Ever thought about how writing can help you teach or learn English? Enjoy Gav & Em introducing you to the world of journaling in this week's episode of How to English TEFL Podcast. Joined by their very special guest, Earl Grey, they explore the benefits for teachers and learners expressing themselves in writing. Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/6eml3mE7gMR Buy Gav & Em a hot beverage to say thanks: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Earl Grey's links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlgreyinseoul/

Website: https://earlgreyinseoul.art.blog/

Other resources:

Tips for journaling: https://www.eslactivity.org/journaling-english-learners/

Uncommon words: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/surprising-uncommon-words

How can English teachers explain and practise zero, first, second and third conditionals without turning the lesson into a confusing grammar lecture?

Gav and Em explore the form, meaning and everyday uses of English conditional sentences through practical classroom situations and activities. They begin with a series of “What would you do if...?” dilemmas drawn from real teaching life: repeated lateness, learners who refuse to use a coursebook, students laughing at mistakes, early arrivals, difficult feedback, excessive admin and overloaded timetables.

The conversation then moves from the second conditional to the full conditional system. Discover simple ways to teach and practise:

zero conditional with facts, routines and sentence starters

first conditional with an imaginative chain-story activity

second conditional through hypothetical classroom questions

third conditional with paired pictures, past regrets and lesson reflection

the difference between likely, unlikely and impossible situations

memorable ways to stop learners putting if with will or would

Special guest Arpana from AFBIELTS provides a comprehensive listening lesson covering zero to third conditionals, with clear structures and a wide range of examples. Download her worksheet before listening so you or your students can complete the accompanying quiz and check the answers.

Gav and Em also draw on their own classroom experience to discuss how grammar terminology can help some learners but confuse others, and why familiar examples often make difficult forms easier to understand. Stay until the end for Learn A Word, when Em tests Gav on the many meanings of condition as a noun and verb.

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.

Arpana’s links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afbielts/

Website: https://arpegis.my.canva.site/

Listening worksheet for the show

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lj35rom6aan6wny598q34/Conditional-sentences-with-Arpana.pdf?rlkey=q5keiwkau0ma4tkfi1t2n23n4&dl=0

Reference

Third conditional activity: English File, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, Teacher’s Book, 8A, p. 175

Chapters

00:00 What would you do if...?

01:32 Handling a student who is repeatedly late

04:38 Teaching without a coursebook

07:25 Responding when students laugh at mistakes

10:36 Managing students who arrive early

14:35 Learning from negative feedback

18:36 Too much school administration

21:46 When a school gives you too many classes

23:38 What zero, first, second and third conditionals mean

26:08 Zero conditional sentence starters

28:05 First conditional chain stories

30:20 Avoiding if with will or would

32:08 Third conditional pictures and teaching regrets

35:05 Arpana’s listening lesson and worksheet

42:55 Learn A Word: meanings of condition

49:10 Final conditional examples and goodbye

What would you do if...? is the question Gav and Em answer in this week's show. Covering zero to 3rd conditional, they discuss the uses, form, and meaning of these "if clauses" in English grammar. Plus a comprehensive listening task and quiz sheet recorded by their very special guest Arpana from AFBIELTS. Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/7myWVD9A5A0 Visit our ko-fi page to say thanks: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Arpana's links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afbielts/

Website: https://arpegis.my.canva.site/

Listening worksheet for the show: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lj35rom6aan6wny598q34/Conditional-sentences-with-Arpana.pdf?rlkey=q5keiwkau0ma4tkfi1t2n23n4&dl=0

References:

3rd conditional activity: English File, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, Teacher's Book, 8A, p175

How should English teachers correct common learner mistakes without interrupting communication or damaging confidence?

Gav and Em explore frequent English errors made by learners from different language backgrounds, including Dutch, French, German, Arabic, Spanish and Japanese speakers. Using a classroom-style “pick and mix” activity, they demonstrate how teachers can identify, explain and practise mistakes naturally.

Discover practical ways to correct problems with:

• make and do
• can, could, may and might
• difficult English spelling
• job, work, cloth, clothes and clothing
• irregular past-tense verbs
• hope and wish

Should teachers immediately provide the correct answer or encourage learners to try again? Gav and Em discuss eliciting corrections, reformulating sentences, using repetition and knowing when a learner needs a direct explanation. Drawing on their classroom experience, they also consider when accuracy matters most and why corrections should be followed by meaningful practice.

