Talking TESL

In this episode of Talking TESL, we’re joined by the inspiring Jacqueline Mallais—an ESL teacher based in Montreal and host of the popular ESL podcast Chalk n Coffee and accompanying YouTube series, Espresso Shots. Jacqueline shares her trajectory to teaching (it began with a love of Anne of Green Gables), the challenges she’s navigated throughout her career, and the joy she finds in lifelong learning. She reflects on the deep sense of gratitude she feels towards the community that has supported her, and how she strives to give back through her work as an educator and mentor. Listen to Chalk n Coffee: https://tinyurl.com/2t5mfz97 Watch Espresso Shots: https://tinyurl.com/329vs22x Follow on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/45ebksm4

In this episode of Talking TESL, we chat with Suzanne Tremonte, a student in the TESL certificate program at Concordia University. Suzanne shares her journey into teaching and her experiences with United for Literacy, a national charitable organization supporting learners across Canada. She reflects on her transformative summer teaching in Aupaluk, a small Inuit community of 200 people in Nunavik, Northern Quebec—an experience that deeply influenced her approach to education. We explore key topics such as neo-colonialism in TESL, plurilingualism, and the power of gamification in language learning for children. Interested in volunteering with United for Literacy? Reach out to Suzanne at unitedforliteracy@csu.qc.ca—she’d love to connect!

In this episode, we chat with Tammy, a passionate high school teacher and a proud graduate of Concordia University's TESL program. Tammy shares her journey of growing up in a quadrilingual household, her early love for teaching, and the unique challenges and triumphs of navigating the TESL program and her professional career as a wheelchair user. Her enthusiasm for education is truly infectious, and her story is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the joy of following one’s calling.

What does it take to start a business in the world of TESL? In this episode, we sit down with TESL program graduates, ESL teachers, and edupreneurs Sophie Giroux and Nairy Kazandjian to discuss their venture, ESL Interactive. We explore what inspired them to launch a business together, how they balance ESL Interactive with their teaching careers, and the key knowledge needed to kickstart an edupreneurial endeavor. These inspiring educators are here to share their journey and expertise. Want to learn more about ESL Interactive? Visit their website: https://esl-interactive.com/ [https://esl-interactive.com/] Questions for Nairy and Sophie? Find them on: * Instagram: @miss.nairy [https://www.instagram.com/miss.nairy] * Facebook: ESL Interactive [https://www.facebook.com/eslinteractivepage/] * X (Twitter): @ESL_Interactive [https://x.com/ESL_Interactive] * YouTube: ESL Interactive [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp2bJ_8iav3TRfCeNUl9xtw]

In this episode, we sit down with secondary ESL teacher and TESL program alumna Mona Tavajohi. Mona shares her journey from her childhood in Iran to becoming the dedicated educator she is today. She discusses her experiences leaving Iran at 29 to pursue her dream of teaching students with learning challenges in Montreal. Key topics in this conversation include special education, overcoming obstacles, and fostering community in the classroom. Mona now happily teaches at École Vanguard, a school for students with severe learning disabilities. Through a positive behaviour approach and a focus on providing a safe emotional learning environment, she aims to remove obstacles for her students, enabling them to succeed. Her interests include neuroeducation, improving reading skills for students with specific learning disabilities, and promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom.