PODCAST

EP 01

From Invisible to Visible: Changing the World One

Are you “Illuminating the voices of the voiceless” through your teaching?
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 02

Ungrading: A New Way to Look at Assessment

Does receiving a grade help students focus on becoming better writers or getting better
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 03

Showcasing Cultural Stories Globally: The Cross

In this episode, Melissa discusses impactful ways to showcase the rich cultural landscape
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 04

Using Social Media and Relatable Resources

In this episode, PreK-12 Director of Literacy, Dr. Lorraine Radice, shares her extensive
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 05

Supporting our ELLs: A Parent’s Perspective

In this eye-opening conversation, we engage and learn from a parent who has put
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 06

Achieving District-wide ELL Success: A Community

Lyda Ragonese grew up in a bi-lingual household where her father was fluent in English
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 07

It Takes a Village: How a District is Collectively

In this episode, Dr. Booker-Balintfy shares her professional and personal experiences
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 08

Creating Synergy with Curriculum, Instruction

The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District has an uncompromising
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 09

Educating with Love: Using Powerful Talks

In this episode, Lizette talks about the impact of being “all in” in education, and being
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 10

Tech-Savvy Language Education: The Role

In the first episode of our TESOL 2025 Presenters Series, Dr. Linh Phung
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 11

Student Perspectives on Integrating AI Language

In this episode, Yasmine Telwana, a first-year writing lecturer at the University of Minnesota
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 12

Listening: Why Our Learners Struggle

In this 3rd episode of our TESOL 2025 Presenters’ Series, featuring Dr. Tamara Jones
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 13

PBL with ELLs in Mind: A Collaborative, Culminating

In this episode, Maria Friedland explains her diverse roles and how she collaborates
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 14

AI Tools for Success in the ESL Grammar

In this episode of the RBERNing Questions podcast, host Yasmeen Coaxum continues
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 15

From Classrooms to Communities

In this episode, Alicia Baez, the Assistant Superintendent for the Division of Multilingual
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 16

Unlocking the Power of Custom GPTs

How can AI redefine the way we teach and support multilingual learners’ speaking progress?
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 17

PBL from Start to Finish: The Process

In this episode, co-teachers share their secrets on how to prepare your ELLs and MLs
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 18

Vision, Journey & Global Connection: A message

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, Dr. Okon Effiong, the incoming President of TESOL
Learn more
PODCAST

EP 19

BRAZ-TESOL: Leading, Inspiring & Innovating

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, we sit down with Isadora Costa

Learn more

Once you submit your responses to the Google Form, a link will be provided to register on Frontline.

Episode 19

BRAZ-TESOL: Leading, Inspiring & Innovating w/Isadora Pereira Costa

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, we sit down with Isadora Costa, Founder and Director of Stars English School and Finance Director for BRAZ-TESOL, to explore innovative approaches to teaching English in Brazil. She shares her insightful journey from starting as a young teacher to creating her own school with a unique immersion methodology. Learn more about BRAZ-TESOL’s efforts in providing professional development, fostering community, and advocating for teachers. Plus, Isadora shares her thoughts on the role of AI in modern teaching. If you’re an educator who wants to be inspired to chart your own path in supporting multilingual learners, tune in now!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 18

Vision, Journey & Global Connection: A message from TESOL President Elect Okon Effiong

In this episode of RBERNing Questions, Dr. Okon Effiong, the incoming President of TESOL, sits down to talk to us at the TESOL Convention in Long Beach, California. Dr. Effiong shares his inspiring journey from aspiring genetic engineer to prominent educator in the field of English Language Learning. He recounts his first TESOL convention, his transition into leadership roles, and his efforts in founding the Africa English Language Teachers Association. Dr. Effiong also discusses the challenges and underrepresentation faced by African teachers, as well as his views on current political issues affecting language teaching. With a vision to advance TESOL's mission of promoting academic excellence and research, as the President Elect 2025, he emphasizes the importance of flexibility, advocacy, and global membership engagement in the rapidly changing landscape of education.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 17

