From textbook dependency to a "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" approach. Fiona Hunter, founder of Kids Club English shares how to confidently step away from set materials to create authentic, play-based language experiences for young learners. From managing the psychological hurdles of letting go of the coursebook to structuring lessons around picture books, Fiona explains how stepping back allows young learners to take true ownership of their language.
Watch with captions here.
TALKING POINTS
1. The textbook tension: engagement, syllabus pressure, and the progress gap
2. Why moving away from a coursebook requires us to rethink our teaching
3. The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" framework for structuring lessons
4. How giving young learners ownership over their activities sky-rockets motivation
ABOUT
Fiona Hunter is a teacher, teacher trainer and the founder of Kids Club English. Originally from Scotland and now based in the south of Spain, she has worked in ELT for over twenty years, teaching in Spain, the UK, Argentina and South Korea, including at the British Council. She holds a DELTA with Merit and specialises in teaching preschool and primary learners.
Now working independently, Fiona creates her own flexible, play-based courses built around stories, songs, games, crafts and drama - without relying on coursebooks. Through Kids Club English, she shares classroom-tested resources and runs an online Teacher Membership supporting freelance teachers and small language school owners who want to feel more confident, less overwhelmed and better equipped to build engaging, language-rich lessons for young learners.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
🔗 Kids Club English Website: https://kidsclubenglish.com/
🔗 Download Fiona’s Quick Start Guide to Flexible Units (available in the teaching tips section)
🔗 Watch Fiona’s 4-part video series on teaching without coursebooks on her website
🔗 Kids Club English @kidsclubenglish582
Fab Videos on Kids Club English YouTube:
- Getting Personal with Puppets - Teaching Tips
- How to Prepare for Reading a Story -Teaching Tips
- Sports Spinner Game Craft
SUPPORT US
☕ Buy us a coffee https://ko-fi.com/tesolpop
⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen
THE PRODUCER'S EDIT
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CREDITS
Producer: Laura Wilkes
Editor: Haven Tsang
Special thanks to our guest, Fiona Hunter
Production by Communicating for Impact @laurawilkes
TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Introduction to Fiona Hunter and the episode overview
01:12 - The three biggest engagement and pressure challenges of coursebooks
04:36 - The mindset shift: Rethinking your underlying teaching philosophy
06:39 - Moving from "off-piste" projects to a semi-structured storybook approach
11:08 - The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" lesson staging framework
11:36 - Fostering learner identity and confidence through classroom roleplay
12:00 - Where to find bite-sized teaching resources and closing thoughts
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