Everybody loves a quiz, that's why Gav and Em have decided to devote an entire episode to questions all about languages, the origins of English words, and English grammar. Test your knowledge and have some fun with this episode of How to English Pod. Featuring Alexandra from English4Style as we learn the differences between the words trip, journey, and travel. Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/7nSe3KJqa1V

Alexandra's link:

https://www.instagram.com/english4style/

Gav's intro:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language

Em's quiz questions:

https://speakt.com/language-facts/

The longest word in English:

https://www.wikihow.com/Pronounce-the-Longest-Word-in-the-English-Dictionary

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

Longest unofficial word in English:

https://www.digitalspy.com/fun/a444700/longest-word-has-189819-letters-takes-three-hours-to-pronounce/

Origin of the word penguin:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/penguin

How much of English is actually English?:

https://commongroundinternational.com/learning-english/borrowed-words-english-languages/

How many languages are represented in English?:

https://www.ilovelanguages.com/how-many-english-borrowed-words-are-there/

Could you make a podcast with just your phone? Gav and Em talk through how they started How to English, from choosing a topic and recording an episode to finding a host, making cover art and deciding how often to publish. They also ask what keeps people listening when there are so many shows to choose from.

Ian Antonio Patterson of English Coach Podcast: Living the Language joins them to explain how conversations, varied voices and real-life topics can support language learning. Then Leo Nova of Nova Tips gives a mini-lesson on false friends: familiar-looking words that can catch English learners out.

Thinking of making a show of your own, or using podcasts to practise English? Bring your ideas—and, as Gav and Em discover, you needn’t have a studio to begin.

Find Ian Antonio: https://www.instagram.com/englishcoachpodcast/ | https://iantonio.media/podcasts/
Find Leo: https://www.instagram.com/nova.tips/ | https://drum.io/novatips
Podcast planning resources: https://castos.com/podcast-topics/ | http://thepodcasthost.com/planning/how-to-start-a-podcast/

If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod. You’ll find more practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use at https://howtoenglishpod.com.

Chapters
00:00 What is a podcast?
05:35 What do you need to start recording?
07:53 Why Gav and Em started their show
11:21 Who is the podcast for?
15:26 Choosing a name, length and schedule
18:34 Music and cover art
20:39 First steps for a new podcaster
23:51 What makes a podcast worth listening to?
25:30 Ian Antonio Patterson on language, connection and inclusion
32:32 Useful podcast vocabulary
36:15 Leo Nova explains false friends
39:00 How to practise tricky vocabulary

Have you ever thought about making your own podcast? Which topic would you choose? Check out Gav & Em's episode all about podcasts where you can find out all about their show and may even inspire you to make your own! Featuring Ian Antonio Patterson from English Coach Podcast and Leo Nova who introduces us to some "false friends". Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/ZKACBcEr1gV

Ian Antonio's links:

https://www.instagram.com/englishcoachpodcast/

https://iantonio.media/podcasts/

https://www.facebook.com/Ian.Antonio.Patterson

https://ian-antonio-patterson.com/work/

Leo's links:

https://www.instagram.com/nova.tips/

https://drum.io/novatips

Resources:

https://castos.com/podcast-topics/

http://thepodcasthost.com/planning/how-to-start-a-podcast/

How do you help English learners start writing when a blank page feels daunting? Gav and Em explore ways to give students a starting point while leaving room for their own ideas.

Gera from Speak Write Play shares how a video game script inspired him to write stories and why he recommends writing for 15 minutes a day. Gav and Em discuss narrative, descriptive, persuasive and expository writing, then try classroom ideas including rewriting an existing story, deliberately writing a bad poem and building a story from five simple parts. Em also recalls how one correction discouraged her from writing creatively as a child—and what teachers can learn from it.

In Teacher, Teach Me, teacher trainer Angelica Rocha from english.for_teachers shares a way to practise irregular plural nouns aloud.

