E85 - Summer Reading List 2026: Books That Challenge How We See the World, Teaching, and Ourselves

E85 - Summer Reading List 2026: Books That Challenge How We See the World, Teaching, and Ourselves

On our second ✨annual✨ summer reading list, we explore a curated selection of memoirs, nonfiction, and fiction that have shaped how we think about identity, belonging, error, and what it means to be human. This year's picks lean heavily into nonfiction and memoir, reflecting a shared desire to understand the systems, stories, and inner critics that shape us and our students.  Books discussed include: 🏪 Crying in H Mart [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/70a49749-c55a-4e4a-917d-3079a7ae3d1b] by Michelle Zauner 🗣️ My Broken Language [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/d43ee060-f7ae-4b69-9f85-58849b144d47] by Quiara Alegría Hudes 🌎 How to Hide an Empire [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1c21fe32-ad00-43e9-9a9a-5bea0e5ef3d4] by Daniel Immerwahr 🛂 Conditional Citizens [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/0fa83c1b-8485-484f-ae98-308aa6efe5e9] by Laila Lalami 😵 Being Wrong [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b1c3b095-14af-4ccb-a9fa-5d41e9ced1a5] by Kathryn Schulz 🫶 How to Be Enough [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b32f3e23-f578-4e9f-8536-0bb21c4b9571] by Ellen Hendriksen 🚪 Exit West [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6f9a394a-4f3b-445d-a346-804937bb5ffa] by Mohsin Hamid, 🍜 Automatic Noodle [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4932a31d-9ece-44a3-a9bf-0b0735976ced] by Annalee Newitz 👽 The Humans [https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6c17d483-90ec-4d05-937c-24fb0dcd0bba] by Matt Haig  Anna and Shé discuss how each book has shifted their worldview, their teaching, and their understanding of themselves, and offer practical ideas for bringing these texts into classrooms, book clubs, and professional development. Watch this video episode now on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 🎥 Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes: * E 70 - Summer Reading Special: Stories That Cross Borders [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUaTsFhfWhk] * E 81 - The Monolingual Bias: Advocacy for English Language Teachers (with Lilian Ardell) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5dWZWp7JQQ] * E 66 - “Being a native speaker isn’t a qualification” (with Meri Maroutian) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoEKjIVkh1Y] 💡 Reflect with us: *  Which cultural assumptions did your last great read challenge for you? * What question did your last great read leave you with? * How might you bring one of these texts — even just an excerpt — into your classroom or professional development? 🎧 Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com [http://ellii.com]. Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program. 📚 Chapters 00:00 Sponsor Ellii 00:18 Podcast Partners 00:47 Sandman Stories Promo 02:06 Summer Reading Returns 03:23 Why These Books 05:02 Crying in H Mart 07:43 My Broken Language 12:21 How to Hide Empire 16:21 Conditional Citizens 20:48 Exit West Magic Doors 23:38 Empathy for Refugees 24:32 Two Book Pivot 25:05 Being Wrong Explained 27:18 How to Be Enough 28:54 Teachers Need Both 31:19 Automatic Noodle Robots 32:37 Robot Rights Debates 34:39 The Humans Alien Lens 36:38 Language Learning Vulnerability 38:23 Wrap Up and Takeaways 39:47 Classroom Uses and Prompts 41:23 Reflective Questions Finale 42:14 Book Club and Goodbye #SummerReadingList #BooksForTeachers #ELTBookClub #TeacherReads #CulturalIdentity #LanguageAndIdentity #MemoirReading #CriticalLiteracy #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #StudentCenteredLearning #MeaningfulCommunication #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #GlobalELT

E84 - AI in ELT: Building Critical AI Literacy and Leading with Pedagogy (with Rachel Toncelli & Ilka Kostka)

This episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, hosted by Anna and Shé, features Northeastern University educators Rachel Toncelli and Ilka Kostka, co-authors of Artificial Intelligence, Real Teaching: A Guide to AI in ELT, discussing practical and pedagogical approaches to AI in English language teaching.  They address common misconceptions, including fears that AI will replace language learning, and argue that language remains essential for human connection, cultural nuance, and intercultural competence. Rachel and Ilka explain why banning AI doesn’t work and emphasize transparency, ongoing classroom dialogue, and using AI as a teaching challenge by having students critically analyze AI output, translations, and AI-generated emails. They also share a 10-category framework for evaluating AI tools based on alignment with learning goals, usability, feedback, bias, privacy, cost, and scalability, and encourage teachers to take small, collaborative, hands-on steps to build AI literacy. 📚Artificial Intelligence, Real Teaching: A Guide to AI in ELT [https://press.umich.edu/Books/A/Artificial-Intelligence-Real-Teaching2] Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes: * E 75 - Generative AI in Education: A Teacher’s Guide (with Sara Davila) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAkl6A-QZg] * E 51 - 2024 Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh7SQJbEEmQ&t=1s] * E 48 - Bring your teaching alive with ChatGPT (with Jeff McIlvenna) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkszQW6A_nA] 💡 Reflect with us: *  How are you navigating AI use in your classroom?  * What tips or tricks for implementation do you have to share with teachers trying to do the same? 🎧 Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com [http://ellii.com]. Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program. 📚 Chapters 00:00 Sponsor Message 00:18 Podcast Partners 01:50 AI in ELT Setup 04:34 Meet the Guests 05:41 Bookish Icebreaker 08:42 Why They Wrote It 15:17 Collaboration Matters 17:37 Misconception Language Ends 25:50 Teacher Fears and Integrity 27:57 In-Class AI Literacy 30:43 Protecting Student Voice 32:48 Show Don’t Tell Activities 33:37 Email Etiquette Pitfalls 35:08 AI As Communication Bridge 36:54 Tool Evaluation Framework 38:34 Ten Criteria Checklist 42:42 Start Small With AI 44:01 Hands On Tool Exploration 47:32 Mindset Over Interface 49:21 Book Clubs And Community 52:06 Hosts Reflect And Reframe 55:06 Listener Call To Action 55:46 Closing Farewell #AIinELT #ArtificialIntelligenceRealTeaching #AIinLanguageTeaching #CriticalAILiteracy #AIforTeachers #EdTech #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #StudentCenteredLearning #MeaningfulCommunication #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #ClassroomPractice #AILiteracy #EnglishTeachers #GlobalELT

