Episode #14
S07E14 – Should TEFL Teachers Use the Teacher’s Book? Do Students Really Learn Grammar? | Gav & Em Answer Your TEFL Questions
In this episode, Gav and Em tackle the real questions TEFL teachers ask every day: What exactly is a student’s book supposed to do? Is the teacher’s book worth using — or is it overwhelming? How do you fix confusing coursebook tasks? Do students actually learn grammar from lessons, or somewhere else entirely? Why do learners forget grammar rules even after you’ve taught them? Where does real learning happen — in the book, in conversation, or online? With practical examples, honest stories, and classroom‑tested hacks, this episode helps teachers rethink how they plan, how they use materials, and how they support learners in a more natural, intuitive way. Support the show: ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod Timestamps 00:00 – How do TEFL teachers use quiet weeks to get organised? 01:20 – What are TEFL learners actually looking for in a coursebook? 03:00 – What is a student’s book, and how does it support learning? 05:00 – Why do coursebooks teach through topics instead of grammar labels? 06:00 – What’s inside a teacher’s book, and why is it so overwhelming? 09:00 – Should teachers rely on the teacher’s book or trust their instincts? 16:00 – What do you do when a teacher’s book activity is badly designed? 20:00 – How do you adapt confusing listening tasks for real learners? 24:00 – Does teaching grammar actually work, or do students forget it anyway? 30:00 – Where does learning really happen — and how do teachers reinforce it?
