TESOL Pop

When print textbooks are outdated the moment they're published, what do you do? If you’re Renata Kucharska, you build an alternative that can keep pace with the fast-developing needs of learners who are training for the workplace. In this episode, Renata shares how she ventured into tech to build a custom, gamified vocabulary app for her teenage mechatronics and programming students. We talk about the reality of teaching niche vocational English, how a simple leaderboard got her teenagers voluntarily running their own tournaments outside of school hours, and why a 'less is more' approach to design is as crucial as the content itself.

Watch with closed captions here.

1. The vocational resource gap: Why traditional textbooks can't keep pace with fast-moving technical industries.
2. Accidental engagement: How adding points and a leaderboard got teenagers voluntarily studying outside of school hours.
3. The developer's golden rule: Why simple user experience and layout will always beat a complex system.
4. The classroom payoff: How instant digital feedback translated to an unexpected boost in student reading and speaking confidence.

Renata Kucharska is an experienced teacher of English with over 25 years in ELT. She is the founder of Idiom Be Heard English and E-Solutions for ELT, where she combines language teaching with practical EdTech solutions. Renata designs courses, creates exam-prep and vocational English learning applications, including vocational English for mechatronics students and programmers. She also creates websites, e-learning platforms, and automations for educators and online businesses, helping them build independent, professional online offers.

🔗 E-Solutions for ELT website

🔗 Connect with Renata on LinkedIn

🔗 Follow Renata on Instagram

👉 Contact Renata on LinkedIn or her website to get teacher-level access to check out the app's functions

☕ Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tesolpop

⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here: https://communicating-for-impact.myflodesk.com/the-producers-edit

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Renata Kucharska

Production by Communicating for Impact

01:13 - The vocational gap

02:05 - What inspired Renata to build an app

02:29 - How leaderboards sparked engagement

03:14 - The "Duolingo for Mechatronics" concept

05:35 - The surprise response

07:30 - Classroom impact

08:49 - The developer's golden rule

10:50 - How to connect with Renata to test the app

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From textbook dependency to a "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" approach. Fiona Hunter, founder of Kids Club English shares how to confidently step away from set materials to create authentic, play-based language experiences for young learners. From managing the psychological hurdles of letting go of the coursebook to structuring lessons around picture books, Fiona explains how stepping back allows young learners to take true ownership of their language.

Watch with captions here.

TALKING POINTS

1. The textbook tension: engagement, syllabus pressure, and the progress gap

2. Why moving away from a coursebook requires us to rethink our teaching

3. The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" framework for structuring lessons

4. How giving young learners ownership over their activities sky-rockets motivation

ABOUT

Fiona Hunter is a teacher, teacher trainer and the founder of Kids Club English. Originally from Scotland and now based in the south of Spain, she has worked in ELT for over twenty years, teaching in Spain, the UK, Argentina and South Korea, including at the British Council. She holds a DELTA with Merit and specialises in teaching preschool and primary learners.

Now working independently, Fiona creates her own flexible, play-based courses built around stories, songs, games, crafts and drama - without relying on coursebooks. Through Kids Club English, she shares classroom-tested resources and runs an online Teacher Membership supporting freelance teachers and small language school owners who want to feel more confident, less overwhelmed and better equipped to build engaging, language-rich lessons for young learners.

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

🔗 Kids Club English Website: https://kidsclubenglish.com/

🔗 Download Fiona’s Quick Start Guide to Flexible Units (available in the teaching tips section)

🔗 Watch Fiona’s 4-part video series on teaching without coursebooks on her website

🔗 Kids Club English  @kidsclubenglish582 

Fab Videos on Kids Club English YouTube:

1. Getting Personal with Puppets - Teaching Tips
2. How to Prepare for Reading a Story -Teaching Tips
3. Sports Spinner Game Craft

SUPPORT US

☕ Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tesolpop

⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here: https://communicating-for-impact.myflodesk.com/the-producers-edit

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Fiona Hunter

Production by Communicating for Impact @laurawilkes

TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Introduction to Fiona Hunter and the episode overview

01:12 - The three biggest engagement and pressure challenges of coursebooks

04:36 - The mindset shift: Rethinking your underlying teaching philosophy

06:39 - Moving from "off-piste" projects to a semi-structured storybook approach

11:08 - The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" lesson staging framework

11:36 - Fostering learner identity and confidence through classroom roleplay

12:00 - Where to find bite-sized teaching resources and closing thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From outgrowing textbooks to collaborating across continents. Christian Fischer, Head of English at Gymnasium Schillerschule Hannover, shares how the Global Literature Circle project is transforming how teenagers engage with reading. From digital collaboration using Padlet to fostering student agency, Christian explains how giving learners creative freedom and a global audience can turn reading into a powerful, social experience.