E83 – Task-Based Language Teaching: Moving from Tasks to Transformation (with Dr. Linh Phung)

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast [https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/], Shé and Anna are joined by Dr. Linh Phung, decorated language educator, researcher, innovator, and the creator of Eduling app [https://www.eduling.ai/], to explore the principles and practical applications of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), an approach that shifts the focus from isolated language practice to meaningful, goal-oriented communication. Together, they unpack what truly makes a task “task-based,” challenge common misconceptions, and highlight how TBLT creates more authentic, engaging, and learner-centered classroom experiences. Rather than treating language as the end goal, this episode reframes language as a tool for achieving outcomes—encouraging learners to solve problems, negotiate meaning, and communicate with purpose. From designing effective tasks to structuring a full task cycle, the conversation offers both clarity and practical strategies for teachers looking to move beyond traditional models and into more meaningful language use. 📚 Resources Mentioned in the Episode * Eduling App [https://www.eduling.ai/] Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes: * Episode 82 - Grammar That Sticks: The NUFU Framework [https://youtu.be/DZ0yjmkCyHM?si=pnaVcXJiecKRXa7o] * Episode 76 - Unpacking the Lexical Approach with Erin O’Byrne [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw2DSqH6-fI] 💡 Reflect with us: * Have you tried TBLT in your classroom?  * What shifted for you when you started planning around tasks instead of grammar points? 🎧 Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com [http://ellii.com]. Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program. 📚 Chapters 00:00 Sponsor Message 00:17 Podcast Partners Plug 00:57 Welcome and Episode Setup 02:04 Meet Dr Linh Phung 03:31 Icebreaker Guilty Pleasures 05:09 What Is TBLT 06:18 SLA Foundations of TBLT 10:02 What Counts as a Task 12:42 Planning and Assessing Tasks 17:26 Focus on Form in TBLT 20:55 Why Drills Fail Beginners 22:03 Adapting TBLT to Contexts 22:13 Adapting TBLT Constraints 22:31 Input First for Beginners 23:39 One Way Two Way Tasks 24:57 Exam Pressure and Research 26:45 Participation Norms Buy In 27:58 Minimum Viable TBLT 28:40 Authentic Materials and Creativity 31:13 Learner Generated Tasks 32:38 Eduling App and AI Tasks 35:31 Courses: IELTS and Pronunciation 38:22 Frameworks Nesting Wrap Up 40:00 Final Listener Call to Action #TaskBasedLearning #TBLT #CommunicativeLanguageTeaching #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #StudentCenteredLearning #MeaningfulCommunication #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #ClassroomPractice #LessonDesign #ActiveLearning #LanguageLearning #EnglishTeachers #GlobalELT

E82 – Grammar That Sticks: The NUFU Framework (with Audrea Gold)

