How to English TEFL Podcast

Episoder

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  Humans vs AI in TEFL: Clear Instructions, Smart Transcripts & Ice Cream 17.07.2026 29min

  This week on How to English TEFL Pod, Gav & Em break down what TEFL teachers really do, how students can use AI to boost learning, and whether human teachers still have a future in an AI‑driven world. Em unpacks how she gives crystal‑clear instructions, Gav explains why transcripts are a game‑changer, and together they tackle the delicate art of giving advice to fellow teachers.If you enjoy the show and want to support them, you can buy them a brew at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod.#TEFL #ESLTeaching #EnglishTeachers #TeachingTips #CELTA #LanguageLearning #TeacherLife #PodcastForTeachers #AITeacherTimestamps00:00 – What a TEFL teacher actually is03:01 – Will AI replace human teachers?06:49 – Future generations: tech backlash or tech dependence?11:01 – Em’s method: how to give perfect classroom instructions17:14 – Why transcripts transform student progress21:04 – Using the How To English transcription corpus22:13 – The delicate art of giving advice to fellow teachers28:23 – Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod
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  TEFL Mistakes and Teacher Magic 03.07.2026 32min

  This week on How To English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em dive into classroom quirks, practical teaching tips, and real‑life language moments — perfect for TEFL teachers, ESL instructors, and CELTA trainees looking to sharpen their classroom practice.They unpack why students make typical errors, how teachers sometimes have to “perform”, and the tiny decisions that make lessons smoother. You’ll hear Em’s efficiency hacks, Gav’s linguistic rabbit holes, and a few classic “Did they really just say that?” moments.What you’ll learn in this episode:- How to spot and correct subtle student mistakes - TEFL efficiency tricks you can use tomorrow - Real ESL classroom stories and teacher dilemmas - False friends, confusing words, and translation issues - Practical admin tips for managing teaching hours Hosted by Gav & Em — TEFL teachers with years of classroom experience, sharing honest stories, teacher‑friendly advice, and CELTA‑friendly insights every week.If you enjoy the show and want to support their work, you can buy them a coffee (or tea) at: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Welcome back to How To English (TEFL teacher intro)01:59 – Teaching efficiency: quick wins for busy TEFL teachers05:24 – Em’s practical upgrades for TEFL & ESL classrooms10:24 – Similar words teachers should highlight (classroom examples)13:55 – Confusing English words: how to teach them clearly15:53 – “But you understand me though” — correcting typical learner errors22:06 – Gav’s translation dilemma (false friends in real lessons)24:24 – More false friends English learners struggle with26:33 – Teacher admin: how to track your teaching hours efficiently31:11 – Final thoughts & a surprising TEFL classroom momentHashtags#TEFL #ESLteacher #CELTA #EnglishTeaching #TEFLPodcast
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  TEFL Homework Tips, Teacher Holidays, Wish Grammar 19.06.2026 39min

  Struggling with TEFL homework ideas, online teaching admin, or tricky grammar like wish? In this episode of How to English with Gav & Em, we break down real teaching challenges, share practical tips, and have a bit of fun along the way.🚀What you’ll learn in this episode:How to create engaging homework tasks (that students actually do!)Why holidays matter for teachers—and how they reset your teaching brainThe reality of freelance TEFL life vs contracted teachingHow to handle online lesson scheduling, invites & time zonesWhat to do when students just don’t get itA clear explanation of tricky "wish" grammar (wish vs would vs past regret)Plus… a zombie apocalypse teaching scenario and the ultimate lesson “cake” formulaPerfect for TEFL teachers, ESL teachers, and English learners looking for practical advice, classroom strategies, and relatable teaching stories.👉 Support our podcast https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – TEFL podcast intro 02:08 – What makes a great homework task? 04:45 – Fun, interesting & relevant homework ideas 09:28 – TEFL holidays & freelance lifestyle 13:32 – Returning to teaching after a break 16:12 – Zombie apocalypse teaching scenario 19:03 – Online teaching invites & Issues 26:00 – When students don’t understand "Wish"33:10 – Lesson cake metaphor38:20 – Outro
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  TEFL Tales, Training, First Impressions 05.06.2026 33min

