Languages Pedagogy Podcast

What separates a good teacher from an unforgettable one? In this special recap of Episodes 221 and 222 of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, we revisit an inspiring conversation with Tisha Richmond and Dave Burgess about what truly transforms learning. Extraordinary classrooms aren’t built by accident. They’re created by educators who design experiences, ignite curiosity, embrace creativity, and make...

What if the biggest problem with ADHD isn’t the child… but the way schools understand the child? In this powerful recap episode of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, we revisit one of our most impactful conversations with Eliza Dadson from Episodes 219 and 220. This episode explores why ADHD is far more than hyperactivity or inattention. We unpack executive functioning, emotional regulation, sensory...

Being a great teacher is no longer enough. The future belongs to educators who know how to adapt. In Part 2, Mike continues his fascinating conversation with educator and entrepreneur Luana Borges. They discuss the practical side of surviving—and thriving—in the rapidly changing education industry. Topics include: • Why teachers need a digital presence • The role of AI in modern education • Buildi...

What happens when there simply aren't enough children to fill classrooms? The future of education isn't coming—it's already here. In Part 1 of this eye-opening conversation, Mike sits down with educator and entrepreneur  Luana Borges  to explore one of the biggest challenges facing education worldwide: declining birth rates. From China's rapidly changing education landscape to scho...

Welcome to the Languages Pedagogy Podcast Are you ready to transform the way you think about language acquisition, teaching methodologies, and communication?  Whether you are an educator refining your classroom practice, a researcher diving into applied linguistics, or a passionate multilingual learner striving for fluency, this is the community you’ve been searching for. Hosted by Mike Llerena ,...

In Part 2, Tish Richmond and Dave Burgess go deeper into what truly transforms learning: emotional safety, authentic experiences, hands-on discovery, AI as a creative partner, and the danger of treating textbooks like sacred objects. This episode is a masterclass for teachers who want more than compliance — they want connection, curiosity, and real impact. Listen now and keep building classrooms s...

What if the best classrooms don’t feel like classrooms at all? What if real learning begins with energy, joy, curiosity, and a little magic? In Part 1, Mike sits with Tish Richmond and Dave Burgess to explore how great teachers turn ordinary lessons into unforgettable learning experiences. From  Teach Like a Pirate  to  Make Learning Magical , this conversation challenges traditional teaching and...

Different does not mean broken. And ADHD was never something to “fix” — it is something to understand. In Part 2, Eliza Dadson shares practical ADHD strategies for teachers and parents, explores the role of technology, screen time, emotional regulation, classroom redesign, and opens her heart with a deeply personal story about her late husband and his ADHD journey. This episode is powerful, human,...

ADHD is not laziness. It is not bad behaviour. It is a different operating system schools still misunderstand. In Part 1, Mike speaks with Eliza Dadson about why ADHD remains deeply misread in modern education, how traditional classrooms fail neurodiverse learners, and why movement, emotional safety, creativity, and executive function must become part of the conversation. This episode is essential...

Raising a multilingual child is not magic. It is strategy. In Part 2, Yulia Akhmetova returns to the Languages Pedagogy Podcast to move from awareness to action. This episode focuses on how parents can actively protect the home language, build a family language plan, and create routines that give children real exposure beyond basic commands. We discuss why “children are like sponges” is dangerousl...

Your child can speak your language today… and slowly lose it tomorrow. In this powerful episode, Yulia Akhmetova joins the Languages Pedagogy Podcast to unpack the hidden crisis many multilingual families face: children gradually abandoning their home language, and with it, part of their identity. We explore why language loss is not just about vocabulary, but about family roots, culture, memory, e...

The breakthrough in Russian starts when you stop trying to understand everything at once. In Part 2, Larisa Zepeda goes deeper into practical strategies: how to learn grammar without panic, why beginners should speak from day one, how music and Soviet films can train your ear, and why consistency beats intensity every time. This episode is a direct roadmap for learners who want real Russian fluenc...

