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Welcome to ELTea Time!
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ELTea Time MENA: A perfect companion for your commute to school...
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Grab a cup of your favourite tea (or coffee!) and join us for our live podcast episodes, covering popular topics from our Advancing Learning programme.
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In each episode we will be joined by a MENA-based educator for a 30-40 minute discussion on a contemporary topic that they are passionate about...
See our schedule below! Register now and join the conversation...
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UPCOMING PODCASTS
EPISODE SIXTEEN:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
and the MENA INSIGHTS PRIZE DRAW...
Guest: THOM KIDDLE
FRIDAY 1st JULY, 2022 @ 1pm DUBAI TIME
Join us for episode sixteen - the Season Finale - of our ELTea Time MENA podcast series...
In this episode we will welcome NILE Director, THOM KIDDLE. Together we will discuss the importance of professional development planning for the academic year ahead (as well as the importance of focusing on wellbeing over the summer) and what options are available to teachers through NILE. We will also host the prize draw for our recent MENA INSIGHTS Programme and Thom will announce the winner of that NILE Online Course on the episode...
SEASON TWO:
--- COMING SOON ---
Guest: THIS COULD BE YOU..!
DATE @ TIME
We've had an amazing first season here on our ELTea Time MENA Podcast, with a variety of fantastic guests, discussing a wide array of topics... (just scroll to check them out!)
We will take a short break for the summer, but worry not, SEASON TWO will return soon... and the next guest could be you...! So, if you have an achievement to share, story to tell, or just want to discuss a topic that you are passionate about, why not get in touch? (we are super friendly and will guide you through the podcast process without an ounce of stress, we promise!)
PODCAST EPISODES
To quote Andy Hargreaves:
"Too often, professional development is something done 'to' teachers - not 'for', 'with' or 'by' them..."
EPISODE ONE:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Guest: ISRAA OSMAN (SAUDI ARABIA)
DATE: 16.08.2021
In our opening podcast episode, Macmillan MENA trainer Nathan Waller (with his strawberry and mango tea) was joined by ISRAA OSMAN (with her karak tea) from Teach-O-Gen to talk all things professional development. We discussed the importance of PD and how to get started (and why we need to set SMART goals right at the start of the academic year).
To quote the Brundtland Report, Sustainability is: "the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs..."
EPISODE TWO:
SUSTAINABILITY IN EDUCATION
Guest: OLA GOMAA (EGYPT)
DATE: 23.08.2021
In our second podcast episode, Macmillan MENA trainer Nathan Waller (with his classic English breakfast tea - with cold milk on the side) was joined by OLA GOMAA (with her Earl Grey) as they discuss Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and how teachers can get inspired to support their students with this critical topic.
For more info, why not check out our Education for Sustainable Development and Citizenship (ESDC) PROGRAMME...
"Relevance is my motto!
We start teaching for life, not for academic success as an end in itself, but for success in life with all its aspects..."
EPISODE THREE:
SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE
Guest: NAJLA BAHRI (TUNISIA)
DATE: 22.09.2021
In our third podcast episode, Macmillan MENA trainer Nathan Waller (with his immunity-boosting ginger, lemon and honey tea) was joined by NAJLA BAHRI (with her large mug of black coffee), from the University of Manouba in Tunisia. Together we discussed what skills we might need to prepare students with (beyond language) to be successful, not just academically and professionally, but in all aspects of life, what role education (and educators) should play in this, and how and where teachers can find support with this important new area of teaching and learning?
There has been a lot of
research on the benefits of project-based learning, but very little research on how teachers implement it in different cultural contexts..."
EPISODE FOUR:
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND MOTIVATION
Guest: DR. NAWAR MUGHRABI (UAE)
Date: 28.09.2021
In our fourth podcast episode, Macmillan MENA teacher trainer Nathan Waller (with his green tea with forest fruits) was joined by DR NAWAR MUGHRABI (with her Americano with almond milk), who recently completed her Doctorate Degree in Education (many congratulations again btw!). Together we discussed the difference between students doing a project and teachers implementing a holistic project-based learning (PBL) approach, and her inspiration and research for her thesis on 'project-based learning implementation to foster student motivation', which she did with higher education students right here in the UAE.
"Life is all about learning.
