Gerhard Erasmus

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Gerhard Erasmus started blogging for Pavilion ELT in December 2019. He moved over to blog for the new look Modern English Teacher in January 2022 where he will continue to write about teaching and management issues, ways to teach pronunciation and other teaching/teacher training techniques. Gerhard has been involved in ELT management since 2006 as senior teacher, academic manager, and director of studies. He is currently based in Taiwan where he is Director of Studies and Course Director at a language school and teacher training centre. He is also a Trinity Certificate TESOL, TYLEC, and Trinity Diploma TESOL tutor. Alongside all of this, Gerhard is Coordinator of IATEFL LAMSIG (Leadership and Management Special Interest Group) and draws lots of his inspiration from the connections he has built with managers and leaders in ELT from across the globe. His management interests involve learning and development of managers, specifically those starting their careers as teachers, and it is also the focus of his current Educational Doctorate studies.

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When quitters win

Motivational speakers and books are very popular. Do they really help people achieve or is it better to give up sometimes? Gerhard Erasmus considers when it is better to let go, and looks at when quitting makes you a winner.

Help! I’m a new manager

It is always exciting when we are given new roles and titles. But do we really change or is it just our titles that change? Gerhard Erasmus looks at how we might feel and what we can do to help ourselves when we feel overwhelmed.

Reflections on IATEFL 2023

It was great to be back face to face at the IATEFL conference, and there was lots of learning. More importantly, there were lots of people, and our connections to people is what makes life special.

Teacher trainer frustrations: trainees swerving pronunciation teaching!

Picture this: your trainees get, or have an awareness of, why phonology in teaching is important in input sessions, yet avoid it like the plague in their teaching … Why is this? What can be done about it? Gerhard looks at why this happens and suggests a way forward for teachers and trainers.

Teacher life cycles – How to stay motivated

Have you given much thought to your future? Have you ideas of where and how you’ll be working? While there will always be the teachers who want to move from teaching into management, writing, or training, possibly even publishing… what about those who are happy teaching? This post is for those teachers – helping them (you) stay motivated and hungry for success.

Rethinking sick leave?

Paid sick leave is often seen as a benefit that companies offer, but in reality, it should be considered an employee right. In addition, isn’t it time to rethink what we consider sick leave and why it is important to do so?

The deaf frog – an eye-opening story

Artificial Intelligence and technology have and will continue to have a massive effect on education. We can choose to ignore it, live in fear of it replacing us, or harness its power. Gerhard suggests a few ways how we can do just that.

Managing what you can: Emotions

It’s long been said in business ‘leave your emotions at the door’; however, it is unrealistic to expect emotions to never impact us or our work and families. Being able to manage your emotions both as a teacher or a manager is a very important skill to master.

Extensive reading and exam classes

Exam classes can be a challenge in its own, especially with the amount of pressure on teachers and students. Gerhard Erasmus weighs up the very important role extensive reading should play on the language development of exam class students and how to reduce the pressure.

Making pronunciation a physical ability

You may have read or heard that pronunciation is a physical or kinaesthetic activity, but what exactly does that mean for teachers? Gerhard examines the physical nature of pronunciation and what exactly is meant by making pronunciation physical.

Problem solving from another point of view

As teachers and managers, we often have to solve problems, or make decisions that require us to look at different angles and options. Being a good problem solver requires practice and awareness. Let’s explore a story about creative problem solving and relates it to real-life problem-solving skills.

So many training courses to choose from … Where do I start?

While there are many ways to develop as a teacher without a formal qualification, the vast number of certificates, diplomas and courses available makes choosing the right one a minefield. This blog offers a few important aspects to consider before taking the plunge!

Exploring songs for language and creativity

How can we use music as the basis of a lesson to explore language and creativity? Gerhard explains how mining the song for language and creativity can massively increase engagement and looks at things to consider when using music in the classroom.

Making pronunciation fun and engaging

Ensuring that different aspects of our lessons are fun and engaging ensures that learners are more likely to find the experience useful and enjoyable. This post looks specifically at how to do that with pronunciation.

Managing stress

Whether we are teachers, trainers, managers, or other staff in schools, we are bound to experience stress at some point in time. Gerhards explores the effects of stress, as well as how we can manage our own stress and how we can support those around us experiencing stress.
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