TEFL Waffle

Episode 70: TITM: To sir with love

Troy and Steve watched a movie. This movie had many classroom scenes, it was set in a school, had students and a few teachers. There was drama. There were underlying themes relating to society. Troy got upset about it. Steve thought it was all a big joke, especially the interview scene. Many ladies in the old days of yore thought this teacher was rather dishy. The movie has a happy ending. This blurb doesn't.

Episode 69: A return to the classroom ft. Sunee

Sunee demoted herself from manager and teacher trainer to classroom teacher. Or was it a promotion? She's back to tell us about what she has learned about herself as a teacher since she's gone back into the classroom to, well, teach. If you listen carefully you'll hear just how well she is designed for teaching young children. We always love having Sunee on the show because she brings a sense of sense and sensibility to an otherwise chaotic podcast.

Episode 68: Staffroom complaints

Teachers talk. A lot. They talk in the classroom, but they also talk in the staffroom, and this kind of staffroom chatter can sound like complaining, but it's also a really good way for teachers to be cathartic, to reflect, to develop professionally, and to stay sane. As a manager, this kind of positive staffroom waffle can be threatening. So how exactly should we look at the kinds of things teachers say in staffrooms? Troy and Steve waffle about staffroom waffling. Very meta.

Episode 67: Reading, or testing?

How exactly do you teach reading? Can reading even be taught? Is there a difference between teaching reading and testing students' comprehension? Are you even reading this and how do we know you are? If you are reading, is there any way you really know if you comprehend anything on here? Should this blurb have some comprehension question to find out? In this exciting episode, Steve and Troy waffle effortlessly about the difficulties, challenges and complexities of teaching reading, and whether there is any difference between teaching and testing reading. If you listen to this podcast very carefully, listen out for Steve and Troy stirring their after-class sundowner drinks. Perhaps a G&T. Who knows.

Episode 66: Using drama in the classroom

Rolling drums, crashing symbols, DRAMATIC INTRO!!!

Oh, Wait, not that kind of drama...

Steve: Children, what's the name of this episode?

Children: Scream uncontrollably.

Steve: That's right! Good job. And what are we going to do today?

Children: Scream less uncontrollably.

Steve: Good job! When are we going to do it?

Visiting principal: Steve, are you ok?

 

Episode 65.2: TITM: Dangerous Minds Part 2

This movie demanded a lot of waffling. Really, a lot. See if you can see the link between spiders in the tropics, and the core themes embedded in this movie on children studying high school in America. If you find it, you get a chance to win an opportunity to enter a raffle which will draw from thirty seventeenths randomly chosen special entrants for the privilege of wearing your own white t-shirt. This second part of the Dangerous Minds gives Troy all the more opportunity to go through his copious notes on the intricacies of the movie, its relevance to your classroom, and the need for more analysis of movies. Thanks to our sponsors for their kind support of this episode.

Episode 65: TITM: Dangerous Minds

Have you ever watched a movie that has every cliche rolled into one blonde? This one has them all in one classroom. You can have them all for the price of one Snickers bar, and more. In fact, there are so many cliches to talk about here, Steve and Troy need two episodes to do it. Troy's copious notes on the topic of this teacher and her management of her class includes such issues as: gerunds, silence, awkward fighting in the classroom, marking in the bar, and swanky restaurants. If you haven't seen the movie - don't worry, they will tell you all about it. This here, is the first in a two part series on the gold standard of teaching movies.

Episode 64: Compliments from students

Are you a good teacher? Do your students think you are good? How do you know? What sorts of things do they say? In today's session, Troy wants to waffle about how students compliment a teacher who is good (in their opinion) and how to deal with it. Steve has little to say today because nobody compliments him. However, the podcast cat, whose name is Katt, decided that today's a great day to include his own contribution by rubbing all over the microphone. What exactly does 'good' mean anyway - who decides. This is the huge philosophical question we all should be waffling about.

Episode 63: Learning ABC

How do children learn the alphabet? How do ESL learners learn the ABC? It's complex. In today's episode we have some authentic material - recordings of Troy's son learning the alphabet with his amazing father/teacher. What Steve and Troy are up to is taking a critical view of the books children learn their ABCs with. This is a cute episode, but you know that Steve and Troy have a lot of really critical things to say about whatever it is they are talking about. Waffle on, ABC teachers!

Episode 62: 6 Principles of Exemplary Teaching

Do you want to be an exemplary teacher? Do you want to have an exemplary classroom? Or perhaps do you feel like having exemplary learning taking place in and around you? If you said yes to any one of those questions, you are amazing, and your prize is to get to listen to this exemplary podcast. You'll hear Troy start a lot of sentences and not always finish them. And you'll hear Steve waffling very well - really well indeed. Exemplary, in fact.