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.

Listening is often treated as passive. Dr Kedi Simpson explains why it isn’t.

In part one of this double-bill season finale, Will Marks is joined by Dr Kedi Simpson — head of languages and researcher with a doctorate from the University of Oxford — to unpack what’s really happening when students listen in a language classroom.

This episode digs into why “doing a listening” isn’t the same as teaching listening, how anxiety and segmentation shape comprehension, why mishearings are so revealing, and what practices like dictation and transcripts can tell us about learners’ thinking. It’s practical, thoughtful, and grounded firmly in classroom reality.

Part two drops next week, where the conversation turns to assessment, GCSE listening, and what listening could look like in the future.

For transcripts, links, and to send in your listener voice notes, head to
www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

Sound engineered by Isla McIntosh
Executively produced by Isla McIntosh & Will Marks

If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate, and review — it really helps.
You can also support the podcast via Spotify subscriptions, buymeacoffee.com/languagelabpodcast.

Keep the conversation going.