Find Gera and Speak Write Play:
https://speakwriteplay.com/
https://www.instagram.com/speakwriteplay/
https://www.youtube.com/c/SpeakWritePlayinEnglish/videos

Find Angelica:
https://www.instagram.com/english.for_teachers/

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 Why write in English?
02:44 Gera’s journey from video game scripts to creative writing
08:09 Starting small and supporting new writers
10:38 How correction can affect creativity
13:18 Four types of writing explained
18:47 Why learners need a purpose and a starting point
20:21 Rewrite a story to spark new ideas
22:04 Write a bad poem—then improve it
23:46 Ethos, logos and pathos in writing
27:39 Journals, dreams, blogs and haiku
31:14 Seven tips for teaching writing
35:16 A five-part structure for stories
38:56 Angelica’s tip for irregular plural nouns

How often do you write in English? Which styles of writing can you do? Do you know the difference between expository, descriptive, persuasive and narrative writing? With their special guest Gera, from Speak, Write, Play - follow Gav & Em on a journey of creative writing. And enjoy Teacher, Teach Me with teacher trainer Angelica from english.for_teachers who explores irregular plural nouns. Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/FPwWaKpyCA6

Gera's links:

https://speakwriteplay.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SpeakWritePlayEnglish/

https://www.instagram.com/speakwriteplay/

https://www.youtube.com/c/SpeakWritePlayinEnglish/videos

Angelica's link:

https://www.instagram.com/english.for_teachers/

References:

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-writing#3-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-topic-to-write-about

http://haikuworld.org/books/farbeyond.review.html

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/20-funny-haiku-poems-examples-for-all-ages.html

https://www.tefl.net/elt/articles/teacher/7-tips-for-teaching-writing/

https://magoosh.com/pro-writing/what-is-rhetorical-writing/?amp

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8mktyc/revision/1

How do you help new English words stick? Gav and Em explore what counts as a word, how much vocabulary learners need, and ways to move words from passive knowledge into everyday use.

Kitty Sensei shares ten practical tips for learning vocabulary, including keeping a notebook, making personal connections with words and using them in conversation. Gav and Em then swap vocabulary games for the classroom, from Bingo to a chalkboard acronym activity. In Teacher, Teach Me, Pooja explains the difference between see, look and watch.

You’ll also hear about Whizbusters’ Vocabulary Builder and its lifetime membership offer: https://whizbusters.teachable.com/p/english-vocabulary-practice-tests-free

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
00:20 What is a word?
05:34 Whizbusters’ Vocabulary Builder
08:00 How many words are there in English?
10:36 Helping learners use new vocabulary
11:45 Kitty Sensei’s vocabulary learning tips
21:22 Gav and Em discuss Kitty’s tips
27:20 Vocabulary games for a cover lesson
35:13 Teacher, Teach Me with Pooja
35:42 See, look and watch

Guests and resources
Kitty Sensei: https://www.instagram.com/kittykikuchi1509/ | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvqRD9bbw795Zd8tMAf-1EQ
Pooja: https://www.instagram.com/making_english_easy/
Whizbusters: https://www.youtube.com/WHIZBUSTERS

References
www.merriam-webster.com
https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/language-lab/many-words-english-language/
https://www.ilovelanguages.com/how-many-words-in-average-english-vocabulary/
https://www.justlearn.com/blog/vocabulary-games
https://www.englishclub.com/esl-games/vocabulary/

Words are this week's topic. From a deep dive to skimming the surface, Gav and Em explore the world of teaching, learning and reviewing words. With their special guest Kitty Sensei to share 10 practical tips for memorizing vocabulary. Plus, introducing Whizbusters' Vocabulary Builder with lifetime membership (https://whizbusters.teachable.com/p/english-vocabulary-practice-tests-free). And finally, don't forget to check out Pooja's trick to learn the difference between three similar words in Teacher, Teach Me. Audio with transcription: https://share.descript.com/view/60MZOUrxg2a

Kitty's links:

https://www.instagram.com/kittykikuchi1509/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvqRD9bbw795Zd8tMAf-1EQ

Whizbusters' link:

https://www.youtube.com/WHIZBUSTERS

Pooja's link:

https://www.instagram.com/making_english_easy/

References:

www.merriam-webster.com

https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/language-lab/many-words-english-language/

https://www.ilovelanguages.com/how-many-words-in-average-english-vocabulary/

https://www.justlearn.com/blog/vocabulary-games

https://www.englishclub.com/esl-games/vocabulary/

What can you gain from a teaching conference beyond a notebook full of ideas? Gav and Em talk with James Taylor of BRAZ-TESOL about the connections teachers make through conferences and teaching associations. James explains how special interest groups and local chapters can help teachers share ideas and feel less isolated.

