{"id":36742,"date":"2026-05-24T10:30:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T10:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/?page_id=36742"},"modified":"2026-05-25T22:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T22:34:22","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"36742\" class=\"elementor elementor-36742\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7b7899b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7b7899b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b7df991\" data-id=\"b7df991\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b885e6 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-breadcrumbs\" data-id=\"0b885e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"breadcrumbs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p id=\"breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/\">Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d890029 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d890029\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a2e59b0\" data-id=\"a2e59b0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22fb4c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22fb4c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The iTDi EFL Teaching Blog<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af69bf4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af69bf4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Articles, strategies, and insights \u2014 for teachers, by teachers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6db1c2e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6db1c2e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-44138ae\" data-id=\"44138ae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e44ec47 elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-posts--show-avatar elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"e44ec47\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pagination_type&quot;:&quot;numbers_and_prev_next&quot;,&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-37126 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-professional-development\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/professional-development\/self-publishing-elt-authors-publishing-process\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-37127\" alt=\"laptop with a pencil next to a book for a writer to use for reference\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook.jpg 800w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook-460x306.jpg 460w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/laptopbook-310x207.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Professional Development<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__avatar\">\n\t\t\t<img alt='Dorothy Zemach' src='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/3996\/5d16bd598928e-bpthumb.jpg' srcset='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/3996\/5d16bd594c3c6-bpfull.jpg 2x' class='retina_avatar avatar-128 photo' height='128' width='128' \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/professional-development\/self-publishing-elt-authors-publishing-process\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe &#8220;Publishing&#8221; Side of Self-Publishing: What ELT Authors Need to Know\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Originally published 2021 by Dorothy Zemach on iTDi.pro. Updated June 2026. I think when some people think about the term \u201cself-publishing,\u201d they find it very empowering, because of that word \u201cSelf.\u201d You have control over your content; you choose your<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/professional-development\/self-publishing-elt-authors-publishing-process\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The &#8220;Publishing&#8221; Side of Self-Publishing: What ELT Authors Need to Know\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 3, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-36985 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-lesson-planning-materials\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/out-of-class-work-english-learning-street\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/rentabike.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36987\" alt=\"Sign for renting a bike in Barcelona to show that even in non-English speaking contexts, English is all around.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/rentabike.jpg 400w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/rentabike-120x90.jpg 120w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/rentabike-310x233.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Lesson Planning &amp; Materials<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__avatar\">\n\t\t\t<img alt='Barb Admin' src='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpthumb.jpg' srcset='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpfull.jpg 2x' class='retina_avatar avatar-128 photo' height='128' width='128' \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/out-of-class-work-english-learning-street\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tOut-of-Class Work: Taking English Learning Out into the Street\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Originally published 2012 by Scott Thornbury on iTDi.pro. Updated May 2026. Why Two or Three Hours of English Isn&#8217;t Enough Two or three hours of English is just not enough. Even studying in a classroom for several hours a day,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/out-of-class-work-english-learning-street\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Out-of-Class Work: Taking English Learning Out into the Street\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 30, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-36979 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-lesson-planning-materials\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/efl-classroom-layout-lesson-planning\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36982\" alt=\"Group seating arrangement in a classroom.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S-460x346.jpg 460w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S-600x451.jpg 600w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S-120x90.jpg 120w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_790868386_S-310x233.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Lesson Planning &amp; Materials<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__avatar\">\n\t\t\t<img alt='Barb Admin' src='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpthumb.jpg' srcset='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpfull.jpg 2x' class='retina_avatar avatar-128 photo' height='128' width='128' \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/efl-classroom-layout-lesson-planning\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tWhy Classroom Size and Shape Belong in Your Lesson Plan\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Originally published 2013 by Adam Simpson on iTDi.pro. Updated May 2026. Why Classroom Size and Shape Belong in Your Lesson Plan Deciding how to plan activities is both incredibly easy and horribly difficult. While we might have a good idea<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/efl-classroom-layout-lesson-planning\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Why Classroom Size and Shape Belong in Your Lesson Plan\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 30, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-36973 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-lesson-planning-materials\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/slow-moments-spontaneous-learning-opportunities-efl\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"389\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SLOW.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36974\" alt=\"Quote: I stop to enjoy SLOW moments in almost all my classes.&quot;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SLOW.jpg 389w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SLOW-120x93.jpg 120w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SLOW-310x239.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Lesson Planning &amp; Materials<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__avatar\">\n\t\t\t<img alt='Barb Admin' src='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpthumb.jpg' srcset='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpfull.jpg 2x' class='retina_avatar avatar-128 photo' height='128' width='128' \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/slow-moments-spontaneous-learning-opportunities-efl\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tSLOW Moments: How to Exploit Spontaneous Learning Opportunities in Class\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Originally published 2012 by Steven Herder on iTDi.pro. Updated May 2026. Don&#8217;t Let a Lesson Plan Stifle Magical Moments Has this ever happened to you? You discover some new thing and suddenly you notice it everywhere. This happened with the<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/slow-moments-spontaneous-learning-opportunities-efl\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about SLOW Moments: How to Exploit Spontaneous Learning Opportunities in Class\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 30, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-36967 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-lesson-planning-materials\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/lesson-planning-evolution-detailed-plans-index-cards\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"704\" src=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36968\" alt=\"person holding a sign that says &quot;What have you learned?&quot;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S-460x324.jpg 460w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S-600x422.jpg 600w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S-120x84.jpg 120w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_67110533_S-310x218.