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