We're back after our conference enforced mid-season break. In this episode we are post-IATEFL and more significantly post TEFL commute games night. We took our recording stuff with us so this episode features amongst others Ceci, Ceri, Chia, Craig (our new number one fan , Graham, Daniel, Dennis, Mike, Olga, Tyson, Sandy, Vicky, and lots of games!

This is the perfect episode! Lindsay and Shaun explore the perfect aspect and what makes it so fun / hard/ difficult (delete as appropriate) to teach. They also explore what makes a perfect classroom and a perfect student. Finally, they discuss how close they are to being perfectionists.

In episode two Lindsay and Shaun discuss instructions and the complexity they hold for teachers. We discuss what makes a good instruction, how we wish other jobs took on board ELT instruction giving, as well as what makes them go wrong. Later in the episode, we consider what ELT activities have complicated instructions and Lindsay shares some advice about writing good instructions. There is also a surprise guest appearance from a high-demanding ELT Author sharing his wisdom on instructions.

We're back with a new season and in this episode Shaun and Lindsay discuss sleep. They talk about sleep vocabulary and look at the importance of sleep on learning as well as discuss different sleep routines. Then, Lindsay gets 8 seasons of joke revenge by putting Shaun on the spot. Welcome back.

In this episode Lindsay, Shaun and James (yes we've let him on mic again) give it their best shot at a cheesy Christmas episode. After stumbling across a website that proclaims the recipe for an unforgettable Xmas lesson for adult learners we decided to put it to the test....Happy Christmas everyone.

In the penultimate episode of this season Shaun and Lindsay talk stereotypes. They discuss teaching stereotypes in movies and what the real-life equivalent might be. They also consider if they have any stereotypical behaviours in the classroom before touching on class materials and the students they teach.

It’s an irregular episode! First because one of the regular hosts (Shaun) isn’t here. Instead, Lindsay and Ceri sit down to talk about all things irregular in language teaching. First off, this means the infamous irregular verb list. We were both surprised at how much research and writing has been done on these approximately 180 verbs. We begin to go deep on the origins of irregular verbs and whether or not they are disappearing. We also talk about other irregular things in English grammar, and finish by looking at how English teaching is irregular in other ways - irregular hours, irregular contracts, irregular teaching style.

Inspired by James' foray into publishing the team gather to discuss conversation. Lindsay and Shaun discuss what makes a good conversation and talk all things conversation class. Are they a boon or a bane? While James joins the podcast to throw in some unusual conversation starters.

Have you ever cheated on a test? Have your students? If so how imaginatively did they do it? In this episode, the TEFLcommute team explore cheating in education. From different types of cheating through to why people do it, Shaun and Lindsay talk about it all.

It's the start of a new season and in episode one Shaun and Lindsay talk family. They discuss whether teaching runs in someone family before looking at how families are dealt with in ELT. Which famous family tree would use in class? Do you know what a nibling is? Just how many types of cousin are there? All this and more in our season 8 opener.