Learning off the Syllabus is a podcast that steps into the real stories that shape language teaching and learning. Hosted and created by Toronto-based language educator and curriculum designer, Farnaz Karimian, each episode dives into conversations with teachers, students, leaders and thinkers to explore what teaching and learning actually feel like in an ever-evolving landscape. If you’ve ever felt the gap between policy and practice, care and control, or ideals and reality, you’re in the right place! Let's go off the syllabus, where the real learning unfolds!
Learning Off the Syllabus
Claim This Podcastby Farnaz Karimian
17 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Learning off the Syllabus is a podcast that steps into the real stories that shape language teaching and learning. Hosted and created by Toronto-based language educator and curriculum designer, Farnaz Karimian, each episode dives into conversations with teachers, students, leaders and thinkers to explore what teaching and learning actually feel like in an ever-evolving landscape. If you’ve ever felt the gap between policy and practice, care and control, or ideals and reality, you’re in the right place! Let's go off the syllabus, where the real learning unfolds!
Language
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Publishing Since
1/1/2026
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Recent Episodes
August 6, 2026
Adil: Four Words and a Lot of Hope!
<p>In this segment of Student Voice Spotlight, Farnaz sits down with one of her former students, Adil, to have a thoughtful conversation about the realities of learning English while navigating work, stress, and long-term goals. Adil and Farnaz met during her time teaching at Conestoga College in Ontario, Canada. Adil has always been a dedicated learner, motivated to reach her ultimate goal: becoming a registered nurse! Together, they explore the things that can shape a learner’s journey in ways that grades and assessments can’t always capture. Their conversation centers on staying motivated when progress feels slow, finding confidence through practice, and visualizing personal goals as a source of strength. </p><p><br></p><p>ESL= English as a Second Language</p><p>EAP= English for Academic Purposes</p><p><a href="www.learningoffthesyllabus.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">www.learningoffthesyllabus.com</a></p><p>Instagram: @learningoffthesyllabus</p><p>Email: learningoffthesyllabus@gmail.com</p><p><strong>Theme music:</strong></p><p>Periscope by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</p><p>Artist: http://audionautix.com/</p>
July 23, 2026
S2. E4 - Daniel Shaw: The Swan Effect - What’s Under the Surface?
<p>In this segment of Teacher Real Talk, Farnaz and Daniel Shaw (MA, TESOL and Applied Linguistics) explore what meaningful student support looks like in ESL and EAP. They discuss the social, emotional, and systemic challenges that shape multilingual learners' experiences, reflect on the role of educators in building trust and connection, and examine how institutions can better support both students and teachers. </p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/expertenglishsolutions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Daniel Shaw</strong> </a>is an English language educator, program coordinator, and curriculum designer with over 15 years of experience in Canada, the UK, Europe, and Asia. He has designed and led English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs, supported international and newcomer students in Canadian post-secondary institutions, and worked with learners from more than 80 countries. His work is driven by the belief that behind every struggling or disengaged student is a story, and that one of the most powerful things an educator can do is create the conditions where students feel seen, not just assessed. Daniel is also the host and creator of the <strong>ESL Talk Podcast:</strong> https://shows.acast.com/esltalk</p><p><a href="www.learningoffthesyllabus.com">learningoffthesyllabus.com</a></p><p>Instagram: @learningoffthesyllabus</p><p>Email: learningoffthesyllabus@gmail.com</p><p><strong>Theme music:</strong></p><p>Periscope by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</p><p>Artist: http://audionautix.com/</p><p></p>
July 9, 2026
S2. E3 - Dr. Rebecca Schmor: Language is a Resource, Not a Deficit.
<p>In this segment of Teacher Real Talk, Farnaz and Rebecca Schmor (PhD, Language and Literacies Education) talk about what it means to embrace plurilingualism in English language education. They get into the relationship between language and identity, examine why English-only policies continue to persist in many institutions, and discuss how these beliefs influence both teaching and learning. The conversation encourages educators to reconsider long-held assumptions and reflect on how they can create learning environments that value the full range of their learners' linguistic resources.Dr. Rebecca Schmor is an academic coach and editor who supports graduate students and early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences disciplines. She has taught English, Spanish, and German in several countries including Canada, China, and Cuba. She currently lives in Mexico with her husband and daughter. </p><p><strong>Rebecca's website</strong>: https://www.rebeccaschmor.com/</p><p><strong>Resources mentioned in</strong><a href="www.learningoffthesyllabus.com"><strong></strong></a><strong> the episode:</strong>Schmor, R., Jones, S., & Noel, K. (2023). Microaggressions to microaffirmations: A trioethnography of plurilingual EAP instructors. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 64, 101270.Schmor, R., & Piccardo, E. (2024). Supporting language rights: plurilingual pedagogies as an impetus for linguistic and cultural inclusion. Human Rights Education Review, 7(1), 72-102.Schmor, R. (2024). Adopting a plurilingual attitude: A reimagining of linguistic and cultural identity. In Autoethnographies of Plurilingualism (pp. 19-26). Routledge.Schmor, R., Araki, Y., Santoyo, S., & Gao, X. (n.d.). “Understanding is a shared responsibility”: The impact of plurilingual teaching practices from the perspective of three English language learners [Unpublished manuscript].</p><p><a href="www.learningoffthesyllabus.com">learningoffthesyllabus.com</a></p><p>Instagram: @learningoffthesyllabus</p><p>Email: learningoffthesyllabus@gmail.com</p><p><strong>Theme music:</strong></p><p>Periscope by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</p><p>Artist: http://audionautix.com/</p>
17 total episodes available
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- What is Learning Off the Syllabus?
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This podcast updates daily.
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