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by Gav and Em
Welcome to a teaching and learning English podcast. Meet Gav & Em, two experienced teachers, discussing the most important topics for both teachers and students. Each week they'll cover teaching techniques and learning tips. Whether you're up at the board, or behind the desk, you'll get something from How To English TEFL Podcast. Show your support here: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod
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🎙️ S07E13 — Build Real Speaking Confidence with Helen von Dadelszen | TEFL Tips, Communication Skills & Classroom CourageIn this episode of How to English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em, we welcome communication coach, vocal trainer, and author Helen von Dadelszen, who shares practical, science‑backed strategies for speaking with confidence — whether you’re a teacher, learner, or anyone who wants to communicate more clearly. Helen breaks down the myth of “I’ll speak when I feel confident” and shows how confidence is built through action, not something you wait for. You’ll learn how to manage nerves, slow your breathing, shift your focus, and create a classroom environment where students feel brave enough to speak. Perfect for TEFL teachers, English learners, public speakers, and anyone who wants to feel calmer, clearer, and more courageous. Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 Meet Helen: Why Confidence Isn't What You Think02:01 The Biggest Myth About Confidence05:11 3 Simple Ways to Calm Your Nerves07:25 What Helen's Advice Changed for Us10:03 Why You Should Act Before You Feel Ready11:53 The Breathing Trick That Actually Helps14:02 Why Speaking Slower Makes You Sound More Confident16:23 Stop Thinking About Yourself19:47 How Great Teachers Build Student Confidence24:43 How English Learners Became More Confident26:52 Why English-Only Lessons Really Work27:35 Final Thoughts & Thanks for Listening
This week on How to English TEFL Pod, Gav & Em break down what TEFL teachers really do, how students can use AI to boost learning, and whether human teachers still have a future in an AI‑driven world. Em unpacks how she gives crystal‑clear instructions, Gav explains why transcripts are a game‑changer, and together they tackle the delicate art of giving advice to fellow teachers.If you enjoy the show and want to support them, you can buy them a brew at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod.#TEFL #ESLTeaching #EnglishTeachers #TeachingTips #CELTA #LanguageLearning #TeacherLife #PodcastForTeachers #AITeacherTimestamps00:00 – What a TEFL teacher actually is03:01 – Will AI replace human teachers?06:49 – Future generations: tech backlash or tech dependence?11:01 – Em’s method: how to give perfect classroom instructions17:14 – Why transcripts transform student progress21:04 – Using the How To English transcription corpus22:13 – The delicate art of giving advice to fellow teachers28:23 – Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod
This week on How To English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em dive into classroom quirks, practical teaching tips, and real‑life language moments — perfect for TEFL teachers, ESL instructors, and CELTA trainees looking to sharpen their classroom practice.They unpack why students make typical errors, how teachers sometimes have to “perform”, and the tiny decisions that make lessons smoother. You’ll hear Em’s efficiency hacks, Gav’s linguistic rabbit holes, and a few classic “Did they really just say that?” moments.What you’ll learn in this episode:- How to spot and correct subtle student mistakes - TEFL efficiency tricks you can use tomorrow - Real ESL classroom stories and teacher dilemmas - False friends, confusing words, and translation issues - Practical admin tips for managing teaching hours Hosted by Gav & Em — TEFL teachers with years of classroom experience, sharing honest stories, teacher‑friendly advice, and CELTA‑friendly insights every week.If you enjoy the show and want to support their work, you can buy them a coffee (or tea) at: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Welcome back to How To English (TEFL teacher intro)01:59 – Teaching efficiency: quick wins for busy TEFL teachers05:24 – Em’s practical upgrades for TEFL & ESL classrooms10:24 – Similar words teachers should highlight (classroom examples)13:55 – Confusing English words: how to teach them clearly15:53 – “But you understand me though” — correcting typical learner errors22:06 – Gav’s translation dilemma (false friends in real lessons)24:24 – More false friends English learners struggle with26:33 – Teacher admin: how to track your teaching hours efficiently31:11 – Final thoughts & a surprising TEFL classroom momentHashtags#TEFL #ESLteacher #CELTA #EnglishTeaching #TEFLPodcast
Struggling with TEFL homework ideas, online teaching admin, or tricky grammar like wish? In this episode of How to English with Gav & Em, we break down real teaching challenges, share practical tips, and have a bit of fun along the way.🚀What you’ll learn in this episode:How to create engaging homework tasks (that students actually do!)Why holidays matter for teachers—and how they reset your teaching brainThe reality of freelance TEFL life vs contracted teachingHow to handle online lesson scheduling, invites & time zonesWhat to do when students just don’t get itA clear explanation of tricky "wish" grammar (wish vs would vs past regret)Plus… a zombie apocalypse teaching scenario and the ultimate lesson “cake” formulaPerfect for TEFL teachers, ESL teachers, and English learners looking for practical advice, classroom strategies, and relatable teaching stories.👉 Support our podcast https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – TEFL podcast intro 02:08 – What makes a great homework task? 04:45 – Fun, interesting & relevant homework ideas 09:28 – TEFL holidays & freelance lifestyle 13:32 – Returning to teaching after a break 16:12 – Zombie apocalypse teaching scenario 19:03 – Online teaching invites & Issues 26:00 – When students don’t understand "Wish"33:10 – Lesson cake metaphor38:20 – Outro
