Starting your first year as an EL teacher can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Especially if you're stepping into a new building, new subject, or working with newcomers for the first time. In this episode, I’m answering a listener question from a music teacher-turned-EL teacher who’s just beginning this journey. I’m walking you through five things that m ... Show More
Mar 31
Episode 173 - Brain Science Meets the Classroom: A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Riegel
As teachers, we are incredibly well-trained in structure, curriculum, and how to organize the day-to-day of teaching. But what about the human side of the classroom—for both our students and ourselves?In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Riegel to explore what really drives beha ... Show More
34m 36s
Mar 24
Episode 172. Why Your EL Lessons Feel Scattered (and How Backward Design Fixes It)
In this episode, I’m diving into lesson planning and introducing a process called backward design, which is a truly great way to plan for our English Learner (EL) students. You will hear how backward design differs from the traditional, “build-as-you-go” approach that often leave ... Show More
18m 10s
Sep 2025
Getting Started with Online Teaching
🎙️ 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 ... Show More
33m 32s
Aug 2025
Teaching with Empathy and Respect: Part 1
🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In this powerful two-part episode, we sit down with Swiss-Brazilian educator and bestselling author Maya Eigenmann to explore how empathy, calm, and respect can transform the way we teach. Maya shares ... Show More
41m 27s
Jan 2024
12. Worries to Wins: Overcome the 5 Top Worries of New Teachers
<p>Teaching is an exciting ride, but it comes with its fair share of worries, especially for newcomers. From connecting with students to balancing work and life, these concerns can be daunting.</p><p>New teachers often grapple with common worries that can impact their confidence ... Show More
29m 24s
Aug 2025
Teaching with Empathy and Respect: Part 2
🎙️ Welcome to ESL Talk! 🎙️A podcast for English Teachers, by English Teachers.In the second part of our two-part episode, we continue our amazing discussion with Swiss-Brazilian educator and bestselling author Maya Eigenmann, diving deeper into the real-world application of Res ... Show More
3h 56m