Russian feels impossible until someone finally explains what really matters. In Part 1, Larisa Zepeda breaks down why Russian intimidates learners: grammar, cases, pronunciation, Cyrillic, word stress, and the fear of sounding “wrong.” But this episode reveals the truth: Russian is hard, yes—but not unbeatable. A powerful conversation for serious language learners, Russian beginners, teachers, and...

Inclusion is not lowering standards. It is building learning that more brains can actually access. In Episode 214, Kate Grimes returns to discuss practical classroom strategies for neurodivergent learners: visual supports, movement breaks, predictable routines, flexible assessment, parent communication, and the emotional safety students need to keep trying. This is the episode for teachers who wan...

Traditional teaching doesn’t fail because teachers don’t care. It fails when every brain is expected to learn the same way. In Episode 213, Mike Llerena sits down with psychologist Kate Grimes to unpack dyslexia, neurodiversity, reading difficulties, working memory, early intervention, and why many struggling learners are often mislabeled as “lazy” or “not trying.” A must-listen for teachers, pare...

The future will not replace great teachers. It will expose average ones. In Part 2, Nik Peachey goes deeper into what modern language teaching must become: real language use, task-based learning, action research, teacher reflection, soft skills, AI-supported learning, and the uncomfortable truths ELT still needs to face. This is not just about technology. It is about teacher identity, professional...

Traditional ELT is not dead… but the old classroom model is running out of excuses. In Part 1, Nik Peachey joins  Languages Pedagogy Podcast  to unpack AI, obsolete classroom routines, coursebook dependency, grammar myths, pronunciation, multilingual learners, and why real communication must return to the center of language education. For serious teachers, trainers, and language learners ready to...

Reading success is not just passing a test. It is confidence, comprehension, access, identity, and a child finally understanding how their brain learns. In Part 2, Mike Llerena and Faye B. Casell go deeper into the emotional and psychological impact of reading struggles, dyslexia, masking, anxiety, parent advocacy, and why families are increasingly taking control when systems move too slowly. Faye...

The literacy crisis starts earlier than most parents realize. And by first grade, many struggling readers are already fighting a battle no one has properly named. In this powerful conversation, Mike Llerena speaks with Faye B. Casell, certified academic language therapist, licensed dyslexia therapist, and founder of Home Reading Coach, about why so many children fall behind in reading before anyon...

Real fluency is not perfect grammar. It is the ability to keep communicating under pressure. In Part 2, Marina Menna goes deeper into fluency, confidence, the native-speaker myth, accent pressure, speaking practice, and why language is ultimately a bridge—not a performance test. This episode is for professionals and learners who want to move from hesitation to flow. Build your fluency with confide...

Why do intelligent professionals suddenly freeze in English? In Part 1, Marina Menna breaks down the real psychology behind going blank: overthinking, fear of judgment, cognitive overload, perfectionism, and the vulnerability of speaking in a second language. This episode is for serious English learners, professionals, and educators who know the language—but still struggle to speak when pressure h...

What does it really mean for learners to  own  a language? In this recap of Episodes 199–200 with Jane Maria Harding-DeRosa, we revisit the powerful MMM Framework: Meet, Manipulate, Make it your own. This episode explores why exposure alone is never enough, why repetition still matters, how teachers can move beyond content coverage, and why real learning happens when students can use language natu...

Why do learners know grammar but freeze when it is time to speak? In this recap of episodes 197 and 198 with Judy Thompson, we revisit one of the most powerful conversations on fear, participation, mistakes, coaching, psychological safety, and the future of language education. This episode explores why silence is often misunderstood, why correction can either build or destroy confidence, and why t...

What separates a trained teacher from a truly evolving one? In  Episode 204, Part 2 , Mike continues the conversation with  Donna  in a deeply relevant discussion about the modern realities of TESOL teacher education. This episode moves from foundational methodology into the wider demands of today’s classrooms:  integrated skills teaching, first-language influence, global Englishes, nativism vs no...

What do novice teachers really need to learn before stepping into a language classroom? In  Episode 203, Part 1 , Mike sits down with  Donna  for a powerful conversation on the real responsibilities of a TESOL teacher educator today. Drawing from decades of experience as a  language teacher educator, author, consultant, pronunciation specialist, and U.S. Department of State English Language Specia...