British Council - Teaching English

What do you want to ask us?

Welcome to this special final episode of series three of the TeachingEnglish podcast! Chris and We'am look back at some of the highlights from the series. They also talk

How can we use the creative arts to teach English?

In this episode, we ask the question: How can I use the creative arts to teach English? Chris and We'am talk about how art in the classroom can help create a positive atm

How can we motivate our students?

In this episode, we ask the question: how can I motivate my students? Chris and We'am discuss what motivation in English teaching means to them and the importance of moti

What is critical thinking and how can we integrate it into English language teaching?

This week, Chris and We’am discuss critical thinking – what does it mean, why is it important and what role does it have to play in English language teaching? Chris and W

How can we use play to teach English?

In episode 6 we ask the question: How can we use play to teach English? First up this week, Chris talks about how he has used play in his teaching, and introduces We'am t

How can we assess more fairly and effectively?

In episode 5 we ask the question: How can we assess more fairly and effectively? We start by discussing the ideas of validity, reliability and accessibility in assessment

What is the impact of artificial intelligence on English language teaching?

In this episode, we discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on English language teaching. We start by discussing what AI is and its potential to make our lives as t

Do I need to sound like a 'native speaker'?

Welcome to episode 3 of series 3 of our podcast. In this episode, we ask the question: do I need to sound like a 'native speaker'? After discussing what we mean by native

How can we teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively?

It's episode 2 of our new series, and this week we are discussing how to teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively. We talk to Jo Cummins, freelance ELT teacher,

How can we achieve gender equity in the classroom?

The TeachingEnglish podcast is back! In episode 1, we're discussing how we can achieve gender equity in the classroom. We talk to Dr Aisling O'Boyle, Director of the Cent

What are your Top Tips for Teaching English?

In this final episode of series 2, we ask 19 experienced ELT professionals to give us their top tips for teaching English effectively. These tips cover five key areas, na

How can the ELT sector become fairer for all teachers?

Looking at the world of ELT from the perspective of fairness, justice, and equity, there is much to admire. However, it is far from perfect, and in this episode we look a

What is English for Specific Purposes, and how is it different to General English?

Building on what we discussed in episode 4 about ‘Academic English’, we take a step back and look at the wider context within which it sits – English for Specific Purpose

How can peer-led training and mentoring support teachers' development?

Teacher professional development is a crucial part of being a good teacher. However, we often think that ‘good training’ can only be obtained from ‘expert trainers’ at la

Why and how should we teach English in crisis and emergency situations?

Many parts of the world are currently experiencing significant levels of violence and conflict. The role of education and language learning in these areas is very importa

How can I use 'story' to teach English?

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your context, story will almost certainly be an important part of the teaching and learning context. However, what is meant by

What is the difference between academic English and general English?

Just the phrase ‘academic English’ can sometimes make students – and teachers - feel nervous and afraid. In this episode, in the company of Tracey Costley from the Univer

How can we teach difficult or taboo subjects?

Teachers often ask to what extent they should be responsible for teaching challenging material in the classroom, for example topics such as sex, sexuality, racism, politi

How can we use virtual reality to teach English?

In recent times, the influence of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the metaverse in our daily lives has increased. This influence has also been very noticeabl

How can we use football to teach English?

It’s the first episode of Series 2 of Teaching English with the British Council, and we’ve got world cup fever. We’re looking at how teachers can use football to teach En