"Find someone who," "Give your self-introduction," and "Speed Dating Classmate Interviews" are commonly used activities as ice-breakers. However, over time, these can become stale, predictable, and dreaded by both students and teachers. Fear not! A simple twist and a fresh purpose can add some spark to these activities. Better ice-breakers can promote community and rapport from day 1! Join Brent and Ixchell as they help teachers upgrade from stale icebreakers to fun icecrushers!

Show notes: www.DIESOL.org/133

In this episode, Brent and Ixchell talk through NotebookLM from a classroom teacher's perspective. What problems does it solve for language teachers? How can students utilize it? We look at how it works with your own lesson notes and materials, what it's genuinely helpful for, and what still needs a human touch. It's an honest conversation about where this tool fits into ELT language tasks without the pressure to use "all the things."

Show notes: www.DIESOL.org/132

Happy New Year!! There are lots of tools and resources to explore, and it's hard to keep on top of them all. In our annual tradition, Ixchell and Brent share 26 tools for 2026. Whether they're resource collections, useful websites, or physical items, we hope something on this list will pique your interest!

Show notes: www.DIESOL.org/131