With the speaking exam just around the corner, it is the perfect time to focus on strategies that build students’ confidence and fluency. In this post, I am sharing a range of practical tips and easy-to-implement activities that you can start using straight away in your lessons. One of the most important things you can … Read more
Starting your teacher training journey can feel exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between. Looking back, there are several things I wish I had known from the beginning—ideas that would have helped me feel more confident, balanced, and prepared. If you are currently training or about to start, these reflections are for you. 1. Embrace the … Read more
As we approach the Easter break, a crucial revision period for many students, finding engaging and effective tools to support independent learning becomes more important than ever. One platform that is gaining attention among language teachers is Little Language Lessons, an AI-powered resource designed to make language acquisition more interactive, accessible, and personalised. In this … Read more
As MFL teachers, we are constantly balancing lesson planning, assessment, meetings, feedback, and collaboration with colleagues. Staying organised can make a huge difference not only to productivity but also to maintaining a positive and healthy working environment within a department. One free tool that I find incredibly helpful is Google Keep. It is simple, quick … Read more
After-school enrichment is a fantastic way to promote languages across your school. It helps raise the profile of MFL, builds pupil confidence and creates positive experiences beyond the classroom. Here are some simple, low-prep ideas that worked really well in my setting and could easily be adapted for your own MFL department. 1. A Creative … Read more
As teachers of Modern Foreign Languages, we know that engagement does not begin with the first task on the board; it begins at the door. After half term, or indeed at the start of any new term, we have a golden opportunity to reset expectations, strengthen relationships and re-energise our classrooms. Below are practical, realistic … Read more
Leading a languages department can be rewarding, but it also comes with challenges. Over time, I have found that a few simple principles make a big difference, both for staff wellbeing and for student outcomes. Here are some key tips that have worked well in my role as a Head of Department: Look after your … Read more
“Adaptive teaching” can sometimes feel like a rebrand of differentiation and for many MFL teachers, it comes with the same fear: more planning, more resources, more workload.However, true adaptation in MFL doesn’t mean creating three versions of every worksheet. In fact, some of the most effective adaptive strategies require less prep, not more. Here are … Read more
If your students seem to forget everything you taught them last week, don’t worry, it is not a classroom management issue, and it is definitely not bad teaching. Why is it so hard? Languages are tough on the brain. When a student learns a new word, they have to manage the sound, the spelling, the … Read more
If MFL writing feels like a struggle, for both you and your students, this one small change can make a massive difference. Instead of spending hours writing long comments on every book, try showing students what a great answer actually looks like. Here is how to do it: Show a model answer on the board. … Read more