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"Reflections of a language teacher.
Always learning."


Getting Students Talking: Making the most of role plays in the new GCSE speaking exam
There’s a lot of talk everywhere about the new 2026 GCSE MFL exams and for good reason! The updates are designed to make language learning more meaningful, focusing on real communication rather than memorised scripts and let's hope they will! The part, I would like to focus on in this post is the Role-Play section in the speaking exam. If you’ve ever taught GCSE languages, you’ll know role-plays have always been around in some form but the new version asks students to use th
Silvia Bastow
Nov 17 min read


What does a Book Look look like in MFL and what should it reflect?
In the world of MFL, book looks can sometimes feel like a tick-box exercise or a stressful scrutiny. Too often - and this can be the case...
Silvia Bastow
Oct 44 min read


Oracy in the Languages Classroom: Why Speaking Is So Much More Than Talking
When we talk about language learning, “speaking” often feels like the ultimate goal. It’s what learners and parents usually see as...
Silvia Bastow
Sep 75 min read


Making Input Count: The Power of Comprehensible Input in Language Teaching
This academic year has been an incredibly full and rewarding one for me, filled with opportunities to speak at conferences locally,...
Silvia Bastow
Jul 127 min read


Fancy Trying Something Different? Why TPRS Might Be Worth Exploring in MFL
As language teachers, we’re always looking for ways to boost engagement, increase confidence and help our learners feel that what they’re...
Silvia Bastow
Jun 15 min read


Embracing the Target Language: Striking the Balance
Using the target language (TL) in Modern Language lessons is both a commendable and complex endeavour. However, for it to be successful,...
Silvia Bastow
May 36 min read


What I Learned from Paul Nation’s Webinar on Word Frequency and Vocabulary Learning
When we talk about teaching languages, it’s easy to get caught up in the grammar structures, the tenses, or the ever-growing pressure of...
Silvia Bastow
Apr 57 min read


Making the Case for MFL in U.K. Education: Saving Languages
Languages open doors - whether it’s making new friends, traveling the world, or landing a dream job. But despite all the benefits, Modern...
Silvia Bastow
Mar 16 min read


Making Learning Walks Count: Strategies for Lesson Drop-Ins, Learning Walks and Observations
Being able to step into someone else’s classroom and see them teach is such a privilege. I always remind myself of this because teaching...
Silvia Bastow
Feb 18 min read


The vital role of parental involvement in Languages classroom
In today’s globalised society, the importance of learning multiple languages is more apparent than ever. Language skills open doors to...
Silvia Bastow
Nov 3, 20247 min read


'Read aloud' - Utilising engaging activities that spark excitement
As the 'newish kid on the block' in terms of the new GCSE MFL specification in England, incorporating read-aloud activities in the modern...
Silvia Bastow
Apr 21, 20247 min read


Unpicking Engagement: Strategies for Reaching Middle-Attaining, Disengaged Boys in the Language Classroom
In the domain of language teaching, teachers often find themselves faced with the challenge of engaging students who seem disinterested...
Silvia Bastow
Mar 17, 20245 min read


Unveiling the Power of "Less" in the Language Classroom: A Cognitive Approach to Teaching and Learning
In the dynamic landscape of modern language education, the quest for effective teaching methodologies that enhance students' ability to...
Silvia Bastow
Feb 18, 20244 min read


Unlocking success: Supporting students with the lowest prior attainment in their GCSE exam
Achieving success in GCSE exams is a challenging journey for all students, but those with the lowest prior attainment often face unique...
Silvia Bastow
Jan 14, 20246 min read


"The Harmonious Approach": Using Songs for Teaching Languages
This year (March, 2023), I attended Eva Lamb's session at the Language World Conference organised by the Association for Language...
Silvia Bastow
Dec 10, 20234 min read


Making learning stick: Strategies for lasting knowledge
Learning a language is a cumulative and dynamic process that involves acquiring, processing, and retaining vocabulary and structures....
Silvia Bastow
Nov 25, 20234 min read


Stretching our high attaining students
I decided to write this blog post because too often, when I chat to my fellow colleagues either at conferences, subject meetings, or...
Silvia Bastow
Oct 22, 20234 min read


Worked examples in the Language classroom
One of the most effective teaching strategy for languages classroom are worked examples. As a type of instructional method, they provide...
Silvia Bastow
Apr 16, 20233 min read


Mini whiteboards – the number 1 classroom tool?
With recent publications of various edu-books, mini whiteboards seem to be experiencing some kind of ‘re-birth’ in the world of...
Silvia Bastow
Mar 4, 20234 min read


This one in on motivation
“Motivation is complex and invisible which makes it hard to understand.” Peps Mccrea: Motivated Teaching Human beings have always been...
Silvia Bastow
Dec 10, 20225 min read
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