For those of you who follow ELT blogs, you’re probably familiar with Martin Hajek’s TEFL in Colombia, which has loads of good stuff. Martin and I have interacted a few times over the years, as ELT bloggers do, but one day, Martin got in touch and asked if I wanted to collaborate on a projectContinue reading “Review: More than a gap year adventure – Martin Hajek”
Review: The Art and Science of Language Teaching – Lara Bryfonski and Alison Mackey
Many years ago, Teresa Pica (1994) wrote a brilliant article titled: Questions from the Language Classroom: Research Perspectives. This article aimed to answer common questions that teachers have about teaching through the research lens, and did this brilliantly in my mind. So, when I heard that Lara Bryfonski and Alison Mackey’s recently published book, TheContinue reading “Review: The Art and Science of Language Teaching – Lara Bryfonski and Alison Mackey”
The Three Series: 3 (well 6 actually!) books for managers in ELT
This is part of The Three Series. I read a lot of books, but unfortunately I don’t have enough time to review all of them in detail. This being said, I wanted to put together a post that focused on books for my managers out there! What follows here is a list of six titles thatContinue reading “The Three Series: 3 (well 6 actually!) books for managers in ELT”
Review: From Teacher to Trainer – Matthew Ellman and Peter Lucantoni
For the fans of Sponge Chats, you will recognise the two names in the title of this post. I’ve had both Matt and Peter on to talk about their experiences in teacher education, and in both of those Sponge Chats, we spoke about their book From Teacher to Trainer – and I’ve finally found theContinue reading “Review: From Teacher to Trainer – Matthew Ellman and Peter Lucantoni”
Musings of an academic manager – Reflections on implementing a task-supported syllabus 1
This year, we are implementing a task-supported syllabus in the academy where I work. It has been a while in the making, with the plans for this being drawn up last academic year – in fact, my assignments for the NILE MA Trainer Development module were centred on it. I thought I would slowly writeContinue reading “Musings of an academic manager – Reflections on implementing a task-supported syllabus 1”
Review: Models and Metaphors in Language Teacher Training – Tessa Woodward
Few names have such a strong connection to language teacher education as Tessa Woodward, and it’s a bit a strange that I’ve yet to review any of her books, having read many of them throughout my career. Here I am, though, after many years of dipping in and out of Woodward’s Model and Metaphors inContinue reading “Review: Models and Metaphors in Language Teacher Training – Tessa Woodward”
Article notes (Reading Room 3) – Informing and transforming language teacher education pedagogy – Johnson and Golombek
‘Article Notes’ is a set of blog posts in which I write down my notes about articles that I read. These notes are not meant to be ‘academic’ or ‘formal’; rather, they are my ramblings and immediate thoughts in reaction to the content I read. I’ve written them up to help me remember the article,Continue reading “Article notes (Reading Room 3) – Informing and transforming language teacher education pedagogy – Johnson and Golombek”
The Teacher Trainer Diaries – Preparing a workshop
I’ve often been asked what my process is for preparing a workshop, especially by those who are ‘new’ to developing and running workshops. Reflecting on my initial years as a teacher educator, I can understand why – it’s an intimidating process to go through. Firstly, when you start out, you really don’t have many ‘templates’Continue reading “The Teacher Trainer Diaries – Preparing a workshop”
Review: English Language Teaching Now and How It Could Be – Geoff Jordan and Mike Long
Within ELT, there are two names that stand out as outliers in the fight against coursebooks – Geoff Jordan and Mike Long. Jordan is a well-known ELT personality whose blog aims to inform and critique simultaneously, and push and prod where our industry doesn’t like to be pushed or prodded. More than once I’ve foundContinue reading “Review: English Language Teaching Now and How It Could Be – Geoff Jordan and Mike Long”
Sponge Chats – Perspectives on Business Mindset with Rachael Roberts
This blog post is part of the Sponge Chats video series. In the world of ELT, few people are as familiar as Rachael Roberts. She’s been in our industry for a very long time, and has worked as a teacher, materials writer, manager, and is now a business and mindset coach for freelance ELT professionals. Rachael hasContinue reading “Sponge Chats – Perspectives on Business Mindset with Rachael Roberts”
SPONGE ELT 