Episode 69!

We take a look at what it's like to fly long haul from Beijing to Vancouver, including some of the issues that can happen along the way.

Next, once landed, what's it like to acclimatize to new surroundings? Is it easy? And how do you beat jet lag... is it even possible?

And what are the plans for the next few months? Is it back to China or to stay in Canada?

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Time stamps:

00:00 Ukrainian New Year Greetings and Introduction

01:52 Attempt 1: Library Recording

04:38 Ukrainian New Year Tradition

06:01 Back in Canada: Jet Lag and Allergies

07:39 Flight Experience from Beijing to Vancouver

15:01 Dealing with Jet Lag

23:12 Gaining Weight When Returning Home

30:08 Future Plans and Visa Challenges

34:54 Conclusion and Contact Information

Episode 68!

Just in time for the holidays and the end of the semester, we take a look at the semester that was, and the year that was, at the university level here in China.

What went wrong? What went right? What could we do better? And just how much can you prepare for a class?

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Free IELTS Help Sheet

01:23 Reflecting on Teaching and Student Preparation

02:15 End of Semester and Upcoming Plans

06:13 Semester Wrap-Up and Student Performance

07:08 Automation in Teaching and AI Tools

09:54 Student Feedback and Exam Reflections

17:55 Balancing Technology and Traditional Teaching

23:56 Course Structure and Future Changes

25:40 Teaching Methods and Challenges

27:38 Classroom Dynamics and Student Engagement

32:34 Preparation and Execution of Lessons

43:02 Reflections and Improvements

48:06 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Episode SIX SEVEN!

We promise we won't even touch on that... in this episode.

Instead, it's exam time and the students are struggling, not just to find the energy to keep going, but to understand why they can do so well in an exam only to break down when trying to speak for real. What gives?

We'll look at some of the possible reasons for this occurence and what to do about it.

Further, we take a look what makes a person FLUENT in a language. Is it the ability to handle any situation with any skill (reading/writing, listening/speaking), or is it something simpler, such as being able to speak at length without losing coherence?

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:08 Exam English vs. Real English
03:13 Challenges of Language Exams
07:19 Fluency and Real-Life Conversations
15:26 Memorization and Exam Preparation
22:03 Enjoying the Language Learning Process
26:24 Final Thoughts

Episode 66!

In this episode we discuss the effectiveness of subject-specific language learning. Does it work better than a more generalized approach to learning a language?

Many language learning APPs and books as well as many language classes are general in nature, that is, they don't focus on any ONE topic, opting, instead, for a more broader apporach to a variety of topics.

But is this better than focusing in on one subject? If you wanted to learn another language, is it better to pursue a subject you enjoy rather than use a broad-based APP or textbook?

Based on real-world experience, both from language learning itself and in-classroom teaching experience, this episode discusses some of the pros and cons of such an approach, and some of the other things to consider when trying to learn another language.

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Time stamps:

00:00 Episode Overview
00:40 Cultural Significance of Numbers in China
02:41 Personal Language Learning Journey
03:33 Student Fatigue and Learning Challenges
07:59 Subject-Specific vs. General Language Training
11:11 Advanced Learning Techniques and Tools
20:22 Balancing Language Learning with Professional Skills
41:05 Final Thoughts

Episode 65!

In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of using children's books to learn another language as an adult.

No doubt you've heard from others that you need to read a lot in order to build up your vocabulary, but what are you supposed to read?

Some materials made for older language learners are too difficult and so students are often guided to pick up a children's book in the language they are studying. But is this a good idea?

From the advantages of building vocabulary and grammar structures to the disadvantages of relevance and, simply, what to do with the books once you're done, this episode covers a common discussion point among many a language learner.

Have you ever tried to read a kid's book in your target language? How did it go? How much did you have to look up?

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:45 Personal Language Learning Journey

03:15 Challenges of Learning Chinese

06:01 Benefits of Using Children's Books

18:45 Drawbacks of Using Children's Books

28:39 Conclusion and Call to Action

Episode 64! Who Gets to Choose What's Worth Learning?

As Beijing's weather turns colder, we tackle a fundamental question that emerged from a recent university class: Who should decide what students study in a language classroom? The teacher? The students? The administration?

In this episode, we explore the difference between what's fun, what's necessary, and what's boring but inevitable in language education. Drawing on experience teaching academic writing to 40+ students at a Chinese university, we look at how COVID-era online teaching has shaped current classroom dynamics—and why students who once multitasked across screens now struggle with focused, in-person instruction.

From gamification debates to AI dependency, from the challenges of teaching citation formats to the question of whether musicology could make academic writing more engaging than environmental studies, we consider the messy reality of university-level English language instruction.

