Thrive in ELT

What words are in your job description?

I'm guessing "teaching," but what else?

It's not uncommon for English language teachers to take on multiple roles, voluntary or otherwise.

Other words I've seen in ELT job descriptions are ones like:

• advising

• chairing

• coordinating

• grading

• leading

We could probably get a list that includes every letter from A to Z!

While balancing multiple roles can be quite enjoyable, it can be a struggle to keep on top of everything. And that struggle can be overwhelming at times because of the responsibilities that come with them.

Thankfully, there are things you do so you can spend more time enjoying and less time overwhelmed.

In this episode, get six tips to help you make the juggling act a little easier.

Show Notes:

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/67-how-to-juggle-multiple-elt-roles-with-ease

Resources:

Sign up for the Personal PD Plan waitlist >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/f30fbb252b, and I'll email you when the guide is available again next semester.

Join my monthly newsletter for updates on future programs such as the Personal PD Plan guide plus other good stuff like organizational tips that you can apply straightaway and recommended resources that I use myself >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/a29bcd1017

Connect with Heather:

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What is the ratio of work to rest in your English language teaching life right now?

50:50? 60:40? 90:10?

It takes effort, persistence, and likely a bit of trial and error, to get it where you want it to be. It won't always stay consistent, but there are certainly things you can do to find a better balance that's right for you.

I surprised myself early this year when the professional development plan I created wasn't very (what I would have called) "professional." It had nothing to do with learning a new skill, helping my students, becoming a better teacher, or any other activity normally associated with PD.

Or so I thought.

In this episode of the podcast I share all about the surprising effect Alex Soojung-Kim Pang's book "Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less" has had on my ELT life.

By the end of the episode, my hope is that you're inspired and encouraged to:

1. evaluate the role of rest in your ELT life and

2. not feel guilty for wanting, needing, and making space for rest in your life.

Show Notes:

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/66-rest-english-language-teachers-practical-application

Get your Personal PD Plan Guide:

Developing a personal PD plan doesn't have to be complicated. It just needs to be right for you.

With:

• 1 PDF guide,

• 5 Google Doc templates, and

• 2 one-on-one sessions (between October 9 and November 26, 2024),

you can do just that.

But you only have access to this special offer through October 17, 2024. So go to eltresourceroom.com/resources to get your guide and book your sessions before it's too late!

Connect with Heather:

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Do you ever find yourself saying this as an English language teacher?

"I'll (insert action) when things slow down."

Whether it's starting back to exercising, catching up with a friend, or taking time to read a few pages of a good book, it seems like things never actually slow down.

The truth of the matter is that it rarely just happens. So you have to make it.

How?

By intentionally resting.

Before reading Alex Soojung-Kim Pang's book "Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less," I had no idea what that even looked like beyond sleeping and taking a (long-overdue) vacation. (Those both count, but they aren't even the tip of the iceberg of what constitutes rest.)

Maybe you'd like things to slow down more in your ELT life? A bit better work-life balance? The feeling of time to breathe throughout your work day?

In this episode I share these highlights of Pang's book:

• what "rest" really means,

• how it looks, and

• why you should read his book too.

Show Notes:

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/65-rest-english-language-teachers-book-review

Sign Up!

Stay up to date with this podcast, get organizational tips that you can apply straightaway, and check out recommended resources by signing up for my monthly newsletter >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/a29bcd1017

Connect with Heather:

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What's new with you?

A new semester often brings about a lot of "new," like:

• new students

• a new schedule

• new procedures

• new opportunities

It also means a new season of the Thrive in ELT podcast, where I'll be sharing more tips and strategies for staying on top of your teaching game.

Whether you've taught a course one time or 12, this newest episode will have you thinking about how to stay focused, perform the occasional check-in, make adjustments when needed, and more.

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/64-5-reasons-why-you-your-students-need-course-roadmap

Resources:

Wouldn't it be nice to be prepared for life's what-if moments now so that you can skip the stress later? Well, you can be prepared, even for the unexpected. Get the resources you need to create a teaching contingency plan here >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/teaching-contingency-plan

Connect with Heather:

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A new academic year is on its way, and so is a new season of the Thrive in ELT podcast.

Listen to this short update episode to find out:

• what's coming next at the Thrive in ELT podcast and
• how you can set yourself up for a calmer, more sustainable semester.

Resources:

Book your Power Hour with Heather and prepare your Plan B for this academic year by going to: https://www.eltresourceroom.com/resources

Connect with Heather:

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Do you ever tell yourself that you'll "get to that later" because "now isn't a good time"?

