Teacher Talking Time

Episodes

• The Secret to Duplicating Yourself and Moving from Freelancer to Founder - Zoe Smith 30.06.2026 1h 8m

  "When you are constantly thinking in scarcity because you're broke... you don't put enough value on yourself, on your time. You will undercharge, you will always look for ways to stretch yourself too thin. And you can also say yes to the wrong customers, too." We sit down with entrepreneur and BE School founder Zoe Smith.  Zoe Smith is the founder of BE School, a specialized Business English institution that scales corporate communication via an international team of over 50 educators. A veteran language coach who designs high-touch corporate environments and personally guides Fortune 500 executives, she recently launched The BE Hub: an interactive sister platform providing editable, real-world target curricula directly to language teachers worldwide   In this episode, we discuss: How helping build a 50-location Canadian childcare ecosystem proved that corporate clients will gladly pay premium fees for high-value operations. Why failing to separate your personal pockets from business capital keeps you acting like an employee. How having a newborn and a new business fueled a "failure is not an option" mentality How eliminating regular month-to-month invoicing in favour of non-refundable upfront class packages entirely deletes the administrative stress of chasing money. What managing C-suite executives reveals about regulating your own internal nervous system against minor operational fires. The necessity of duplicating yourself for your business to really take off The braveness required to shut down classes with CEOs when invoices weren't getting paid. Launching a sister company - BE Hub - without sinking tens of thousands of dollars into technical development overhead.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM ZOE SMITH: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit the BE School 3. Visit the BE Hub   OUR PARTNER: E-Solutions for ELT E-solutions for ELT helps teachers build an online system that works for them by building practical websites, course platforms, landing pages and automations designed around the real needs of their ELT businesses. You tailor your teaching to your students. Your tech should be tailored to you.  Explore E-solutions for ELT here.    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. CPD & Teaching Resources 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Monetize your teaching skills    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.  
• You Can’t Teach a Syllabus (And Why Accuracy-first is Killing Enrollment) - Matt Coss 13.06.2026 1h 43m

  "People ask me all the time, 'Are you worried that AI's gonna take your job?' and I tell them, no, but I'm worried that you would ask me that question, because it tells me a lot about what you think my job is." We chat with researcher Matt Coss.  Matt is a professor of applied linguistics in the Department of Modern Languages & Classics at the University of Alabama (USA). A research-practitioner who has taught Mandarin and Spanish across all proficiency levels for 13 years, his work focuses on task-based language teaching (TBLT), assessment, language program design, and student retention. He is also the Interviews Editor for TASK: Journal on Task-Based Language Teaching and a founding co-editor of the Focus on Practice section of Language Awareness.   In this episode, we discuss: How a childhood happenstance and an adopted aunt bypassed traditional language learning methods completely. Why tracking technical language gains as an absolute baseline sets a language program up for total institutional collapse. A direct look inside a Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) classroom where a student successfully performed a task but swore their teacher "didn't teach them anything." Why language classrooms are the ultimate retention machine for universities, outperforming massive STEM cohorts by fundamentally validating student identities.  How rigid vocabulary lists and zero training in meaning negotiation caused fluent clinicians to completely misdiagnose a critical patient case. Real strategies for working inside a strict curricular environment by identifying functional communication gaps rather than forcing artificial vocabulary drills. How to bypass structural paralysis by simply asking learners what they tried to say this week but couldn't. Why a student asking for a complex grammar rule is actually a cry for comprehensibility, and how to serve chunks over metadata.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM MATT COSS: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit his website    OUR PARTNER: FLUENTIZE Get 25% off with the code "TTT25"  Want to teach your best lessons — without all the prep? Fluentize turns real-world videos into interactive ESL lessons for teens and adults. Explore 650+ ready-to-teach lessons designed to engage your students, simplify lesson planning, and save you hours of preparation. Start for free here.   SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. CPD & Teaching Resources 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Monetize your teaching skills    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• Product Problems: Why Most EdTech Founders Fail to Scale [and how you can avoid that trap] - Kate Bodrova 31.05.2026 51m

