Freya Odell - English Teacher - Rome

Today I’m talking with Freya Odell, an English teacher at St. George’s International School in Rome. Freya is a former Head of Department, Literacy lead and current member of the Twitter glitterati, loving life in the Eternal city. 

It was a fantastic opportunity to speak with Freya, who is the first English Head of Department I’ve had on the podcast, despite the fact she is now enjoying her time focusing purely on classroom instruction and letting someone else do the leading. Thanks again to freya for sharing her insights and myriad suggestions for texts, pedagogy as well as twitter people worth following!

We discuss:

• Freya’s favourite texts to teach

• an introduction to her career to date

• how the school’s core values translate into the English curriculum

• how planning and materials are organised between the department

• the need to balance canonised writers with new voices in the curriculum

• the specific challenges Freya’s students face in English

• the part technology plays in delivering the English curriculum

• Rome’s approach to work/life balance

• resources for English teachers who would like to continue improving

Links to things we discussed:

Recommended Texts: Of Mice and Men / The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket / Long Way Down

Pedagogy: Generative Learning in Action / Fear is the Mind Killer / Teach Like a Writer

Technology in the Classroom: Quizlet / Mentimeter / Jamboard / Padlet

Guardian article on teaching abroad

Freya’s conversation with Zoe and Mark Enser

Twitter people: @SPryke2 / @FunkyPedagogy / @SaysMiss / @Team_English1