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ESL talk

A podcast for English teachers, by English teachers.


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  • 6. Knowing English and Owning it!

    28:45||Season 9, Ep. 6
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ESL Talk: Season 9, Episode 6 ๐ŸŽ™๏ธA podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.How do we help our students bridge the gap between knowing English and actually owning it? This week, we're joined by Rachel Tobol, experienced ESL educator and communication coach, for a conversation about confidence, identity, and multilingual language acquisition.Rachel is a dedicated ESL educator who has spent years working directly with non-native speakers to help them unlock their full potential. Her work centers on the intersection of language learning and psychology, helping students navigate the complex emotional hurdles of fluency, overcome language anxiety, and develop an authentic voice in their second language.In this episode, Rachel unpacks why so many advanced learners feel like they are just "borrowing" English, how a student's personal identity connects to their language development, and what ESL teachers can do to foster true confidence in the classroom. It's a thoughtful, practical conversation for any educator working to help students move past the textbooks and truly make the English language their own.๐ŸŽง New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe so you never miss one!๐Ÿš€ Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca๐ŸŒŸ Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast๐Ÿ“ง Want to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com

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  • 5. The Science of Handwriting in Language Learning

    43:41||Season 9, Ep. 5
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ESL Talk โ€” Season 9, Episode 5 ๐ŸŽ™๏ธA podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.Does handwriting still matter in a digital world, especially for multilingual learners? This week, we're joined by Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift, award-winning educational leader and literacy expert, for a conversation about handwriting, literacy, and multilingual language development.Dr. Swift serves as Professional Learning Director at Learning Without Tears, where her work centers on handwriting, structured literacy, and language development. She has led curriculum development for literacy programs across North America, hosts the Literacy Matters podcast, and works closely with educators to bring practical, research-backed strategies into the classroom.In this episode, Dr. Swift unpacks why handwriting remains a powerful tool for literacy and memory, how writing development connects to broader language acquisition, and what ESL teachers should understand about supporting multilingual students whose literacy journeys may not follow a traditional path. It's a thoughtful, practical conversation for any teacher working to support reading, writing, and long-term student success in a multilingual classroom.๐ŸŽง New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe so you never miss one!๐Ÿš€ Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca๐ŸŒŸ Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast๐Ÿ“ง Want to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com
  • 4. Accessibility and Neurodiversity in ESL

    44:48||Season 9, Ep. 4
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ESL Talk: Season 9, Episode 4 ๐ŸŽ™๏ธA podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.How do you design lessons that truly work for every learner in the room? This week, we're joined by Mehdi Hajizadeh โ€” an English instructor with over 25 years of experience across EFL, ESL, ELA, LINC, ESP, EAP, and multi-level EAL programs for a deeply practical conversation about accessibility, neurodiversity, and inclusive lesson design in the ESL classroom.Mehdi brings a wealth of expertise in curriculum development, academic coaching, and Kโ€“12 tutoring, with a career built around tailoring instruction to diverse learner needs across academic, workplace, and community contexts. In this episode, he unpacks how teachers can apply principles of universal design, metacognition, and inclusive practice to rethink the way they structure routines, deliver instructions, design activities, and approach assessment, all without adding more to their already full plates.Whether you're teaching a multi-level class, supporting neurodiverse learners, or simply looking for smarter ways to reach more students, this episode will give you fresh perspectives and actionable strategies you can bring straight to your classroom.Connect with Mehdi: Email: mehdihajizadeh60@gmail.comInstagram/YouTube:www.youtube.com/@EnglishWithMeAndUncleMehdi | www.youtube.com/@mehdihajizadeh7761ย ๐ŸŽง New episodes drop regularly: subscribe so you never miss one!๐Ÿš€ Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca ๐ŸŒŸ Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast ๐Ÿ“ง Want to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com
  • 3. Tools for Online Tutors

