Anna Hasper

27 POSTS

Anna Hasper is an experienced teacher development specialist and has been involved in English language teaching since 2002. She trained as a primary teacher and worked as an ELT teacher and DoS before moving to the Middle East. Over the years, Anna has worked as a teacher and trainer in a wide variety of contexts and roles. She is currently based in Dubai where she works as a CELTA tutor and assessor and designs and delivers training courses for Ministries and leading educational publishers. Alongside this, she is involved in course and content writing. She is super passionate about anything related to making better learning happen! Her research interests concern language teachers and language teacher educators' professional learning and educational psychology with an emphasis on social emotional wellbeing and motivation which is also the focus of her current doctoral studies. Annaâ€™s passionate about educational psychology and teacher learning and runs: www.teachertrain.org

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The emotions of inclusion: Building classrooms where everyone belongs

2025-10-09

Recently, I had an experience that left me feeling excluded. It wasn’t dramatic, I was hanging out with a bunch of people I seemed to have very little common ground with. Every time I tried to contribute to the conversation, I experienced a lack of acknowledgment. No reply, no follow-up questions, simply nothing. It really gave me the feeling that the others were ‘in’ but I was, somehow, ‘out’. Now, I’m not upset or looking to blame people but it made me realise how quickly our confidence can be affected simply by not feeling seen or heard and how...

Managing the classroom starts with us!

2025-09-11

As many of us start a new school year, it pays off to think carefully about strategies we are planning to put in place to manage our classroom. However, classroom management isn’t just about setting boundaries and expectations for our learners: it begins with us. As we return to the classroom, awareness of our own behaviour and our ability to be emotionally agile and remain calm in times of undesired behaviour set the tone of everything that follows in the classroom. In this blog, Anna Hasper talks about some basic classroom management strategies for the young learners (and other!)...

Managing the lot

2025-06-09

Classroom management and disciplining So let’s start first with the terminology. If you were asked to write a definition of classroom management, what would you write? Traditional classroom management often relates to agreeing or setting rules and having clear consequences when they are broken. Richards once described classroom management as the ways in which student behaviour, movement and interaction during a lesson are organised and controlled by the teacher. This very much reminds me of one of my teachers who raised their voice in class if we did not 100% behave, and then asked us to stay behind and recite...

BOOK REVIEW: Compassion-based Language Education

2025-05-15

Compassion-based Language Education Sarah Mercer OUP (2024) ISBN 978 0 19 407074 4 Sarah Mercer is well known within the ELT world for her practical and accessible publications on engagement, psychology in language learning and wellbeing. Her latest book for teachers, Compassion-based Language Education, presents a compelling argument to go beyond developing language learners’ abilities and advocates a shift to a compassion-based approach to language education (henceforth CBLE). Following a more humanistic approach to teaching, she argues, not only enhances learning and teaching but also empowers learners to shape a better future for themselves, others and their communities. I feel that a book exploring...

Shy or Unsafe? Why some learners struggle with speaking in the language classroom

2025-04-03

“Okay, turn to your group and share your ideas, you’ve got 5 minutes!” I look around the room and whilst the majority of my learners are actively engaging in their group conversations, I notice Maria behaving as usual when speaking is on the program; she’s withdrawn. And then there is Jin, another learner who mostly remains silent during speaking activities. I’m sure most teachers have encountered students like Maria and Jin who seem hesitant to participate in speaking activities; they may avoid eye contact, keep their answers short or simply remain silent. Whilst we may be quick to label these...

“No, I don’t mean THAT!”

2025-01-27

Anna Hasper The MET Spotlight series shines a light on key topics we’ve explored in Modern English Teacher. In these webinars, our fantastic MET contributors will explore their chosen topic in more detail, and share their expertise alongside practical tips, useful ideas and more. Here, Anna Hasper will examine the concept of feedback in a classroom setting, and consider how we can proactively manage learners’ emotions in order to safeguard the emotional well-being of both those receiving and providing feedback. Link to VIMEO video

No, I don’t mean THAT!

2024-11-14

Anna Hasper recently kicked off the MET Spotlight Webinar Series, shining a spotlight on how you can manage emotions when giving feedback. Here, she summarises the session to explore the impact of emotions on feedback and suggest some ways to proactively manage students’ emotions regarding feedback.

Back to school? Time to consider teaching with empathy!

2024-09-05

Anna Hasper firmly believes that a teachers’ job is so much than teaching a language; it is teaching people. Here, she elaborates on the importance of teaching with empathy and explains how this concept links to building a rapport.

Writing end of year reflections – be kind to yourself!

2024-07-16

For many of us another school year has just come to an end or is ending soon. One habit Anna Hasper has developed over the years is planning in some time, at the start of summer, to write down her end-of-year reflections. Here, she explains how she takes time to think back and self-reflect, but also why it is important to be kind to yourself.

Why do negative comments stick?

2024-05-16

You've just finished your lesson and you felt it was really successful. But one student’s feedback was that ‘your lesson was boring’, and that is the one comment that sticks. Sound familiar? Here, Anna Hasper explores negativity bias, and what we can do to combat it when needed.

Yes. Sorry. No…. I’m saying no!

2024-03-07

How many times have you said yes, when you actually want to shout no? We’ve all done it, but learning how to use no can profoundly impact both our teaching and our lives for the better. Anna Hasper delves into why it's crucial at times to say no, why it can be difficult, and some tips to grow the art of refusal.

Global Voices: A short story describing Anna’s unique experience

2024-02-05

The author shares her teaching and learning experiences.

Managing emotional wellbeing during group feedback

2024-01-23

Anna Hasper offers some practical tips on ensuring good support for student teachers. She encourages emotional agility, clear expectations, positivity and careful choice of words.

What is your growth focus for 2024?

2024-01-11

Have you set yourself any new years’ resolutions at work for the new year? Here, Anna Hasper explores her own growth focus to explain why it is important for our professional growth as educators that we purposefully carve out some time in our busy lives to stop, pause and reflect on our practice.

What’s in a name?

2023-11-08

Have you ever had your name mispronounced? Have you ever taught a group of students with names that were foreign to you? Have you ever had a student come up to you requesting you call them by a different name? Let’s explore the importance of using names and pick up tips to make all your learners feel valued in class.