podcasts and Youtube, Speak English with Tiffani: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGLGVRO_9qDc8VDGGMTcUiQ Wanda's #saywhat Podcast, https://www.buzzsprout.com/1010788 Zdenek's English Podcast: https://zdeneksenglishpodcast.podbean.com/ English Journey Podcast: ⁠https://linktr.ee/englishjourney⁠

Books from Oxford University Press on English for Specific Purposes, https://elt.oup.com/cat/subjects/business_and_english/english_specific/?cc=cz&selLanguage=cs

Pronunciation of specific words, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQwDYYZ44evRH0_64Q5Vag

Bic pens, https://www.bicworld.com/en/our-products/stationery

Collins A-Z: https://collins.co.uk/pages/a-z

Do you feel welcome in your class? Do you make others feel welcome? Join Gav & Em and their very special guest Pete from International House Manchester as they talk about how they make their students feel welcome. Find the transcription and audio here: ⁠https://share.descript.com/view/B84oTRYpP6H⁠ Support the show here: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod⁠

International House links:

⁠https://ihmanchester.com/⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/ihmanchester/⁠

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ihmanchester⁠

Things to do in Manchester:

⁠https://www.timeout.com/manchester/things-to-do/22-great-things-to-do-in-manchester⁠

Motivating students:

⁠https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/motivating-students-to-learn-english/

Hygge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygge

What do TEFL teachers around the world have in common, and why is every teaching journey different?

In this special episode, Gav and Em talk to podcaster and journalist Euan from TEFL Org. Euan hosts I Taught English Abroad, where he interviews teachers about their experiences of teaching English around the world.

Euan shares what he has learnt from these conversations, including the nervousness many teachers experience before their first lesson, the doubts they must overcome and the remarkably different directions a TEFL career can take.

The conversation also explores the story of TEFL Org, its teacher-training courses and the support available for people hoping to teach English abroad or online. Euan explains the different training options, including online, classroom and hybrid courses, as well as the organisation’s Job Centre, international programmes and employment resources.

Drawing on their own experience teaching in Europe and Asia, Gav and Em reflect on how no two teachers—even a couple travelling and working together—have exactly the same TEFL story.

You can also hear Euan’s full interview with Gav and Em and discover more about their journey from art school to teaching English around the world.

If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Visit https://howtoenglishpod.com for practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use.

I Taught English Abroad podcast:
https://www.tefl.org/podcast/

TEFL Org:
https://www.tefl.org/

Chapters

00:00 – Introducing Euan and the I Taught English Abroad podcast
00:39 – What do TEFL teachers around the world have in common?
03:27 – Why every English teacher has a different career story
04:07 – How TEFL Org began and developed its teacher training
06:26 – Online, classroom and hybrid TEFL courses
06:58 – Finding teaching jobs after completing a TEFL course
08:23 – Where to hear Gav and Em’s complete interview

Which English dialects belong in the classroom, and who decides what counts as “correct” English?

Gav and Em explore English language variation with Dr Dionna Latimer-Hearn from Respect the Dialect. Dionna discusses African American English (AAE), linguistic discrimination and what can happen when educators treat a learner’s dialect as incorrect or inappropriate.

How can teachers avoid linguistic racism and classroom colonisation? Should learners follow one variety of English consistently? What should you do when a student uses grammar or vocabulary that differs from the English presented in their coursebook?

Drawing on their classroom experience, Gav and Em consider the influence teachers, curricula and published materials have on the English learners encounter. They explain why teachers should investigate unfamiliar language before labelling it a mistake and help learners choose language appropriate for their needs, identities and communities.

You’ll also hear practical strategies for creating a more inclusive English classroom, including:

• introducing learners to different English dialects and accents
• examining who is represented in teaching materials
• discussing where language comes from and how it evolves
• challenging personal assumptions about “standard English”
• adapting lessons to learners’ real communication needs
• creating a classroom where every learner feels heard
• remaining open to learning from students

The episode also examines how words originating in Black English can enter advertising and popular culture while other features of the same dialect continue to be criticised or excluded.

If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Visit https://howtoenglishpod.com for practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use.

