The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast
Episodes
5 for 5 - E44 Relaunch - Global citizenship: Opening the view to the possible (with Brantley Turner)
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, ...
5 for 5 - E34 Relaunch - Trauma-sensitive teaching (with Sherry MacKay)
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, ...
5 for 5 - E14 Relaunch - Representation: More than just a stock photo
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, ...
E81 – The Monolingual Bias: Advocacy for English Language Teachers (with Lillian Ardell)
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, co-hosts Shé and Anna sit down with Dr. Lillian Ardell—founder of Language Matters—for a time...
Episode 80 – Algorithms, Echo Chambers, and Critical Thinking in the English Language Classroom (with Andrea Collados)
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna are joined by global educator and ESL teacher Andrea Collados for a timely and deepl...
E79 — 2026 Friends of the Podcast: Back to Basics
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna take us back to the roots of the podcast: reflection. The episode integrates the voices of teachers around the...
E78 — Training the Trainers: Building the Next Generation of Teacher Educators (with Tabitha Kidwell)
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna interview Tabitha Kidwell, an esteemed teacher educator, about her research on the p...
E77 - Ellii Dilemmas: Sparking Real Dialogue in the ELT Classroom (with Ben Buckwold & Tara Benwell)
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this lively episode, Shé sits down with Ben Buckwold (Founder & CEO of Ellii) and Tara Benwell (VP of Publishing at Ellii) to explore the stor...
E76 - Unpacking the Lexical Approach (with Erin O’Byrne)
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna discuss the importance of the Lexical Approach in teaching English, featuring insigh...
E75 - Generative AI in Education: A Teacher’s Guide (with Sara Davila)
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we sit down with Sara Davila, a self-described “learning alchemist,” to explore how artificial...
E74 - Foundations of Reflective Practice with the DIESOL Podcast, Part 2
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our collaboration with the DIESOL Podcast, we reunite with Brent and Ixchell, this time with our signature Teacher Think-Aloud style, wit...
E73 - Foundations of Reflective Practice with the DIESOL Podcast, Part 1
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special crossover episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, Shé and Anna team up with Brent Warner and Ixchell Reyes of the DIESOL Podcast ...
E72 – Greening ELT: Addressing Sustainability in the English Language Classroom (with Harry Waters)
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna sit down with climate activist, teacher trainer, and founder of Renewable English, Harry Waters, for an energi...
E71 - From English Language Teaching to Instructional Design (with Sharon Tjaden-Burkes)
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna sit down with Sharon Tjaden-Burkes, Senior Instructional Designer and founder of the IDEA Networking Sessions,...
E70 - Summer Reading Special: Stories That Cross Borders
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna share their 2025 summer reading list—13 unforgettable books that move across cultures, borders, and language...
E69 - Digital Hallways: Creating connection in the online classroom (with Bob Nguyen)
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, hosts Anna and Shé discuss the importance of building rapport in the classroom, revisiting techni...
E68 - Backpacks, Bandwidth & Burnout: The Realities of Being an ELT Digital Nomad (with Emily Bryson)
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the increasingly popular—yet often misunderstood—lifestyle of digi...
E67 - TESOL 2025 Special
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
TESOL 2025 was a whirlwind! We interviewed educators from around the globe, discussing AI, advocacy, community, and more. Hear their insights and feel...
E66 - "Being a native speaker isn’t a qualification" (with Meri Maroutian)
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the pervasive issue of native speakerism in English Language Teaching with educator and advocate Meri Maroutian.Meri sha...
E65 - "The world comes to TESOL!" (with Dr. Debra Suarez)
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
E 65 - “The world comes to TESOL!” (with Dr. Debra Suarez)In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Debra Suarez, President of TESOL International Ass...
E64 - Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Supporting Multilingual Healthcare Professionals (with Shweta Ramkumar)
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
E 64 - Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Supporting Multilingual Healthcare Professionals (with Shweta Rumkumar) Happy 2025! In this episode, we dive into t...
E63 - 2024 End-of-Year Reflection
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shey and Anna wrap up 2024 by looking back on personal milestones, professional breakthroughs, and podcast highlights—from raising multilingual chil...
