Our Podcast — Learn YOUR English

Florencia Henshaw

Florencia Henshaw has a Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she is now the Director of Advanced Spanish.

In this episode, Florencia discusses:

if people are born teachers
classrooms as artificial environments
why empathy is required for teachers to relinquish control in the learning process
how we should prioritize learner perceptions and attitudes
the backwardness of how most assessments are set up
strategies to scaffold and increase the presence of target language
how her new book helps teachers incorporate new SLA research into the classroom

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyApril 14, 2022Comment

Practically Speaking: The CEFR & Plurilingualism

This is a very special episode of Teacher Talking Time, in partnership with the University of Groningen in The Netherlands. This episode was created as part of an MA course "The CEFR in Context: Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Research" by Prof. Dr. Marije Michel and Dr. Audrey Rousse-Malpat. We at Learn YOUR English are thrilled to be a part of it coming to life.

Episode Description:

This episode of Moments Mediating Matters explores the influence of plurilingualism on the Dutch educational system, examines how the concept of mediation is presented in the Companion Volume, and further discusses how mediation can accompany not only teachers but also learners in their learning process. To do so, three guests with different levels of expertise were invited to converse on the influence of the CEFR, and more specifically, the concept of mediation in an increasingly plurilingual society.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyMarch 31, 2022Comment

TAP into the Future

How much lesson planning is required? Should I use a coursebook? Are teaching 1-1 or groups are the only options? How do I set up my business to be scalable? Mike, Leo, and Andrew kick off 2022 by examining the most common questions teachers going freelance ask.

They also examine teacher profiles who have joined LYE's new Teacher Accelerator Program and what they have in common. If you're a teacher looking to escape precarity and venture into starting or scaling your own tutoring service, this episode is for you.

Welcome to 2022!

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyJanuary 31, 2022Comment

Cult of Learning 18: Fear

Leo and Mike dive into fear. What is it? Why do we have it? What are the consequences of fear? Its benefits? And, of course, how do these apply to learning a language?

As we start a new year, fear - embracing it, conquering it, coping with it - is once again on the to do list. Mike and Leo discuss three strategies for dealing with the fear holding back our potential.

For this episode, we ask you: how do you handle fear in your life?

For StudentsAndrew WoodburyJanuary 2, 2022Comment

Episode 37: Twenty Twenty Won

Mike, Andrew, and Leo sip some nog and reminisce on the year that was. From COVID to a corrective feedback series to interviews with amazing scholars, it was a great year for the Teacher Talking Time Podcast. Here, the guys touch on the year's most listened to episodes, words of the year, how language has changed during the pandemic, which is ebb and which is flow, and predict what 2022 might have in store - including some work-life balance goals. Thanks for listening this year and stay tuned for many exciting things we have in store for 2022.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyDecember 18, 2021Comment

Episode 36: Ask us Anything

Mike, Leo, and Andrew get back in the studio for a special, bizarro episode. In this "Ask Us Anything" show, the guys prepared secret questions for the others. The only rule? They can't be about teaching or education.

Of course, they're not great at following rules.

Touching on Nickelback, self doubt, being vulnerable, accepting or rejecting dinner invitations, Stephen King, pending life goals, long distance relationships - and much more - they invite you on a different type of journey.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyNovember 19, 2021Comment

Cult of Learning 17: The Art of Noticing Language

Leo and Mike look at an important "technique" that is crucial for those who want to learn a language: noticing. What is noticing? How does it affect language learning? How do we notice language? Why is noticing important?

More specifically, they go in-depth on how it works:

1. What noticing language means

2. Why noticing the gap between what you hear or read and what you can say is essential

3. How you should practice applying what you notice in your use of language

If you are learning a language, these episodes are for you!

For StudentsAndrew WoodburyNovember 7, 2021Comment

Episode 35: Jane Setter

Dr. Jane Setter joins the show to talk accents, speech prosody, and her new book "Your Voice Speaks Volumes.". In this episode, Jane dives into:

the influences that pushed her into a career in phonology
speech classes and how Margaret Thatcher learned to "unshrill" her voice
being the first phonetician invited to speak at the IATEFL conference
the why and how of (unconscious) linguistic judgement
the significance of four seconds in speech recognition
why television shows choose certain accents for certain roles
why men can't make their voices sound sexy
what it means to have a voice that doesn't represent who you are

For TeachersAndrew WoodburySeptember 29, 2021Comment

Cult of Learning 16: S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Effective Language Learning

Many language learners get frustrated because, in their heads, they’re thinking they’re just "learning a language." S.M.A.R.T. Goals help with this. Mike and Leo discuss this 5-step process to achieving goals. Listen to this episode to learn:

what is each step of the process
how each step applies to you learning a language
how you can put this into practice right away

If you are a learning a language, these Cult of Learning episodes are for you!

For StudentsAndrew WoodburySeptember 21, 2021Comment

Episode 34: Chris Jones

Chris Jones joins us to talk speaking. Specifically, he tackles:

his early influences, including Ron Carter, Scott Thornbury, and Dave Willis
his impetus for his new book "Conversation Strategies and Communicative Competence"
his writing process
the difference between speaking and conversation
the difference between conversation strategies and communication strategies
reasons why conversation strategies are often neglected in teaching
how teachers can help their students with improving their spoken communication

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyAugust 29, 2021Comment

Corrective Feedback 8: Exploring the Discourse with Dr. Miroslaw Pawlak

In the final episode of our series on corrective feedback, Dr. Miroslaw Pawlak joins us. Dr. Pawlak tells us:

how to increase teacher interest in the topic of corrective feedback (CF)
how CF affects the willingness of learners to communicate
if it's preferable to over correct or under correct
what we can learn from studying developmental readiness
the role CF plays in form-focused instruction in comparison to more prescribed learner performance approaches

*This interview was conducted by Meghana Akavoor and Jewel Little.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyAugust 8, 2021Comment

Cult of Learning 15: The Three Essentials of Language Learning - Part 3

In part three of our three-part series on the "Essentials of Language Learning," Leo and Mike briefly recap the first two of the three essentials - Exposure and Use - and introduce you to the final one of the tripartite - Use. They discuss why it is important to produce output (speaking and writing) and how it contributes to your language learning and development.