PBL from Start to Finish: The Process, The Challenges, and The Triumphs with Francesca Davi & Luisa Frontino

In this episode, co-teachers share their secrets on how to prepare your ELLs and MLs for a PBL culminating event in which they showcase their civic-minded projects to a myriad of education specialists, field questions, and discuss possible solutions and future pathways to explore on their chosen topics. Ms. Davi and Ms. Frontino provide a comprehensive, start to finish guide that can be easily implemented by any educator with an interest in developing more structured, student-driven Project-Based Learning.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 16

Unlocking the Power of Custom GPTs for Speaking Practice w/Jennie Kim, Gina De Anda and Alayne Flores

How can AI redefine the way we teach and support multilingual learners’ speaking progress? In this episode, three dynamic presenters from the TESOL 2025 Convention: Alayne Flores, Gina De Anda, and Jennie Kim discuss the practical use of AI chatbots to provide that much-needed speaking practice outside of the classroom. Tune in to hear about how they are integrating AI tools like Custom GPTs and Chatty Bot in their instruction for all levels of multilingual learners. Discover the challenges they've faced, the innovative solutions they've implemented, and the future possibilities for AI in curriculum planning.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 15

From Classrooms to Communities: A Conversation with Alicia Baez

In this episode, Alicia Baez, the Assistant Superintendent for the Division of Multilingual Education at Buffalo Public Schools discusses her extensive role in overseeing ENL programming, bilingual education, and community outreach. Alicia shares her personal journey inspired by her father, also an educator, and her tireless advocacy for bilingual and dual language programs. She highlights the importance of culturally and linguistically inclusive education, teacher support, and effective leadership. Alicia also discusses various initiatives like the Bilingual School Principals’ Consortium and new programs designed to support immigrant and refugee students in Buffalo. As we wrap up, Alicia emphasizes the need for educators to ensure every student feels represented and safe in their learning environment.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 14

AI Tools for Success in the ESL Grammar Classroom with Drs. Katya Goussakova & Nicole Hammond

In this episode of the RBERNing Questions podcast, host Yasmeen Coaxum continues the TESOL 2025 Presenters’ Series from the TESOL Convention 2025 with Dr. Katya Goussakova and Dr. Nicole Hammond from Seminole State College of Florida. They discuss their presentation titled 'AI Tools for ESL Grammar Teachers,' their backgrounds in English language teaching, and their innovative methods for integrating AI, specifically Chat GPT, into grammar instruction. Tune in to hear their insights on creating engaging grammar activities using AI, the future of AI in education, and the importance of personalization in teaching. If you LOVE grammar instruction and are looking for fun, new ways to use AI to engage with your students, this episode is for you!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 13

PBL with ELLs in Mind: A Collaborative, Culminating Event with Maria Friedland

In this episode, Maria Friedland explains her diverse roles and how she collaborates with educators and institutions to develop professional learning opportunities and curricular resources for K-12 multilingual learners. She shares her teaching journey from Brazil to the U.S. and her numerous initiatives, notably her passion project, “PBL with ELLs in Mind: A Collaborative, Culminating Event.” This conversation is full of delightful stories about students who participated in this event, highlighting the impact of collaborative projects on multilingual students. If you’re interested in facilitating a passion project to empower your ELLs and MLs, Maria shares insights to help you on your journey to seeing your educational event come to fruition. Tune in now!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 12

Listening: Why Our Learners Struggle and How to Fix It with Dr. Tamara Jones

In this 3rd episode of our TESOL 2025 Presenters’ Series, featuring Dr. Tamara Jones, we explore the common pitfalls of traditional listening instruction in classrooms. Dr. Jones reflects on her own experience of simply playing recordings and offering multiple-choice questions, highlighting that this method primarily provides practice rather than actual teaching. She delves into the challenges of understanding the listening process, both for students and educators, and raises and answers the important question of how to effectively teach listening skills.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 11

Student Perspectives on Integrating AI Language Models in Writing Instruction with Yasmine Telwana

