The Teaching Lab

Evidence-based resources by a practicing ESL teacher and researcher.

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Editor's Pick

Featured This Month

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Spaced Repetition in ESL: How to Build It Into Every Lesson Without Extra Prep

Spaced repetition is the single most evidence-backed tool for long-term vocabulary retention. Here's how to make it effortless in practice.

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The Speaking Lesson Framework That Actually Gets Students Talking

Most speaking activities fail because they feel transactional. This three-stage framework — Activate, Scaffold, Produce — changes that.

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Cambridge B2 Writing: The Feedback System That Raised My Students' Marks 2 Grades

Generic feedback is useless. This structured error-coding system transforms how students see their writing — and eliminates repeat mistakes.

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Keeping Online Students Engaged: 12 Techniques That Work in a 1-to-1 Video Lesson

Zoom fatigue is real. These 12 micro-techniques — each taking under 30 seconds to implement — keep attention sharp and motivation high.

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Teaching English to Children Online: The Attention Span Problem — and How to Solve It

Children under 12 can't sustain adult-style lesson formats. This guide breaks down lesson timing, activity rotation, and gamification for young learners.

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The Nation Framework: Teaching Vocabulary in Four Strands (And Why Most Teachers Miss Two)

Paul Nation's four-strand model — meaning-focused input, output, language-focused learning, fluency — is the gold standard. Here's how to balance all four.

Deep Dives

Core teaching areas

Comprehensive resource hubs for the topics that matter most in modern ESL teaching.

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Game-Based Learning (DGBL)

The research is clear: games create context, repetition, and motivation — the three pillars of lasting vocabulary acquisition. This is Jack's doctoral research area.

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Cambridge Exam Coaching

Proven strategies for coaching students through B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency — from a teacher who has sat the exams and coached hundreds of candidates.

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Speaking & Fluency Development

Fluency is about more than speaking speed. It's automaticity, confidence, and discourse management. Here's how to develop all three systematically.

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Lesson Planning & Structure

Great lessons aren't improvised. A clear structural framework — tailored to the student's goals — is what separates professional teachers from tutors.

Open Resources

Self-Paced Resources & Guided Modules

Free tools, games and structured modules for independent learners and language teachers — powered by Jack's doctoral research on game-based learning.

🌐 View Full Resources Hub →
⚠️ Currently requires a Google account — free access coming soon
🎮 Self-Paced Resources & Tools
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Vocabulary
Interactive vocabulary games and exercises for self-paced practice.
Open →
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Verb Practice
Conjugation drills and tense exercises through games and activities.
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Colours & Alphabet
Pronunciation practice using colours and alphabet through visual tools.
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Solar System
Learn vocabulary in context through an interactive solar system exploration game.
Open →
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Roblox Quiz
Game-based quiz using Roblox as a motivating context for language learning.
Open →
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Images & Lessons
Visual lesson materials using images and media for contextual language learning.
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📚 Guided Modules
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Module 1
Pronunciation
Sounds, stress patterns and phonetics through structured exercises.
Start Module →
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Module 2
Grammar
Tenses, sentence structure and grammar rules explained with context.
Start Module →
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Module 3
Vocabulary
Word acquisition strategies and vocabulary building through games.
Start Module →
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Module 4
Speaking
Oral practice, conversation activities and speaking confidence builders.
Start Module →
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