  This week on Gav & Em’s How to English TEFL Pod, we take a nostalgic wander through the weird, wonderful, and occasionally chaotic world of TEFL life! ✈️📚 Gav puts Em on the spot with a not-quite-true-or-false quiz that somehow turns into stories about teaching in bathrooms, cupboards, art galleries, and even gas refineries (yes, really). We chat about adorable (and slightly uncooperative) student pets 🐱, mega-long commutes, and the classroom games that got way too competitive… with adults 😅. Then things get a bit more reflective as we dig into our CELTA experiences—what stuck, what annoyed us, and how it’s shaped the teachers we are today. We talk about classroom dynamics, teacher “fingerprints” on students, first impressions (and first-lesson nerves!), and why being human in front of your class might just be your biggest strength.As always, it’s relaxed, honest, and packed with teaching insights you’ll definitely recognise—whether you’re in the classroom or learning in one.☕ If you enjoy the show, you can support Gav & Em (and keep the coffee flowing!) at 👉 ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodResourcesQuiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=proOvlY-WKk⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro with TEFL nostalgia03:17 – Gav’s “true or false” quiz begins 😄03:47 – Weirdest places we’ve taught English04:40 – Cutest (and strangest) student pets06:02 – Longest commutes & travel stories07:09 – Funny things students have called us08:02 – Essential TEFL survival items ☕08:32 – When classroom games get too competitive11:02 – CELTA reflections: love it or hate it?17:05 – Teaching style, classroom vibe & being approachable18:22 – Can you spot another teacher’s influence?23:18 – Bad habits students bring with them25:24 – First lessons, pressure & first impressions26:59 – Surviving the “autopilot” lesson blur31:06 – Being human, making mistakes & wrapping up
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  Emails, Accents, Websites 22.05.2026 33min

  Season 7, Episode 8 is packed with spontaneous teaching ideas, lesson lead-ins, online classroom routines, creative listening tasks, and the eternal TEFL struggle of being stuck indoors when the sun is shining. Gav and Em discuss how they start lessons, ways to avoid classroom monotony, using real-world materials in class, and the freedom TEFL teachers have to experiment and improvise. There’s also a brilliant live email-writing activity, an impromptu Jackie Chan listening lesson, favourite teaching websites, and a very important discussion about forks. Support the pod and fuel the tea and coffee fund at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodResources:Jackie Chan interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0IWSyc5AQQWikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org/BBC learning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/Google images: https://images.google.com/https://test-english.com/Timestamps:00:00 – Intro and what’s coming up in this episode02:07 – How Gav and Em start the first five minutes of a lesson05:39 – Greeting students and avoiding classroom monotony10:17 – Being stuck inside teaching when the weather is beautiful14:03 – The creative freedom of TEFL teaching16:01 – Gav’s spontaneous live email-writing lesson21:59 – Em’s improvised Jackie Chan listening activity26:01 – Favourite websites to use during lessons29:19 – Safe searching, grammar websites, and online teaching tools32:11 – “Put a fork in me, I’m done” and outro banter
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  TEFL Strengths, Weaknesses, Growth 08.05.2026 34min

  In this episode, Gav and Em dive into the realities of teaching English as a foreign language. Exploring their strengths and weaknesses as teachers, how to handle distracted students, and the feelings of starting again with brand-new learners. They also discuss praise in the classroom, and give a well-deserved shout-out to a loyal listener and follower. Whether you're teaching, learning, or just curious about TEFL life, there’s plenty here to reflect on and laugh about. ☕ Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Intro & episode overview01:28 – Strengths and weaknesses as TEFL teachers09:04 – Exploring teaching weaknesses (and honesty time)20:21 – How to deal with distracted students24:27 – Starting from scratch with new students27:23 – Recognising student progress & using praise32:10 – Listener shout-out & teaching reflections33:11 – Outro & support the pod
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  Students' motivations, Managing TTT and STT, Teaching with AI 24.04.2026 34min

  Why do students really come to English classes, and what should teachers do about it? In this episode of the How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em dig into the realities of the classroom: student motivation, managing turn‑taking, dealing with similar (or identical!) student names, and knowing when teachers should step back and let students do the talking. They also share: practical strategies for balancing TTT vs STT, how to handle awkward silences and dominant speakers, real examples of using AI in lesson planning, and a cautionary tale about why you should always check your materials before class… Grab a coffee (or tea), settle in, and join Gav and Em for an honest, practical conversation about what actually happens when you’re teaching English — and why it matters. ☕ Support the podcast: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodQuiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpSEdFEwCS0Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to How to English TEFL01:50 – Why do students come to English classes?05:24 – Different motivations in the same group07:56 – When students have the same (or similar) names10:14 – What to do when you say the wrong name12:49 – Turn-taking: order, randomness, and balance15:44 – Encouraging quieter students to speak16:22 – Awkward silences and “no questions”22:01 – When students ask the teacher questions23:15 – TTT vs STT: how much should teachers talk?26:18 – Using AI in lesson planning30:34 – Why you should always check your materials
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  Teaching Tension, L1 and Translation Apps 10.04.2026 40min

