Great Works of Literature to Inspire Your Teaching with Chris Starling

Great Works of Literature to Inspire Your Teaching with Chris Starling

Author: TESOL Pop April 9, 2024 Duration: 14:14
TESOL Pop
EducationHow ToSelf ImprovementTechnology

Retired teacher Chris Starling shares a few of his favourite works of literature that inspired him as a linguaphile and educator. We hope Chris' book list inspires you to continue the conversation by sharing your favourite titles with your teaching community and in the comments section on the TESOL Pop website.


KEY TALKING POINTS


Discussion of "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" by Joan Didion:

  • "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" is a collection of 1960s journalism by Joan Didion, offering a critical look at the counterculture movement.
  • Chris appreciates Didion's style and personal approach to journalism, which invites readers into her world and provides insightful commentary.
  • Favourite quote: "This is the California where it is possible to live and die without ever eating an artichoke…"


Discussion of "Fugitive Pieces" by Anne Michaels:

  • Chris describes "Fugitive Pieces" as a powerful exploration of memory, personal history, and self-construction set against the backdrop of the Holocaust.
  • He praises Anne Michaels' poetic writing style and the depth of insight each reading offers.
  • Favorite quote: "The past is never dead, it's never even past."


Discussion of "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens:

  • Chris highlights Charles Dickens' storytelling prowess in "Bleak House," emphasising its intricate plot and rich character development.
  • He discusses Dickens' use of symbolism, particularly the fog, to represent societal issues and interconnectedness.
  • Favourite quote: "Fog everywhere... Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners."


ABOUT

Chris qualified as a librarian and then as a teacher of English, careers he followed with pleasure for over 30 years although he was drawn away from the librarianship side quite early. His longest service, over 20 years, was in a school where the students had over sixty home languages.


REFERENCES

  1. Didion, J. (1968) Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  2. Michaels, A. (1996) Fugitive Pieces. McClelland & Stewart Ltd.
  3. Dickens, C. (1852-1853) Bleak House. Bradbury & Evans


Links to later editions of these title can be found on the TESOL Pop website.


TRANSCRIPT

Watch with closed captions.


SUPPORT

We'd love to record more special episodes like this one for you.

Please support us to make this possible by buying us a coffee here.


JOIN OUR EVENTS

Upcoming lives and workshops


PODCASTING TRAINING AND SERVICES

Visit Communicating for Impact here


CREDITS

Producer Laura Wilkes

Editor Haven Tsang

Thanks to our charming guest, Chris Starling.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
instagramyoutubespotify
TESOL Pop
Podcast Episodes
Tackling Self-Limiting Beliefs in Leadership with Shane Leaning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:39
Organisational Coach Shane Leaning dispels common self-limiting beliefs that often deter educators from pursuing leadership roles.In this episode, Shane talks about:✅ Leadership Realities: Shane challenges the misconcept…
Making Teaching Materials More Inclusive with Lottie Galpin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:50
Inclusive ELT Consultant Lottie Galpin talks about the importance of inclusive representation in teaching materials and suggests ways to make textbooks more inclusive.In this episode, Lottie talks about: ✅ The importance…
Language Games for Very Young Learners with Jema Perry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
Founder of Mooncake English, Jema Perry, talks about stages of child development and shares three recyclable games that we can use with our very young (ages 2-4) language learners.In this episode, Jema talks about: ✅ Mot…
Taking a Career Break from Teaching with Sarah Omar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:09
Teacher Trainer and Educator Sarah Omar shares the story of her career in teaching so far and what motivated her to take a break. In this episode, Sarah talks about: ✅ How we can support our ongoing learning and build ou…
A Guide to Teaching One-to-One with Rob Howard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:37
Business owner Rob Howard shares his experience and tips on teaching one-to-one English language classes.In this episode, Rob talks about:1. Challenges we may encounter in moving from teaching groups to one-to-one2. The…
Activities for Raising Climate Awareness with Harry Waters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:59
Renewable English Founder Harry Waters shares three fun and simple activities we can use in our face-to-face classes to help raise students' awareness about Climate Change. In this episode, Harry talks about: How we can…
Stress Management Strategies for Teachers with Adrian Bethune [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:56
Author and teacher Adrian Bethune shares his experience with stress in his career and how this inspired him to find ways to support teacher self-care and wellbeing. In this episode, Adrian talks about:1. Normal versus ch…
Soundbites from the ETAS Professional Development Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:05
This special episode features soundbites from the English Teachers Association Switzerland (ETAS) Professional Development (PD) Day in Bern on 2 September 2023. We interviewed attendees Elizabeth Hirst, Veronique Vouillo…

«12345678910»