The Language Lab Podcast

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In this episode of The Language Lab Podcast, Will Marks is joined by Dr Liam Printer (International School of Lausanne, Switzerland) — French and Spanish teacher, instructional coach, researcher, and host of The Motivated Classroom podcast.

Liam unpacks why story, narrative and co-creation are far more than “fun activities” and how, through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (autonomy, competence, relatedness), they can dramatically shift motivation, classroom culture and even behaviour. We talk about how he discovered TPRS / comprehensible input approaches in an international school setting, what his doctorate revealed (including a surprising turnaround in a famously demotivated IB class), and why he’d happily wave a magic wand and bin testing for grammatical accuracy (at least in the early years).

You’ll also get loads of practical, teacher-realistic takeaways: low-prep routines, brain breaks vs body breaks, choral response, and quick retrieval ideas that don’t require laminating your life away.

We finish with what’s next for Liam: a children’s book project (Captain Super Sleep) and his upcoming Hachette Learning book Motivation Matters: Practical Solutions for the Languages Teacher (expected around summer 2026).

Links
The Language Lab Podcast website (episodes, transcripts, resources): https://www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

In this season premiere, Will Marks is joined by Dr Andy Goldhawk — lecturer at the University of the West of England, teacher educator, and author of The Language Teacher Toolkit — for a grounded conversation about what really makes learning stick.

Together, they explore:

• why so much CPD fails to change classroom practice

• the gap between learning theory and day-to-day teaching

• time pressure in language classrooms

• rehearsal, retrieval, and practice

• and why enjoyment isn’t a soft extra, but a serious part of learning

As Andy puts it:
“Fun and enjoyment aren’t trivial – they’re part of how learning works.”

A thoughtful, practical episode for language teachers, teacher educators, and anyone interested in professional learning that actually makes a difference.

Links and extras:
Website, transcripts, and more: www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

Andy's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/learning.theories.shared

The Language Teaching Toolkit:

https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/the-language-teaching-toolkit

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

What happens when we stop chasing frameworks and start asking more careful questions?

In this season-finale episode of The Language Lab Podcast, Will Marks is joined by Silvia Bastow for a reflective conversation about language education, professional identity, and the human side of teaching that rarely makes it into policy documents or CPD slides.

This episode explores why teaching languages is never just technical, why not everything that matters can be measured, and how reflection, values, and lived experience shape what happens in classrooms every day. It’s a calm, thoughtful discussion for anyone who wants to think more deeply about their practice — without the pressure of quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions.

🎧 A reflective end-of-season conversation for language teachers and educators.

🔗 Episodes, transcripts and more:
www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

☕ Support the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

In this episode, Will is joined by Hannah White — languages teacher, EAL lead, international schools coordinator, School of Sanctuary coordinator, trainer and co-founder of the Bristol ALL Primary Languages Hub.

Together they dig into what EAL really looks like beyond the label, how multilingual learners enrich a school community, and the tiny but powerful adjustments that make classrooms feel genuinely welcoming. Hannah talks about peer tutoring, Schools of Sanctuary, why primary languages deserves far more attention, and how technology can support inclusion when used thoughtfully.

It’s a grounded, practical conversation full of real classroom experience and useful takeaways for any teacher working with multilingual learners.

For transcripts, links and more: www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

In this episode, Will sits down with Tom Sherrington, better known as Teacherhead, to explore what great teaching really looks like. From evidence informed practice to curriculum overload, from target language debates to the joy of short books, Tom cuts through the noise with clarity, humour and a deep understanding of how children learn.

They discuss the Learning Rainforest, Walkthrus, the tension between templates and autonomy, why some CPD works and some doesn’t, and how schools can build a culture where every student genuinely thinks hard and succeeds. They also take a look at AI in education: when it helps, when it hinders and why the audio revolution might be one of the biggest wins for language learning.

A thoughtful, practical and very human conversation with one of education’s most influential voices.

For transcripts, links and more visit www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
https://walkthrus.co.uk/

Support the show via Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee: patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast | buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

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This week in The Language Lab, technology staged a quiet rebellion.
A key piece of hardware and a key piece of software decided they would no longer speak to each other, which means the full episode could not be released on time. Everything is now sorted and the scheduled episode with Tom Sherrington will be out next week as normal.

In this short update, Will shares a few quick thoughts for the final stretch of the winter term. How do you keep your own energy up when the days are dark and the classes are tired. How do you help students stay focused without burning through your last reserves. And what simple, low effort routines can make the difference when everyone is running on fumes.

For links, transcripts and more visit www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast or on Buy Me a Coffee at buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

Next week: Tom Sherrington. It will be worth the wait.

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What does a high-quality Primary French curriculum actually look like in 2025? In this episode of The Language Lab Podcast, host Will Marks sits down with Ellie Chettle Cully, primary languages specialist and coordinator of the ALL Primary Languages Hub. Together they explore how to build meaningful, sustainable KS2 language learning—from phonics and progression to cultural understanding, global citizenship and decolonising the curriculum.

Ellie shares practical strategies for teaching French across Key Stage 2, explains why phonics is essential for confident pronunciation, and discusses how to support non-specialist teachers in delivering effective MFL lessons. They also look at the realities of transition into secondary languages and how early language learning shapes long-term success.

Perfect for primary teachers, secondary MFL departments, curriculum leads and anyone wanting a deeper understanding of what “good” looks like in Primary Languages today.

Explore Ellie’s blog:
https://myprimarylanguagesclassroom.wordpress.com

For transcripts, links and resources:
www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

Support the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

What happens when a city decides that languages belong to everyone?

In this episode, Declan Baharini (CEO of International Newcastle) and Sarah Edgar (Schools of Sanctuary and EAL Lead) join Will to share how Our Newcastle, Our World and the Express Yourself Festival of Languages have turned partnership and passion into a movement.

From international school links and heritage language projects to 94,000 pupils singing in 25 languages, Newcastle’s story shows how inclusion, creativity, and collaboration can reshape how we teach — and why we teach.

🎙️ A must-listen for anyone who believes language learning should build bridges, not tick boxes.

🎧 Listen now, and check out the festival at

www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

expressyourselfne.com

Support the show:
☕ buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast
🎧 patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

In the second half of her conversation with Will Marks, Maud Waret turns from curriculum to culture — asking what schools could look like if they were built around people, not policy.

Together they explore wellbeing, empathy, equity and design: from nutrition and architecture to the way classroom spaces shape learning itself. Maud argues for an education system that nurtures curiosity and humanity as much as knowledge, and one that sees pupils as whole people rather than statistics.

A calm, hopeful and deeply human conversation about the future of teaching, learning and belonging in our schools.

🎧 Listen, read and find more at www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast
💡 Join early access and bonus content: patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

What does it really mean to decolonise the curriculum — and why is it important?

In this first part of Will’s conversation with Maud Waret, French and Spanish teacher, curriculum developer and writer, they explore how the stories we tell in classrooms shape what pupils learn about themselves and the world. From growing up in France to researching representation during lockdown, Maud shares her reflections on teaching, assessment and the invisible narratives that run through our subjects.

A thoughtful and inspiring look at what happens when we ask who gets to tell the story — and how we might widen the lens.

🎧 Listen, read and find more at www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast
💡 Join early access and bonus content: patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast