So, here it is, my first self-published ebook! Here’s the blurb: This book is aimed at new teachers such as those who have recently completed a CELTA or Cert TESOL course. It offers a range of development tips and ideas… Read More ›

CELTA
12 conversation strategies worth teaching
One thing my CELTA course skimmed over was how to develop learners’ conversation strategies. There seems to be a good amount of focus on conversation strategies in recent coursebooks. However, at times I find these can be problematic. Models of… Read More ›
ELT Twitter chats
I did a digital reset of my Twitter account recently. I now see a much wider range of content than before, and have found loads of awesome EAL/ELL/ESL teachers to follow. One really useful thing about the reset is that… Read More ›
How to get a CELTA Pass A
I passed the CELTA with a grade A. There’s my certificate… There are already some good posts around on how to get a Pass A – see CELTA Helper for an example. However, I’ve been contacted a lot since I… Read More ›
Review: ELT Lesson Observation & Feedback
Lesson observations – where to start?! Jeanette Barsdell, the author of ELT Lesson Observation and Feedback Handbook, was thrown in at the deep end and expected to observe a teacher on her first day as a DOS. Despite being terrified,… Read More ›
Teaching functional language
A newly-qualified CELTA teacher has asked me for advice about how to deal with functional language. So… this is one of my approaches to teaching functional language! The example is from a lesson I did last weekend about the World… Read More ›
Reflection on CELTA and Trinity TESOL Courses
In her latest guest post, Nicky Salmon talks about the importance of reflecting on your teaching practice. A very important part of any pre- or in-service teacher training course, is REFLECTION. On a CELTA or Trinity TESOL course this will… Read More ›
How to write CELTA lesson plans
In her latest guest post, Nicky Salmon talks about how to write effective lesson plans on the CELTA/Trinity TESOL course. What is a lesson plan? On a CELTA/Trinity TESOL course a plan is made up of: 1.The procedure. This is… Read More ›
How to survive a CELTA course
In her second guest post, Nicky Salmon offers some useful tips for surviving an intensive 4-week CELTA training course. The title might sound a bit dramatic, but a typical course is very intensive, especially if you have chosen the 4-week option…. Read More ›
12 tips for writing TEFL lesson plans
I recently took a CELTA extension course for teaching young learners. The course went well and I quite enjoyed writing formal lesson plans again. Tutors said that planning was my strength, which probably meant my teaching wasn’t that good! I’ve… Read More ›