The Language Lab Podcast

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.ukbuymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

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

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.ukSupport the show on Patreon at patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast or on Buy Me a Coffee at buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcastNext week: Tom Sherrington. It will be worth the wait.

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.comFor transcripts, links and resources:www.languagelabpodcast.co.ukSupport the podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast