Real Talk in ELT
144 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago -Real Talk in ELT is a podcast for educators where Kelly and her guests discuss real topics, information, and inspirational anecdotes. She’ll address the real topics for English language teachers like how to balance everything, how to find humor in the insanity of teaching, how to deal with conflict inside and outside of your classroom, how to keep up with new trends, and of course how to celebrate everyday successes. The goal is to talk about real issues and give some suggestions on how to stay productive, knowledgeable, and motivated for your English language learners. Tackle it all here on Real Talk in ELT.
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Episodes
Lesson Planning - Know the basics to break the rules
February 21, 2024 13:48 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Activity Suggestion Series: Story Chains
February 17, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
The Teaching Plateau
February 13, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Needs Analysis - First Things First
February 10, 2024 11:00 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Classroom Management
February 06, 2024 21:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
2024... Here we go!
February 06, 2024 17:37 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
10 new teacher challenges in ELT
December 23, 2023 11:02 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
PPP Framework: Pros and Cons
December 16, 2023 12:00 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Storytelling in Business English
December 09, 2023 11:53 - 20 minutes - 19 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Storytelling
December 09, 2023 11:46 - 23 minutes - 22 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
A lesson on swearing... sure, why not?
June 24, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBThank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Contextualizing and Clarifying Language
June 17, 2023 11:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBAs English language teachers, we know how challenging it can be for our students to learn and use new language. One effective way to help them understand and remember these language items is by providing them with a clear context and clarification. In this episode, I explore the reasons why contextualizing and clarifying language is crucial for successful language learning. I discuss how context helps students make connections between words and their meanings, and how clarification can cle...
Interview with Stephanie Su : Teaching in China, Korea, and Vietnam
June 10, 2023 11:00 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBIn this episode, I finally got in touch with Stephanie Su after being introduced through a mutual friend. She's recently finished her Delta M2 in Turkey and I wanted to pick her brain about the variety of contexts she's had experience in. Bio: Stephanie comes from the United States and has been working in education in Asia for over 10 years. She recently completed her Delta in Istanbul, Turkey, and has been working in academic management in Vietnam since 2018. Thank for watching and listen...
Interview with Michael Swan
May 27, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBIn this episode, it was my absolute honor to sit with Michael Swan and pick his brain about some of the points he raised in his article Applied linguistics: A consumer's view (2018). Here's a quick bio if you aren't familiar with Mr. Swan:Michael Swan is a writer specializing in English Language teaching and reference materials. His many publications include Practical English Usage (OUP), the Cambridge English Course series (with Catherine Walter), and, also with Catherine Walter, the Oxfor...
Can Twee really cut down on materials development time? Pt 4: Speaking
May 20, 2023 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBIn this four-part video podcast series, I explore the Twee app and its features to help English language teachers cut down on materials development time. Using authentic materials from YouTube and an online newspaper, I demonstrate how to use the app's reading, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and speaking features while analyzing the app's suggested activities. Join me as I dive into each feature and show you how to create engaging and effective lessons for your students. #TweeApp #ESL #Langu...
Can Twee really cut down on materials development time? Pt 3: Writing, Grammar, & Listening
May 19, 2023 11:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBIn this four-part video podcast series, I explore the Twee app and its features to help English language teachers cut down on materials development time. Using authentic materials from YouTube and an online newspaper, I demonstrate how to use the app's reading, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and speaking features while analyzing the app's suggested activities. Join me as I dive into each feature and show you how to create engaging and effective lessons for your students. #TweeApp #ESL #Langu...
Can Twee really cut down on materials development time? Pt 2: Vocabulary
May 18, 2023 11:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this four-part video podcast series, I explore the Twee app and its features to help English language teachers cut down on materials development time. Using authentic materials from YouTube and an online newspaper, I demonstrate how to use the app's reading, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and speaking features while analyzing the app's suggested activities. Join me as I dive into each feature and show you how to create engaging and effective lessons for your students. #TweeApp #ESL #Langu...
Can Twee really cut down on my materials development time? Series Part 1: Reading
May 15, 2023 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBIn this four-part video podcast series, I explore the Twee app and its features to help English language teachers cut down on materials development time. Using authentic materials from YouTube and an online newspaper, I demonstrate how to use the app's reading, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and speaking features while analyzing the app's suggested activities. Join me as I dive into each feature and show you how to create engaging and effective lessons for your students. #TweeApp #ESL #Langua...
English Teachers vs English Acquisition Mentors
May 13, 2023 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBIn this episode, I am stirring the pot again... nothing new. It's starts out with a reflection from my mentoring sessions and then dives into critically looking at some ads for "English Acquisition Mentors". I bet you can already feel my eyes rolling at the advertisement. Have a listen as I read word for word the empty promises and remark. Thank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypen...
Why discounts aren't always motivating: A discussion on incentives
May 08, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBIn this episode, I dive into the topic of incentives and motivation, which was inspired by an interview I listened to with a behavioral economist. As an English teacher, I know how important it is to keep our students motivated, and I'm excited to share some insights from this different perspective. So, if you're looking for some fresh ideas to keep your students engaged and motivated while not having to give monetary discounts, be sure to check out this episode! Thank for watching and li...
Interview with Dorothy Zemach - Graded Readers: how to get students to fall in love with the stories
May 06, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 76.8 MBEnglish teachers, are you looking for fresh ideas to engage your students in reading? Check out my latest podcast episode featuring an interview with Dorothy Zemach, a graded reader editor and publisher! Dorothy and I discuss how she creates her own unique style of graded reader books, and why she believes it's important for learners to connect with the story in order to develop a love of reading. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting out, you won't want to miss this insightfu...
Are ELT professionals normalizing course consumption?
May 01, 2023 11:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MBIn the latest episode of Real Talk in ELT, I'm tackling a topic that's near and dear to every English teacher's heart: professional development courses. Are we guilty of normalizing course consumption, constantly chasing after the latest training and certification without ever truly implementing what we've learned? Join me as I discuss the importance of reflection and practical application in professional development, and explore ways to create lasting change in our teaching practices. Tha...
Interview with Thiago Silva - English in the Brazilian Air Force
April 29, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBIn this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Thiago Silva and pick his brain about working in the Brazilian Air Force and teaching English to air traffic controllers/pilots. Thiago gave me some great insights in the area of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), have a listen! Thiago Silva is a former air traffic controller and has almost 20 years’ experience as a teacher. He started off his teaching career as a Maths teacher, but transitioned to English in 2013. Holds the CELTA,...
Engaging Follow-Up Tasks for Reading Comprehension
April 24, 2023 11:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBReading comprehension is an important aspect of English language learning, and it's crucial to ensure that students are able to not only understand what they've read but also retain and apply the information. One effective way to achieve this is by incorporating engaging follow-up tasks into your English language lessons. In this episode, I explore various follow-up tasks that can be used to extend reading comprehension skills in your students. Thank for watching and listening! Be sure to ...
Interview with Rob Howard - Can you really teach Business English to lower levels?
April 22, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBIn this episode, I sat with Rob Howard to tackle the controversial question: Can we teach Business English to lower level learners? I tried my best to play devil's advocate in this discussion so we could really get down to details and not be too biased from our own experience. Rob Howard is the owner of Online Language Center and Business Language Training Institute and founder of EFLtalks. He is a teacher, writer and frequent worldwide speaker and trainer on Business English, Teacher Dev...
Developing Reading Sub-Skills in English Language Lessons
April 17, 2023 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MBReading is a fundamental skill in English language learning, but it's not enough for students to simply decode the words on the page. To truly comprehend what they're reading, students need to develop a variety of sub-skills, such as skimming, scanning, inferring, etc. In this episode, I explore the different sub-skills involved in reading comprehension and how to effectively teach them in your English language lessons. I also share some practical activities and techniques that you can use ...
Interview with Henrique Antunis - Running a business and Building teachers' skills
April 15, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBIn this episode, I sat down with Henrique Antunis from Spark Education. He gives us a no holds bar view of how he treats (and pays) his teachers, builds his courses, his perspective of CPD, and much more! Henrique Antunis has been teaching English for 15 years. He holds a degree in Advertising, Theatre and is currently studying Pedagogy. He also holds the Train the Trainer, CPE and the CELTA. Henrique has been an edupreneur since the pandemic hit and has now moved from a single English te...
Change my mind: It's acceptable to refer to students as clients.
April 10, 2023 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBHey guys, in my latest episode, I talk about why I refer to my students as "clients" even though it has been criticized by a colleague. Tune in to find out why I use the term "clients" and how it has helped me create stronger connections with my students. I discuss my business-oriented teaching approach, and how I provide differentiated services as a consultant. If you're curious about my reasons for using the term "clients" instead of "students," be sure to tune in and learn more. #English...