Certainly there are times when it's not. But when it really may be, is your reason for waiting because…

• it's all just too overwhelming?

• you're avoiding doing the thing?

• it's more comfortable to think instead of do?

• you're worried that your effort will result in a failed attempt?

The problem with waiting sometimes, though, is that you experience missed opportunities, prolonged stress, or even added frustration.

When it comes to your ELT life, I'm guessing your list of wants and needs is easy to make but harder to address. Amidst your everyday life of planning, teaching, grading, and everything in between, it's easier to say, "I'll get to that later."

Yet, what if instead of putting off everything, you tackled just one thing?

Select. Focus. Do. Repeat.

What can help you follow this process? Developing organizational systems that are right for you.

If you're on the fence about whether or not today is your right time, listen in for some insight and inspiration.

Show Notes:

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/63-are-you-waiting-for-the-right-time-to-get-organized

Resources:

Get rid of the frustration and guilt. Create a personal PD plan that will help you work towards your professional goals, all at the right time for you. Get the step-by-step template here >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/personal-pd-plan

Do you wish you had less stress and overwhelm in your ELT life? Download your free resource "Reduce Your ELT Stress" and choose from 10 practical tips to help you on your organizational journey >> https://reducestress.eltresourceroom.com

Connect with Heather:

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Want to get organized but aren't sure where to start? Starting is almost always the hard part. You ask yourself questions like:

• What's it going to be like?

• Am I really capable of doing this?

• Is it even going to work?

• What if I fail?

But you know what? Without trying, you're never going to move beyond the frustration.

Trying. That's one of the five stages of developing an organizational system that is:

1. purposeful,
2. right for you, and
3. a relief giver.

Learn about this and the four other stages in the latest Thrive in ELT podcast episode.

Show Notes:

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/62-5-stages-of-developing-an-organizational-system

Resources:

Do you wish you had less stress and overwhelm in your ELT life? Download your free resource "Reduce Your ELT Stress" and start seeing a change today >> https://reducestress.eltresourceroom.com

Make your professional development personal. Get the template to help >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/personal-pd-plan

Be prepared for when the unexpected happens in your ELT life. Get the teaching contingency plan guide >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/teaching-contingency-plan

Connect with Heather:

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Do you approach your recurring tasks randomly or systematically?

We all have them. Those things that have to get done – over and over again.

From the day-to-day to the occasional, from the simple to the complex. They're a part of what you do as an EAP/ESL teacher.

So… if you have to do them anyway, why not make things a little easier for yourself?

One way to do this is by establishing routines.

If thinking less, reducing your stress, and staying on track in your ELT life sounds like a good plan, then this episode is for you.

(Don't worry. It doesn't mean that your life will become boring. 😉)

Do you wish you had less stress and overwhelm in your ELT life? Download your free resource "Reduce Your ELT Stress" and start seeing a change today >> https://reducestress.eltresourceroom.com

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/61-establishing-routines-for-your-recurring-tasks

Connect with Heather:

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Being prepared takes organization. And being organized takes… reflection?

Sometimes reflection can take a back seat to planning and teaching because it doesn't seem to have the same degree of urgency.

But reflecting before, during, and after events in your ELT life provides you with an opportunity for gaining insight into what works and what doesn't for your teaching situation.

How you reflect and what your reflections tell you can help strengthen your organizational skills.

Similarly, your organizational systems can help you develop stronger reflection skills.

Listen in to find out how.

Get the guide to help you make professional development personal – step by step >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/personal-pd-plan

Do you wish you had less stress and overwhelm in your ELT life? Download your free resource "Reduce Your ELT Stress" and start seeing a change today >> https://reducestress.eltresourceroom.com

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/60-strengthen-your-organizational-skills-by-reflecting

Connect with Heather:

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Have you ever had moments where you're calm, ready for the day, and then all of a sudden… you're not?

A six-letter word is what often results: stress.

The good kind of stress can be motivating and even help you better fulfill your role as a teacher. The not-so-good kind of stress, however, can be overwhelming and cause you to lose focus, making it more difficult instead of easier to accomplish what needs to get done.

In this episode I share six steps you can take to keep your stress levels in check when your best-laid plans go awry.

Get the teaching contingency plan guide >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/teaching-contingency-plan

Do you wish you had less stress and overwhelm in your ELT life? Download your free resource "Reduce Your ELT Stress" and start seeing a change today. >> https://reducestress.eltresourceroom.com

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/59-6-steps-for-when-your-plans-go-awry

Connect with Heather:

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