More specifically, Leo and Mike talk about:

why input (listening and reading) is important when learning a language
why communication is essential to improving your language skills
the role of interaction
how taking risks with your language use is a good idea
what types of activities you should avoid when learning

If you’re learning a new language, these podcasts are for you!

For StudentsAndrew WoodburyJuly 15, 2021Comment

Corrective Feedback 7: Exploring the Discourse with Dr. Shaofeng Li

In episode 7 of our series on corrective feedback, Dr. Shaofeng Li joins us. In this episode, Dr. Li discusses:

learner and teacher beliefs on corrective feedback (CF)
how his own beliefs of CF have evolved over time
how teachers often view CF differently than learners and they impact that can have on learning gains
why teachers should take learner beliefs on CF into account
cognitive variables affecting CF
how CF fits into a Task-based Learning and Teaching (TBLT) model

*This interview was conducted by Abdi Mohamed and Neal Power.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyJune 21, 2021Comment

Cult of Learning 14: The Three Essentials of Language Learning - Part 2

Leo and Mike bring you a brand new mini-series called "The Three Essentials of Language Learning." In part two of our three-part series on the "Essentials of Language Learning," Leo and Mike briefly recap the first of the three essentials - Exposure - and introduce you to the second one of the tripartite - Motivation. We will talk about what motivation is, how it works, different types of motivation and how you can use it to learn English.

Specifically, they wonder:

what is motivation?
common misconceptions about motivation
different types of motivation
how to get motivated and take action

If you’re learning a new language, these podcasts are for you!

For StudentsAndrew WoodburyJune 14, 2021Comment

Corrective Feedback 6: Exploring the Discourse with Dr.Neomy Storch

This is Episode 6 in our Corrective Feedback series in partnership with Carleton University. In this episode, In this episode, Dr. Neomy Storch shares:

the drawbacks of looking at corrective feedback research in a vacuum
examples of explicit and implicit feedback
the differences between collaborative and cooperative writing
the differences between feedback and uptake
her optimism about the future of collaborative writing

*This interview was conducted by Zahra Azizi and Shrouk Abdelgafar

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyMay 28, 2021Comment

Cult of Learning 13: The Three Essentials of Language Learning - Part 1

Leo and Mike bring you a brand new mini-series called "The Three Essentials of Language Learning." In Part 1, they tackle the "first essential": exposure. When learning a foreign language, it is important to develop habits, but also to create an effective learning environment - not only inside the classroom but outside the classroom.

This episode will help you do that, and, specifically, they discuss:

what exposure is and isn't
how learners can expose themselves to language
what kind of reading or listening you should do if you're a student
is "less is more" or "more is more" more appropriate?

For StudentsAndrew WoodburyMay 19, 2021Comment

Corrective Feedback 5: Exploring the Discourse with Dr. María del Pilar García Mayo

This is Episode 5 in our Corrective Feedback series in partnership with Carleton University. In this episode, Dr. García Mayo discusses:

the Spanish EFL context
recent studies revolving around language learning and the high school context in Spain
the arguments for and against self-repair, recast, and implicit & explicit feedback
why there is such a research gap with children
teacher training and corrective feedback
the role of research - and researchers - in classroom application

*This interview was conducted by Jean Charlebois and Sarah Langridge

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyMay 9, 2021Comment

Corrective Feedback 4: Exploring the Discourse with Dr. Yucel Yilmaz

This is Episode 4 in our Corrective Feedback series in partnership with Carleton University. In this episode, Dr. Yilmaz discusses:

the interactionist approach
explicit correction versus recast
why direct feedback being more effective needs to be taken with a grain of salt
computer versus face-to-face mediated feedback
how to implement oral and written feedback
how teachers can learn about corrective feedback research and apply it to their own contexts

*This interview was conducted by Heather Shugart, Aria Rubinoff, and Fereshteh Khaffai Azar.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyApril 19, 2021Comment

Cult of Learning 12: What are Habits and The Science Behind Them, Part III

Leo and Mike continue our mini series “What are Habits and the Science Behind Them.” In the third installment, they discuss:

what habits are worth tracking
how to respond when our habits and consistency breaks down
methods for tracking habits and actually being consistent with it
how to get a free subscription to tracking app Habitica!

If you are a learning a language, these episodes are for you!

Looking to develop effective language learning habits? Check out the LYE School of Learning for only $5/month.

For StudentsAndrew WoodburyApril 11, 2021Comment

Corrective Feedback 3: Exploring the Discourse with Dr. Rebecca Adams

This is Episode 3 in our Corrective Feedback series in partnership with Carleton University. In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Adams from the University of Memphis joins us.

In this episode, Dr. Adams highlights:

the benefits of peer feedback when compared to teacher-provided feedback
how to establish a conducive classroom environment for peer feedback to be most effective
types of corrective feedback and their effectiveness
whether students are actually hesitant to provide feedback to their peers
if teachers should wait for peer feedback to occur naturally or if providing students with training is beneficial
the connection between task-based language teaching and peer corrective feedback

*This interview was conducted by Marcel Zhang and Leo Liu.

For TeachersAndrew WoodburyApril 4, 2021Comment

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