Teaching Teens Beyond Traditional Test Scores with Gregory Diehl

Teaching Teens Beyond Traditional Test Scores with Gregory Diehl

Author: TESOL Pop December 20, 2023 Duration: 14:59

Author Gregory Diehl examines the challenges of teaching English for practical purposes versus test results. Gregory reflects on his experience and suggests how to engage and support teenage students in using English for authentic communication.

In this episode, Gregory talks about:

Realigning Teaching Goals: Gregory emphasizes connecting language learning to students' interests, not just test scores, for practical communication.

Engaging Students: He advises making English relevant to students' lives to combat disinterest in language studies due to test-centric teaching.

Navigating Word Usage: Discussion focuses on understanding emotional nuances in words, not just literal meanings.

Overcoming Fear of Mistakes: Embracing errors as part of the learning process is highlighted to encourage communication without perfection pressure.

Teaching Beyond Tests: Advocacy for personalised teaching methods within test-focused curricula to foster broader language appreciation.

Affiliate Link to Gregory's Book
Our Global Lingua Franca: An Educator’s Guide to Spreading English Where EFL Doesn’t Work by Gregory Diehl.

💡 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.

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 knowledgeable guest, Gregory Diehl.

💡Good to Know💡
This episode description contains affiliate links. To learn more about affiliate links, read our disclaimer here.


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
How EdTech is Transforming Teaching – with Kate Bodrova @Amazy.uk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:23
Kate Bodrova, co-founder and CEO of Amazy, explores how technology is positively impacting teaching. Kate shares insights on how Amazy helps educators create and share interactive, media-rich resources while streamlining…
Bringing Research into Your Classroom – with Amira Salama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
Amira Salama shares insights on practitioner research and how everyday classroom experiences can contribute to meaningful research. She challenges traditional notions of research and highlights how teachers are already e…
Rethinking Gamification in  Adult Learning – with Jade Arthur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
Jade Arthur explores the concept of gamification in teaching adult learners. In this episode, Laura and Jade dive into common misconceptions about gamification, discuss the importance of intrinsic motivation, and share a…
Curating Immersive English Experiences – with Ruth Pringle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:36
Founder of Blue Noun, Ruth Pringle, discusses her innovative approach to immersive English learning. Ruth shares how combining outdoor exploration, artistic activities, and community engagement transforms English learner…
Teaching Tips for Translanguaging – with Josianne Block [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:33
Senior Teaching Associate Josianne Block shares insights on how embracing learners’ linguistic resources can enhance communication, foster inclusivity, and create a more dynamic learning environment.Watch with closed cap…
From Teacher to Teacherpreneur – with Shélynn Riel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:02
Shélynn Riel explores what it means to be a teacherpreneur and shares insights on how teachers can transition to entrepreneurship and leverage their skills to build flexible, impactful careersWatch the episode with close…
Finding What Works for You as a Learner – with Urmi Hossain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:35
Multilingual speaker Urmi Hossain joins us to share her experiences learning multiple languages and the personalised strategies she’s developed. Urmi’s learning journey highlights the importance of finding methods that r…
Start Building the Career You Want – with Martin Hajek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:45
Author Martin Hajek talks about the importance of role models and access to information to make informed decisions about our careers in the English Language Teaching industry. Martin shares three stories from his latest…