Find Dionna and Respect the Dialect:

https://www.respectthedialect.com/
https://www.instagram.com/respectthedialect/

Further resources:

Linguistic racism:
https://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2021/11/baker-bell-linguistic-racism.html

Promoting equity in the classroom:
https://pce.sandiego.edu/strategies-for-promoting-equity-in-the-classroom-faqs/

Supporting classroom diversity:
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/diversity-in-the-classroom/

Books for learning about AAVE:
https://kojiilanguages.com/books-to-learn-aave/

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introducing Dionna
01:10 Colonisation and language variation in classrooms
03:05 Why African American English is not “incorrect”
06:35 Language, identity and systemic exclusion
10:55 How linguistic discrimination affects learners
12:15 Which variety of English do TEFL teachers teach?
15:20 Is “standard English” a myth?
18:05 Deciding what teachers should correct
21:10 Exploring unfamiliar English with learners
24:15 Matching English lessons to learners’ real needs
26:35 Black English in advertising and popular culture
29:15 Practical strategies for promoting classroom equity
32:45 Learn-A-Word: variety
34:00 Final reflections and goodbye

Check out this rerun of an earlier episode – now fully transcribed!

Transcription with audio here: https://share.descript.com/view/lzPlUQfqqwu Buy Gav & Em a coffee or tea here: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

What are the good sides of teaching and learning English? How do the students and teachers benefit from sharing their time together? Hear Gav & Em piece together the positives of this experience in this week's episode of How To English.

References: 

Benefits of learning languages later in life https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/15/the-bilingual-brain-albert-costa-review 

Pass the parcel (variation) http://www.english-time.eu/for-teachers/activity/221-pass-the-parcel/

Do you feel anxious while teaching or learning English? What can teachers do to create calmer classrooms and help learners speak with greater confidence?

Gav and Em explore English language anxiety with Paola Montero, a language anxiety expert. They begin by examining the difference between anxiety and nervousness before sharing their own experiences of first-lesson nerves, large classes, difficult classroom dynamics and uncertainty about whether lessons are meeting students’ needs.

Drawing on their classroom experience, Gav and Em discuss practical ways teachers can manage anxiety, including asking learners for feedback, using familiar materials, shifting attention away from the teacher and recognising when students are comparing themselves with stronger classmates.

Paola explains how mindset, self-belief and motivation can influence language learning. Why are some advanced learners afraid to speak while less accurate learners communicate confidently? How can learners stop seeing mistakes as failures? Her advice includes setting realistic goals, practising in small steps, using breathing and visualisation techniques and developing intrinsic motivation.

The conversation also explores:

• how delayed correction can protect learner confidence
• recognising internal and external causes of classroom stress
• supporting anxious or distracted students without embarrassing them
• using feedback to reduce teacher uncertainty
• encouraging learners who become quieter in stronger groups
• balancing accuracy, fluency and confidence
• breathing exercises, positive memories and calming objects

Can a little anxiety make somebody a better teacher? Gav and Em consider whether healthy self-doubt encourages reflection and improvement—or simply creates unnecessary stress.

Find Paola:
https://www.instagram.com/mimentoradeidiomas/

Resources:

Managing learner anxiety and stress:
https://teachingenglishwithoxford.oup.com/2023/03/22/managing-learner-anxiety-and-stress/

Anxiety and nervousness:
https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxious-vs-nervous#differences

If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Visit https://howtoenglishpod.com for practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome and introducing English language anxiety
00:33 – What is the difference between anxiety and nervousness?
02:11 – Gav and Em’s experiences of anxiety
03:47 – Difficult classes and asking learners for feedback
07:28 – Managing nerves before a first lesson
10:28 – Large classes and fear of being judged
15:51 – Taking back the class’s attention
18:39 – Can anxiety make you a better teacher?
21:26 – Healthy reflection or unnecessary worry?
23:21 – Paola Montero on language anxiety and mindset
26:02 – How comparison can damage learner confidence
27:38 – Self-belief, mistakes and mindfulness
30:46 – Motivation, realistic goals and speaking practice
33:22 – Supporting quieter learners in mixed-level groups
37:27 – Correcting mistakes without damaging confidence
39:32 – Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
41:09 – Confidence, fluency and accuracy
43:02 – Internal and external causes of anxiety
45:09 – Practical techniques for reducing classroom stress
48:10 – Final encouragement and reflections