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Want to teach more reactively and in line with what SLA research says? Join LYE founders Leo, Mike, and Andrew for monthly long-form interviews with language acquisition experts so you can throw that textbook away. Whether you’re building your own business, working for a school, or just love learning about trends in language teaching, this is your bridge between the research lab and practical classroom.
Episodes
Tuesday Jun 18, 2019
Tuesday Jun 18, 2019
In this episode, Leo chats with Dr. Patsy Lightbown, PhD. Dr. Lightbown has been in ELT for over forty years, and her research has focused on the teaching and learning of second and foreign languages in classroom contexts.
Professor Lightbown is co-author of How Languages Are Learned, one of - if not the - most renowned books in the industry. There are now 4 editions in the award-winning series.
Lightbown also wrote Focus on Content-based Language Teaching and numerous articles, many of which can be found in Learning a Second Language Classroom.
She is currently a distinguished Professor Emerita at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and continues her work as a writer, editor, consultant, teacher, adviser, policy maker, conference presenter, and curriculum developer in our field.
Her complete bio can be seen here.
In this episode, Dr. Lightbown talks to Leo about How Languages are Learned, and how that continues to shape second language teaching twenty years after being published. They also discuss:
- second language acquisition and if there is a "best way"
- the strengths and weaknesses of Paul Nation's Four Strands of Language Acquisition;
- the micro elements of teaching and learning;
- the role of textbooks;
- Dr. Lightbown's teaching experience and inspiring career.
We thank Dr. Lightbown for her generous time and endless expertise. We invite her back any time.
As always, thank you for listening. If you like the show, consider subscribing on Spotify, iTunes, or Google Podcasts and sharing it with a friend. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Contact Dr. Lightbown:
Email: patsy.lightbown@verizon.net
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
Sunday Jun 09, 2019
Sunday Jun 09, 2019
LYE's Leo and Andrew jumped across the atlantic recently to attend the annual ELT conference at International House, Barcelona. Teacher Talking Time is happy to present a mini series chronicling their travels, the conference, and all teaching related (and some non-teaching related) takeaways from the journey.
The final installment looks at Scott Thornbury's plenary on a performance-based approach to language teaching. Mike, Leo, and Andrew ponder the differences between competence and performance, or, as Chomsky says, the difference between "knowing" about a language and the ability to put it in to use. The guys then discuss if it's important for teachers to distinguish between the two, and what impact that has - or should have - on the classroom. They also wonder why many curriculum and syllabi do not focus much on performance (as Thornbury defines it) and what the implications of that are.
This episode also includes some interviews with teachers and soundbites of speakers from the International House Conference. It ends with the boys answering rapid fire questions on re-thinking the use of performance in the classroom and perhaps why the industry has strayed slightly - and, of course, how to get back on track.
As always, thank you for listening. If you like the show, consider subscribing on Spotify, iTunes, or Google Podcasts and sharing it with a friend. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Show Notes:
What's the difference between competence and performance? - 5:30
Chomsky's Distinction between competence and performance - 11:50
Errors: Competence or Performance? - 15:00
Performance, Syllabi, and Marketing - 22:30
Interview with teachers from Ukraine - 32:40
What makes a good production stage? - 40:00
Adding psychological stress to the classroom - 43:30
Rapid Fire Questions - 52:05
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
Monday May 20, 2019
Monday May 20, 2019
In this episode, Leo chats with teacher and teacher trainer Neil McCutcheon. Neil lives in Strasbourg, France and is the head of CELTA and DELTA training at the ELT Hub in both Strasbourg and Leon. He began teaching in 1991 and has taught in Ghana, Hungary, the UK, and now in France. His main interests are teacher education and developing materials that reflect what we know about second language acquisition.
On this note, one of Neil's areas of focus is TBLT: Task-based Language Teaching, sometimes referred to as Task-based Learning. He strongly believes this approach is one of the most effective in terms of language acquisition, and he encourages more teachers and programs to adopt it. In this episode, he sits down with Leo about the approach, how it works, why it is effective, and why he thinks many teachers are apprehensive about implementing it in their classrooms.
Neil has also recently published a book on TBLT, co-authored by Neil Anderson, called "Activities For Task-Based Learning." It's a fantastic book on TBLT, not only because it outlines the approach and activities used therein, but it allows novice teachers to use it includes language that is likely to emerge from each proposed task - a common apprehension among instructors with low levels of language awareness, Neil explains.
Pick up your copy on Amazon today.
Neil McCutcheon and Neil Anderson also founded an enterprise called "Fluency First ELT" where they believe that learning is prompted by the need to communicate, and that out of fluency comes accuracy.
As always, thank you for listening. If you like the show, consider subscribing on Spotify, iTunes, or Google Podcasts and sharing it with a friend. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Contact Neil:
Email: neil.mccutcheon@theelthub.com
On Twitter: @NeilJMcCutcheon
Website: Fluencyfirstelt.com
Show Notes:
Challenges in Teacher Training - 6:00
Most don't Identify TBLT in Training Courses - 16:00
Experienced Teachers too Reluctant to Change - 20:00
Value of Tasks and "deep end" teaching - 22:00
Focus on Form vs Focus on Forms vs Focus on Meaning - 32:00
Why PPP Doesn't Work - 35:00
Neil's book motivation - 38:00
Tips for Implementing TBLT in your classroom - 48:30
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
Sunday May 05, 2019
Sunday May 05, 2019
In this episode, Mike, Leo, and Andrew discuss the theme of a recent Learn YOUR English workshop: Language Awareness. What is Language Awareness? Does it matter? Is it only important for teachers? For students? Does it actually improve proficiency? Do conventional textbooks advocate language awareness and choices or only "McNuggets"? Are there drawbacks to having a high level of language awareness? How can teachers increase their language awareness?
