The Impact of a TESOL Convention

I’m still running from conference room to conference room (and sometimes from the TCC to the Marriott). It’s the last day of TESOL 2024. I wish there were three of me so that I could attend all the sessions I’m interested in, but sadly I have to make my final selections. I’m happy to say…

Learning the Art of Time Management

At a recent live book discussion, a reader asked me how I’m able to keep up with content creation. The question might assume I’ve fully mastered time management, which is flattering. I’ll be honest and admit that I’m still developing this skill, but I have made strides. I was once regularly sleep-deprived and didn’t know…

Summer Mindset Shifts

The summer has been full of rest, recreation, and growth — professionally and personally. I can’t say that I’ve consistently met each challenge with grace, and at times I struggled to remember the wisdom I gained from previous situations, but overall, I’ve handled each problem I’ve encountered. Every small success brings me a step closer…

Turning Towards a New Year: Welcoming 2023!

Saying goodbye to 2022 is going to be harder than I thought because this week a dear friend and colleague passed away. Vicki Hollett, author and content creator, was a key part of my online support network. (See tribute on Instagram.) I enjoyed every collaboration I did with her and her husband Jay over the…

What Happens When the Teacher Is Wrong?

I recently discovered that I had mistakenly drawn a conclusion and taught my inaccurate understanding in more than one grammar video. I don’t think “Oops!” or “My bad” will suffice in this situation. My first reaction was strong disappointment, and it hit me straight in the gut. The weight of responsibility then fell hard on…

The Art (and Necessity) of Shifting Gears in Teaching

It’s been years since I’ve driven stick shift, but I’m fairly confident that I would remember how if I had to. I must admit I’ve grown very comfortable driving an automatic SUV. Like most experienced drivers, I don’t even think much about the mechanics of what I do anymore, though I try to remain attentive…

How to Create an Online Presence as a Teacher

Eight tips for creating an online presence as a teacher

Your New Juggling Act Requires Healthy Practices

Most adults have to juggle several responsibilities. I’ve been perfecting my own juggling act for over a decade. If you ever want to know what goes on between filming social media videos, hosting live streams, and giving private lessons, just picture me running up and down the stairs as I keep up with endless loads…

Learning to Control My Fire and Avoiding Burnout

One of the major challenges in online teaching is finding a balance in all that I do. I juggle the different formats available to me, including private lessons, paid courses, and social media; I do my best to have a presence on multiple social media platforms; I search for the right topics that engage and…

TESOL 2019 Highlights: Ideas and Questions to Consider

Many TESOL sessions deserve a full summary, but the sheer volume of take-away is too much to capture in the context of this blog. At this point, I’d like to give a shout-out to knowledgeable presenters who made sure attendees walked away with at least one golden nugget to apply to their teaching. I thank…

TESOL 2018 Highlights: My Take-Away from Different Presenters

I had to cut my TESOL experience short this year due to the overlap with the Easter holiday, but I’m happy that I still managed to pack some take-away thoughts with me. I always jot down lots of notes at sessions I attend, and then I reflect on them back at home when I’ve had…

3 Key Challenges of Online Teaching

Successful teaching requires us to know what to teach and how to teach it. Each teaching job presents us with a unique set of conditions. It’s those variables that push us to grow and become stronger in our knowledge and more versatile in our performance. When I began working online, I had to figure out…