  "To build a company, it really requires time. At some point, there will be only you who still believes in the product - not your team, not your investors, nobody. You and yourself in the room and your laptop, and that's it." We sit down with Amazy founder Kate Bodrova.  Kate spent over 10 years as an ESL teacher and language school owner before founding AMAZY, a digital workspace for teachers and institutions to create interactive lessons, track student progress, and keep everything in one place. Backed by UCL EdTech Labs and recognized as Best EdTech Startup in Europe 2024, AMAZY is trusted by 20,000 users worldwide.   In this episode, we chat about: Why looking at your competition is the ultimate trap, and how Kate found market proof on a crowded street filled with language schools. How introducing a proactive, problem-solving method disrupted the traditional, rigid classroom structures of Eastern Europe. The Ultimate "Mom Test" Fail: Why asking customers if they "like" your product is a hollow question, and the specific data you should be tracking instead. Why seven years isn't enough when building from scratch, and how to survive the brutal phase when you are the only one who believes in your product. How chasing "false hopes" and trying to mirror another entrepreneur's specific timeline will quietly kill your product. How saying yes to a massive, multi-city corporate contract forced a 15x scale and triggered a painful but necessary mindset shift. Why you should stop overthinking your idea at home and focus on the single true metric of business success: trying to sell it in the first 30 days.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM KATE BODROVA:   1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out Amazy   OUR PARTNER: COMMUNICATING FOR IMPACT The Creative House for Leading Educators & Experts.  Amplify your work with high-end video and podcasts that get results. Create impactful videos and podcasts with their programmes and done-for-you production services. Start your series here.    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP. 3. Our CPD Courses.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.  
• Inside the Black Box: What Actually Happens When Learners Communicate using TBLT? - Jonathan Newton 19.05.2026 1h 28m

  "Choice generates agency, agency generates engagement, and engagement is where learning begins. If you aren’t ‘falling over’ as a teacher, you probably aren't pushing yourself or your learners to take ownership of the language." We sit down with the esteemed Professor Jonathan Newton. Jonathan is an Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, where he leads postgraduate programs in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. With over 30 years of experience, his work focuses on the "black box" of classroom interaction and how task-based language teaching (TBLT) can foster learner agency and ownership. He has published over 80 articles and several seminal books on classroom interaction and task-based pedagogy.   In this episode, we discuss: The "Black Box" of communication: understanding the actual mechanism that explains how learning occurs during interaction. The power of choice: why giving learners agency is the most direct path to motivation and ownership. Unlearning the security blanket: moving beyond rigid PPP formulas to embrace the "falling forward" of real teaching. The "Magoo" (MG-O-O) criteria: a simple heuristic for tweaking textbook activities to strengthen meaning, gaps, and outcomes. Tasks for absolute beginners: why input-based tasks are the perfect entry point for learners with zero English. Negotiation for meaning: measuring the tangible acquisition of vocabulary through group-work interaction. The "Atlas Complex" in teaching: letting go of the burden of being the sole source of authority in the classroom. The desk as the enemy: how small physical shifts in the classroom can reignite learner engagement.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM JONATHAN NEWTON: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit his website    OUR PARTNER: FLUENTIZE Want to teach your best lessons — without all the prep? Fluentize turns real-world videos into interactive ESL lessons for teens and adults. Explore 650+ ready-to-teach lessons designed to engage your students, simplify lesson planning, and save you hours of preparation. Start for free here.   SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. CPD & Teaching Resources 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Monetize your teaching skills    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• Why Launching a Business is Scarier Than Skydiving - Martina Monreal 30.04.2026 59m