Watch with closed captions.

• The challenge of students who outperform traditional textbooks
• Why 'resilience' is the missing key in modern teenage reading habits
• How Global Literature Circles connect classrooms worldwide
• Using 'freeze frames' and digital tools for meaningful communication
• Why letting 'good players play' is the secret to engagement

ABOUT

Christian Fischer teaches English and History at Gymnasium Schillerschule Hannover in Germany, which also offers the IB Diploma program. He is the head of the department of English and faces a growing number of students whose English proficiency has outgrown standard ESL textbooks. He is, to quote him, baffled that so many English teachers around the world teach English to students who could, technically, in their respective classrooms go back to speaking their Native language when teachers around the world could connect students to work in English only. That is the main idea behind his project “Global Literature Circle”, in which he connects students from around the world to work on literature through collaborative, creative, and engaging tasks.

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

🔗 Substack @christianfischer1

🔗 Contact Christian for more details about the Global Literature Circle: [email protected]

Backman, F. (2016) My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. Atria Books

Ganda, M., Alifirenka, C., and Welch, L. (2016) I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Nazario, S. (2014) Enrique's Journey. Random House

Noah, T. (2016) Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. Random House Publishing Group

SUPPORT US

☕ Buy us a coffee or leave a review wherever you listen

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Christian Fischer

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From one class pack to a million hours of environmental education. ELT author and creator of Picker Pals, Patrick Jackson, shares how a single idea grew into a movement that’s transformed classrooms and communities. From storytelling and sustainability to litter-picking with families, Patrick explains how Picker Pals empowers children to take action, while learning along the way.

Watch with closed captions.

• How Patrick’s early ELT materials inspired Picker Pals
• What a classroom teddy has to do with environmental action
• Why creative projects lead to bigger career breakthroughs
• The joy and power of collaboration — even with competitors
• How to bring real-world issues into the classroom

ABOUT

Patrick Jackson is an ELT author known for publications such as Everybody Up and Shine On. From 1996 to 2008, he lived and taught in Japan, and has since travelled widely as a speaker, sharing practical, common-sense approaches to language education. Patrick is especially interested in how classrooms can connect meaningfully with the wider world — and believes they’re at their best when they become places of purpose.

Since 2018, he has been the Creative Director of Picker Pals, an award-winning programme that motivates and equips primary school children to lead their families on litter-picking adventures and build a positive environmental mindset. Picker Pals has now been adopted by 72% of Irish primary schools and is expanding internationally.

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

🔗 Picker Pals World

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Patrick Jackson

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Business English gets a bad reputation — stiff, overly formal, and filled with irrelevant vocabulary lists. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, Megan Nicholls, multilingual educator and founder of Mega Language Coach, invites us to reimagine how Business English can be taught. From high-stakes presentations to hallway small talk, Meg shares how she co-creates flexible, relevant lessons that reflect her students' real communication needs.

Watch with closed captions.

1. Why “two experts in the room” is Megan’s go-to teaching philosophy
2. How she tailors sessions on the fly (including maternity leave vocabulary)
3. Why spontaneous conversations can be more valuable than structured grammar drills
4. Her best tip for helping learners see their progress, even when they can’t
5. What Business English teachers can learn from language learners themselves

ABOUT

Meg is from Manchester, UK. Her 10 years of teaching experience inspired her to start Mega Language Coach, offering individual classes online. Her speciality is Business English for professionals, interview preparation and improving spoken fluency, thanks to her background in marketing. She has plenty of experience living abroad and working in multilingual international environments. Meg speaks German and French and is currently learning Spanish, whilst travelling in Mexico. She aims to bring joy to the learning process, focusing on active speaking in the classroom.

