Jim@SpongeELT

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 Chats – Perspectives on TBLT teacher education with Lara Bryfonski

This blog post is part of the Sponge Chats video series. Ok, so this Sponge Chat is for all my TBLT people. Some time ago, I came across Lara Bryfonski’s brilliant article From task-based training to task-based instruction: Novice language teachers’ experiences and perspectives, and as I was reading I kept having those ‘yep’ moments. It wasContinue reading “Sponge Chats – Perspectives on TBLT teacher education with Lara Bryfonski”

Article Notes (Reading Room 2) – Inconvenient truths about teacher learning: towards professional development 3.0 – Fred Korthagen

‘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 2) – Inconvenient truths about teacher learning: towards professional development 3.0 – Fred Korthagen”

Review: Language Teacher Supervision – Kathleen M. Bailey

You’ll have to forgive me – it’s been a minute since I’ve put out a review. I’ve been rather busy with the MAPDLE, the academy and some other things, and so the blog has been largely put on hold. BUT, I have found time to get this review out to you all (and I haveContinue reading “Review: Language Teacher Supervision – Kathleen M. Bailey”

Sponge Chats – Perspectives on Teacher Training with Peter Lucantoni

This blog post is part of the Sponge Chats video series. The latest Sponge Chat featured ELT teacher training expert and author, Peter Lucantoni. His name might be familiar for two reasons – one, he’s been involved in the ELT for about 40 years, and two, I interviewed Matthew Ellman some time ago and we spoke aboutContinue reading “Sponge Chats – Perspectives on Teacher Training with Peter Lucantoni”

Conference notes – IATEFL 2023 Harrogate

A few weeks ago, I attended the IATEFL 2023 Harrogate conference as a winner of the Gillian Porter Ladousse Scholarship. It was my first time attending this monumental conference, and throughout the week I attended a ridiculous amount of sessions, networked and caught up with old friends. This conference was unlike any that I hadContinue reading “Conference notes – IATEFL 2023 Harrogate”

Sponge Chats – Perspectives on Educational Technology in ELT with Joe Dale

This blog post is part of the Sponge Chats video series. Recently, I had the pleasure to speak with edtech specialist, Joe Dale. Joe has been involved in language teaching for a VERY long time, and has focused on edtech for a large portion of that time, so I was really excited to sit down with himContinue reading “Sponge Chats – Perspectives on Educational Technology in ELT with Joe Dale”

The Three Series: Three books for the conference presenter

This is part of The Three Series. Conference presenting is something many of us take on at some stage within our career. Those of us that have a desire to move into academic management, teacher education, or simply raise our profile often start by presenting at conferences. And, of course, there are many teachers andContinue reading “The Three Series: Three books for the conference presenter”