E62 - Raising Multilingual Children: From Myths to Reality (with Anna Burt)
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Raising multilingual children takes some planning and intention. Join us as ESOL teacher and multilingual mama Anna (Anya) Burt walks us through what ...
E61 – Travel with Purpose: Teaching and volunteering around the world (with Aileen Hale)
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Anna and Shey chat with Aileen Hale, international teacher trainer, consultant, and creator of Travel with Purpose, a podcast about l...
E60 - From teaching to materials writing: a chat with Ellii (with Ben Buckwold & Tara Benwell)
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Ben Buckwold, CEO and Founder of Ellii (formerly ESL Library) and Tara Benwell, Ellii’s VP of Publishing...
E59 - Silence, SEL, and English language teaching (with Luis Javier Pentón Herrera)
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked role of silence in the language classroom. Discover how integrating moments of quiet can enhance lear...
E58 - “Turning problems into opportunities” in community ESL programs (with Eric Trader)
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, guest Eric Trader shares his experience as the director of a community-based learning center serving a multilingual population with d...
E57 - English for Networking: more than a transaction (with Angela Tribus Ramos)
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, guest Angela Tribus Ramos shares her perspective on teaching networking, considering all of the cultural nuances involved in this cha...
E56 - Building a sustainable PD practice (with Yulia Kharchenko)
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you sustain your professional development as an educator? In this episode, guest Yulia Kharchenko shares a framework she and her colleagues hav...
E55 - “My pedagogy is my protest”: LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the language classroom (with Kim Carroll)
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you create a welcoming atmosphere for all students? 🌈 In this episode, guest Kim Carroll shares insights on how to make our classrooms safe ...
E54 - 2024 TESOL Special: Maximizing Your Conference Experience (VIDEO EPISODE 🎥)
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re just recovering from our week in Tampa, Florida, for the TESOL 2024 Convention. And wow, what a week! 🌴 In this episode, we reflect on our ...
E53 - Teachers as Advocates: You can do it too! (with Rosemary Colón)
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you engaged in advocacy efforts as a language teacher? ✊ In this episode, guest Rosemary Colón talks about her experience at the 2023 TESOL Ad...
E52 - The Power of Podcasting for Language Learning (with Anna Ayrapetyan)
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, guest Anna Ayrapetyan, a university professor in Armenia, walks us through her innovative approach to get students practicing speakin...
E51 - Friends of the Podcast 2024: AI in ELT (VIDEO EPISODE 🎥)
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year, everyone! 🌟 We’re kicking off 2024 with a special video episode: Friends of the Podcast - AI in ELT! Featuring voices from new an...
E50 - State of the Podcast: a reflection, with 2023 bloopers!
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 50…can you believe it?! 🌟 We’ve nested some fun bloopers into this reflective episode, in which we think back on our personal developme...
E49 - YouTube for English language teaching (with Amy Joy Rovirosa)
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, guest Amy Joy Rovirosa, the creator of @your_fav_english_teacher, tells us about what it takes to get your English language teaching ...
E48 - Bring your teaching alive with ChatGPT (with Jeff McIlvenna)
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, guest Jeff McIlvenna talks through his approach to using ChatGPT in the English language classroom, from amplifying teacher creativit...
E47 - CLIL and team teaching: sweetening the pill (with Ekaterina Pipia)
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t forget to take your vitamins! In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with friend of the podcast Ekaterina Pipia about her experience facilitatin...
E46 - Challenging inequities toward multilingual teachers (with Alex Tang & Carine Saucillo)
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back! Just a light little topic for our first episode after our summer break… 😜Don your social justice caps, kick into your critical lens...
E45 - PD in a post-pandemic world
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Anna and Shey look at how the landscape for professional development evolved over the course of the pandemic and learn how internatio...
E44 - Global citizenship: Opening the view to the possible (with Brantley Turner)
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Global citizenship can happen in our back yard.” 🏠🌏 In this episode, Shey and Anna plunge head-first with guest Brantley Turner—East Asia...
