Misconceptions About Social Media in ELT with Ola Kowalska

Misconceptions About Social Media in ELT with Ola Kowalska

Author: TESOL Pop December 26, 2023 Duration: 14:04

Expert in assisting freelance language teachers in building successful businesses, Ola Kowalska, tackles misconceptions about using social media in English Language Teaching (ELT).

In this episode, Ola focuses on three key points:

Foundations Over Instincts: Ola shares her journey, emphasising the significance of establishing relationships within the ELT community before diving into social media. Many teachers rush into social media without a clear target audience or specific offers, leading to ineffective results.

Beyond Language Teaching: Ola highlights the futility of content that only focuses on teaching language points. While such content might engage learners, it doesn't necessarily convert them into paying clients. Ola stresses the importance of speaking directly to the specific audience you aim to serve.

Quality Over Quantity: Ola debunks the myth that success on social media requires relentless posting. She advocates for a more active approach involving networking with diverse professionals and directly engaging potential clients. Quality interactions outweigh the volume of content posted.

Reference
Kowalska, O. (2023) “Why you’re still struggling to get students from Instagram,” Get Richer, Teacher! OlaKowalska.com. April 6. Available here. Accessed on 26 December 2023.

💡 Did you know that TESOL Pop has a YouTube channel where you can watch this episode with closed captions and many more? Click here to watch.

🚀 Want to start or grow a teaching business? Learn more about Ola's services here.

You can support the work we do at TESOL Pop by:

🟣 Hitting the like and subscribe button.

🟣 Sharing this episode with your community

🟣 Buying us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/tesolpop

Want to join our next non-fiction book club? Click here to find out more.

Credits

Podcaster & Producer Laura Wilkes

Audio-Video Editor Haven Tsang

With thanks to our vibrant guest, Ola Kowalska.


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

TESOL Pop
Podcast Episodes
Setting Students up for Success in the Workplace – with Leo Wu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:07
English language trainer Leo Wu shares insights into tasks he uses in his classes to support his Business English learners in developing essential soft skills for the workplace. In this episode, Leo explains why communic…
Is Generative AI Making Cheating Easier? with Eve Conway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:21
In our 100th episode, TESOL Pop's co-founders Laura Wilkes and Eve Conway dive into the evolving world of generative AI and its implications for education. The explores challenges and opportunities tools like ChatGPT pre…
What to Prioritise When Teaching Pronunciation – with Gemma Archer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:14
Gemma Archer shares insights from her latest book: Teaching English Pronunciation for a Global World co-authored with Robin Walker. In this episode, Gemma talks about prioritising intelligibility over native-likeness in…
Let's Plan a Podcast using Visual Templates – with Emily Bryson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:40
Emily Bryson shares how visual templates can enhance learning by providing a creative way for students to brainstorm and plan projects, such as podcasts. This episode includes practical demonstrations and tips on incorpo…
Decolonising the Language Classroom – with Dr Amina Douidi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:04
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant Dr Amina Douidi talks about racial basis in teaching, materials, and assessment in the context of the language classroom and shares actions we can take to address the problem.C…
Teaching Active Listening Skills with Shweta Ramkumar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:44
Communications Coach Shweta Ramkumar shares insights into teaching active listening skills to healthcare professionals. In this episode, Shweta explains what active listening is, why it's important and how we can develop…