The episode finishes with Learn-A-Word, exploring common English suffixes including -es, -ed, -ing, -ly, -er, -tion, -able, -al, -y and -ness. Gav and Em explain how teachers can turn suffix practice into a simple vocabulary activity.

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 to Mistakes – Pick and Mix
02:05 Common mistakes from different first languages
04:05 Correcting make and do errors
08:45 Teaching can, could, may and might
11:10 Correcting difficult English spelling
15:30 Cloth, clothes, clothing, job and work
19:35 Teaching irregular past-tense verbs
23:40 Explaining the difference between hope and wish
27:10 Common English suffixes and vocabulary practice
31:40 Final teaching ideas and conclusion

Do you know the typical English mistakes made by speakers of your language? How do you prepare yourself or your students to avoid these errors? Gav and Em look at the Cambridge exam corpus and highlight typical language mistakes made by speakers of different languages and how you might deal with them. Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/XeNRe6IP05P Buy Gav and Em a hot beverage to show your appreciation: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Episode theme suggested by Charlotte: https://www.instagram.com/charlotte_english_teacher/

Cambridge Learner Corpus: https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2020/03/02/understanding-common-learner-error-cambridge-learner-corpus/

Suffixes: https://www.latchontolearning.com/post/wacky-word-wednesday-top-10-suffixes

Have you considered giving up teaching or learning? How can you tell when perseverance is worthwhile and when walking away is the healthier, more professional choice?

Gav and Em explore when English teachers should abandon an activity, stop teaching a difficult class or leave an unsuitable company. Drawing on their own classroom experiences, they discuss the pressure teachers put on themselves to continue when something clearly is not working.

Em shares a recent lesson in which an overplanned technical vocabulary gap-fill proved too difficult for the learner. Should she have powered through because she had invested so much time in preparing it, or changed direction after noticing the silence and lack of engagement?

Gav explains how teachers can move smoothly into a different activity without appearing unprofessional. This might mean developing one interesting question into a conversation, setting the unfinished exercise for homework or giving students a familiar task while the teacher takes a moment to regroup.

The conversation moves from unsuccessful activities to entire classes. Gav and Em discuss what teachers can try before giving up a course: speak honestly with the students, negotiate changes, identify practical problems and ask a manager for support. However, repeatedly dreading a class, overplanning every lesson and feeling disappointed afterwards may be signs that a different teacher would be better for everyone.

When should an English teacher leave a company? Gav and Em consider bullying, discrimination, persistent late payment, excessive workloads and situations that begin to affect a teacher’s health or sleep. They also explain why inexperienced teachers can be particularly vulnerable to unfair treatment and why an outside perspective from colleagues, friends or family can help.

But should teachers ever tell learners to give up studying English? Gav and Em agree that the decision belongs to the learner. Teachers can explain the situation honestly and help learners understand the commitment required, but they should not decide somebody else’s limits.

Stay until the end for Learn-A-Word, featuring commonly confused words such as colour and collar, access and excess, eminent and imminent, statue, stature and statute, and wander and wonder.

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.

References:

Psychology Today:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201501/8-ways-you-can-tell-that-its-the-right-time-to-quit

Sergio from Grammar Drops:
https://www.youtube.com/@GrammarDrops

Merriam-Webster commonly confused words:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/commonly-confused-words-list

Chapters:

00:00 Should teachers ever give up?
01:34 When a classroom activity is not working
04:15 Recognising silence and disengagement
06:20 How to change activities without looking unprofessional
08:41 Is it ever acceptable to leave a lesson?
12:26 When to stop teaching a difficult class
15:15 Speaking to students and negotiating changes
17:42 Signs that it may be time to quit a course
20:29 When should a teacher leave a company?
23:12 Late payment, unfair treatment and teacher wellbeing
25:52 Should teachers tell learners to give up?
27:50 Learn-A-Word: commonly confused English words
32:46 Next episode and closing thoughts

Have you considered giving up teaching or learning? What was your motivation to stay or leave? This week Gav & Em look at quitting; throwing the towel in; giving up! Whether it's an activity, a class, or even a company, Gav & Em have a motivating guide for you. Buy Gav & Em a coffee/tea here to say thanks: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/jinDRSXT0Ay

References:

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201501/8-ways-you-can-tell-that-its-the-right-time-to-quit

Sergio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrammarDrops

Confusing words list: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/commonly-confused-words-list

What setbacks do English teachers and language learners face, and how can they keep moving forward when progress becomes difficult?