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Lesson Planning &amp; Materials<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__avatar\">\n\t\t\t<img alt='Barb Admin' src='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpthumb.jpg' srcset='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpfull.jpg 2x' class='retina_avatar avatar-128 photo' height='128' width='128' \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/lesson-planning-evolution-detailed-plans-index-cards\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tFrom Detailed Plans to Index Cards: The Evolution of Lesson Planning\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Originally published 2013 by Cecilia Lemos Harmer on iTDi.pro. Updated May 2026. How My Lesson Planning Has Evolved Over 20 Years My lesson plans \u2013 and the concrete results of my lesson planning \u2013 have changed greatly over the many<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/lesson-planning-materials\/lesson-planning-evolution-detailed-plans-index-cards\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about From Detailed Plans to Index Cards: The Evolution of Lesson Planning\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 30, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-36950 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-professional-development\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/professional-development\/people-first-language-teaching-balance\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36952\" alt=\"Young Asian male playing a saxophone\" srcset=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S-460x307.jpg 460w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Depositphotos_838020686_S-310x207.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Professional Development<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__avatar\">\n\t\t\t<img alt='Barb Admin' src='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpthumb.jpg' srcset='https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/1311\/1680934124-bpfull.jpg 2x' class='retina_avatar avatar-128 photo' height='128' width='128' \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/professional-development\/people-first-language-teaching-balance\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tPeople First, English Second: Finding Balance in the Language Classroom\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Originally published 2015 by Kevin Stein on iTDi.pro. Updated May 2026. A Class of Three: Music, Confidence, and Connection About 10 years ago, I was working at an international centre in rural Japan. My time was almost evenly split between<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/professional-development\/people-first-language-teaching-balance\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about People First, English Second: Finding Balance in the Language Classroom\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 29, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-load-more-anchor\" data-page=\"1\" data-max-page=\"6\" data-next-page=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/2\/\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-pagination\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"page-numbers prev\">&laquo; Previous<\/span>\n<span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>1<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/2\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>2<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/3\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>3<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/4\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>4<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/5\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>5<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/6\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>6<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers next\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/page\/2\/\">Next &raquo;<\/a>\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The iTDi EFL Teaching Blog Articles, strategies, and insights \u2014 for teachers, by teachers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34365,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"_vibebp_attr":"","_vibebp_dimensions":"","_vibebp_responsive_height":"","_vibebp_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"coauthors":[3338],"class_list":["post-36742","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>EFL Teaching Blog \u2014 Resources for English Teachers | iTDi TESOL<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore articles and insights for English teachers worldwide. Browse iTDi&#039;s EFL blog covering methodology, assessment, lesson planning, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"EFL Teaching Blog \u2014 Resources for English Teachers | iTDi\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Browse articles on methodology, assessment, lesson planning, young learners, and classroom management from experienced EFL educators worldwide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"iTDi TESOL online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iTDi.Pro\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-25T22:34:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/itdi-logo.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1135\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@iTDipro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Kevin Stein\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/blog\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"EFL Teaching Blog \u2014 Resources for English Teachers | iTDi TESOL\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-24T10:30:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-25T22:34:22+00:00\",\"description\":\"Explore articles and insights for English teachers worldwide. Browse iTDi's EFL blog covering methodology, assessment, lesson planning, and more.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/blog\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/blog\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/blog\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/\",\"name\":\"iTDi TESOL online\",\"description\":\"Professional development created for teachers by teachers\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"iTDi TESOL online\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/INTERNATIONAL-600-\u00d7-180-px.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/INTERNATIONAL-600-\u00d7-180-px.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":180,\"caption\":\"iTDi TESOL online\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/staging.itdi.pro\\\/community\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/iTDi.Pro\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/iTDipro\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/international-teacher-development-institute\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/itdipro\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@iTDiVideos\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"EFL Teaching Blog \u2014 Resources for English Teachers | iTDi TESOL","description":"Explore articles and insights for English teachers worldwide. Browse iTDi's EFL blog covering methodology, assessment, lesson planning, and more.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"EFL Teaching Blog \u2014 Resources for English Teachers | iTDi","og_description":"Browse articles on methodology, assessment, lesson planning, young learners, and classroom management from experienced EFL educators worldwide.","og_url":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/","og_site_name":"iTDi TESOL online","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iTDi.Pro\/","article_modified_time":"2026-05-25T22:34:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1135,"height":365,"url":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/itdi-logo.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@iTDipro","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"1 minute","Written by":"Kevin Stein"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/","url":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/","name":"EFL Teaching Blog \u2014 Resources for English Teachers | iTDi TESOL","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-05-24T10:30:36+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-25T22:34:22+00:00","description":"Explore articles and insights for English teachers worldwide. Browse iTDi's EFL blog covering methodology, assessment, lesson planning, and more.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/blog\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/#website","url":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/","name":"iTDi TESOL online","description":"Professional development created for teachers by teachers","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/#organization","name":"iTDi TESOL online","url":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/INTERNATIONAL-600-\u00d7-180-px.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/INTERNATIONAL-600-\u00d7-180-px.jpg","width":600,"height":180,"caption":"iTDi TESOL online"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/staging.itdi.pro\/community\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/iTDi.Pro\/","https:\/\/x.com\/iTDipro","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/international-teacher-development-institute\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/itdipro\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@iTDiVideos"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34365"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36742"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36803,"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36742\/revisions\/36803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itdi.pro\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=36742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}