E43 - Culture through stories (with Dustin Steichmann from Sandman Stories Presents)
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Not much represents a culture better than its stories. In this episode, Anna and Shey chat with Dustin from Sandman Stories Presents about storytellin...
E42 - Stop hovering! (with Miriam Plotinsky)
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
E42 - Stop hovering! (with Miriam Plotinsky) Are you a helicopter teacher or a hover-free teacher? In this episode, Shey and Anna chat with author M...
E41- Media Literacy 102: Disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracies... oh my!
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
E 41- Media Literacy 102: Disinformation, propaganda, and conspiracies... oh my! Media literacy is an essential skill in our world today and one that...
E40 - TESOL Special 2023! (VIDEO EPISODE 🎥)
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We had such a wonderful time at TESOL 2023 in Portland and enjoyed meeting new and old friends there. Like last year, we wanted to bring a small piece...
E39 - Media Literacy 101: Bias and perspective-taking
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Media literacy is an essential skill in our world today. 📰 But how can we tackle it in the English language classroom? 🎯In this episode, Anna an...
E38 - Incorporating music in ELT (with Heather and Ece of English as a Singing Language)
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
E 38 - Incorporating music in ELT (with Heather and Ece of English as a Singing Language) In this episode, Anna and Shey speak with Heather McNaught a...
E37 - Friends of the Podcast! (VIDEO EPISODE 🎥)
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back!!! In this special episode, Anna and Shey discuss and react to contributions from some of our Friends of the Podcast. Listen and join the...
Blooper Reel 2022
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are still (blooper) reeling from 2022... See what we did there?! 😆 Have a laugh at our expense as you ring in the New Year with our 2022 Bloopie...
E36 - Equity in assessment: A human approach (with Albert Shaheen)
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve talking about assessment design and rubrics…but what about equity in assessment? In this episode, Anna and Shey speak with Albert Shaheen ab...
E35 - Be brave enough to say ‘I don’t know’ (with Lina Jurkunas)
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic was a challenging time not just for teachers, but also for administrators. In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with Lina Jurkunas about ...
E34 - Trauma-sensitive teaching (with Sherry MacKay)
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s not always easy to recognize #trauma in our students, since everyone responds to trauma differently. In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with ...
E33 - "Long live the rubric!"
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you feel about #rubrics? 🧐 In this episode, Shey and Anna dive into why teachers should be using rubrics for objective assessment, how diffe...
E32 - “We’re nearly in 2023” - communicative approaches to grammar teaching (with Amir Houssein Khoobru)
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Teaching grammar: You either love it or you hate it... 😍😡 In this episode, Shey and Anna speak with friend of the podcast, Amir Houssein Khoobru...
E31 - "The beauty of assessment"
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Perhaps the title of this episode doesn’t fully correspond to your feelings about assessment; regardless, classroom assessment is something we need ...
E30 - Drama in the classroom: beyond the role play (with Richard Silberg)
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
E30 - Drama in the classroom: beyond the role play (with Richard Silberg) We’ve all used role plays in class, but have we truly explored what drama ...
E29 - Top 10 TED Talks for Teaching
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are your favorite TED Talks for teaching? In in this episode, Shey and Anna go through their list of top 10 TED Talks for teaching. Listen for id...
E28 - A holistic approach to PD (with Ramin Yazdanpanah)
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Professional development can feel overwhelming! In this episode, Shey and Anna interview Ramin Yazdanpanah on his approach to PD, teacher well-being, ...
E27 - Why we ♥ project-based learning
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're back from our summer break! Gear up for the new school year and consider weaving project-based learning into your curriculum. In this episode, A...
E26 - What can we learn from teachers?
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Teachers are amazing, carrying with them a plethora of transferable skills that others can learn from or that they can apply to different facets of li...
E25 - Handling conflict in the classroom (with guest Joe Voigts!)
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At some point, we've all handled conflict in our classroom---among students, between a student and the teacher... In this episode, Shey and Anna speak...
E24 - Like. Share. Post.
