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"Reflections of a language teacher.
Always learning."


30+ Fun and Effective MFL Games for the Languages Classroom
One of the most powerful ways to build confidence, fluency and motivation in the MFL classroom is through purposful games. I believe that well-chosen, low-prep activities can transform the energy of a lesson while driving serious progress in retrieval, phonics, grammar and spontaneous use of the target language. Below is a bumper list of 30+ tried-and-tested MFL games you can use across key stages. They work brilliantly in German, French, Spanish and beyond. ⭐ Retrieval & M
Silvia Bastow
Dec 3, 20256 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 7, 20255 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 12, 20257 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 1, 20255 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 3, 20256 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 5, 20257 min read


Empowering voices: strategies for encouraging pupils to speak
This blog post was written by Jennifer Wozniak-Rush. About the author of the post: Jennifer Wozniak-Rush is an Assistant Headteacher for...
Silvia Bastow
May 6, 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


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
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