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

🔗 Mega Language Teaching

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Megan Nicholls

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lewis Jaquest joins Laura to explore how emergent language and learner agency can transform the language classroom. In this episode, Lewis shares how he developed the Student Emergent Language Framework (SELF), reflects on his transition to bottom-up teaching, and unpacks what truly makes language learning meaningful.

Watch with closed captions.

1. What is Emergent Language? How Lewis discovered the power of emergent language through real-world teaching—and how it aligned with Dogme ELT and "Teaching Unplugged".
2. Letting Go of Control: Why embracing messiness and letting go of rigid lesson plans can lead to more meaningful learning.
3. The Student Emergent Language Framework (SELF): How SELF helps learners track, reflect on, and own their learning—plus how it can reverse-engineer an entire syllabus.
4. Reflection as a Teaching Tool: Lewis shares how reflection (for both teachers and students) underpins his framework—and why it’s often overlooked.
5. From Framework to Podcast: How Lewis’s learners used the SELF framework to create their own language podcast, showcasing language they truly needed.

ABOUT

Lewis Jaquest is a passionate English language and communication trainer and materials writer from Swansea, South Wales. He has worked in ELT for nearly 20 years. He began teaching English in Hamburg, Germany in 2007 and went on to do a Diploma in Teaching in Barcelona in 2019. Lewis founded his language and communication business, Wordsmithery, in the same year and transitioned to online teaching in 2020. He’s particularly interested in helping Business English learners communicate authentically and creates tailor-made materials for his online lessons which focus on exploiting emergent learner language to make learning experiences that are interactive, engaging and fun. He writes the regular newsletters “Gimme 5 “ for learners and “Bright Sparks - the Creative Business English Teacher” for educators. 

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

🔗 The SELFI framework for emergent language

🔗 Wordsmithery.ELT

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Lewis Jaquest

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

University lecturer Anila Ruth Scott-Monkhouse joins Laura to share how she’s using academic debate to help STEM PhD students become more confident communicators. In this episode, Anila shares how debate boosts her students’ teamwork, critical thinking, and language skills. You’ll also hear how she integrates controversial topics, intercultural collaboration, and real-world research into her EAP classes.

Watch with closed captions.

1. Why Debate? The benefits of debate for science students — from thinking on your feet to tackling tough questions at conferences.
2. Debating the Unexpected: How students explore both sides of controversial issues, often arguing a side they don’t personally agree with.
3. Not Just Language Practice: Why students are judged on the quality of their arguments and not their grammar.
4. Teamwork & Mediation: What happens when physicists, chemists, and engineers work together across cultures.
5. Winning Isn’t Everything: How structured competition builds confidence, curiosity, and deeper engagement in class.

ABOUT

Anila Ruth Scott-Monkhouse teaches general and academic English to undergraduate and PhD STEM students at the University of Parma, Italy. With qualifications including a degree in foreign languages, the Cambridge DELTA, and the CertPT, she brings a strong background in language education, assessment, and teacher training.

Anila’s work explores teaching and assessing ESP/EAP, task-based learning, and the role of emotions in the classroom. She’s a regular conference presenter and has published widely on learner needs, teacher development, and academic communication. Above all, she’s passionate about helping learners and educators thrive through reflective practice and meaningful challenge.

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

🔗 LinkedIn

🔗 Academia.edu

🔗 ResearchGate

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Anila Ruth Scott-Monkhouse

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Allis, experienced ESL teacher and travel creator, joins Laura to share hard-won lessons from a global teaching career that spans China, Iraq, Thailand and beyond. In this candid conversation, Scott unpacks five key things to check before signing a contract—and what to do when the job doesn’t match what was promised. Whether you're teaching abroad, considering your next move, or advising others on job offers, this episode is packed with practical advice and relatable stories to help you make informed career decisions.

Watch with closed captions.

