The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast
an ELT podcast
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Anna Ciriani-Dean and Shé Riel, creators of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, met in New York City in 2018, bonding over a shared love for teacher professional development and (of course) good wine. What began as a casual conversation about reflective teaching soon evolved into a global community for English language educators.
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Their podcast aims to broaden discussions on TESOL, TEFL, international education, and intercultural communication, offering listeners a reflective listening experience that bridges theory and classroom practice. Through interviews, personal stories, and practical takeaways, the show invites educators worldwide to pause, reflect, and grow together.
​Listeners can explore new podcast episodes, read more insights on the blog, or find curated tools and readings on the resources page—each designed to support teachers’ professional journeys and spark new ideas for the classroom.
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Educators everywhere are invited to join this evolving community of practice, share anecdotes and questions, and continue thinking aloud—together.
ANNA CIRIANI-DEAN
Anna holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics and has worked in language education since 2009. She is currently the Learning & Development Manager for English Language Programs, where she creates online learning experiences on a wide variety of TESOL topics for English language education professionals participating in U.S. State Department exchange programs.
SHÉLYNN RIEL
Shélynn (Shé) Riel holds a Master of Education in TESOL, and has been working with English learners for over fifteen years, specializing in technology-enhanced instruction and adult education. Currently, Shé is an English Language Specialist with the U.S. State Department, where she supports nearly 300 pre-service and in-service educators across Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
Prior to this position, Anna served as an English Language Fellow to Armenia and Ukraine and worked as an ESL instructor, assessment specialist, writing-center consultant, and program manager at various universities and educational companies around the Seattle and Greater New York City Area.
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Her goal as an educator is to empower learners by giving them agency in their learning process and providing them with the tools they need to excel in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Her research interests include teacher development, second language writing, antiracist pedagogy, and educational technology.
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She is a native bilingual speaker of English and Italian and an avid language learner, with proficiency in French, German, and Hindi. To start a conversation, talk to her about ballet, birds, and Pedro Pascal.
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Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Throughout her career, Shé has directed ESOL programs at U.S. universities and non-profits, facilitated numerous digital exchanges for global English teachers, and delivered professional development to English teachers on the ground in Argentina, Bangladesh, and China.
As an educator, Shé believes in a holistic approach, striving to create balanced environments conducive to learning and reflection that are both challenging and nurturing of the whole being. Her current research interests include reflective professional learning, decolonial ethics in the language classroom, global citizenship education, and cross-cultural communication.
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In her spare time, Shé enjoys slow travel, practicing yoga and Pilates, and studying languages (current challenge: Mandarin!). Talk to her about dark fantasy romance novels, hiking, and houseplants.
Connect with her on LinkedIn.