A short conversation can spark a big idea. But as busy English language teachers, it’s hard to find the time and space for those chats that shift how we teach or think about our careers. TESOL Pop brings those conversations to you. This mini podcast features quick, insightful interviews with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators from around the world. In under 15 minutes, you’ll hear ideas, teaching insights, and career stories that make you feel part of the wider ELT community, without adding to your…
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When print textbooks are outdated the moment they're published, what do you do? If you’re Renata Kucharska, you build an alternative that can keep pace with the fast-developing needs of learners who are training for the workplace. In this episode, Renata shares how she ventured into tech to build a custom, gamified vocabulary app for her teenage mechatronics and programming students. We talk about…
From textbook dependency to a "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" approach. Fiona Hunter, founder of Kids Club English shares how to confidently step away from set materials to create authentic, play-based language experiences for young learners. From managing the psychological hurdles of letting go of the coursebook to structuring lessons around picture books, Fiona explains how stepping back…
From outgrowing textbooks to collaborating across continents. Christian Fischer, Head of English at Gymnasium Schillerschule Hannover, shares how the Global Literature Circle project is transforming how teenagers engage with reading. From digital collaboration using Padlet to fostering student agency, Christian explains how giving learners creative freedom and a global audience can turn reading…
From one class pack to a million hours of environmental education. ELT author and creator of Picker Pals , Patrick Jackson , shares how a single idea grew into a movement that’s transformed classrooms and communities. From storytelling and sustainability to litter-picking with families, Patrick explains how Picker Pals empowers children to take action, while learning along the way. Watch with…
Business English gets a bad reputation — stiff, overly formal, and filled with irrelevant vocabulary lists. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, Megan Nicholls, multilingual educator and founder of Mega Language Coach, invites us to reimagine how Business English can be taught. From high-stakes presentations to hallway small talk, Meg shares how she co-creates flexible,…
Lewis Jaquest joins Laura to explore how emergent language and learner agency can transform the language classroom. In this episode, Lewis shares how he developed the Student Emergent Language Framework (SELF), reflects on his transition to bottom-up teaching, and unpacks what truly makes language learning meaningful. Watch with closed captions . TALKING POINTS What is Emergent Language? How Lewis…
University lecturer Anila Ruth Scott-Monkhouse joins Laura to share how she’s using academic debate to help STEM PhD students become more confident communicators. In this episode, Anila shares how debate boosts her students’ teamwork, critical thinking, and language skills. You’ll also hear how she integrates controversial topics, intercultural collaboration, and real-world research into her EAP…
Scott Allis, experienced ESL teacher and travel creator, joins Laura to share hard-won lessons from a global teaching career that spans China, Iraq, Thailand and beyond. In this candid conversation, Scott unpacks five key things to check before signing a contract—and what to do when the job doesn’t match what was promised. Whether you're teaching abroad, considering your next move, or advising…
Steven Schmidt, professional development consultant and long-time adult educator, joins Laura to share his journey from enduring uninspiring training sessions to leading transformative ones. In this episode, Steve reflects on what makes professional development meaningful, how he overcame self-doubt, and why fear never fully disappears — but can be used as fuel for growth. Watch with closed…
Creators of TESOL Pop, Laura Wilkes and Technical Director Haven Tsang, report from IBC 2025 in Amsterdam with practical takeaways for educators using media. From live multilingual captioning and voice overdubs to richer, human-centred metadata and the storytelling craft behind Becoming Led Zeppelin , this episode unpacks the media tech shaping how we teach, learn, and share ideas. Watch with…