Can you make homelessness interesting to study? Should classes be customized to student interests when exam requirements are fixed? And what happens when the curriculum emphasizes reading and writing but largely ignores speaking practice?

No easy answers here—just an honest reflection on the competing demands of education, engagement, and examination in modern language teaching.

Topics discussed:

• The shift from online to in-person teaching post-COVID
• Student engagement and the attention span challenge
• The role of speaking practice in academic English courses
• Choosing curriculum content: teacher autonomy vs. institutional requirements
• AI's growing presence in student work

Tell us what you think, whether you're a student, teacher or in the admin seat, who do you think should make the decisions and how much leeway should be given?

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:46 Podcast Background and Evolution

01:57 Challenges in Language Teaching

05:01 Student Engagement and Classroom Dynamics

09:57 Technology in Education

18:23 Curriculum and Subject Relevance

32:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 63!

Recorded at the end of October, this episode reflects on how the semester is going, especially given a recent exchange with my manager.

In brief, two suggestions:

1. Plays games with the students
2. Move the students to the front of the classroom.

All good in theory, but this is a university class of 40 students... for academic writing.

This follows a comment by one of my students that I'm one of only teachers that walks around the classroom, the rest of their teachers (professors) just stand at the front and talk from a PPT.

This got me thinking: does all education have to be gamified? And is the university language class any different from other classes?

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:45 Seasonal Changes in Beijing
02:46 Classroom Observations and Challenges
04:02 Gamification in Education
06:34 Classroom Dynamics and Student Engagement
07:52 Teaching Methodologies and CELTA
10:41 Student Expectations and Language Learning
22:23 Technology in the Classroom
27:30 Future of Education and AI
31:36 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Episode 62!

Liaozhai ZhiYi and the Chinese ghost story.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Tales_from_a_Chinese_Studio

Strangles Tales as told through the centuries, what are they, who are they about and where can you find them? And how much Chinese do you need to know to read them?

Translated as "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" and was written / compiled by Pu Songlin, a government official back in the late 1600s and early 1700s, during the Qing dynasty.

Usually deals with ghosts or apparitions, or even shapeshifters (usually snakes or foxes).

Most seem to be stories about ghosts, especially female ghosts, who deceive young men.

Quite a few deal with vices, eg, gambling, drinking, jealousy, greed and Daosit monks.

A few famous stories that have been done a few times, either in a TV series or a movie. Notably Painted Skin (画皮), The Painted Wall (画壁), (Nie Xiaoqian (聂小倩), and Lian Xiang (莲香). Some others I read through include 酒友 (Drinking buddy), 道士 (The Daosit Priest).

Painted Skin (画皮) - A guy falls in love with a demon, then his wife finds out and so they have to call in a priest to exorcise the demon. A battle between good and evil ensues, and what happens with true love?

The Painted Wall (画壁) tells the story of a trio of travellers who stumble upon a temple with a large mural in it. The mural contains images of a supposed "paradise" wherein there are a bunch of young women living in a mountain. Turns out the men can visit the place by going behind the mural and then become ensnared in a bit of godly jealousy.

Nie Xiaoqian (聂小倩) has been remade SEVERAL times and deals with a ghost who died when she was only eighteen. At some point in the afterlife she's coerced into joining some sort of demonic pact to attack a young scholar. It doesn't work, she rebels, and the story goes on from there.

Lian Xiang (莲香) is another type of love story where the guy falls for the ghost but is warned because of the presence of a fox. Foxes, especially white foxes, are often seen a demonic in Chinese literature, and LianXiang tells him as much: "There are foxes that do not harm people, but there are absolutely no ghosts that do not harm people." Turns out the ghost lady is sick and needs to go to the Three Mountains to get some medicine. This story has been properly translated into English.

The Chinese is kind of difficult so it might be easier to read it through in English first.

Stories read in this episode:

Petty Person: https://liaozhai.5000yan.com/20108.html

Dragon Meat: https://liaozhai.5000yan.com/20146.html

Loyal Dog: https://liaozhai.5000yan.com/20128.html

ChangZhi Women: https://liaozhai.5000yan.com/20127.html

Available in English on Project Gutenberg

https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/43629

In Chinese at https://liaozhai.5000yan.com/

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:45 Special Episode: Chinese Ghost Stories
01:27 Halloween in China
02:30 Introduction to Pu Song Lin and His Work
04:36 Themes in Chinese Ghost Stories
06:59 Well-Known Stories from the Collection
11:35 Story Analysis and Recommendations
20:02 Reading of Short Stories
34:42 Get in touch