Interview with Professor Michael McCarthy - Discourse, Corpora, and Lessons Learned
April 08, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 66 MBIn this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting with the impressive Professor Michael McCarthy to talk about his career in ELT and more specifically discuss some of the major revelations he has had as a corpus linguist. Michael McCarthy is Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Nottingham, UK, and Teaching Officer at ADTIS, Cambridge University, UK, where he teaches EAP. He is author/co-author/editor of 58 books, including Touchstone, Viewpoint, the Cambridge Gr...
The hill I will die on...
April 03, 2023 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBHave you ever thought about the hill you'd die on when it comes to teaching? In this week's episode of Real Talk in ELT, I explore this concept and share my perspective on the topic. Tune in to find out what I had to say and join the conversation! Disclaimer: Just a friendly reminder that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and perspectives. It's okay to have different points of view and engage in constructive conversations. All opinions expressed here are my own and I am willing t...
Interview with Italo Sousa - Promoting reading and reading journals
April 01, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBIn this episode, I sit with a very passionate reader Italo Sousa who creates beautiful reading journals and resources on his social media @italoreads. Italo Sousa holds two degrees in Letras, and two post graduate certificates(English Teaching and English Literature). He also holds the ECPE from Michigan and Train The Trainer. Italo teaches bilingual lessons and prepares students for the Michigan Exams (MET, ECCE, ECPE). When it comes to his hobbies, needless to say, he is an avid reade...
Plan with me! (Student profile and how I would use a course book)
March 27, 2023 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBCurious how other teachers approach their classes? Well, in this episode, I take you behind the scenes of how I would plan a series of lessons for a real student. I give you a general run-down of my student and his profile then I use a printed material from OUP to show- if I were to use this course book, what exactly I would do for the lessons based on two pages. Thank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact ...
Interview with Renan Lemes - Have we really mastered teaching online?
March 25, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBIn this episode, I speak with Renan Lemes about teaching online. It's been years since the start of the pandemic when many educators were forced online but, have we gotten any better at delivering classes online? Renan Lemes has been a teacher for 13 years and over the last 6 years he has been delivering online classes. He has a B.A. in English, Portuguese and Literature, as well as graduate courses in Teaching in Higher Education (Docência no Ensino Superior) and Current Trends in Educ...
The course book conundrum
March 20, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBWhat are your thoughts on course books? Love em? Hate em? In this episode I sat down to talk about printed materials and the love hate relationship that most teachers have with them. I go a bit down the rabbit hole in discussing my thoughts on what we are using course books for? Do we have the capacity to substitute them effectively - and how are we developing those skills? What else is missing from printed and bespoke materials that we might need to facilitate in order for our students to h...
Interview with Giuliana Azevedo - the changing face of Business English teaching and training
March 18, 2023 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MBIn this episode, I sit down with Giuliana to talk about things that we have started noticing in the BE classroom. Giuliana Azevedo is a lifelong learner, a passionate educator, and a former journalist. She specializes in both English Language Teaching and Strategic Communication Management. She also holds a degree in Languages (Portuguese-English) and in Social Communication/Journalism from UFRJ as well as the CELTA. Currently, she is working as a private teacher and in partnership with busi...
The Enrich Project
March 13, 2023 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBAre you ready to level up your skills and knowledge with a CPD course that won't cost you a dime? In this week's episode, I'm spilling all the deets on a free online CPD course that's too good to miss! Whether you're a seasoned pro looking to brush up on your skills or a newbie eager to dive into the ELF perspective, this CPD course has got you covered. So, tune in to my latest episode, grab a pen and paper, and get ready to take some notes! Your future self will thank you for it. #CPDforfre...
Interview with Dorothy Zemach - Authoring, editing, and publishing: an insider's perspective
March 11, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBIn this episode, I sat down with Dorothy Zemach. Dorothy is an author, editor, teacher, and teacher trainer in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT). She's taught English, French, and Japanese for over 20 years in Asia, Africa, and the US. Her MA in TESL is from the School for International Training in Vermont. She currently writes and edits English language teaching materials and textbooks, and conducts teacher training workshops. Her areas of specialty and interest include teaching...
Case Study Interview with a DE&I disaster
March 06, 2023 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBIn this episode, I share a personal case study about a client I have and her terrible experience in an interview. DE&I is touched upon (not in a political way because the focus is always on teaching) as the tense interaction between her and the interviewer happened as a result of unrealistic and unsustainable DE&I practices by the company. Hear all about how my client dealt with unprofessionalism and what steps I'm taking to make sure my students are prepared for communicative surprises in t...