As teachers and educators, our responsibility extends far beyond teaching... our role is to empower our learners"
EPISODE FIVE:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITIES
Guest: FATMAH AZAM ALI (SAUDI ARABIA)
Date: 30.10.2021
In episode five of our ELTea Time MENA podcast series, Macmillan MENA teacher trainer, Nathan Waller (with his fruity blueberry, pomegranate and acai berry tea), was joined by the inspirational FATMAH AZAM ALI (with her large mug of coffee) - President of KSAALT (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Association of Language Teachers), and Mom to baby Nayel (whose cute cheeks also make a special appearance during the episode) - to talk about the value and importance of professional development communities for teachers' professional growth and personal wellbeing.
"Webinars need to be tailored to meet teacher's needs..."
EPISODE SIX:
ARE WEBINARS WORTHWHILE?
Guest: MARIA ZAHEER (SAUDI ARABIA)
Date: 05.11.2021
In episode six of our ELTea Time MENA podcast series, Macmillan MENA teacher trainer Nathan Waller (with his relaxing camomile tea) is joined by Educational Webinar Jam founder, MARIA ZAHEER (enjoying her black tea with milk), and together they question whether all these ELT webinars (which have certainly become all the rage since the pandemic began!) are really worthwhile, and, if so, how can we make sure they are as valuable as possible... not just for our own professional development journeys, but that they also translate into tangible benefits for our students.
"There is evidence that integrating mindfulness in our classrooms helps students self-regulate and manage their emotions, and leads to better academic outcomes..."
EPISODE SEVEN:
ZOOMING IN ON WELLBEING
Guest: ANNA HASPER (UAE)
Date: 15.12.2021
In episode seven of our ELTea Time MENA podcast series, Macmillan MENA teacher trainer Nathan Waller (with his fruity Strawberry and Raspberry tea) is joined by one of MENA's most popular trainers: ANNA HASPER (with her caffeine-free Rooibos tea), and together they discussed Wellbeing in the MENA context - exploring the challenges around Advancing Wellbeing (both for teachers and students), considering what impact online learning has had on our students, and suggesting how teachers can look after their own wellbeing (and further support their students as well).
"The outcomes of the
projects certainly exceeded our expectations... The students demonstrated teamwork, constructive problem-solving, and acquired novel digital, social, and presentation skills..."
EPISODE EIGHT:
TEACHER PD AWARDS
Guests: MARYADA VARALAKSHMI ESWARI (BAHRAIN),
MOHAMMED ZOULI (MOROCCO), NASSER DRARENI (ALGERIA) & REEM MOSLEH (SAUDI ARABIA)
Date: 24.01.2022
Episode Eight was a very special, mid-season episode for us, as we celebrated both the International Day of Education 2022 and the achievements of teachers here in MENA. For this episode we hosted some of the top attending/participating teachers for our MENA PD Academy and Macmillan Education PD activities in 2021, and they kindly shared with us their PD journeys, ambitions for 2022, and favourite teaching tips! This episode was held in collaboration with ONESTOPENGLISH.
"I encourage you to be a centre of energy and daring, knowing that the impact of one teacher can be and has always been extraordinary...."
EPISODE NINE:
DEVELOPING SOCIAL SOULS
WITH GLOBAL GOALS
Guest: NESMA SOLIMAN (EGYPT)
Date: 03.02.2022
In episode nine of our ELTea Time MENA podcast series, Macmillan MENA teacher trainer Nathan Waller (experimenting with a more unusual dandelion tea) is joined by NESMA SOLIMAN from the Brilliance British School in Alexandria, Egypt (with her red tea - a firm favourite in Egypt it seems), and together they discussed her passion for Global Citizenship Education (GCE), her personal experiences volunteering in community-based projects in Egypt, and how she draws upon those experiences to both teach and inspire her students around the topic of GCE.
"It's not about content... it is about students developing a growth mindset and becoming ready for new challenges"
EPISODE TEN:
SHAPING NEW
UNDERSTANDINGS IN ELT
GUEST: FAISAL BEN KHALIFA (OMAN)
DATE: 10.02.2022
In episode ten of our ELTea Time MENA podcast, Macmillan Education MENA trainer Nathan Waller (with his Vanilla Chai) was joined by FAISAL BEN KHALIFA (who prefers his tea with ginger). Faisal is the Director of Foundation Programmes at Dhofar University in Salalah, Oman, and we discussed his approach to Educational Leadership (he is currently undertaking his PhD on this subject) and introduced about his upcoming ELT Conference for Dhofar University: 'Shaping New Understandings in ELT'.
