The Language Lab Podcast

Grammar is one of those things we assume we understand… until we try to teach it properly.
In this episode of The Language Lab Podcast, I’m joined by literacy educator and author Patty McGee to rethink what grammar actually looks like in the classroom. Moving away from rules, correction, and one-off lessons, Patty shares a much more practical approach — starting with sentences, building understanding over time, and focusing on how grammar helps students make meaning.
We get into why traditional grammar teaching often falls flat, how short, repeated “grammar experiences” can lead to real progress, and why teachers don’t need to know everything to teach it well.
There’s loads here for language teachers too — especially around sentence building, repetition, and how grammar transfers across languages.
If grammar has ever felt like something students should get but don’t… this one’s worth a listen.
🌐 Website: www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
📚 Patty McGee: https://www.pattymcgee.org
☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast
🎙 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast

This week’s episode is something a little different.
Recorded live at ALL Language World 2026, we’re bringing you voices, reflections and moments from across the weekend — from teachers, trainees, researchers and leaders in language education.
You’ll hear what stood out, what people are taking back into their classrooms, and what makes Language World such a unique space for collaboration.
We’ve also got exclusive recordings from the conference itself, including:
The official openingReflections from attendees across the event
And the keynote from Ian Gilbert, exploring motivation, learning, and what sits at the heart of education
As always, it’s a reminder of the energy, generosity and thinking that runs through the languages community.
🔗 Links & More:Find transcripts and more at:👉 www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
💬 Get involved:Send in a voice note and be part of the conversation.
☕ Support the show:Spotify subscription (£2.99/month), Patreon, or Buy Me a Coffee:https://www.patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcasthttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast
Next week: Patty McGee on literacy journeys.
If you want it even leaner (Spotify character cap safe), I can compress it further.

Thank you so much to Ian Gilbert of Independent thinking, for his contributions. Please visit his website

https://www.independentthinking.co.uk/

Thank you so much for the support of the ALL for making this episode happen!
Become members below:
https://www.all-languages.org.uk/

No full episode this week… and yes, that is entirely on me.
In this short update, I explain why the usual episode isn’t dropping — and what’s coming instead. After recording a lot (read: far too much) at Language World, I’m currently deep in the edit, pulling together something a bit special.
This episode is a quick reflection on an incredible few days — from catching up with familiar faces like Jérôme Noguès, Dr Kedi Simpson, Saleh Patel, Vincent Everett, Marie Massé, Kate Clifton and Jane Driver, to the wider conversations happening across the conference.
More than anything, Language World was a reminder that language teaching is a genuinely collaborative, evolving space — and that the real magic often happens in the conversations between sessions.
Next week, you’ll hear it all:
🎙️ Exclusive recordings from the keynote
🎙️ The co-presidents’ panel
🎙️ Voices from across the conference
🎙️ And the moments that made it all matter
Trust me — it’s worth the wait.
For links, transcripts and more:
👉 www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
Support the show:
👉 Spotify subscription (£2.99/month)
👉 patreon.com/thelanguagelabpodcast
👉 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast

German has been declining in UK schools for years — but in many classrooms the fightback is already underway.
In this episode, Will speaks to Isla MacEachern, a German teacher with nearly two decades of experience, contributor to BBC Bitesize, and recipient of the German Embassy Teacher of German Award.
Together they explore what it really takes to keep languages thriving in schools.
They discuss:
• why authentic materials matter in language teaching
• how culture can bring language learning to life
• the realities of German in UK schools today
• how teachers can boost engagement at Key Stage 3
• and why mistakes are essential to language learning
Isla also shares insights from her work writing new BBC Bitesize GCSE German resources, and reflects on how teachers can keep languages relevant, accessible and exciting for pupils.
It’s a conversation about culture, curiosity and the quiet work teachers do every day to keep languages alive.
Next week: a special episode from Language World, including exclusive audio from the President’s Panel.

Season 6 begins with a big question: what does it actually mean to teach languages like a global citizen?
In this episode of The Language Lab Podcast, Will Marks is joined by Amy Lennon to explore how language teaching can better reflect the wider world our pupils live in. From intercultural understanding to representation in the curriculum, Amy shares practical ways teachers can make meaningful changes without adding to an already heavy workload.
The conversation looks at the realities of primary language teaching, the role of drama in building confidence, and why starting small can often lead to the most powerful changes. As Amy explains in the episode, once you begin looking at your curriculum through this lens, it’s hard to see it any other way.
This conversation was recorded in October, so as always with the podcast there may be moments where events have moved on slightly since recording.
Season 6 is also about bringing more voices into the discussion. If you’d like to share a perspective from your classroom, you can now submit a voice note via the website and become part of the podcast.
For links from today’s episode, transcripts and more, head to
www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk
You can also support the show and get early access to bonus episodes:
patreon.com/TheLanguageLabPodcast
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast