Moving Beyond the Coursebook with Young Learners — with Fiona Hunter

Moving Beyond the Coursebook with Young Learners — with Fiona Hunter

Author: TESOL Pop June 2, 2026 Duration: 13:18
TESOL Pop
EducationHow ToSelf ImprovementTechnology

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:

  1. Getting Personal with Puppets - Teaching Tips
  2. How to Prepare for Reading a Story -Teaching Tips
  3. 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

Get inspired to record more. Weekly stories, insights, and content tips for standout educators delivered to your inbox.

👉 Subscribe here: https://communicating-for-impact.myflodesk.com/the-producers-edit


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

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
Engaging Parents in the Learning Process with Melissa Muir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:46
Teacher Melissa Muir talks about the important role parents and caregivers can have in supporting and encouraging their child's learning progress. In addition, Melissa provides practical insights into how she establishes…
Stages of Group Dynamics in the Classroom with Hall Houston [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:22
Teacher and Author Hall Houston talks about the different stages a group of learners moves through during a course and suggests activities to support the group's needs and evolution. All the activities referenced in this…
Student Wellbeing and Support with Konstantin Goldau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:49
Teacher and Counsellor Konstantin Goldau talks about challenges learners may encounter when returning to a hybrid or face-to-face classroom post pandemic, and suggests strategies to create space for reflection and mindfu…
Takeaways from IATEFL 2022 in Belfast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:00
Teacher Trainer and Examiner Fiachra McCleary shares his experience, takeaways and tips as an attendee of the 55th IATEFL Conference and Exhibition in Belfast (May 2022). To find out more about IATEFL, click here.Referen…
Trends in the ELT Industry in 2022 with Eve Conway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:38
Writer and Editor Eve Conway joins Laura to discuss the growing influence of artificial intelligence, virtual spaces and the need for soft skills in the ELT industry.If you have a question or a topic that you would like…
Stepping Outside of the Classroom with Tiffany Nielsen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:18
Teacher Tiffany Nielsen talks about the positive impact day trips can have on learners, as well as suggests points to keep in mind before, during and after a trip to help learners get the most from the experience.If you…
Community in the Classroom with Helena Marilican [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:18
Academic Coordinator, Helena Marilican, talks about what community can look like in a classroom setting, the positive impact it can have on learning, and how we can foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment…
Teaching English for Academic Purposes with Sean Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:25
Teacher Trainer, Sean Martin, returns to the podcast to talk about what teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) can involve, the type of language and skills learners need to develop, and how we can set ourselves up…

«1...678910