  "It’s 5,000 metres high, and I promise you: it is much scarier to launch a business than it is to jump out of a plane. When you launch, you are open to being judged, and you can fail, but that 80% fear is exactly what drives you to succeed." We chat with Smart Cookie co-founder Martina Montreal. Martina is a language educator and the co-founder of SmartCookie. Since 2016, she has taught over 1,000 students, using that experience to go all-in on building a "second brain" that eliminates administrative chaos for teachers. Martina advocates for the power of patience and taking professional leaps, even when launching a business feels scary.   In this episode, we chat about:  The power of "nàixīn" [耐心]: why patience is the most demanding requirement for both language learning and business. Overcoming the cost of inaction: how saying "yes" to an unplanned Spanish class changed Martina’s entire career. How a background in abstract logic fueled the creation of a "second brain" for teachers, Why Smart Cookie focuses on eliminating administrative fat rather than overcomplicating with features. Why true professional strength is built through failure, not playing it safe. Why rest is not a luxury: the role trashy television plays in entrepreneurship.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM MARTINA MONREAL: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit her website 3. Check out Smart Cookie   OUR PARTNER: COMMUNICATING FOR IMPACT The Creative House for Leading Educators & Experts.  Amplify your work with high-end video and podcasts that get results. Create impactful videos and podcasts with their programmes and done-for-you production services. Start your series here.    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP. 3. Our CPD Courses.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• The Assessment Trap: The Radical Assessment Shift That Actually Creates Fluency - Charline Rouffet 14.04.2026 1h 22m

  "If you only have this theory, you will never be able to swim. You need some water to experience it. Don't be afraid to start with a speaking exam in the first year. If we change the way we assess, we can change the way we teach." We sit down with the amazing Charline Rouffet.  Charline is a foreign language teacher educator and PhD candidate at Utrecht University, specializing in task-oriented language learning. Her research explores how communicative, classroom-based assessments can transform pedagogical approaches and bridge the gap between theory and classroom practice.   In this episode, we chat about:  Why young teachers struggle to implement communicative methods within a rigid, grammar-obsessed system. How the constant threat of testing shapes every move a student makes and every lesson a teacher plans. Why adding unknown elements to assessments is the only way to mimic real-life communication. Starting with the learning goals to ensure your teaching and testing are actually on the same page. How an obsession with accuracy and "memorizing verbs" is killing student motivation and closing down university programs. Why joy and personal connection is the only thing AI can't recreate in the language learning process.   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM CHARLINE ROUFFET 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit her website    OUR PARTNER: FLUENTIZE Want to teach your best lessons — without all the prep? Fluentize turns real-world videos into interactive ESL lessons for teens and adults. Explore 650+ ready-to-teach lessons designed to engage your students, simplify lesson planning, and save you hours of preparation. Start for free here.   SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. CPD & Teaching Resources 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Monetize your teaching skills    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• 1.5 Million YouTube Subscribers Later: The Truth About Money - Jennifer Lebedev 31.03.2026 1h

  "One of the mindsets that I really like is that I want to earn more so that I can sometimes offer more to those who can't afford it. It's like a cycle." We sit down with teacher and creator Jennifer Lebedev.  Jennifer is the creator of English with Jennifer. Launched in 2007, her YouTube channel has over 1M subscribers and 100M views to date. She is also a published author with Pearson, an award-winning blogger, and a speaker on building a healthy learner mindset.   In this episode, we chat about:  18 years on YouTube: starting in 2007 with a digital camera and no tripod. The "teacher creative" to business owner shift: moving from "doing it for free" to being a responsible entrepreneur. Overcoming teacher guilt: learning to set boundaries and stop apologizing for charging for value. The "Happy Money" mindset: seeing money as an exchange of energy rather than a source of stress. Why 1.5 million subscribers isn't a "get rich quick" scheme: the reality of YouTube revenue and sustaining a business. Identity-based habits: using sleep and mindfulness to fuel professional performance. Why one-on-one teaching still matters: using real student interaction to drive content and stay grounded   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM JENNIFER LEBEDEV: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit her website 3. Follow her YouTube channel   OUR PARTNER: COMMUNICATING FOR IMPACT The Creative House for Leading Educators & Experts.  Amplify your work with high-end video and podcasts that get results. Create impactful videos and podcasts with their programmes and done-for-you production services. Start your series here.    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.  
• The End of Traditional ELT: Why Teachers Must Unlearn Everything - Evan Frendo 14.03.2026 1h 27m