In this episode of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast [https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/], Shé and Anna are joined by ESL teacher and founder of The ESL Grammar Gallery [https://www.eslgrammargallery.com/] Audrea Gold to explore a refreshingly practical and research-informed approach to grammar instruction: the NUFU framework—Noticing, Understanding, Forming, and Using. Moving beyond traditional rule-based instruction, Audrea reframes grammar as a meaning-making tool rather than a set of isolated structures to memorize. Together, the conversation unpacks how teachers can design lessons that help learners engage with grammar more deeply, retain it longer, and—most importantly—use it with confidence in real communication. 📚 Resources Mentioned in the Episode * The ESL Grammar Gallery [https://www.eslgrammargallery.com/] Related Teacher Think-Aloud episodes: * Episode 76 - Unpacking the Lexical Approach with Erin O’Byrne [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw2DSqH6-fI] 💡 Reflect with us: * At which stage of NUFU do your students tend to struggle most—and why? * What’s one small shift you could make this week to move from rule-based teaching to meaning-based grammar instruction? 🎧 Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Ellii, one of the world’s leading content libraries for English language teachers. Looking for ready-made lessons that get students talking? Visit Ellii.com [http://ellii.com]. Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program. 📚 Chapters 00:00 Grammar Episode Kickoff 02:02 Meet Audrea Gold 03:23 Teacher Ritual Icebreaker 04:38 NUFU Framework Overview 07:33 Why Inductive Grammar Works 08:47 Noticing Stage In Action 10:20 Devil Wears Prada Hook 12:31 Noticing Techniques And Debrief 17:34 Understanding Phase Setup 18:16 Explaining Meaning Use Form 20:58 Reducing Teacher Talk Time 21:34 Student Ownership Mindset 22:41 Forming Stage Overview 23:31 Reverse Handholding Sequence 23:57 Unscramble Sentence Drills 25:42 Framework Fill Scaffolds 27:10 Remove the Guardrails 30:01 Using Phase Real Practice 31:11 Conversation and Task Activities 32:56 Writing Prompts Presentations 36:29 Shy Students Confidence 37:49 Why Communication Matters 39:46 ESL Grammar Gallery Plug 42:37 Final Wrap and Call In #GrammarTeaching #NUFUframework #ELT #TESOL #TEFL #ESLteachers #EFLteachers #LanguageTeaching #GrammarInstruction #CommunicativeGrammar #TeachingGrammar #SecondLanguageAcquisition #AppliedLinguistics #TeacherThinkAloud #ELTPodcast #TeacherDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ReflectivePractice #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherEducation #TeacherPD #ClassroomPractice #LessonDesign #StudentCenteredLearning #LanguageLearning #EnglishTeachers #GlobalELT

5 for 5 - E66 Relaunch - “Being a native speaker isn’t a qualification" (with Meri Maroutian)

As we celebrate five years of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the conversations that have most shaped our thinking—and, we hope, yours. These episodes reflect the heart of our work: thoughtful dialogue, reflective practice, professional growth, and courageous conversations about what it truly means to teach English in a complex, evolving world. Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with new classroom experiences behind you, we invite you to engage with this episode through fresh eyes. Notice what resonates differently. Consider how your thinking has evolved. Reflection is not a destination—it’s an ongoing practice. Thank you for being part of this community for the past five years. Here’s to the next chapter of thinking aloud together. ---- In this episode, we dive into the pervasive issue of native speakerism in English Language Teaching with educator and advocate Meri Maroutian. Meri shares her journey into the profession, the biases she’s faced, and the reflective, practical tools she now offers to help others tackle this issue—like her three-part masterclass designed to dismantle accent bias and outdated teaching models. We also hear from listeners about how native speakerism has impacted them, and reflect on how all of us—whether classroom teachers, trainers, or administrators—can work toward a more equitable profession. 💡 Reflect with us: How do your materials, practices, or hiring processes reinforce or challenge native speaker bias? What steps can you take to prioritize qualifications and intelligibility over perceived nativeness? 🎧 Related Resources: * Episode 13 - The Delicate Dance of English [https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/1b7tEvdW2Rb] * Episode 14 - Representation: More than just a stock photo [https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/4LdDhudW2Rb] * Episode 17 – The Benefits of Formal TESOL Training [https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/lz0J5odW2Rb] * Episode 18 – Book Review: Race, Empire, and English Language Teaching [https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/c6Q5OndW2Rb] * E46 - Challenging inequities toward multilingual teachers (with Alex Tang & Carine Saucillo) [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rFzySdmojFpMvVHPv8mGS?si=wibSKnuZTW6yZEcmF25A0g] * Meri Maroutian’s Masterclass on Systemic Bias [https://thenonnativespeaker.com/register/defeating-systemic-bias-in-elt/] Connect with Meri: * Instagram @the_non_native_speaker [https://www.instagram.com/the_non_native_speaker/] * Thenonnativespeaker.com [http://thenonnativespeaker.com] Chapters 00:00 Podcast Turns Five 00:20 Relaunch Episode Spotlight 02:04 Sponsor Break 02:24 Native Speaker Bias Setup 04:00 Meet Meri Maroutian 06:25 Music Icebreakers 08:25 Defining Native Speakerism 11:23 Hiring Bias And Gatekeeping 13:47 Credentials And Pay Gaps 18:03 Awareness To Action 20:37 Where Bias Shows Up 21:22 CV Games And Integrity 24:39 Accent Bias Goes Viral 25:41 English as Lingua Franca 27:34 Listener Stories of Bias 30:20 Challenging Systemic ELT Bias 31:05 Masterclass Part One Accents 35:40 Masterclass Part Two Methods 36:27 Masterclass Part Three Pronunciation 37:52 Rethinking Pronunciation Priorities 42:38 Qualifications Over Nativeness 45:05 Stakeholder Reflection Wrap Up #NativeSpeakerism #ELTEquity #MultilingualTeachers #GlobalEnglishes #PronunciationMatters #LanguageEducation #ReflectiveTeaching #TeacherThinkAloud