The boys tackle all of these questions and more. As always, they ask the listeners to ponder the question "why do we do what we do?" There are many approaches to teaching language, but to what extent can those approaches be implemented without language awareness?
As always, thank you for listening. If you like the show, consider subscribing in Spotify or on iTunes and sharing the podcast with a friend. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Show Notes:
What is Language Awareness and how does it apply to teachers: Beginning - 24:30
Language Awareness for students: 32:00
Discussion on Josh Waitzkin's book The Art of Learning: 33:30
Four benefits of Language Awareness for students: 36:30
Limitation of Language Awareness: 37:40
Classroom tasks to apply Language Awareness: 41:30
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
LYE's Leo and Andrew jumped across the atlantic recently to attend the annual ELT conference at International House, Barcelona. Teacher Talking Time is happy to present a mini series chronicling their travels, the conference, and all teaching related (and some non-teaching related) takeaways from the journey.
This is part III, and is dedicated to a talk by Dr. Angi Malderez. Malderez is an Honorary Senior Fellow of the School of Education, the University of Leeds, and her bio and many works can be seen here. Her research area is mostly in the practices of supporting teacher learning.
At the IH Conference in Barcelona, she spoke about the need for teacher's to be able to respond in real time to what is happening in the classroom. She highlighted that this is something that needs to be developed, and is much more difficult than it seems. Maldarez identified common "blinkers" and touched on the difference between observing and noticing, and how teachers very rarely give "feedback" in the conventional sense.
In this episode, Mike, Andrew, and Leo sit down to discuss the topic and how we as teachers can learn to apply it in our classrooms. Dr. Malderez was also kind enough to sit down with us to give us a 1-1 interview (14:35). Many thanks to Angi for her generous time!
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Sunday Mar 31, 2019
Sunday Mar 31, 2019
In this episode, Andrew talks to language teacher and advocate Aileen Bowe. Aileen is from Ireland and advocates for fairness and regulation in the ELT industry. As a result of her work with ELT Advocacy and Manchester Advocacy, she has seen legislation pass which will provide language teachers in Ireland and the UK with the working conditions they have long been waiting for. Aileen shares her stories of below-average working conditions, job loss, and questions why the industry has so few regulations globally. Her message? If teachers work together, they can achieve not only what they want, but what they deserve.
Contact Aileen:
Email: eltmanchester@protonmail.com
Twitter: @eltmanchester; @eltadvocacy
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Sunday Mar 17, 2019
Sunday Mar 17, 2019
In this episode, Andrew chats with the extremely talented Barbara Mendes. Barbara has been in the ELT industry for over 20 years and wears many hats: teacher, teacher trainer, language coach, small business founder, and, currently, the Director or Studies at the International Language Academy of Canada.
Andrew asks Barbara about her experience, how she got started in the industry, about the characteristics she looks for when hiring new teachers, and how she is trying to impart a new mindset when it comes to professional development at ILAC.
She has also started a new venture with three colleagues called Vertices Language Coaching. Together, they are offering language and proofreading services for students and educational opportunities for teachers.
Contact Barbara:
Email: barbara.celt@gmail.com or b.mendes@ilac.com
Social Media:
- Instagram - @babimendes; @vertices.team; @ilac_canada
International Language Academy of Canada
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
Sunday Mar 03, 2019
Sunday Mar 03, 2019
LYE's Leo and Andrew jumped across the atlantic recently to attend the annual ELT conference at International House, Barcelona. Teacher Talking Time is happy to present a mini series chronicling their travels, the conference, and all teaching related (and some non-teaching related) takeaways from the journey.
Part II is a special edition of Teacher Talking Time and is dedicated to those who love learning all over the world. In this episode, Andrew and Leo continue their travels and conduct three separate interviews, focusing on the differences and challenges in learning in different parts of the world. The first (8:23) tackles Germany and German; in the second (18:00), the boys participate in a high school project in Barcelona, and, finally, they sit down with good friends Claudia and Victor to dive into the Catalan-Spanish debate (33:05).
Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
LYE's Leo and Andrew jumped across the atlantic recently to attend the annual ELT conference at International House, Barcelona. Teacher Talking Time is happy to present a mini series chronicling their travels, the conference, and all teaching related (and some non-teaching related) takeaways from the journey.
In Part I, we hear from them at different stages of their trip as they discuss their challenges with jetlag, settling into Spanish culture, and what they are anticipating from the conference. Mike also makes an appearance as he sits down with Andrew to go over the plenary talks from Day 1 of IHBCNELT 19.
Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019
In this episode, Andrew sits down with teacher, author, and advocate Marek Kiczkowiak. They talk about the long-standing bias against non-native speaker teachers in the English training industry. As Marek explains, it has been a significant problem for a long time, but it doesn't need to be. Through his organization - TEFL Equity Advocates - and his Academy where he runs his own courses for tackling the stigma - TEFL Equity Academy - Marek has made quite a positive impact. And he's only just getting started.
On that note, he has also co-authored a book with Rob Lowe, called Teaching English as a Lingua Franca: A Journey From EFL to ELF. In the book, they look at ways to encourage our classrooms, in every sense, to be more inclusive of English as a global language instead of only through the lense of native speakers or from the perspective of nations that speak English natively.
Contact Marek:
Email: info@teflequityadvocates.com
Teaching English as a Lingua Franca: A Journey From EFL to ELF is available on Amazon and at Klett-sprachan.de
*Get a free 30-day trial with all new accounts with TEFL Equity Academy!
If you like the show, we have a Tip Jar on our website for people looking to help with the creation of our show.
For more info on what we do at LYE, check out:
Our catalog of online courses on Thinkific
Or shoot us an email: info@learnyourenglish.com