In the classroom Being a Languages Learner in a primary school In many primary schools languages are being squeezed due to the pressures of the core curriculum, so it is important that we use the limited time we have creatively to make the learning experience...
The Debate on Vocabulary What’s in a Word? Historical context and the relative importance of vocabulary teaching. It would seem obvious that learning new words is a vital part of language learning and yet, over the 30+ years that I have been teaching languages (at...
Being a Language Learner: Why Who We Are Matters as Much as What We Learn ‘Be curious, not judgemental’, famously featured in the television show Ted Lasso and often attributed to Walt Whitman, is a simple yet powerful invitation to approach others with openness...
In conversation with… the Japanese Club at Birches Head Academy 2025 Why set up the Japanese Club? This year’s Language World Conference reignited my love for learning languages. I would consider myself a lifelong learner of languages, cultures and forever student...
In conversation with … Heidi and Jessica, with support from their teacher Gina Hall For the past few years, children in our primary school have prepared for the #Celebrate Speaking event. This festival, which is always held in February, is managed by the British...
Language Learning Journal Being a language learner or ‘Who am I in this language?’ It’s obvious that you can’t be a language teacher without being a language learner, but as a teacher, it’s easy to forget what being a learner is like. Another language can feel...
