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

In Part 2 of my conversation with Kedi Simpson, we move from theory to classroom reality.

We dig into segmentation — what it actually means, why students struggle to “hear” words in the stream of speech, and how listening tasks can either build processing… or just create the illusion of it. We talk about cognitive load, noticing, task design, and why ticking the box isn’t the same as understanding.

If Part 1 challenged how we think about listening, this episode pushes us to rethink how we teach it.

This is also the Season Finale of The Language Lab Podcast. We’re taking a short break and will return on 5th March for Season 6, with exciting news around Language World and some brilliant guests lined up.

During the break, you can submit your own voice note via the website and become part of the conversation next season.

🎙 Links, transcripts, all past episodes and voice note submissions:
www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

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

If this episode made you rethink listening, leave a review and share it with a colleague — it really helps us grow the community.

Season 6 starts 5th March.