The Language Lab Podcast

Teaching abroad gets talked about a lot — but what does it actually change about the way you teach languages?
In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Crean, who began her career teaching in Belper before moving to the Cayman Islands and is now teaching IB French in Bogotá. Together, we talk honestly about what teaching abroad really looks like beyond the Instagram version: the paperwork, the uncertainty, the culture shock, and the professional growth that comes with stepping outside the UK system.
We explore the differences between GCSE, IGCSE and IB, why culture and geography aren’t optional extras in language teaching, and what international education can offer teachers who feel ready for something different. Megan also shares practical advice for anyone considering a move abroad, from recruitment agencies to mindset shifts, and reflects on how teaching in different contexts has reshaped her classroom practice.
If you’ve ever wondered whether teaching abroad is for you, or what languages education looks like beyond UK borders, this conversation offers a grounded, thoughtful starting point.
You can find all episodes, transcripts, show notes and submit a listener voice note to join the conversation at www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
If you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can also support the podcast via Buy Me a Coffee at buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast.

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

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

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

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