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a world overrun by social media, why not use them to make learning engaging? In this episode, Shey and Anna discuss the pros and cons of social med...
E23 - The good, the bad, and the ugly of performance reviews
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Performance reviews and observations by supervisors are a common practice in the world of education, but whether they contribute to our growth as teac...
E22 - Make reviewing fun again!
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Questionable title choice...but reviewing should be fun! And, more importantly, effective. In this episode, Shey and Anna discuss some of their strate...
E21 - Addressing current events in the classroom
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should English language teachers take it upon themselves to discuss current events in the classroom? TL;DR - Yes! But how? In this episode, Shey and A...
E20 - TESOL Special 2022!
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're exhilarated and exhausted after TESOL 2022! In this episode, Shey and Anna recount their key takeaways from the conference and share the thought...
E19 - The why and the how of peer review
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why is peer feedback important, and how can we use it to facilitate learning? In this episode, Shey and Anna discuss their experience with peer feedba...
E18 - Book Review: Race, Empire, & English Language Teaching
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shey and Anna review Dr. Suhanthie Motha's 2014 book, Race, Empire, and English Language Teaching: Creating Responsible and Ethical A...
E17 - The benefits of formal TESOL training
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Shey and Anna chat about the benefits of their own TESOL training and the intersection of formal training and experience. Click here ...
E16 - It's OK to just exist
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you as wrapped up in toxic productivity as we are? Listen in and reflect on how you can set goals to lead a happy, healthy life of work and play a...
Blooper Reel 2021!
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Holy cow, we've come a long way in 2021... Enjoy some ridiculousness and revel in our blunders at the end of this crazy year. We'll be back in 2022!
E15 - So you've lost your zest for teaching
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you keep your passion for teaching alive despite everyday challenges and points of frustration? How can you tell if your disenchantment with th...
E14 - Representation: More than just a stock photo
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you go about incorporating diverse voices and realities in your curriculum? What strategies do you use to ensure that diversity is represented ...
E13 - The Delicate Dance of English
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you acknowledge the connection between language and power in your classroom? How do you avoid imposing cultural norms associated with learning ...
E12 - Words, words, words
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you find that you rely on implicit or explicit strategies more for teaching vocabulary, and what factors do you consider in deciding? What are your...
E11 - You, me & ICC
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does intercultural communicative competence (ICC) mean to you? How do you teach ICC in the classroom? In this episode, we reflect on the importan...
E10 - Keep it simple, stupid
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What routines or activities do you draw on frequently? In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite routines to keep our classes effective and eff...
E09 - Things they never tell new teachers
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If this is your first year teaching, this episode is for you! We’ve compiled a list of top tips for new teachers. Listen, learn and reflect. For a s...
E08 - Sometimes you plan, sometimes you don't
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do your lesson plans usually look like? How do you lesson plan efficiently while staying creative? In this episode, we explore different philosop...
E07 - Building Rapport on Day 1
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What are some of your go-to strategies for building rapport on the first day or in the first week of class? How do you maintain the rapport that you'v...
E06 - Teaching & PD through the pandemic
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How have your PD preferences shifted during the pandemic? How has participating in PD through the pandemic informed your teaching? In this episode, we...
E05 - Correct me if you can
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk about recasts! Do you like to correct in the moment or after the fact? What kind of oral feedback do you find most effective? In this episo...
E04 - To err is human
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What's your philosophy when it comes to corrective feedback? What's your stance on errors? In this episode, we discuss the significance of errors and ...
E03 - Sorry, what's your question?!
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you plan your questions before a class? What kinds of questions do you rely on? How do you scaffold questions? In this episode, we consider quest...
E02 - Shut up and let them talk!
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What percentage of the time do you think you spend talking in a class, on average? How do you go about reducing your own talk time in class? In this ...
E01 - What is reflective pedagogy?
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How often do you stop and reflect on your own teaching? What does reflective teaching look like for you? What do you gain from it? In this episode, we...
E0 - Pilot - A podcast is born!
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, a podcast for reflective practice for teachers of English around the world. In this pilot episode, Anna an...