  "We’ve got to have a very hard look at ourselves and stop calling ourselves experts just because we have a Master's from 10 or 15 years ago. Those times are over, and we’ve really got to focus on what added value we can bring that AI can’t." We sit down with BELF trainer Evan Frendo.  Evan Frendo is a freelance trainer and consultant based in Berlin, Germany. He has been active in corporate language and communications training since 1993, and specializes in the fields of ESP and business English. A frequent speaker at conferences, he also travels regularly in Europe and Asia to run courses or to work as a consultant.   In this episode, we chat about:  Why sticking to the syllabus is the fastest way to become irrelevant in the corporate world Why we need to stop teaching "English" and start teaching English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) Why finding your specialty is 90% luck and 10% being the only person in the room who can stand up in front of a PowerPoint How AI is killing traditional needs analysis and why your learners are now their own content creators Why the best "business English" happens the moment the teacher leaves the room Why being "safe in the harbour" is the most dangerous place for your ELT career right now   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM EVAN FRENDO: 1. Visit his website 2. Connect on LinkedIn    OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• The Imposter Syndrome Trap: The Psychological Reason You’re Not Charging What You’re Worth [and how to fix it] - Catherine Angus 28.02.2026 1h 8m

  "You have to get beyond the 'it’s all about me' and get over that 'non-profit mindset' to realize you have a skillset worth an investment. Don't compromise on your value." - Catherine Angus We sit down with Catherine Angus, founder of the Hear You Go podcast, to talk about self-worth, education businesses, and standing firm on value.  In addition to the Hear You Go podcast, Catherine is an English language mentor, specializing in helping advanced speakers and teachers maintain fluency while silencing their inner critics. Through her 1:1 coaching and WILDE: The Listening Festival, she uses authentic global conversations to help learners build confidence and rediscover their love for the language.   In this episode, we chat about:  starting a podcast: confidence, doubt, and the unknown overcoming the 7-episode dropoff [where most podcasters quit] what perfectionism actually means why you want to be the tortoise, not the hare  social media toxicity and discovering what clients really want why passive income is like buying a lottery ticket using podcasts as a lead magnet, not a product how to pivot without abandoning your mission   *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM CATHERINE ANGUS: 1. Follow on Instagram 2. Her website 3. Her podcast, Hear You Go    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• You Can't NOT Teach Grammar (And Why We’re Doing It Wrong) - Caitlyn Pineault 17.02.2026 1h 27m

  "Designing curriculum around proficiency goals for your program  is a way of making them a positive, empowering tool instead of something that's punitive" - Caitlyn Pineault.  Caitlyn teaches undergraduate second language acquisition courses at Georgetown University with a dedication to connecting research and practice for language teachers. Her work can be found in the Modern Language Journal and the Foreign Language Annals. She is also the co-founder of the recurring column “Collective Wisdom: Teacher and Researchers in Dialogue” in The Language Educator.   In this episode, we chat about:  Bridging Research and Classroom Practice The Role of Feedback in Language Learning Student's Frustration with Language Learning Challenges in Changing Teaching Practices The Role of Rubrics in Reflecting Teacher Values Assessment and Its Impact on Language Programs Implementing TBLT in Different Educational Contexts The Future of Language Education and Teacher Mindset *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM CAITLYN PINEAULT: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Visit her website  3. Collective Wisdom: Teacher and Researchers in Dialogue”   OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.  
• Don't go Viral: The real keys to creating IMPACTFUL content - Laura Wilkes 31.01.2026 1h 7m