In this episode, Yasmine Telwana, a first-year writing lecturer at the University of Minnesota, discusses her insights on integrating AI into academic writing courses. Telwana, a multilingual educator with experience both in Egypt and the US, shares her research on student perspectives towards AI, highlighting both its benefits and challenges. The conversation covers the development of classroom strategies for ethical AI use, differences in AI adoption between native and non-native English speakers, and the importance of involving students in shaping AI policies. Additionally, the episode touches on Telwana's other contributions at the TESOL Convention, including her work on multimodal assignments and digital literacy. If you want to gain valuable insights on how to effectively incorporate AI tools in educational settings to enhance students' learning experiences, this is a must-listen!!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 10

Tech-Savvy Language Education: The Role of Apps w/Dr. Linh Phung

In the first episode of our TESOL 2025 Presenters Series, Dr. Linh Phung, an entrepreneur and tech enthusiast, shares her journey from Vietnam to the U.S., where she pursued her passion for English education and technology. She discusses her role at Chatham University and her ventures in developing language learning apps like Eduling Speak. The conversation dives into the benefits of using technology beyond classroom time, gamification, AI in education, and actionable tips for educators looking to start their own educational projects. Linh emphasizes the importance of finding joy in teaching and continuous learning. At the TESOL Convention this year, Linh’s presentations included “Culturally and Linguistically Inclusive Materials for Multilingual Ethnic Minority Learners” and “Empowering Language Learners Through Multilingual and Multimodal AI-Powered Texting.”

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 9

Educating with Love: Using Powerful Talks to Cultivate Habits of Success with Lizette Roman

In this episode, Lizette talks about the impact of being “all in” in education, and being part of a “systematic change” through her dynamic EMS Talks event. She delves into her childhood experience of being educated in a system with no bilingual academic support, and how that shifted into a career in bilingual education where she fully evolved in her mindset of how that support should be provided in a way that “appreciates the bilingual mind”. What does it really mean to be a culturally responsive educator? What methods are we using to really ensure we are in tune with our communities? How can we push ourselves past professional stagnation and into redeveloping our passion? How can we show our students that there is real world purpose in what we’re teaching them while instilling “habits of success”? These questions and more will be addressed as Lizette educates us with love to inspire us to reach higher heights as educators.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 8

Creating Synergy with Curriculum, Instruction, and Equity with Nate Franz

“The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District has an uncompromising commitment to excellence in preparing students to achieve and succeed, to respect themselves and others, and to practice life-long learning in an ever-changing, richly diverse global society. We take responsibility for providing a challenging educational experience in a safe and nurturing environment. We dedicate ourselves to the academic, artistic, social, emotional and physical development of each student.” In this episode, Mr. Franz discusses the actions taken to truly implement the above mission in the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District’s 5 year (2020-2025) strategic plan. He shares some of the challenges and successes of carrying out the initiatives developed to support the mission, which seeks to provide a more equitable learning experience for all students. Listen in to get a better understanding of the process of taking ideals for creating better learning environments and forming them into concrete, measurable actions that are clearly reflected throughout the district in a meaningful way. "

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 7

It Takes a Village: How a District is Collectively Supporting Its Students with Dr. Harmony Booker-Balintfy

In this episode, Dr. Booker-Balintfy shares her professional and personal experiences in supporting multilingual learners since 2022. She discusses the diverse student population her district serves, including over 421 multilingual learners, and their restructuring efforts to better accommodate these students. Harmony elaborates on the importance of accountability, explaining New York State's levels of English proficiency and the significance of the Seal of Biliteracy. She highlights various initiatives, and community-wide dialogues on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Harmony also touches on the challenges and successes of implementing equitable practices and the strategic plan guiding these efforts. The podcast concludes with Harmony sharing her personal journey and a thought-provoking question for educators on their approach to teaching multilingual learners.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 6

