Share
ESL talk
Tools for Online Tutors
Season 9, Ep. 3
•
🎙️ ESL Talk — Season 9, Episode 3 🎙️
A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.
Online tutoring has never been more exciting — 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 ESLTALK25
🎧 New episodes drop regularly — subscribe so you never miss one!
🚀 Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca 🌟
Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast 📧
Want to be a guest or have a question? Reach us at: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com
More episodes
View all episodes
2. Visual learning in the ESL classroom
30:27||Season 9, Ep. 2🎙️ ESL Talk — Season 9, Episode 2 🎙️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 — 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/wordtoons🎧 New episodes drop regularly — subscribe so you never miss one! 🚀 Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca 🌟Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast 📧 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🎙️ ESL Talk is Back! - Season 9, Episode 1: Assessment in the age of AI🎙️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.🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday: Subscribe so you never miss one!🚀 Listen to all episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 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🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️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 who’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 what’s coming next. Whether you’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!🚀 Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com🔔 New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!
14. Getting Started with Online Teaching
33:32||Season 8, Ep. 14🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In today’s episode, Getting Started with Online Teaching, we’re joined by a very special guest: Crystal Weber, founder of Crystal Clear ESL and the Crystal Clear Expert Educators Club. Crystal brings a wealth of experience and practical advice for teachers who are ready to leap into online education.This episode is designed as a hands-on workshop to help you get started with online teaching. We’ll cover:The essential tools and apps you’ll needHow to choose or create your curriculumSetting up payment systems and managing your businessAnd tips for building a successful online teaching careerPlus, we’ll share how you can join the Crystal Clear Expert Educators Club — a supportive community of teachers — for free!So grab a notebook, get comfortable, and let’s dive into the world of online teaching with Crystal Weber.Connect with Crystal Clear ESL:Crystal Clear ESLJoin the Expert Educators Club🚀 Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com🔔 New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!
13. From Arrival to Belonging: The Canadian Immigrant Journey
40:10||Season 8, Ep. 13🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In this episode, we sit down with John Edward McGraw — Multicultural Workplace Expert, Inclusive Communication Specialist, and founder of Hiyaku (Hee-YA-koo) Coaching, to explore the subtle yet powerful aspects of Canadian culture that often trip up newcomers and even long-term immigrants. Drawing from his SHAPE framework and 15 years of cross-cultural experience in Japan and Canada, John shares insights on how culture invisibly shapes our perceptions, interactions, and sense of belonging. Whether you're new to Canada or a lifelong citizen, this conversation will help you better understand the cultural dynamics at play and how to foster more inclusive communities and workplaces.Connect with John: JohnEdwardMcGraw.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/JohnEdwardMcGrawInstagram: @JohnEdwardMcGrawYouTube: @JohnEdwardMcGrawFacebook: https://facebook.com/JohnEdwardMcGrawX: @TheJohnEMcGraw🚀 Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com🔔 New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!
12. Business English in 2025!
01:22:02||Season 8, Ep. 12🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In this episode of ESL Talk, we sit down with Kate Bogar, a dynamic Business English teacher from Canada, now living in Germany. With a massive social media following and a knack for creating engaging, learner-focused content, Kate shares her insights on how Business English teaching is evolving in 2025. From AI tools to shifting learner needs and global business trends, we explore what it takes to stay relevant and impactful in today’s fast-paced language learning landscape. Whether you're a teacher, learner, or just curious about the future of English in the workplace, this episode is packed with practical tips, inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of Business English education.Connect with Kate on Instagram🚀 Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com🔔 New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!
11. English, Immigration, and the Future of International Study
52:57||Season 8, Ep. 11🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.Join us for an insightful conversation with Celina Hui, CEO and Immigration Consultant at Immi Canada, as we explore the evolving landscape of immigration and international education in North America. With recent policy changes shaking up the system, Celina shares her expert perspective on how these shifts are impacting newcomers, international students, and the institutions that serve them. We’ll also dive into the English language requirements for immigration and study permits, and what aspiring newcomers need to know to prepare. Connect with Immi Canada:WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn🚀 Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com🔔 New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!
10. AI Chatbots and Language Learning
30:32||Season 8, Ep. 10🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In this episode, we dive into the fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence and language education. Our guest, Nisha Sriganesh, a Doctoral Candidate at Ontario Tech University and a seasoned language teacher, shares her research and classroom experiences with AI chatbots in ESL settings. We explore how these tools are reshaping the way learners engage with language, the opportunities and challenges they present, and what the future might hold for AI-assisted language learning. Whether you're an educator, researcher, or curious learner, this conversation offers valuable insights into the evolving role of technology in language education.Connect with Nisha on LinkedIn.🚀 Listen to 100+ more incredible episodes at esltalk.ca🌟 Connect with us on Instagram: @esltalkpodcast📧 Got questions? Or would you like to be a guest? Send an email to: esltalkpodcast@gmail.com🔔 New episodes drop regularly. Don't forget to subscribe as we continue our English teaching journey together!