How to English TEFL Podcast

In this episode, Gav and Em tackle the real questions TEFL teachers ask every day:
What exactly is a student’s book supposed to do?

Is the teacher’s book worth using — or is it overwhelming?

How do you fix confusing coursebook tasks?

Do students actually learn grammar from lessons, or somewhere else entirely?

Why do learners forget grammar rules even after you’ve taught them?

Where does real learning happen — in the book, in conversation, or online?

With practical examples, honest stories, and classroom‑tested hacks, this episode helps teachers rethink how they plan, how they use materials, and how they support learners in a more natural, intuitive way.
Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod
Visit our homepage: https://howtoenglishpod.wordpress.com/Timestamps
00:00 – How do TEFL teachers use quiet weeks to get organised?
01:20 – What are TEFL learners actually looking for in a coursebook?
03:00 – What is a student’s book, and how does it support learning?
05:00 – Why do coursebooks teach through topics instead of grammar labels?
06:00 – What’s inside a teacher’s book, and why is it so overwhelming?
09:00 – Should teachers rely on the teacher’s book or trust their instincts?
16:00 – What do you do when a teacher’s book activity is badly designed?
20:00 – How do you adapt confusing listening tasks for real learners?
24:00 – Does teaching grammar actually work, or do students forget it anyway?
30:00 – Where does learning really happen — and how do teachers reinforce it?

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

Will AI replace English teachers? What is the future of TEFL in a world of AI language-learning apps, instant translation and artificial intelligence tutors?
In this episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we explore how AI is changing English language learning and ask what human TEFL teachers can offer that technology can’t. We also share practical teaching ideas for giving clear classroom instructions, using transcripts to improve English, and giving advice to fellow teachers without sounding critical.
What is a TEFL teacher?
A TEFL teacher teaches English as a foreign language to people whose first language is not English. Students may learn English for work, travel, relationships, entertainment or simply because they enjoy the language.
Will AI replace English teachers?Gav thinks AI could eventually replace many human teaching roles, while Em believes future generations may place greater value on real human interaction. We discuss AI teachers, language-learning apps, automated feedback and why students might—or might not—continue choosing human teachers.
How can AI help English learners?AI can help learners translate and summarise texts, practise conversations, receive feedback and generate transcripts. Used effectively, these tools can support independent English study alongside lessons with a teacher.
How should teachers give clear classroom instructions?
Keep instructions slow, clear and staged. Introduce the topic, explain the task before handing out materials, break complicated activities into smaller steps and check that students understand what they need to do before they begin.
How can transcripts help students learn English?
Transcripts can help learners notice vocabulary, grammar and useful phrases that they may have missed while listening. They can also be used for pronunciation practice, reading activities, language analysis and reviewing difficult sections of authentic spoken English.
Should experienced teachers give advice to other teachers?
Sometimes—but how the advice is phrased matters. We discuss when feedback is useful, when teachers may need to learn through experience, and how supportive phrases such as “That happened to me too” can be more helpful than simply pointing out what went wrong.
In this episode:
• What TEFL means and what TEFL teachers do
• AI and the future of English language teaching
• Human teachers vs AI teachers
• How students can use AI to learn English
• How to give effective classroom instructions
• Concept-checking and setting up activities
• Using transcripts for listening, vocabulary and grammar
• Pronunciation practice with transcripts
• Giving constructive advice to other teachers
• Common TEFL teaching challenges
Whether you’re an English learner, TEFL teacher, ESL/EFL teacher or someone interested in AI and education, this episode looks at how technology is changing language learning—and where human teachers might fit into its future.
Timestamps00:00 – 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

#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

How can English teachers make lessons more efficient? When should you correct a student’s mistakes? And what do you say when a learner responds, “But you understand me, though?”
In this episode, Gav and Em explore practical TEFL and English teaching questions from the classroom. We discuss maximizing valuable teaching time, increasing student participation, lesson planning (and whether not planning could ever be more efficient!), and knowing when subtle language mistakes need to be challenged.
We look at real examples of common English learner errors, including the important difference between “I’m not interested” and “I’m not interesting,” and discuss why small mistakes can completely change the meaning of a conversation.
We also tackle direct translations and expressions that sound natural to learners but not necessarily to advanced English speakers, such as “My neck is stuck,” “I do Home Office,” and calling a mobile phone a “handy.” What should an English teacher do when they understand the learner perfectly, but someone outside the classroom might not?
Finally, Gav and Em compare how they keep track of their teaching hours: Em’s decidedly analogue paper system versus Gav’s new digital Google Sheets approach.
In this episode:
• How to improve efficiency in English lessons• Maximizing student talking time and participation
• How much lesson planning is really necessary?• When English teachers should correct student errors
• “But you understand me!” — why correction still matters• Interested vs interesting
• Common English mistakes caused by direct translation• Fossilized errors in English learning
• How teachers can explain unnatural English expressions• Tracking teaching hours: paper vs digital
How do you deal with repeated mistakes in your English lessons? And teachers — how do you keep track of your teaching hours? Let us know in the comments.
How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em — a podcast about teaching and learning English as a foreign language.
#TEFL #EnglishTeaching #LearnEnglish #EnglishTeacher #TeachingEnglish #EnglishLearning #ESL #EFL #ESLteacher #CELTA #EnglishTeacher #TEFLPodcastTimestamps
00:00 – Welcome back to How To English (TEFL teacher intro)
01:59 – Teaching efficiency: quick wins for busy TEFL teachers
05:24 – Em’s practical upgrades for TEFL & ESL classrooms
10:24 – Similar words teachers should highlight (classroom examples)
13:55 – Confusing English words: how to teach them clearly
15:53 – “But you understand me though” — correcting typical learner errors
22:06 – Gav’s translation dilemma (false friends in real lessons)
24:24 – More false friends English learners struggle with
26:33 – Teacher admin: how to track your teaching hours efficiently
31:11 – Final thoughts & a surprising TEFL classroom moment

What are the ingredients of a great English lesson? In this episode of How to English TEFL Pod, Gav and Em cook up their perfect lesson recipe — with interesting content, a pinch of challenge, plenty of practice and, of course, a sprinkling of homework.
Along the way, they ask what actually makes a good homework task, why taking a holiday can help teachers hear their students with fresh ears, and what to do when learners just don’t get a grammar point. Gav shares a tricky experience teaching wish, while Em explores the surprisingly complicated world of online lesson invitations, time zones and accidentally deleting an entire series of classes.
There’s also a zombie apocalypse, an almost endless supply of teaching materials, long articles, cake metaphors and plenty of the usual TEFL chat.
Whether you’re an English teacher or learner, grab yourself a slice and enjoy the episode! 🍰
👉 Support our podcast https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod

Timestamps

00:00 – 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 metaphor
38:20 – Outro