TALKING POINTS

1. What Looks Good on Paper Isn’t Always the Right Fit: Scott reflects on contracts that promised the world, but delivered far less—and how to read between the lines.
2. What Scott Checks Before Signing: From checking the exit clause to aligning work expectations with your lifestyle.
3. Knowing Your Priorities: Why your dealbreakers matter more than rankings or salaries.
4. Tips for Confident Negotiation: How to ask for what you need—without feeling like you’re being difficult.

ABOUT

Scottie is an experienced ESL teacher with over ten years of teaching in places like Wuhan and Baghdad, currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. Today, he shares five essential lessons on finding the right contract as an ESL teacher—focusing on what works for your lifestyle, not just what looks best on paper. Alongside his teaching, Scottie creates mindful adventure travel content on Instagram and will soon launch YouTube content. Follow Scott on Instagram: @scottallis

RELATED EPISODES

S4E9: The problem with native-speakerism - with Meri Maroutian

S8E3: Three ways to grow your money - with Nicola Prentis

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Leave a review

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Scott Allis

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Schmidt, professional development consultant and long-time adult educator, joins Laura to share his journey from enduring uninspiring training sessions to leading transformative ones. In this episode, Steve reflects on what makes professional development meaningful, how he overcame self-doubt, and why fear never fully disappears — but can be used as fuel for growth.

Watch with closed captions.

TALKING POINTS

1. Why “Bad PD” Sparked a New Mission. How sitting in the back of dull sessions inspired Steve to raise the bar on professional learning.
2. The Baby Steps to Becoming a PD Leader. From Saturday workshops to national keynotes — how Steve gradually built his confidence.
3. Facing the Fear (and Doing It Anyway). Insights from Dr Susan Jeffers’ “Five Truths of Fear” and how they apply to every educator.
4. Redefining Failure as Learning. Why Steve sees setbacks as “O Flags” — opportunities for learning and growth — and how you can too.
5. Practising What We Preach. A reminder that educators deserve the same self-compassion and encouragement we give our learners.

ABOUT

Steven Schmidt is a professional development consultant with decades of experience in adult education. After years working as a classroom teacher and programme administrator, Steve shifted into full-time PD, delivering training across the U.S. and sharing practical insights on confidence, connection, and lifelong learning. He currently supports educators through keynote talks, workshops, and one-on-one coaching. Connect on LinkedIn or send Steve an email here.

References

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Dr Susan Jeffers

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Leave a review

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Haven Tsang

Special thanks to our guest, Steven Schmidt

Production by Communicating for Impact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creators of TESOL Pop, Laura Wilkes and Technical Director Haven Tsang, report from IBC 2025 in Amsterdam with practical takeaways for educators using media. From live multilingual captioning and voice overdubs to richer, human-centred metadata and the storytelling craft behind Becoming Led Zeppelin, this episode unpacks the media tech shaping how we teach, learn, and share ideas.

Watch with closed captions.

TALKING POINTS

1. Live Multilingual Captioning & Dubbing: Why real-time captions plus AI voice overdubs can open up lectures, events, and training to a truly global audience.
2. Search That Thinks Like You: How richer semantic metadata makes archives more findable (think “green car in a courtroom” vs keyword guesswork).
3. Story First, Always: Lessons from Becoming Led Zeppelin on research, restraint, and choosing a focused narrative over “everything we have in the archive.”
4. Post Is Solved in Pre: Haven’s rule of thumb — plan the storyboards and coverage up front to save time (and headaches) in the edit.
5. What Educators Can Do Now: Concrete ways to start using captions, smarter tagging, and tighter planning in your next course video or podcast.

ABOUT

Haven Tsang has 20+ years of experience in broadcast and post-production. He leads on workflow design, editing, colour and sound for client projects, and supports educators in bringing professional production standards to their videos and podcasts.

REFERENCES

• IBC (International Broadcasting Convention)
• Becoming Led Zeppelin — special screening & Q&A insights
• Everything TechIE Podcast with Justin Dawson
• The Producer’s Edit newsletter — weekly insights for standout educators

SUPPORT US

💻 Sponsor us

☕ Buy us a coffee

⭐ Review this episode

THE PRODUCER'S EDIT

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here

CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor and Guest: Haven Tsang

Production by Communicating for Impact

Special thanks to IBC for the opportunity to be official content creators this year and for the incredible experience.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.