Interview with Sérgio Monteiro: Inside BRAZ-TESOL (chatting with the president)
March 04, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBIn this episode I was fortunate enough to sit down with Sérgio Monteiro to talk about BRAZ-TESOL and teaching organizations. He is current the President of the teaching association and gives a very complete run down of the opportunities and benefits of joining. We of course also share some of our favorite stories about things that have happened along the way since we've joined. Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new videos. ...
Summaries and Sides notes: Kurt Kohn presentation for Conversation in BELF
February 27, 2023 13:46 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBIn this podcast episode I gave a summary and side notes on a webinar given by Professor Kurt Kohn about English business from a lingua franca perspective. It directly addressed issues of agency and emancipation in using English in business contexts. Thank for watching and listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new episodes. Contact Kelly: Instagram - @kellypenningtonELT Email - [email protected] www.kellypenningtonelt.com
Interview with Hellen Haga: BELF and BE Case Studies
February 25, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 72 MBIn this episode, I sit down with a fellow Business English enthusiast, Ms. Hellen Haga. We get to chatting about all things BELF and how to handle pesky and heavy situations with BE students through our own teaching Case Studies. We also give BE teachers some recommendations on things to focus on beyond the language in your classes with students. Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new videos. Contact Hellen on Instagram @tea...
Online tool to help with syllabus design (and more)
February 20, 2023 11:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBIn this episode, I share a tool that focuses on providing insights about grammatical structures which was developed from a corpus (Cambridge examinations). I reflect on the possible uses and what it can help teachers with. The resources referenced in the video are below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqIxWtOJdd4&t=199s http://www.englishprofile.org/english-grammar-profile/egp-online Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on ne...
Interview with César Bizetto - Making better choices for professional development
February 18, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBMy guest this episode is César Bizetto. César Bizetto is passionate about swimming and his dog Nala. He graduated in Physics and holds a MSc. In Nuclear Technology. He found his true vocation as an English Teacher and has been acting in the area for over 20 years. He has vast experience implementing bilingual programs and training teachers in different contexts. César currently works as Academic Manager at São Paulo Open Centre where he is Programme Leader for the Cambridge International Cer...
Conversations in BELF: Lucas Peltonen Presentation
February 13, 2023 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBIn this episode, I'm bringing you another summary and side notes edition for a session I attended with Lucas Peltonen. He is a PhD candidate that is focusing his research on integrating Lingua Cultural Competence into printed BE materials. You'll hear the background of his research, some frameworks he has developed and some practical examples of how to adapt materials... with my commentary of course. Thank for watching/listening ! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get ...
Interview with Rubens Heredia - AI, ChatGPT, Innovations and predications
February 11, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBIn this episode, I finally got my super helpful CELTA Trainer to sit down with me and talk about a really cool/intimidating trend of machine learning and artificial intelligence making it's way into the main stream. Specifically we go into what teachers could see as pros and cons of technology like Chat GPT and what it might mean for the future of education. Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on new videos. Contact Rubens on In...
Interview with André Hedlund - Past and Future of Teaching: A Science of Learning Perspective
February 06, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 74.3 MBIn this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with André Hedlund from edcrocks.com again to chat about some of the thought process behind his upcoming opening plenary talk for the Macmillan Global Teachers Festival entitled Past and Future of Teaching: A Science of Learning Perspective. We tried to follow a basic outline of: 1) What has always worked, 2) What should work best, 3) What will work in the future. Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the...
Interview with Thiago Machado - Balancing CPD as a small school owner
February 04, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBIn this episode, I was happy to catch up with my Delta friend Thiago Machado. He is the owner of an online English school after moving from a larger and more formal institution. We chatted about professional development (as that is where we met) and how he balances his own CPD while running a school. Have a listen at the priorities he sets and how we both decide on what we choose to engage in. Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get updates on...
Going backwards to go forwards - Developing lesson plans and a syllabus
January 30, 2023 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBIn this episode, I will give some practical advice when you get stuck creating lessons, developing a syllabus or making assessments for your learners. The inspiration came from several points where I noticed similar advice or perspectives over and over again. It isn't a ground breaking revelation but it certainly helps me and several others productive especially when we hit the dreaded block - creative or writing. Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the b...
Interview with Priscila Bordon - A crash course in ELF
January 28, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBIn this episode, I got to chat with the ELF master of Brazil, Ms. Priscila Bordon. We dive into some misconceptions about English as a lingua franca. Priscila breaks down all things ELF... what does it mean, how do we classify ELF contexts, is ELF REALLY just a simpler version of English, when using ELF you can speak anyway you'd like, that we can substitute ELF for "normal" English , and much more! Thank for watching/listening! Be sure to hit the subscribe button and the bell to get upd...