In our very first episode of Speaking Your Language, we caught up with a fantastic and inspiring member of our MFL teaching community – Esmeralda Salgado! She has taught languages for 20 years in a variety of school settings, and at all Key Stages, in roles including Advanced Skills Teacher, Head of MFL and Digital Lead. She won a Silver Pearson National Teaching Award as Secondary School teacher of the year in 2022 and has run many collaborative projects between schools. Esmeralda also has vast experience as an MFL consultant, writer, blogger and CPD provider.

We talk about her love of languages, tried and tested teaching approaches, and her best best thing that learning a languages has given her. So, put those books and laptops to one side, sit back, relax and enjoy. ¡Vamos!

Feel free to check out Esmerelda's blog here: https://mflcraft.blogspot.com/

Episode 1: Engagement and Challenge in the Language Classroom with Esmeralda Salgado

Fiona Pryce interviews Crista Hazell, a highly regarded MFL consultant, trainer, blogger, examiner, development manager for ALL (The Association for Language Learning) and keynote speaker at many webinars and conferences. Her inspirational book Independent Thinking on MFL was a finalist in the 'Educational Book Award’ category in the Education Resource Awards 2021 and is published by Crown House. Follow Crista on LinkedIn or on X. Listen and find out about Crista’s passion for language learning, how to develop positive relationships with your students, and the importance of protecting your own mental health and wellbeing as a teacher. We also talk about the importance of primary languages and supporting Home, Heritage and Community Languages.

Episode 7: Crista Hazell – The Teacher of teachers

In this episode, Nicola Woodford-Smith talks with Emma James who has over 20 years experience teaching and leading maths in Further Education settings. The conversation meanders through themes such as building maths confidence through emotional safety and how to ensure they are ready for their next exam series using various teaching strategies and resources.

Ep 30: 'Unlocking potential at Post-16' with Emma James

In this episode, Head of Maths, Tom Gatens talks to Nicola Woodford-Smith about problems facing departments from teacher recruitment and retention as well as effective CPD. They also discuss the missing element of STEM education and how that is impacting the value of future careers.

Ep 31: Do we really address STEM education in schools? with Tom Gatens

In this episode, the host talks to Lucinda Powell, an Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning in a boys school in South Oxfordshire, England.

Lucinda's interests lie in the intersection between psychology and education and include memory and learning, special educational needs, social influence and pupil-teacher relationships in schools, mental health and wellbeing. She shares this passion through her podcast ‘Psychology in the Classroom’ which aims to make psychological research on learning and education accessible to all. Lucinda was recently named ‘Psychology Teacher of the Year’ by the British Psychological Society. 

This episode will explore these topics, as well as other related talking points derived from Lucinda's career and expertise. Press play!

52. Psychology in the classroom with Lucinda Powell

In this episode, Nicola Woodford-Smith and Professor Paul Glaister discuss the record-breaking Summer 2024 entries for A Level mathematics and what this means for the future of our subject along with what this means for Higher Education entries. They also discuss the Large Data Set and how this could further be integrated into study.

Ep32: Celebrating the A Level surge with Professor Paul Glaister

Join Pam and Bennie Kara as they discuss a range of topics, including Bennie’s new book ‘The Diverse Curriculum,’ and the practicalities of enriching your curriculum to be more inclusive and diverse. Other aspects discussed include what the future of English GCSE could look like and how to foster a love of literature in the classroom. 

Ep 14: Ideas to improve your students' feelings of belonging and thoughts on the future of English

In this episode, Dr Tom Crawford talks with Nicola Woodford-Smith about the projects he is involved in that help promote a culture of enthusiasm and joy around mathematics. Be prepared to hear of Tom's maths tattoos, his latest TED talk theme involving teaching maths using video games and just how he got the reputation of being the 'naked mathematician'!

Ep 33: Don't say the 'm-word' with Tom Crawford

The artist Brook Tate, talks with Nicola Woodford-Smith about his recent discovery of how colours and shapes can help unlock the key to learning the fundamentals of mathematics. Brook shares how he made this discovery and where in the world he has been sharing his creative practice. 

Ep 34: Can art really help us learn maths? with Brook Tate

Bruno Reddy OBE and Nicola Woodford-Smith share their love of maths education throughout this episode. The founder of Times Table Rock Stars shares how the idea became reality in turning young learners into rock legends via learning their times tables, and how this incredible platform has changed the learning into such fun for so many.

Ep35: Achieving Rock Status with Times Table Rock Stars with Bruno Reddy

Episode 15:  Voices in Education: Oracy, young males and the impact of Social Media

This podcast is here to generate a conversation about the importance of language learning and the pivotal role it plays in developing a more well-rounded, accepting and diverse generation of the future. With the help of key thought leaders, education specialists and students, we're embarking on a journey to uncover today's languages classroom as well as the best ways to help languages thrive. Join us!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the panel and guests on the show. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Pearson.

Episode 1: Engagement and Challenge in the Language Classroom with Esmeralda Salgado

Speaking your Language

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