Steve Smith — MFL veteran, author, blogger, and founder of FrenchTeacher.net — joins Will Marks for a full-throttle deep dive into how we teach languages, why we might be getting some of it wrong, and how to do it better.

From his early fascination with Stephen Krashen and language acquisition theory to co-authoring Breaking the Sound Barrier with Gianfranco Conti, Steve walks us through decades of research and reflection on what works — and what doesn’t — in the classroom.

Topics include:

• Input vs. grammar: What actually drives language acquisition?

• Sentence builders, repetition, and building linguistic self-efficacy

• Why GCSE reform still misses the mark

• Vocab tests and the illusion of mastery

• AI as a teacher’s assistant, not enemy of creativity

He also shares how AI is saving him hours writing resources — and what teachers can do to keep their lessons engaging without burning out.

📚 Steve’s blog: frenchteachernet.blogspot.co.uk
📖 Breaking the Sound Barrier
🎒 Resources: frenchteacher.net
🎵 Theme: “Jump and Jive” by All Good Folks via Uppbeat
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In this episode, Will catches up with Claire Cuminatto, Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia—and, memorably, one of his own former lecturers.

They explore how university language degrees are evolving to meet a new generation of learners:

• Applied language learning and real-world skills

• Employability and the value of language graduates

• Study abroad after Brexit (goodbye Erasmus, hello Turing)

• The role of AI in language education

• Creating safe spaces to fail, improv games, podcast assessments, and more

Plus: a trip down memory lane to Sacré Théâtre, UEA’s long-running French-language theatre company. Find out more at sacretheatre.co.uk

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🎵 Theme music: Jump and Jive by All Good Folks via Uppbeat — copyright-free music for creators.

This week, Will sits down with Dr. Rebecca Mitchell — Cambridge lecturer, sociolinguist, and founder of National Linguistics Day — for a conversation that ranges from Saussure to slang, AI to accent bias, and endangered languages to elderly karaoke. (Yes, really.)

We explore how linguistics can transform classrooms, challenge stereotypes, and make education genuinely inclusive. Rebecca shares how a late-night idea became a grassroots movement, why she’s on a mission to get heritage languages into schools, and how you can get involved — without needing a PhD or a government grant.

Topics include:

• Why linguistics matters (and why it’s still overlooked)

• How AI is changing how we think

• Accent bias, language policy, and decolonising the curriculum

• Simple ways to celebrate National Linguistics Day in your school

🔗 Resources and contact info: linguisticshq.co.uk
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