Gav and Em explore practical ways to overcome challenges in English teaching and learning. They discuss how setbacks can interrupt progress without necessarily leading to failure—and why adapting, changing direction and continuing may be more important than following the original plan.

Special guest Eni, a self-directed English learner and content creator from Nepal, shares her inspiring language-learning journey. After receiving a painful comment about her accent, she turned the experience into motivation to improve her English pronunciation. By creating videos, joining online learning communities, accepting feedback and practising consistently, Eni found a learning method that suited her interests.

Drawing on their classroom experience, Gav and Em consider how teachers can respond when a carefully planned lesson suddenly has the wrong number or level of students. Em also explains how the pandemic forced her to move from entirely face-to-face teaching to online English lessons.

The episode explores practical questions including:

• How can learners understand unfamiliar accents and fast speakers?
• What can you do when you have little time to study English?
• How can online communities and study partners support language learning?
• What should you do when learning becomes repetitive or boring?
• How can teachers recover from unsuccessful lessons?
• What can you teach when you forget your lesson materials?
• How can teachers give honest feedback without damaging confidence?

Stay for Learn-A-Word, where Gav and Em explore the noun setback, the phrasal verb set back and several useful meanings and expressions.

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.

Eni’s links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eni.englishjourney/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@englishjourneywitheni

Chapters

00:00 – British and American English with Eni
03:03 – What does “setback” mean?
06:33 – Setback as a noun and phrasal verb
08:16 – Eni’s self-directed English-learning journey
13:15 – Turning criticism into motivation
16:26 – Giving feedback without damaging confidence
18:45 – Adapting a lesson when plans go wrong
20:26 – Moving from face-to-face to online teaching
22:27 – Understanding accents and fast speakers
23:20 – Finding time and setting realistic learning goals
24:20 – Learning communities and study partners
25:13 – What to do when language learning becomes boring
27:05 – Setbacks English teachers may face
29:04 – Recovering when a lesson goes wrong
30:09 – Final thoughts and supporting the podcast

Should English teachers teach British English, American English or both?

Gav and Em explore the differences between British and American vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling, with practical activities teachers can use in class. From courgette and zucchini to tap and faucet, they show how learners frequently encounter a mixture of English varieties through television, films, social media and course materials.

Should teachers correct learners who use an American pronunciation in a British English lesson? Gav and Em explain why these differences are not errors and discuss when clarification may help other students. They compare the pronunciation of words such as advertisement, missile, vitamin, schedule and lieutenant before examining regional accents, dropped sounds and the American flap T.

The episode also looks at spelling differences such as colour/color, honour/honor and centre/center, including Noah Webster’s influence on American English. Drawing on their extensive classroom experience, Gav and Em demonstrate two adaptable speaking games that help learners notice language differences, expand their vocabulary and practise asking for clarification without presenting one variety as “correct”.

You’ll also hear about PingoLearn, an app designed to help English learners improve their pronunciation, receive feedback and become more confident speakers:

https://pingolearn.page.link/howtoenglishpod_p

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.

References

British English vs American English vocabulary:
https://www.dictionary.com/e/british-english-vs-american-english/

British vs American English pronunciation:
https://www.espressoenglish.net/british-english-vs-american-english-pronunciation/

Differences between American and British English:
https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/what-are-the-differences-between-american-and-british-english

Chapters

00:00 Improving pronunciation and confidence with PingoLearn
01:41 Welcome to How to English
02:01 British and American English in the classroom
03:16 Courgette or zucchini and aubergine or eggplant?
04:47 Faucet, tap, bathroom, restroom and toilet
06:09 British and American pronunciation game
07:13 Advertisement and word stress
08:04 Missile and vitamin pronunciation
09:48 Should teachers correct American pronunciation?
10:55 How do you pronounce schedule?
12:45 Lieutenant or leftenant?
13:59 More British and American pronunciation differences
15:05 The American flap T and regional accents
16:40 British and American spelling differences
17:34 Noah Webster and American spelling
18:19 British vs American vocabulary role-play
20:20 Dummy or pacifier and bin or trash can?
23:05 Supermarket vocabulary challenge
26:40 Learn-A-Word: equivalent
28:44 Supporting the podcast
29:13 Closing music