  "You don't have to feel confident to be great at what you do."  We talk with Laura Wilkes, founder of Communicating for Impact, about content creation, putting yourself out there, and what it really takes to build a full-service production house. Laura has 15 years of experience in education leadership and media production for global education brands. She started Communicating for Impact after seeing how high-quality, strategic media can accelerate growth for experts and mission-driven organizations.   In this episode, we chat about:  passions vs businesses going from reluctant leader to confident director the role of authenticity and creativity in content creation Laura launching her own creative production house how to stand out in saturated markets understanding buyer psychology  the mechanisms needed to take the entrepreneurial leap  *Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.   FOR MORE FROM LAURA WILKES: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out Communicating for Impact 3. Follow her YouTube channel   SUPPORT US: 🫶 Integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education. ⭐ Leave a review where you listen.   WORK WITH US: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  3. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.    THE THRIVING TEACHERPRENEUR Get inspired to start and grow your own education business. Weekly insights, stories, and reflections on education entrepreneurship. Subscribe on Substack here.
• There's a problem with the word "INCLUSION." We should use THIS instead - Ben Goldstein 14.01.2026 1h 22m

  Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "You can be included and still not feel that you belong" - Ben Goldstein.  We sit down with Ben to talk inclusion in ELT - and what that actually means (and what it doesn't).  Ben is a writer, teacher trainer and conference speaker. He taught materials writing for many years on the online MATESOL program of the New School in New York.  He has published two methodology handbooks for teachers: Working with Images and Language Learning with Digital Video. 30 Ideas on Inclusion in ELT, a pocket handbook for teachers has also just been published by Cambridge.   In this episode, Ben discusses:  defining inclusion in education challenges and misconceptions of inclusive teaching belonging vs inclusion why "inclusion" isn't the best word to use how being critical of inclusivity is alright holistic strategies for teachers to use engagement, representation, and action in UDL   FOR MORE FROM BEN GOLDSTEIN: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Ben's book "30 Ideas on Inclusion."  3. Visit his website bengoldstein.es   OUR PARTNER: WE ARE ENGLISH TEACHERS Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you.    Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 
• The biggest risk isn't being WRONG, it's being CONFUSED - John Healy 01.01.2026 1h 27m

  Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "Make a decision about which direction you wanna head towards. Start walking and don't do anything else for 30 days" - John Healy We chat with John Healy about education businesses, how indecision stagnates us, and what teachers can do to execute as entrepreneurs.  John Healy is the founder of My Speaking Score - an AI-powered platform that helps non-native English speakers prepare for the TOEFL Speaking test with confidence. From building a consulting business to teaching in Korea to now founding an edtech company, John's career in ELT is vast. He joins us to talk teaching and education businesses.    In our discussion, we dive into: navigating self-doubt  analyzing risk - and why people should take more of them why people are reluctant to make decisive decisions  outcome businesses vs hourly rates balancing passion and profit in education powering through early business struggles how ideas are easy and execution is difficult being obsessive over getting your customer their results    FOR MORE FROM JOHN HEALY: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Check out My Speaking Score   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you.    Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 
• You'll never feel ready: do you want to build a teaching business or not? - Mariela Mondaca 02.12.2025 45m

  Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "So many people are out there doing great things and they aren't ready, either, so I asked myself: Why not me?"  We chat with teacher and entrepreneur Mariela Mondaca.  Mariela is an English teacher, teacher trainer, and entrepreneur who has turned her 25 years of classroom experience into an online business. She designs programmes that bring together speakers of English as a foreign language from around the world, creating supportive communities where wellbeing-based topics spark conversation and help learners achieve real English fluency. She runs Fluent Connections.  In this episode, Mariela discusses:  Overcoming Self-Doubt and Taking the Leap Believing in Your Own Path Dealing with Self-Doubt and Anxiety Starting and Growing a Teaching Business Finding Your Niche and Evolving Learning from Mistakes and Adapting Advice for New Teaching Entrepreneur The Turning Point: Strategy and Mindset A Week in the Life of a Teacherpreneur Starting Over: Key Steps and Lessons Learned Reflecting on Personal Growth and Transformation FOR MORE FROM MARIELA MONDACA: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Follow on IG: @profe_mariel 3. See her programs   Support Teacher Talking Time: Are you struggling to find students as a teacher entrepreneur? Join the Elevate community via the We Are English Teachers community and gain visibility through their network of learners looking for a teacher.  We Are English Teachers: https://weareenglishteachers.com/    Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you.    Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com      RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 
• Can learning apps REALLY support language learning? The research may be surprising - Shawn Loewen 14.11.2025 1h 28m