    29:09||Season 9, Ep. 3
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ESL Talk โ€” Season 9, Episode 3 ๐ŸŽ™๏ธA podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.Online tutoring has never been more exciting โ€” or more overwhelming. With new tools launching every week, how do you know which ones are actually worth your time? This week, Daniel and Fey dig into the tools they love (and the ones that didn't quite make the cut) before sitting down with a very special guest: Yan Weng, founder of HiClass, a brand-new AI-powered tutoring management system that's making waves in the online tutoring world.Yan is also the creator of Fun Class, a platform built with young learners in mind, and brings a wealth of experience at the intersection of language education and EdTech. In this episode, we explore what makes a great online tutoring tool, how AI is reshaping the way tutors manage and deliver lessons, and what HiClass is doing differently for ESL and EFL educators working online.Whether you're a full-time online tutor or just starting to build your virtual classroom, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest takes on the tools that are shaping the future of English-language tutoring.Get started for free at hiclass.app or get 25% off any paid plan with the Promo code ESLTALK25๐ŸŽง New episodes drop regularly โ€” subscribe so you never miss one!๐Ÿš€ Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca ๐ŸŒŸConnect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast ๐Ÿ“งWant to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com
  • 2. Visual learning in the ESL classroom

    30:27||Season 9, Ep. 2
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ESL Talk โ€” Season 9, Episode 2 ๐ŸŽ™๏ธA podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.What happens when a professional cartoonist steps into the ESL classroom? Pure magic. This week, we're joined by Wayne Logue, a freelance cartoonist of over 35 years, ESL teacher, and the creative mind behind Wordtoons, for a conversation about the power of creativity and visual learning in language education.Wayne has spent decades bringing ideas to life through cartoons, illustrations, and animations for books, posters, and websites. But for the past 12 years, he's been channeling that same creativity into ESL classrooms across Korea, Cambodia, and China.In this episode, Wayne shares how visual learning can transform the way students engage with English, why creativity is an underused superpower in language teaching, and how you can start incorporating illustrations and visual storytelling into your own lessons โ€” no artistic talent required!If you've ever wanted to make your ESL classroom more dynamic, engaging, and memorable, this episode is for you.Connect with Wayne:Website: Wordtoons.netEmail: wayne.logue@gmail.comYoutube: youtube.com/wordtoons๐ŸŽง New episodes drop regularly โ€” subscribe so you never miss one! ๐Ÿš€ Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca ๐ŸŒŸConnect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast ๐Ÿ“ง Want to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com
  • 1. Assessment in the age of AI

    47:38||Season 9, Ep. 1
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ESL Talk is Back! - Season 9, Episode 1: Assessment in the age of AI๐ŸŽ™๏ธSeason 9 kicks off with a conversation you won't want to miss! We're sitting down with Beth Konomoto to tackle one of the most pressing topics in English language education today: assessment in the age of AI.How do you assess students fairly and meaningfully when AI tools are just a click away?Beth brings her expertise and experience to unpack what AI means for ESL and EFL classrooms, how teachers can rethink their assessment approaches, and practical strategies you can start using right now. Whether you're overwhelmed by the pace of change or curious about how to embrace it, this episode will leave you with fresh ideas and renewed confidence in the classroom.This is the kind of honest, practical conversation that ESL teachers everywhere are having, and we're bringing it straight to your ears.๐ŸŽง New episodes drop every Wednesday: Subscribe so you never miss one!๐Ÿš€ Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca๐ŸŒŸ Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast๐Ÿ“ง Want to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com
  • 15. The Best of Season 8: A Celebration of ESL Talk Voices

    53:26||Season 8, Ep. 15
    ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Welcome to ESL Talk! ๐ŸŽ™๏ธA podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In this special season finale of ESL Talk, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey of Season 8. Join us as we revisit the highlights, insights, and inspiring stories shared by our amazing guests throughout the season. From innovative teaching strategies to personal journeys in the world of English language education, this episode is a heartfelt thank-you to our listeners and contributors whoโ€™ve helped us reach 115 episodes and over 270,000 downloads!Tune in as we celebrate another successful season, share behind-the-scenes moments, and give you a sneak peek at whatโ€™s coming next. Whether youโ€™ve been with us from the start or just joined the ESL Talk community, this episode is for you!Listen now and celebrate with us!๐Ÿš€ Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca๐ŸŒŸ Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast๐Ÿ“ง Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com๐Ÿ”” New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!