Drawing on conferences they’ve attended, Gav and Em discuss choosing useful sessions, meeting other teachers and bringing practical ideas back to class. They also ask whether a workshop technique will work with your own students, and why time to reflect can be as valuable as a new activity. This episode was recorded around BRAZ-TESOL’s 2022 international conference; the event dates mentioned in the conversation are historical.

In Teach, Teach Me, Naeem from English with Naeem explains the difference between “hard” and “hardly” — and why “I work hard” means something very different from “I hardly work”.

BRAZ-TESOL: https://braztesol.org.br/
BRAZ-TESOL on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/braztesol
BRAZ-TESOL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braztesol/
English with Naeem: https://www.instagram.com/englishwithnaeem/
Raise Up! books: https://raiseup.gumroad.com/

References:
Keynote and plenary speakers: https://info.wwsg.com/blog/difference-between-plenary-and-keynote-speakers
Presenting at conferences: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/explore-our-resources/speaking-and-presenting/presenting-at-conferences#Presenting%20your%20research

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 Why go to a teaching conference?
03:05 James Taylor on BRAZ-TESOL and teacher community
06:36 How conferences help teachers connect
10:41 Conference talks and keynote speakers
12:43 Choosing a conference that meets your needs
17:34 Gav’s memorable teacher-led conference
20:16 Bringing conference ideas into your classroom
22:41 Why present at or attend a conference?
25:01 Teach, Teach Me: “hard” and “hardly” with Naeem

Have you been to a conference this year? What kind of conferences interest you? With James Taylor, a very special guest from BRAZ-TESOL teachers' association, Gav and Em discuss the topic of conferences. Don't forget to listen to this episode's vocabulary section where Naeem tackles two very tricky words. Transcription with audio: https://share.descript.com/view/JYfpUK8Gx8g

BRAZ-TESOL links: https://braztesol.org.br/

https://www.facebook.com/braztesol

https://www.instagram.com/braztesol/

English with Naeem: https://www.instagram.com/englishwithnaeem/

References:

Raise Up! Course books: https://raiseup.gumroad.com/

https://info.wwsg.com/blog/difference-between-plenary-and-keynote-speakers

https://www.ets.org/toefl/conferences#tabs-past https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/explore-our-resources/speaking-and-presenting/presenting-at-conferences#Presenting%20your%20research

What can your experience as an English learner teach you about teaching? Gav and Em hear from Felipe Coelho, a teacher from Brazil whose own learning journey shaped the way he teaches. Felipe explains why he makes students’ lives and interests central to lessons, helps them feel less anxious about speaking, and uses humour to make mistakes easier to learn from.

Gav and Em reflect on being lifelong learners themselves: how honest should a teacher be when they do not know an answer, and what helps a conversation in class begin to flow? Gav then quizzes Em on useful ways to talk about experience, including present perfect forms, collocations and phrases for looking back. In Teacher, Teach Me, Meshkat explains the difference between somewhere, anywhere, nowhere and everywhere.

Try Gav’s quiz: https://quizizz.com/join/game/U2FsdGVkX1%252BlKrd%252BsZMCHRCR%252F7TLWV6wzHoq24EIcoDlmSjeJvKRXFxIbaJxvnEK?gameType=solo

Find Felipe: https://www.tiktok.com/@inglescomfelipe | https://www.instagram.com/inglescomfelipe1/
Find Meshkat: https://www.instagram.com/englishwithmeshkat/

Language references: https://enguroo.com/2021/12/29/how-to-talk-about-experience/ | https://www.freecollocation.com/search?word=experience

Share the episode with a teacher or learner friend. For more practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use, visit https://howtoenglishpod.com. If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Chapters
0:00 Welcome and today’s topic
2:26 Felipe’s journey from English learner to teacher
8:12 Teaching through humour and relatable mistakes
10:17 Helping students feel comfortable speaking
15:18 Teachers are learners too
18:49 Using technology to teach English
21:05 Learning to laugh at mistakes
21:45 Creating flow in conversation lessons
24:07 Grammar for talking about experience
27:47 Gav’s experience vocabulary quiz
36:38 Meshkat: somewhere, anywhere, nowhere and everywhere