Achieving District-wide ELL Success: A Community Effort with Lyda Ragonese

Lyda Ragonese grew up in a bi-lingual household where her father was fluent in English, French and Hmong. She attended a school without an ENL program and quickly adapted to academic life in the US. Listen in as she tells RBERNing questions how she achieved this. During our discussion, she reveals the initiatives that have greatly boosted graduation rates of ELLs in her school district in Syracuse, and the role of support in helping all educators understand the challenges that our ELLs might face. If you have burning questions about how to tap into the full potential of your ELLs and MLs, placing them on a path to success, tune in today!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 5

Supporting our ELLs: A Parent’s Perspective with Adelina Blanco-Harvey

In this eye-opening conversation, we engage and learn from a parent who has put 4 of her children through the Uniondale school system; all success stories who have graduated. Adelina Blanco-Harvey herself is an ELL, and in her role as a board trustee, she has a hand in creating policies that truly serve her community of students. As a parental resource, she ensures that parents understand how they can best support their children within the school system, from advice on proper testing to other services pertinent to their success as students. As an advocate for all students, she advises highlighting your children’s multilingualism as a strength, and stresses the importance of presence as a parent of ELLs, regardless of potential language barriers. Finally, she emphasizes the ways that communication can serve as a key component to maintaining relationships between parents and school administrations.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 4

Using Social Media and Relatable Resources to Build a Culture of Reading with Dr. Lorraine Radice

In this episode, PreK-12 Director of Literacy, Dr. Lorraine Radice, shares her extensive experience and strategies for supporting multilingual learners by enhancing literacy. She highlights methods to promote reading among students, the importance of including contemporary voices in English curriculums, and leveraging social media to foster a love for reading. Additionally, Lorraine addresses the impact of AI and technology in the classroom, stressing the need for critical reading skills and effective use of digital tools. This conversation covers the role of parents in literacy development, curriculum inclusivity, and tips to engage various stakeholder groups in building a strong reading culture.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 3

Showcasing Cultural Stories Globally: The Cross-Cultural Storytelling Project with Melissa Campesi

In this episode, Melissa discusses impactful ways to showcase the rich cultural landscape of our multilingual students on an international level. Through the Cross-Cultural Storytelling project, both students and educators hold and mold the power of personal cultural narratives that can open doors to better communication both in and outside of the classroom, expanding the reach of a deeper understanding of our global diversity . If you’re curious about learning a step by step process of how to tap into your students’ cultural resources, publishing their work on a dynamic platform, or even how to implement a lesson around the significance of the “cultural iceberg” at different levels, listen in for these practical tips!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Episode 2

Ungrading: A New Way to Look at Assessment with Babi Kruchin

Does receiving a grade help students focus on becoming better writers or getting better grades? What is the concept of ungrading and how is it implemented? How can you stop students from making “superficial changes” to a writing text instead of digging deeper to improve their writing? What is portfolio assessment, and what are the advantages of it? These questions and more will be addressed as Babi Kruchin discusses her methods for inspiring students to improve their writing skills by truly understanding and internalizing the criteria necessary for better academic writing. Learn the difference between “assessment of learning” and “assessment for learning,” and how you can use this knowledge so that students can take ownership of their academic writing development and become “a community of readers and writers” who are also able to self-assess in order to develop. If you want to establish a “toolbox” to help your students grow in their writing abilities, this episode is for you!

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits
Episode 1

From Invisible to Visible: Changing the World One Student at a Time with Principal Samantha Power Pugh

Are you “Illuminating the voices of the voiceless” through your teaching? If not and you want to know how, listening to this episode is a must! Principal Samantha “Power” Pugh kicks off this episode by giving us a wealth of information on the Off School Grounds (OSG) educational leadership group, including over 150 principals, superintendents, school leaders, and chancellors. She highlights her head, hand & heart leadership style and shares how the simple questions: “How are you doing?” and “Are you okay?” can be transformative in the lives of students and administrators, particularly in underserved communities. She discusses moving from invisibility to visibility due to the care and mentorship of her early educators, and how knowing your purpose can open the door to widespread impact. Whether you’re a principal, an administrator, or an educator thinking about becoming a leader, Principal Power Pugh has some answers for your burning questions.

Quiz for CTLE Credit

Get CTLE Credits

Listen Season I

Listen