Libsyn Directory

Strengthen Your Organizational Skills by Reflecting [Ep. 60]

Release Date: 02/13/2024

Finding Better Work-Life Balance [Ep. 74]

Thrive in ELT

Wish your work-life balance was a bit more… balanced? Forgetting my sister’s birthday was the wake-up call that started a gradual process of finding the work-life balance I needed to thrive as an ESL teacher. In the final episode of this season, I talk about the two key elements that moved me forward and can help make that wish a reality for you, too. For full show notes of this episode, visit Stay in touch! Sign up for my newsletter, Your Organized ELT Life. I’ll share tips, resources, and insights to help you manage your workload so that you have more...

Teachers Are People First: Finding Balance in Language Education [Ep. 73]

Thrive in ELT

Don’t you love it when you find out that you’re not the only one? That’s the way I felt when I first had a chat with Ana Jereb a few months back. I felt it again when we recorded this latest episode. I typically go solo on the show, but sometimes I meet someone who impacts me and my ELT life so much that I want you to know this person too. In this episode, you'll learn about: how Ana experienced burnout as an English language teacher and then turned things around why she believes that saying students come first isn’t possible the importance of teachers thinking of themselves as...

Four Skills, One Book: Bridging Theory and Practice [Ep. 72]

Thrive in ELT

Do you find it hard to actually apply English language teaching theory to your teaching? Often, research articles can feel distant, like the ideas are for a completely different world because you don’t see how they apply to your teaching situation. At the same time, you recognize that academic research in English language teaching is important to know about and understand – for yourself and your students. That’s why I’ve reviewed the book, Teaching English to Second Language Learners in Academic Contexts: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking, for you. It’s definitely a...

5 Ways to Truly Switch Off from Work [Ep. 71]

Thrive in ELT

Does this ever happen to you? You’re listening to music or cooking dinner and all of a sudden you get an idea for one of your classes. It’s very common for us English language teachers to think about work outside of work. I would even bet that some of our most creative thoughts come from these times! But as exciting and helpful as it can be, sometimes the way work presents itself in our personal time can feel like a burden, maybe even an intrusion. Which is why switching off from work is so important. Tune in to learn five ways you can truly switch off from work. For full show...

When Good Enough Is Enough in English Language Teaching [Ep. 70]

Thrive in ELT

Have you ever thought to yourself that there has to be a better way? Whether it’s every week or every day, it can feel like there’s always something to be done. What often follows? The feeling that there’s always something that could be done better. The reality of your English language teaching life is likely this: There will always be a lesson to plan, a course to revise, or an assignment to review. But that reality doesn’t have to mean long hours or striving toward perfection. What I finally decided to say years ago was this: Good enough is enough. This doesn’t mean that you...

Trailer: How You can Thrive in ELT

Thrive in ELT

Do you want to thrive in your English language teaching life? Learn about the Thrive in ELT podcast and how the practical episodes can help you reduce stress and find more time to breathe by getting organized. Connect with your host, Heather Johnston:

Four Steps to Get Your Organizational Systems Back on Track [Ep. 69]

Thrive in ELT

Have you ever started a system and then gotten off track? (My hand is up!) We all need a restart every now and again, don’t we? Some are easy, like the ones that tend to come naturally at the beginning of a new term. But others? They can feel like a disruption, a hassle, or even a disappointment. But here are three facts about organizational systems: It’s OK if you put a system in place and it doesn’t work out like you’d hoped. When you discover that a particular system or a part of a system doesn’t work, that can be a really good thing. When you get off track, it doesn’t...

Teaching Vocabulary (and More) through Text [Ep. 68]

Thrive in ELT

Do you find it a struggle to help your students learn vocabulary? It’s been a challenge of mine for most of my English language teaching career. But last semester I discovered a resource that’s helping me change that – all thanks to James Thomas. VersaText is a free online vocabulary tool that helps language teachers like you and me create text-specific materials and help our students discover new ways of thinking about words. Through the use of a fun yet intentional word cloud, concordance, and word profiler, I’m learning how to systematically help my students learn...

How to Juggle Multiple ELT Roles with Ease [Ep. 67]

Thrive in ELT

What words are in your job description? I’m guessing “teaching,” but what else? It’s not uncommon for English language teachers to take on multiple roles, voluntary or otherwise. Other words I’ve seen in ELT job descriptions are ones like: advising chairing coordinating grading leading We could probably get a list that includes every letter from A to Z! While balancing multiple roles can be quite enjoyable, it can be a struggle to keep on top of everything. And that struggle can be overwhelming at times because of the responsibilities that come with them....

“Rest” for English Language Teachers: Practical Application (Part 2) [Ep. 66]

Thrive in ELT

What is the ratio of work to rest in your English language teaching life right now? 50:50? 60:40? 90:10? It takes effort, persistence, and likely a bit of trial and error, to get it where you want it to be. It won’t always stay consistent, but there are certainly things you can do to find a better balance that’s right for you. I surprised myself early this year when the professional development plan I created wasn’t very (what I would have called) “professional.” It had nothing to do with learning a new skill, helping my students, becoming a better teacher, or any other activity...

More Episodes

Being prepared takes organization. And being organized takes… reflection?

Sometimes reflection can take a back seat to planning and teaching because it doesn't seem to have the same degree of urgency.

But reflecting before, during, and after events in your ELT life provides you with an opportunity for gaining insight into what works and what doesn’t for your teaching situation.

How you reflect and what your reflections tell you can help strengthen your organizational skills.

Similarly, your organizational systems can help you develop stronger reflection skills.

Listen in to find out how.

Get the guide to help you make professional development personal – step by step >> https://eltresourceroom.ck.page/products/personal-pd-plan

Do you wish you had less stress and overwhelm in your ELT life? Download your free resource “Reduce Your ELT Stress” and start seeing a change today >> https://reducestress.eltresourceroom.com

For full show notes of this episode, visit https://www.eltresourceroom.com/podcast/60-strengthen-your-organizational-skills-by-reflecting

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