  Want to monetize your skills as a teacher? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   "How do we make research meaningful for the classroom? What really helps students acquire grammar? Can apps ACTUALLY support second language learning?" These are some of the questions we tackled in our conversation with Dr. Shawn Loewen.  Shawn Loewen is Professor of Second Language Studies at Michigan State University, where he directs the doctoral program in SLS. His research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, the research-practice gap, and mobile-assisted language learning. He is the author of several influential books and serves as associate editor of The Modern Language Journal. His new book, "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA" is out now.    In our discussion, we dive into: whether the explicit vs implicit debate matters if people can actually learn languages on "those apps" pattern recognition and why some learners “just get it” task-based language teaching vs. Instructed SLA why most institutions don't really know what their approach to learning is  leveraging AI and technology for learning  bridging the gap between researchers and teachers the limits and potential of communicative language teaching   FOR MORE FROM DR. SHAWN LOEWEN: 1. His book "Edited Volume in Instructed SLA" 2. Connect on LinkedIn 3. His publications  4. His website   Support Teacher Talking Time: Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers. My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you.   Collaborate with us: Want to integrate your brand with our podcast in an effort to improve language education? Reach out here: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Join our Substack community.  2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 
• It's magical to feel PROUD of something you created - Anna Aleksenko 31.10.2025 58m

  Want to chat with us about your business? Book a free meeting here.  "I have no shame whatsoever in marketing my own courses because I feel proud. I know for sure that it works." We chat with entrepreneur Anna Aleksenko Anna is an entrepreneur based in Georgia who runs Voice it English, a program that helps professionals turn English into their career superpower. She's been teaching for over 17 years and has had to reinvent herself many times: something every entrepreneur can relate to. With a focus on connection, community, and client results, we're thrilled to have Anna on the show.  Her mission is simple: To turn English from a daily challenge into her clients' career strong point.   In this episode, Anna discusses: understanding that everyone has an accent burnout and setting boundaries expatriating and starting a new life how language can shape identity emotional barriers in language learning moving from hourly to results-based pricing focusing on ideal clients and how to identify them leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition the power of community advice for new education entrepreneurs    FOR MORE FROM ANNA ALEKSENKO: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Voice It English 3. Her free Friday speaking club   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Connect with us on our Substack. 2. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  3. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 4. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  5. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs. 
• Kids do NOT learn languages faster than adults. That's a MYTH - Dr. Karen Lichtman 14.10.2025 1h 24m

  Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help. "There's this myth that kids learn faster than adults. Research shows it's not true; adults are actually better language learners" - Dr. Karen Lichtman.  Dr. Karen Lichtman recently moved to Binghamton University after ten years training language teachers at Northern Illinois University.  Her research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, including age differences in language learning and implicit vs. explicit language teaching. Karen presents nationally and internationally to audiences of teachers and researchers.   In this episode, we dive into: the bad teaching that exists and how to address it the myth of children learning faster than adults why adults make better language learners why easier materials is almost always better designing a beginner course from scratch balancing implicit & explicit teaching addressing skeptical teachers the role of TPRS in language learning (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling)    FOR MORE FROM KAREN LICHTMAN: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Her website  3. Her publications  4. Her book "Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS): An Input-Based Approach to Second Language Instruction."   Support Teacher Talking Time: Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers. My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/   RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Subscribe to the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.
• You need to master the art of self-reinvention - Jessica Dias 30.09.2025 1h 2m