"Women need more than opportunities, they need support in order to access them and this is why we created the female leadership mentorship programme, to give them the skills they need...?
EPISODE ELEVEN:
ADVANCING GENDER EQUITY
IN EDUCATION
GUEST: AMIRA SALAMA (SAUDI ARABIA)
DATE: 07.03.2022
In episode eleven of our ELTea Time MENA podcast, Macmillan Education MENA trainer Nathan Waller (with his Rooibos tea) was joined by the President of AfricaELTA, AMIRA SALAMA (who enjoys a hot water with cinnamon stick combo in the evenings). Together we celebrated International Women's Day 2022 and discussed the current situation in MENA with regards to women, girls and gender equity in education and ELT.
"imagine you are a child about to enter and explore this exciting new world of learning and education, but your only experience of that is through a laptop screen...?"
EPISODE TWELVE:
BACK TO THE FUTURE CLASSROOM
GUEST: NABEEHA TAHIR (SAUDI ARABIA)
DATE: 11.03.2022
In episode twelve of our ELTea Time MENA podcast, Nathan Waller (with his fruit tea) was joined by Teach-O-Gen trainer, NABEEHA TAHIR (who enjoys milky tea with cardamom), and together we will discussed some of the challenges created by recent transitions back into the physical classroom (or for many very learners, into the physical classroom for the first time!). We saw a lot of support for moving online, but perhaps less so for the shift back. So, what support do teachers, and students, need to ensure this transition doesn't further disrupt learning? And how can we ensure those old habits really do die hard... Join us to find out...
"Teaching is incredibly hard work, but it is also incredibly rewarding..."
EPISODE THIRTEEN:
TAKING ELT FROM CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY
GUEST: LHOUSSINE QASSERRAS (MOROCCO)
DATE: 27.05.2022
In episode thirteen of our ELTea Time MENA podcast, Nathan Waller (enjoying a hot chocolate as this podcast was late evening in Dubai) was joined by teacher, trainer, coach and conference organiser, LHOUSSINE QASSERRAS (who usually enjoys mint tea), and together we discussed the importance of giving back and providing all students with opportunities - and his work as founder of the NGO, Global Bus Foundation. We also chatted about his upcoming Rabat International ELT Conference and how teachers could get involved.
How do you create opportunities for your students beyond the language classroom? And, if you'd like some new ideas, check out this podcast episode now...
"Let your learners
share and participate in the classroom (as much as possible!)..."
EPISODE FOURTEEN:
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT &
CAREER PATHWAYS IN ELT
GUEST: MOHAMED ADEL SAMK (EGYPT)
DATE: 10.06.2022
In episode fourteen we welcomed from Egypt, teacher, trainer and academic leader, MOHAMED ADEL SAMK, and together we discussed his ideas around teacher development and what career options are available to teachers in MENA (as well as how they might go about accessing them), as well as reflecting on our own journeys in the world of education and English language teaching.
If you are an English teacher in MENA, and have been thinking about your own long term career development, then check out the recording below....
EPISODE FIFTEEN:
ENGAGING STUDENTS IN 'ACTIVE' LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
GUEST: SHAISTA QURESHI (SAUDI ARABIA)
DATE: 24.06.2022
In episode fifteen of our ELTea Time MENA podcast, Nathan Waller (enjoying black tea with rose and orange) was joined by Head of English and Social Studies at Al Hussan International School in Riyadh, SHAISTA QURESHI (with her Karak tea), and together we discussed her experiences and ideas around the topic of 'Active Learning', as well as her recent achievement as a shortlist in the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.
What strategies do you use to engage your students and turn them into active learners?
"...Learning is not the product of teaching... it is the product of the activity of students..."
GET INVOLVED...!
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Are you an educator in MENA and feel like you have something to share? Why not join me as a guest on ELTea Time? Maybe you are working on a local project, or your own blog, or have done some action research that has shined a light on an important topic? If so, we would love to hear from you... ELTea Time is 'the' podcast platform that aims to give a voice to the stories, passions and achievements of educators in MENA...
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