Episodes

  • Episode 155: TBL 101 With Nicola Harwood
    Sep 1 2025

    Hello again!
    After a summer break, I'm back with a fabulous guest, Nicola Harwood, who breaks down TBL (Task-Based Learning).


    Have you thought about using it but not sure where to start?This episode is perfect.

    She talks about deep and shallow-end TBL. Yes, there are two types: one for the brave and one for the teacher who needs a little more structure.


    Don't teach in her context? Take that mantra of mine and Steal and Adapt!
    Connect with Nicola:
    www.lexicalship.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-w-harwood-%F0%9F%97%A3%EF%B8%8F-63b8b42/
    Mentions:
    https://www.animaker.com/
    Camtasia (app)
    Activities for TBL, Anderson and McCutcheon, DELTA Publishing

    Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠

    Contact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Be a dear and fill out this survey on student listening skills – it would help me so much! https://forms.gle/u4EXyrJqcFtXPnkS7

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Summer 2025 Announcement
    Jun 17 2025

    Just a quick one to tell you where I'm at.

    I'll see you in September, when I'm back with some brilliant guest.

    In the meantime, if there's something you'd like me to cover on the pod, let me know! Deets below.

    Wishing you a safe and peaceful summer.

    Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠

    Contact me if you would like me tohelp you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Be a dear and fill out this survey on student listening skills – it would help me so much! https://forms.gle/u4EXyrJqcFtXPnkS7

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.

    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
  • Episode 153: 5 Things Teachers Shouldn't Do
    Jun 2 2025

    This short, passionate episode is a bit of a rant — but it comes from a place of deep care for students and the craft of teaching.

    If you're a teacher and you recognize yourself in any of the points raised, this isn't meant to offend — it's a call to reflect and rethink some habits that might be holding your learners back.

    If you're short on time, under pressure, or stuck in a routine — you're not alone. But that’s exactly why it's worth taking a moment to question, adjust, and improve. Teaching isn't about perfection; it's about intention.

    Join the waiting list for the No-Nonsense Lexical Toolkit Course, coming in June: http://subscribepage.io/qANdpX

    Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠⁠

    Contact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Be a dear and fill out this survey on student listening skills – it would help me so much! https://forms.gle/u4EXyrJqcFtXPnkS7

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.

    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • Episode 152: How I Planned 3 Hours in 5 Minutes
    May 25 2025

    Sometimes you don't have a lot of time or energy. Or maybe you've just returned from holiday and haven't got into planning mode.

    This week I'm sharing with you my lesson plan for two 90-minute lessons using the Lexical Approach.

    And yes, it took me 5 minutes. Why was I so confident that it would work? Because I used my students' output, plus a bit of decoding for good measure.

    Steve Cutts Mobile World Video: https://youtu.be/wUW1wjlKvmY?si=Qm4Zp56lxS2n8lqK

    Join the waiting list for the No-Nonsense Lexical Toolkit Course, coming in June: http://subscribepage.io/qANdpX

    Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠

    Contact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Be a dear and fill out this survey on student listening skills – it would help me so much! https://forms.gle/u4EXyrJqcFtXPnkS7

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.


    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • Episode 151: Mantras #4 - Don't Be Afraid to Let Go!
    May 11 2025

    If you’re feeling burnt out, stuck in overplanning mode, or just plain exhausted—you’re not alone.

    In this episode, I’m sharing a bit of a pep talk from the heart about the mindset traps so many of us fall into: fear of not doing enough, decision fatigue, and the struggle to let go in the classroom.

    I’ll walk you through how teaching can actually feel lighter—with more creativity, more impact, and less stress.


    Join the waiting list for the No-Nonsense Lexical Toolkit Course, coming in June: http://subscribepage.io/qANdpX

    Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠

    Contact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Be a dear and fill out this survey on student listening skills – it would help me so much! https://forms.gle/u4EXyrJqcFtXPnkS7

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.

    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • Episode 150: How Science CAN Help Teachers with Andre Hedlund
    Apr 27 2025

    There's a lot of controversy surrounding how science can help teachers and learning.

    Some say it's overtaking and is too rigid. My guest today says differently.

    We cover;

    - attention span

    - evidence-based learning

    - motivation

    -working memory and long-term memory

    - decoding regarding listening and reading.

    Enjoy!

    And don't forget to join the waiting list for my No-Nonsense Lexical Toolkit course coming in June to avail of a special discount. This price will never be seen again! Join here: http://subscribepage.io/qANdpX

    André Hedlund, MSc in Psychology of Education (University of Bristol and Chevening Alumnus), is an educational consultant, teacher trainer, guest lecturer, and author. He leads BRAZ-TESOL's Mind, Brain, and Education SIG, co-hosts the Chá Pedagógico podcast, founded Learning Cosmos, and collaborates with National Geographic Learning, ELi Publishing, and the British Council on professional development projects.

    Connect with Andre: www.learningcosmos.com.brBlog: https://substack.com/@andrehedlundJoin my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠

    Contact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Be a dear and fill out this survey on student listening skills – it would help me so much! https://forms.gle/u4EXyrJqcFtXPnkS7

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues and leave a review. Share the love.


    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Episode 149: Decoding Listening Skills - The Basics
    Apr 14 2025

    So I've discovered decoding so that means you should too.

    In this episode, I give you a basic rundown of what decoding for listening is and I share my semi-okay-but-not-great attempt at a decoding lesson. Because we all have to start somewhere.


    Join my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: ⁠https://www.subscribepage.com/betterteachingnewsletter⁠

    Contact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: www.refreshyourteaching.com

    Connect with me:

    ⁠www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacher⁠

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/⁠

    Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.

    Donate to the Kakuma Refugee Fund here: https://gofund.me/d77e9fe0

    Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.

    Get your Mindful Grammar Freebie here: www.subscribepage.io/4tlanY

    And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.

    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • Episode 132: What's the Most Important Thing in Teaching?
    Apr 10 2025

    Sharing is caring: what is a classroom without community?Teaching the course book content and box ticking and curriculum Is not enough.We have to think about how to build community in our classes.It's not too hard and it has a lot of benefits. And, like mindfulness and mindset, community lends itself to language teaching so well, there's no excuse not to give it a try.Join the waiting list for Methods and Mindset, starting in late September: http://subscribepage.io/qANdpXContact me if you would like me to help you or your school become better teachers: erin@refreshyourteaching.comJoin my Breathe Easy, Teacher Newsletter community for teacher love and support: http://subscribepage.io/0a49drConnect with me:http://www.instagram.com/everythingeflteacherhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-o-byrne-90b58a55/Youtube @Everything EFL for teaching tip videos and full podcast episodes with Closed Captions.Subscribe to Everything EFL on any platform.And don’t forget to tell your colleagues. Share the love.


    Show More Show Less
    7 mins