  Welcome back to the show. I guess you're wondering what really goes on while teachers are teaching? In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em talk about the physical and mental tension of teaching, what happens when you leave a class and come back to find students speaking their own language, and why learners often answer a different question to the one you asked. They also discuss how to grow their podcast. Whether translation apps help or hinder language learning. And finish with a surprising deep dive into the words don and doff. Honest teaching talk, classroom realities, and plenty of reflection for teachers and learners alike. ☕ Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 Introduction00:39 What teachers do while teaching05:23 Movement, posture & staying healthy10:53 Leaving the class and L1 switching17:24 Not answering the question22:08 Getting deep and technical26:11 Growing the podcast29:10 Translation apps in lessons35:36 Don vs doff (word origins)
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  TEFL Lessons, Breaks and Hand Gestures 27.03.2026 37min

  Welcome back to How to English with Gav & Em! In this episode, they branch out into the rhythms of teaching life. From how long a lesson should be, to what really happens between classes, why students sometimes stare blankly at their stories, and how our increasingly dramatic hand gestures somehow hold it all together. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and if you’d like to support the show, you can always show your thanks at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Welcome to the 3rd, no 4th episode 00:52 – Who listens to this podcast? 01:43 – Ideal weekly teaching load 04:47 – What's a teaching hour? 05:02 – Small talk: essential or excessive? 09:01 – What teachers do between lessons 13:33 – Admin, notes & digital vs analog 16:24 – Giving grammar real context 22:54 – Why students don’t react to your stories 29:26 – The art of TEFL hand gestures & goodbye
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  Books, Yawns and Fresh Faces 13.03.2026 34min

  In this episode of How To English Pod, Gav and Em dive into the ups and downs of teaching. From juggling long‑term classes and welcoming new students, to grammar slip‑ups, medical vocabulary surprises, and the eternal mystery of whether books are brilliant or boring. They also chat about remembering (and forgetting!) student details, merging groups, and why a single yawn might say more about a lesson than any feedback form ever could. If you’d like to support the show and help keep the coffee flowing, you can visit ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Warm welcome, rumbling stomachs01:06 Anywhere/anyone/anything5:10 Medical English & pronunciation discoveries 07:12 Remembering students’ personal info.15:39 Long‑term students vs. new students26:04 Books: useful tools or unnecessary burdens? 31:31 The yawn test for lesson success
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  Fun or Stress, Cold Coffee and Cancellations 27.02.2026 33min

  Welcome back to How To English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em! In today’s episode, we dive into the reality of teaching English — from trying to make lessons “fun,” to accidentally stressing students out, to Gav’s brand‑new teaching concept: Cold Coffee Syndrome. We also explore how TEFL life leaks into our “normal” lives, how online teaching affects real‑world conversations, and how cancelled lessons make us really feel. Plus, Em attempts to entertain us with some questionable teacher jokes… 😅If you enjoy the show, buy us a hot drink (which may go cold while teaching!) at: 👉 https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodBackground music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbOkPxriS6sShort Timestamps00:00 – Intro 00:57 – Interruption & DIScover02:25 – Fun vs stress in the classroom 09:19 – Gav’s Cold Coffee Syndrome 14:19 – TEFL life and “real life” 21:38 – Online vs face‑to‑face skills 24:20 – How cancellations make teachers feel 28:29 – Em’s English teacher jokes 32:12 – Wrap‑up & Ko‑fi
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  Conversation Classes, Personality and Everyday Phrases 13.02.2026 40min

  Welcome to How To English: Teach & Learn with Gav & Em! A fun TEFL podcast where conversation lessons go wild, ideas run out, car parks become grammar topics, and teachers try to figure out how much personality is too much. Season 7 is all about relaxing, chatting, and seeing where the lesson leads! Support us at www.ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod 💛Timestamps00:00 — Welcome back & Season 7 begins01:45 — Conversation lessons: confidence vs planning04:15 — Balancing grammar and natural conversation15:51 — How teachers generate topics & avoid going blank24:26 — Low‑level learners & everyday phrases30:04 — Teacher personality: how much to share37:29 — Being adaptable vs rigid as a teacher39:41 — Wrap‑up & goodbye
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  S06E24 XYZ (transcribed) VIDEO 19.12.2025 45min