This week on Gav & Em’s How to English TEFL Pod, we take a nostalgic wander through the weird, wonderful, and occasionally chaotic world of TEFL life! ✈️📚 Gav puts Em on the spot with a not-quite-true-or-false quiz that somehow turns into stories about teaching in bathrooms, cupboards, art galleries, and even gas refineries (yes, really). We chat about adorable (and slightly uncooperative) student pets 🐱, mega-long commutes, and the classroom games that got way too competitive… with adults 😅. Then things get a bit more reflective as we dig into our CELTA experiences—what stuck, what annoyed us, and how it’s shaped the teachers we are today. We talk about classroom dynamics, teacher “fingerprints” on students, first impressions (and first-lesson nerves!), and why being human in front of your class might just be your biggest strength.As always, it’s relaxed, honest, and packed with teaching insights you’ll definitely recognise—whether you’re in the classroom or learning in one.☕ If you enjoy the show, you can support Gav & Em (and keep the coffee flowing!) at 👉 ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodResourcesQuiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=proOvlY-WKk⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro with TEFL nostalgia03:17 – Gav’s “true or false” quiz begins 😄03:47 – Weirdest places we’ve taught English04:40 – Cutest (and strangest) student pets06:02 – Longest commutes & travel stories07:09 – Funny things students have called us08:02 – Essential TEFL survival items ☕08:32 – When classroom games get too competitive11:02 – CELTA reflections: love it or hate it?17:05 – Teaching style, classroom vibe & being approachable18:22 – Can you spot another teacher’s influence?23:18 – Bad habits students bring with them25:24 – First lessons, pressure & first impressions26:59 – Surviving the “autopilot” lesson blur31:06 – Being human, making mistakes & wrapping up
Season 7, Episode 8 is packed with spontaneous teaching ideas, lesson lead-ins, online classroom routines, creative listening tasks, and the eternal TEFL struggle of being stuck indoors when the sun is shining. Gav and Em discuss how they start lessons, ways to avoid classroom monotony, using real-world materials in class, and the freedom TEFL teachers have to experiment and improvise. There’s also a brilliant live email-writing activity, an impromptu Jackie Chan listening lesson, favourite teaching websites, and a very important discussion about forks. Support the pod and fuel the tea and coffee fund at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodResources:Jackie Chan interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0IWSyc5AQQWikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org/BBC learning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/Google images: https://images.google.com/https://test-english.com/Timestamps:00:00 – Intro and what’s coming up in this episode02:07 – How Gav and Em start the first five minutes of a lesson05:39 – Greeting students and avoiding classroom monotony10:17 – Being stuck inside teaching when the weather is beautiful14:03 – The creative freedom of TEFL teaching16:01 – Gav’s spontaneous live email-writing lesson21:59 – Em’s improvised Jackie Chan listening activity26:01 – Favourite websites to use during lessons29:19 – Safe searching, grammar websites, and online teaching tools32:11 – “Put a fork in me, I’m done” and outro banter
In this episode, Gav and Em dive into the realities of teaching English as a foreign language. Exploring their strengths and weaknesses as teachers, how to handle distracted students, and the feelings of starting again with brand-new learners. They also discuss praise in the classroom, and give a well-deserved shout-out to a loyal listener and follower. Whether you're teaching, learning, or just curious about TEFL life, there’s plenty here to reflect on and laugh about. ☕ Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Intro & episode overview01:28 – Strengths and weaknesses as TEFL teachers09:04 – Exploring teaching weaknesses (and honesty time)20:21 – How to deal with distracted students24:27 – Starting from scratch with new students27:23 – Recognising student progress & using praise32:10 – Listener shout-out & teaching reflections33:11 – Outro & support the pod
Why do students really come to English classes, and what should teachers do about it? In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em dig into the realities of the classroom: student motivation, managing turn‑taking, dealing with similar (or identical!) student names, and knowing when teachers should step back and let students do the talking. They also share: practical strategies for balancing TTT vs STT, how to handle awkward silences and dominant speakers, real examples of using AI in lesson planning, and a cautionary tale about why you should always check your materials before class… Grab a coffee (or tea), settle in, and join Gav and Em for an honest, practical conversation about what actually happens when you’re teaching English — and why it matters. ☕ Support the podcast: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodQuiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpSEdFEwCS0Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to How to English TEFL01:50 – Why do students come to English classes?05:24 – Different motivations in the same group07:56 – When students have the same (or similar) names10:14 – What to do when you say the wrong name12:49 – Turn-taking: order, randomness, and balance15:44 – Encouraging quieter students to speak16:22 – Awkward silences and “no questions”22:01 – When students ask the teacher questions23:15 – TTT vs STT: how much should teachers talk?26:18 – Using AI in lesson planning30:34 – Why you should always check your materials
Welcome to a teaching and learning English podcast. Meet Gav & Em, two experienced teachers, discussing the most important topics for both teachers and students. Each week they'll cover teaching techniques and learning tips. Whether you're up at the board, or behind the desk, you'll get something from How To English TEFL Podcast. Show your support here: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod
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