  *This is episode two of our series highlighting education entrepreneurs. New episodes every first of the month.  Want to chat with us about your business? Book a free meeting here.   "If it doesn't go according to plan, what is the worst thing that could happen that is the minimum I can be satisfied with?" We sit down with entrepreneur Jessica Dias to discuss growing a business.  Jessica is an English teacher and founder of Jessy Academy — an online school that helps Brazilian learners break free from the intermediate plateau and develop real communication skills in English. She started her teaching business in 2020 and has since helped more than 2,000 learners speak with more clarity, confidence, and naturalness. After years of working in traditional schools, Jessica decided to ride solo and build a business that truly reflects her teaching philosophy: practical, human, and focused on real communication.   In this episode, Jessica discusses: Overcoming Failure and Setting Realistic Goals The Genesis of the Itch: From School to Side Hustle Turning Passion into a Full-Time Business Embracing Change and Growth Building a Sustainable Business Model Challenges of Running a Business Balancing Client Work and Business Operations Delegation and Use of AI Tools Scaling While Maintaining Quality Advice for Handling Business Slumps   FOR MORE FROM JESSICA DIAS: 1. Follow her on Instagram: @msjessydays 2. Jessy Academy 3. Her Clear Pronunciation Program   Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.
• Is a TRULY task-based curriculum possible? - Claudia Fernandez 19.09.2025 1h 33m

  Want to move away from 1:1 and build your teaching business? Book a free 1:1 with us to see if we can help.   From beginner to intermediate in 9 months: yes, it's possible and Claudia Fernandez tells us how. Claudia runs her Spanish program at the University of Illinois-Chicago using a task-based curriculum. One result was bringing fifteen A1 students to intermediate over 9 months. She shares her story and how others can do the same.  At the University of Illinois-Chicago, Claudia is a Clinical Associate Professor, where she directs the Spanish Basic Language Program using a task-based curriculum. Her research and teaching focus on task-based language teaching, materials development, and classroom-based language acquisition. She is an award-winning educator, published author, and active contributor to both national and international professional organizations in the field of language education. In this episode, we dive into: Implementing task-based language teaching from scratch Why there is still pushback against TBLT  Mindset shifts every institution needs Aligning tasks with assessments Claudia’s experience of helping students go from absolute beginner to intermediate in 9 months Effective task design How learners acquire grammar through input-based approaches Instruction habits that get in the way of learning  How to create needs analyses in task-based learning   FOR MORE FROM CLAUDIA FERNANDEZ: 1. Connect on LinkedIn 2. Her university page 3. Her publication on moving from grammar to proficiency-driven programs    Support the show: Do you help students prepare for the TOEFL test? Check out My Speaking Score - an AI platform with data-driven feedback to help students get 26 on TOEFL speaking. Trusted by over 100,000 TOEFL test takers. My Speaking Score: https://www.myspeakingscore.com/   RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Subscribe to the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.
• Practice is the Price: What Teaching Taught us about Building a Business 01.09.2025 40m

  *This launches the beginning of a new series of our show: education entrepreneurship. We'll release an additional episode monthly, highlighting entrepreneurial voices in our industry doing great things. Want to chat with us? Book a free meeting here.  In this episode, we introduce the series and discuss what it takes to start and run your own business. Specifically, we explore the transition from traditional teaching roles to entrepreneurial ventures. We chat about: Why waiting until you're uncomfortable might be too late to start your business The real difference between commitment and consistency and why one matters more How teachers can build businesses without a one-size-fits-all model What Andrew's beach business (and Bob the Book) taught him about resourcefulness, scrappiness, and getting started Why belief in yourself is the most underrated strategy in entrepreneurship Who this series is for and who it’s not for Thank you for listening. Your support has been overwhelming and we couldn't do what we do without you. We hope this podcast serves as an effective CPD tool for you. If you have a comment or question about today's show, we'd love to hear from you: info@learnyourenglish.com    RESOURCES TO HELP YOU: 1. Book a free 1:1 chat with us to strategize your teaching business.  2. Follow the LYE YouTube Channel 3. Learn how to monetize your teaching skills with TAP  4. Download our free guides for teacherpreneurs.  5. Connect with us on our Substack.