  It’s the final episode of Season 6, and Gav and Em finish the A–Z of TEFL by squeezing X, Y and Z into one playful, language-packed show. Expect tricky pronunciation, unusual words, classroom games, zeitgeist vocabulary, zero articles, zero conditionals, and plenty of laughs along the way. A fun and thoughtful wrap-up to the season, celebrating language, teaching and learning. If you’d like to support the podcast, you can buy them a coffee at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodResourcesAI voice: https://elevenlabs.io/Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5YsCsv9Sc&list=RDQMRnuMug6asRQ&index=3Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & end-of-season reflections03:26 – Em's X word04:30 – Gav's X, Y, Z words15:37 – Gav & Em's pronunciation rules17:12 – The Yes/No questioning game21:46 – Teaching value of the Yes/No game22:35 – Zeitgeist Decade vocabulary28:24 – Superstitious Zero articles34:19 – Zero conditional and comparisons38:43 – It was sooooo...42:26 – Em's teaching tips43:19 – Gav's tip42:22 – Season wrap-up & thanks
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  S06E23 W (transcribed) VIDEO 05.12.2025 41min

  Welcome to another wild ride on the Gav & Em TEFL train! This week, they explore the wonderful world of W. From worst-case lesson nightmares to WH-questions, wish structures, word order, and the moments when teaching really does start to wear a bit thin. Expect laughter, language tips, classroom chaos, and some spectacularly silly sentences (dragons, rollercoasters, and volcanoes included!). If you enjoy the show and want to show some support, you can do so at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Welcome aboard the W episode01:22 – Worst lesson nightmares08:42 – WH-question words & a mystery celebrity13:57 – Wish sentences (present, past & would)18:20 – “In time” vs “On time” – the great mix-up22:13 – Emergency lesson: W is for Word Order!30:43 – Wearing thin – is teaching ever boring?35:57 – Negative WH-questions38:20 – Tip of the episode: Warmers & candles39:30 – Watch, Wait, Welcome – advice for teachers & learners41:46 – Wrapping up W and looking ahead to X, Y, Z
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  S06E22 V (transcribed) VIDEO 21.11.2025 46min

  Welcome back to the A–Z of TEFL, where this week Gav and Em tumble head-first into the wonderfully vibrant world of V! Expect variety, velvet vests, victorious vocabulary moments, and a VERY enthusiastic debate about voiced fricatives. There are visual coincidences, laughing puppies, identical cars, and a surprisingly deep chat about finding your authentic teacher voice. Grab a cuppa to support the show at ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodGrammar Drops: https://www.youtube.com/@GrammarDropsWhizbusters: https://whizbusters.teachable.com/Game music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=951ZpDOP9VY&list=PL170TfEhZz-_GstI3bsghBfuD-u8nlHHD&index=13Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:04 – Variety, spice, and T-shirts04:58 – Shout-outs!05:46 – Voiced letters & the /v/ vs /w/ showdown13:06 – Visual coincidences picture task22:54 – Finding your teacher voice29:02 – Big & small teaching victories31:07 – Vocabulary vs Lexis35:14 – Body-action vocabulary game39:48 – Vitality as a teacher43:49 – Gav's tips and more Vs43:13 – Em's tip45:15 – Outro & next week’s teaser
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  S06E21 U (transcribed) VIDEO 07.11.2025 34min

  🎙️Gav & Em explore the letter U in this fun and practical TEFL episode. From quirky Under to Ultra words, plus uncountable nouns, role plays, grammar tips, and AI-powered sentence upgrades—there’s plenty to unpack.References: English File, OxfordBackground music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q83yRKmKKYs&list=PLfP6i5T0-DkKSs8G6YbPHYAR70-f5tP9S&index=21Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & intro banter01:14 – Under-prefix wordplay05:54 – Uncountable nouns role play09:22 – Categories of uncountables10:33 – Countable vs uncountable game14:53 – Upgrading with AI 20:09 – “Used to” grammar practice 23:42 – Teaching with textbook units 26:40 – Prefixes: ultra, super, mega, hyper 30:26 – Tips of the episode
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  S06E20 T (transcribed) VIDEO 24.10.2025 44min

