08/04/2026
If you teach anything — this podcast stuck with me today and is worth thinking about.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/30YQldkFnkPPkJNJcKv4OB?si=GXlnYKpbSRa9tYzZLZyWfw
TLDR (if you need fast information now, you prefer text, or don't use Spotify):
Ros, a BBC journalist, interviews people about their skills at communicating.
In this episode, he’s speaking with a teacher, Isabella Greenan.
Main Points
1.) Dangle concrete goals to get buy-in from the student.
2.) Communication = noticing the reaction you get, then tailoring how you teach as you go.
3.) Be flexible with how you deliver info. A teacher is flexible, a lecturer is not.
4.) Minimise “teacher talking time”. You are NOT there to talk at students — give them tasks, let them interact, let them do.
5.) Listen to questions. Address those concerns.
6.) When teaching, show up as a sincere version of yourself — not the tired one. Find the version of you that actually enjoys being there.
7.) Speak clearly. Take a breath.
8.) Never single out a struggling student — it will humiliate them. Move through the class and give tailored help one-on-one.
9.) Don’t let frustration between student & teacher become personal. It’s very rarely personal. Keep a clean slate.
10.) Find your voice: professional, friendly, approachable — but genuinely you. Not a mimic of other teachers.
11.) Your voice is built through trial, correction, review, and a lot of self-examination. Ask:
- What went well?
- What was terrible?
- How do I make it better next time?
Do this review after every lesson — even just a short moment.
12.) Feel proud when your students reach their goals. But remember: it’s their achievement. You were just a small part in guiding them. They did the work. It’s not about you — keep the ego at bay.
Amy's homework for you: *Which one of these will you practice next time you teach?*
Communicating with Ros Atkins · Episode
