Languages Pedagogy Podcast

Slang is fun. It’s fresh. It’s real. But it can also be tricky, controversial, and misused. In this powerful episode of The Languages Pedagogy Podcast, we explore how educators can approach slang and informal speech with clarity, sensitivity, and purpose. Discover practical frameworks, cultural insights, and lesson ideas to help learners sound more natural—without crossing lines. Whether you teach...

Idioms are fun, expressive—and utterly confusing for learners. But they’re also one of the most culturally rich and rewarding aspects of language. In this episode, we unpack the big questions: When should we introduce idioms in the learning process? And how can we teach them in a way that’s effective, engaging, and culturally sensitive? Whether you’re a language teacher, a student trying to “wrap...

In this episode, we explore how one of the oldest teaching tools—storytelling—continues to shape the language classroom of today. From ancient oral traditions to digital storytelling tools, we examine why stories remain central to language learning and how teachers can harness their power across speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Whether you’re a veteran educator or a new teacher looking t...

Can pretending to be someone else make you a better speaker in your target language? In this episode, we dive into the world of drama and role-play as powerful tools for language learning. Explore how embodying characters, acting out scenes, and using performance-based strategies can accelerate fluency, reduce anxiety, and make language learning more meaningful and unforgettable. Whether you’re a...

Why do we forget? And could that very act of forgetting be the key to remembering more? In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, we unravel the science behind spaced repetition—the most effective learning strategy you’ve probably heard of, but may not be using to its full potential. From Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve to modern-day apps like Anki and Memrise, we explore how spacing your revie...

Why do some learners seem completely uninterested, disengaged, or even defiant when it comes to language learning? And more importantly—what can we do about it? In this eye-opening, deeply personal, takes us into the heart of one of the most challenging aspects of education: motivating reluctant learners across all age groups—young children, teenagers, and adults. Discover the psychology behind le...

What if the most effective language teaching strategies were also the quietest? In this deeply insightful episode, we explore the subtle yet transformative techniques of recasts and reformulation—those moments when teachers correct without correcting, and guide without disrupting. From the science of noticing, to the emotional intelligence of gentle feedback, to practical classroom strategies and...

Culture isn’t just the background of language—it’s the invisible thread that weaves through every word we speak, every pause we take, and every gesture we make. In this 120-minute deep dive, host Mike Llerena explores how culture profoundly influences the way we learn, teach, and experience language. From classroom dynamics and identity struggles to pragmatics, politeness, and power distance, this...

Is it time to move beyond “English only” classrooms? In this eye-opening episode, we explore the transformative power of translanguaging—a pedagogical approach that embraces students’ full linguistic repertoires in the classroom. From real-life classroom stories and cutting-edge cognitive research to actionable strategies and global voices, this episode dives deep into how translanguaging can resh...

What happens when language learning breaks free from worksheets and grammar drills — and becomes something students actually use to solve real problems, plan real events, and communicate with real purpose? In this episode, we explore the true power of  Task-Based Learning (TBL)  — not just as a method, but as a mindset. Join us as we travel from classrooms in Bogotá to startups in Seoul and virtua...

Is sounding “native” the gold standard—or just another form of linguistic pressure? In this deeply engaging episode, we dive into the fascinating world of accent training, exploring the complex intersection of clarity, culture, and identity. You’ll uncover the difference between intelligibility and imitation, learn what science actually says about effective communication, and hear the powerful arg...

What does it mean to “inherit” a language you never formally studied? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, we explore the complex world of heritage speakers — individuals who grow up hearing a language at home but often lack formal education in it. From identity tensions to literacy gaps, from cultural pride to systemic misplacement, we uncover the nuanced challenges these learners face...

Why do some language mistakes stick—even after years of practice, lessons, and correction? In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, we dive headfirst into one of the most persistent challenges in language education: fossilized errors. From the infamous “He go to school” to silent pronunciation traps and stubborn grammar mistakes, fossilized errors affect learners at all levels—and frustrate...

Can you become fluent in a new language just by listening—no textbooks, no speaking, just pure auditory exposure? In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the technique of input flooding and explore whether it’s possible to learn a language by immersing yourself in sound alone. Drawing from linguistic theory, real-life stories, and cutting-edge research, we examine the power—and limitations—...

Is it better to speak quickly with mistakes or slowly with perfection? In this thought-provoking episode of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, we tackle one of the biggest debates in language education: fluency versus accuracy. For decades, educators and learners have wrestled with the tension between promoting confident communication and upholding grammatical precision. But do we really have to choo...

In this eye-opening episode of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, we dive into one of the most misunderstood phases of language acquisition: the Silent Period. Often mistaken for a lack of progress or interest, this quiet phase is actually a powerful and necessary stage of natural language development—especially for young learners and beginners. Join me as we explore the neuroscience, pedagogical the...

Is correcting errors the golden key to language mastery, or the silent killer of learner confidence? In this captivating episode, we peel back the layers of one of language teaching’s most controversial practices — error correction. From its historical roots in rigid grammar drills to its place in today’s communicative classrooms, we explore why correction sparks such fierce debate and how it can...

In this powerful season opener, Mike pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood—and emotionally charged—aspects of language learning: pronunciation. Far beyond dry drills and endless phonetic charts, this episode takes you deep into the heart of what pronunciation really means for teachers, learners, and anyone who’s ever worried about “sounding foreign.” 👉 Are you a teacher afraid t...

🎧 Season 4 is here — and we’re turning up the volume on change. Welcome back to the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, where we go beyond grammar drills and lesson plans to explore the deeper stories, systems, and shifts shaping language education today. In this season, we’re challenging what it means to teach, learn, and live through language. From AI-powered learning and global identity to accent bias...

Welcome to the grand finale of Season 3! 🎉 In this milestone episode, we’re not just wrapping up a season — we’re celebrating an entire journey of thought-provoking ideas, bold questions, and fresh perspectives on how we learn languages in our modern, connected world. In this special closing chapter, I revisit the highlights, hidden gems, and most eye-opening moments from the past episodes. Toget...

Ever wondered what would happen if you flipped the language learning script — starting at the end and working your way back to the beginning? In this mind-bending episode, we unravel the fascinating world of reverse learning — a rebellious, brain-tickling approach that turns traditional study methods upside down. Join me as we explore: Why some polyglots swear by learning backwards — and how it ca...

What happens when you push your brain, your emotions, and your willpower to the absolute edge — all for the sake of mastering a new language… in just seven days? In this bold, unfiltered episode, we dive deep into the wild world of extreme language learning experiments. Listen as we unravel the secrets, the science, and the raw human stories behind people who dare to break all the rules — from sea...

English dominates classrooms, boardrooms, and digital screens—but will it always reign supreme? In this captivating episode, we dissect the historical forces that made English the world’s lingua franca and ask whether it’s destined to hold that title forever. From colonial legacies to globalization and the rise of other languages on the global stage, we explore the politics, economics, and cultura...

Language is more than words; it’s power. In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the hidden—and not-so-hidden—ways language has been weaponized throughout history and across borders. From identity politics to cultural suppression, we unpack case studies of linguistic nationalism and its ties to national identity, conflict, and resistance. Why do some languages thrive while others fade? How...

Languages are more than communication—they’re vessels of identity, power, and survival. In this bold and eye-opening episode, we dive into the complex politics behind language dominance, extinction, and resistance. Why do some tongues spread across continents while others vanish in silence? We explore linguistic imperialism, colonization, global media influence, and what it truly means when a lang...