  🎧 How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em — Episode 20: T Welcome to another tea-fuelled episode of How to English — the podcast for teachers and learners of English as a foreign language! ☕️ This week, Gav & Em tackle the letter T, exploring TEFL, timelines, tone, task-based learning, and a treasure trove of teaching tips from students themselves. Expect laughter, tongue twisters, biscuits, and plenty of teacherly tangents!💬 Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Welcome & tea talk01:06 – TEFL: Be prepared & Don’t stress08:06 – T for Timelines: visualising grammar16:55 – T for Tone: intonation, emotion, and the magic of meaning20:18 – May and Will25:04 – Teaching tips from learners (the student perspective!)32:47 – T for Task-Based Learning: fun, communicative activities39:17 – Gav's T Tip: Test Your Articles42:00 – Em's T Tip: Transcription & IPA43:13 – The hardest tongue twister ever44:22 – Outro and Roller disco
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  S06E19 S (transcribed) VIDEO 10.10.2025 41min

  🎙️ S06E19 This week, Gav and Em tackle the letter S with style, sarcasm, and syllables. From subtle shifts in meaning to spontaneous small talk tips, it’s a packed episode full of teachable moments and classroom laughs. Expect staging breakdowns, student situations, and a few classic slip-ups that’ll make you rethink your next grammar lesson. ☕ Support the show at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodReferences: Background quiz music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB5huilYDPcTimestamps00:00 – Intro & bloopers 01:06 – Semantics: “cool” vs. “cool” 04:49 – Small talk & safe topics 10:31 – Syllables & jaw-dropping wordplay 16:41 – Student situations & name misfires 21:22 – CELTA terminology23:17 – Sentence slips & classic learner mistakes 28:49 – Staging & CELTA throwbacks 35:05 – Subject-verb agreement challenge 38:53 – Final tips for teachers & learners
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  S06E18 R (transcribed) VIDEO 26.09.2025 37min

  🎙️S06E18: The Letter R. Welcome to another episode of How to English: Teach and Learn with Gav & Em! This week it’s all about the letter R – from grammar to classroom hacks, language origins to fun word games. Expect laughs, real-life teaching tips, and a roller-disco soundtrack.☕ If you’d like to support the show, please visit: http://www.ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodReferencesSpaced repetition: https://www.heylama.com/blog/spaced-repetition#:~:text=Say%20you're%20learning%20German,solidly%20anchored%20in%20your%20memory.Telephone activity: Call Me on my Mobile, In Company, Macmillan, 2nd Elementary, p. 103Timestamps00:00 – R, /ɑː/, /rʌ/, or /ɑːɹə/?01:31 – Relative Clauses explained (not Santa Clauses!)07:59 – Root words: from Sandwiches to a Shambles12:49 – Realia in the classroom (menus, toys, postcards & more)17:34 – Rubric: giving clear instructions & CCQs20:35 – Instructions and Role playing28:51 – R-words game 32:31 – Repetition, Remembering & Revision tips35:29 – Reflexive pronouns practice (myself, yourself, etc.)36:49 – Wrap-up & roller disco outro
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  S06E17 Q (transcribed) VIDEO 12.09.2025 33min

  🎙 S06E13: Q is for Questions – AMA with Gav & Em In this episode of How to English – Teach and Learn with Gav & Em, we’re going full Q&A mode. From funny classroom moments to TEFL tips, podcast behind-the-scenes, and our Rapid Fire TEFL Round, no question is too big, small, or silly! We even find out Em's favourite competitions in the Teacher Olympics. Expect plenty of laughs, useful insights, and maybe a few unexpected confessions along the way.☕ Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodRapid fire background music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq4_kxdP468&list=PL_Z-vyXvZD7gac7I8eRuXn0CKceSpSVcN&index=2⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & Episode Theme: Q is for Questions01:28 – The mystery of the remote control02:49 – Gav's favourite country to teach in05:16 – Most creative classroom activity07:13 – If Gav could have any guest…08:13 – When students left Em speechless10:29 – The downsides of online teaching13:13 – Trying not to laugh in class14:51 – Making lessons fun for everyone16:23 – Reaching the “flow state” in teaching17:56 – Our favourite podcast episodes21:15 – The best compliment Gav's ever received21:50 – Which is easier: teaching or podcasting?23:33 – Gav’s favourite part of making the podcast25:08 – How we used the pod in class26:16 – The strangest place Em's planned an episode27:59 – A guaranteed winner classroom activity29:26 – The TEFL Teachers’ Olympics31:27 – Rapid Fire TEFL Round32:33 – Final thoughts & outro