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The Motivated Classroom

The Motivated Classroom

By Dr. Liam Printer

A weekly podcast for language teachers and learners hosted by Dr. Liam Printer talking all things education, languages, motivation and engagement; linking current educational research to your classroom practice and providing a few ideas for some easy to implement, zero-prep, motivational strategies you can try out right away! Join the conversation on social media using #MotivatedClassroom. I'd love to know what you think so please get in touch. Full programme notes available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast
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Currently playing episode

18 ¦ Teaching language through compelling, cultural & historical content with Beth Skelton

The Motivated ClassroomNov 20, 2020

00:00
33:19
115 ¦ Seven ways to use questions to maximise acquisition and build connections
Mar 07, 202429:09
114 ¦ Universal grammar: Our language learning superpower?

114 ¦ Universal grammar: Our language learning superpower?

Feb 09, 202429:57
113 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is there a critical age period for language learning?

113 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is there a critical age period for language learning?

Jan 25, 202431:48
112 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is using CI enough in high-stakes exam classes?
Dec 15, 202326:16
111 ¦ Q&A: Online teaching, AI and stories in class
Dec 01, 202327:05
110 ¦ Story Listening: Lessons from classroom practice with Cécile Lainé

110 ¦ Story Listening: Lessons from classroom practice with Cécile Lainé

Nov 17, 202356:49
109 ¦ Storytelling as pedagogy
Nov 03, 202322:30
108 ¦ The power of Story Listening for acquisition and motivation with Dr. Beniko Mason and Alice Ayel
Oct 21, 202344:11
107 ¦ Reading a class novel in 11 zero-prep steps
Oct 06, 202338:32
106 ¦ Connections and competence: The third week of the year and beyond
Sep 22, 202330:18
105 ¦ Relationships, relatedness and routines: The second week of the year
Sep 08, 202330:32
104 ¦ Starting strong: The first week back to school
Aug 25, 202336:42
103 ¦ Is Comprehensible Input enough?
Aug 11, 202330:12
102 ¦ Maintaining motivation right until the end of the year
Jun 01, 202334:20
101 ¦ Respecting and amplifying all languages in our multilingual classrooms with Dr. Eowyn Crisfield
May 05, 202331:52
100 ¦ Self-determination theory, motivation and language learning with Dr. Richard Ryan

100 ¦ Self-determination theory, motivation and language learning with Dr. Richard Ryan

In this episode 100, I am delighted and honoured to be joined by esteemed researcher, psychologist and co-founder of Self-Determination Theory, Dr. Richard Ryan. Dr. Ryan's work has been cited over 510,000 times and his work with Edward Deci on intrinsic motivation and Self-Determination Theory has changed the way educators understand raising motivation in the classroom. Dr. Ryan provides us with detailed, insightful perspectives on the current research around raising Self-Determination Theory as well as how it applies in the language acquisition classroom. An absolutely fantastic discussion with a researcher that has changed the world of education. This is a must listen for all teachers.

Keep in touch and share widely!

Feb 24, 202334:18
99 ¦ Raising language learner motivation with Dr. Kimberly Noels
Feb 03, 202331:40
98 ¦ Three motivation-based case studies from the language classroom
Jan 20, 202332:13
97 ¦ The motivation-engagement-acquisition cycle
Jan 06, 202332:56
96 ¦ Interrupting misogyny and toxic masculinity with Abelardo Almazán-Vázquez
Dec 16, 202243:34
95 ¦ Trauma-informed teaching with illiterate students with Janique Vanderstocken
Dec 02, 202245:06
94 ¦ Advanced students: Keeping the inputs comprehensible through increased autonomy
Nov 25, 202224:55
93 ¦ Why grammar instruction is impeding acquisition

93 ¦ Why grammar instruction is impeding acquisition

Following up on the extended episode 92 on maximising our target language use in class, this episode goes a little deeper and discusses how an over-emphasis on grammar instruction and accuracy is killing natural acquisition. Touching on key issues in our field, the goal of this episode is to open up professional debate about how we continue to emphasise grammar instruction, even in our beginner classes and what effect this is having on our students' natural acquisition.

Keep in touch and share widely!

Nov 11, 202234:15
92 ¦ Maximising your target language use with Alina Filipescu and Jason Fritze
Oct 28, 202256:27
91 ¦ Error correction, motivation and examination
Oct 14, 202225:32
90 ¦ Differentiation in the language acquisition classroom

90 ¦ Differentiation in the language acquisition classroom

The second in a two-part series focusing on equity and access to learning for all. Following up on Episode 89 on 'Universal Design for Learning' (UDL), this episodes looks more at differentiation; what we can and should be doing inside our language acquisition classrooms in order to support all learners and ensure they all have the tools needed to access the learning. I provide a list of some of the ways I try to differentiate the learning in my own language acquisition classroom and discuss how these approaches work in practice. 

Keep in touch and share widely!

Oct 07, 202231:01
89 ¦ UDL: Access for all through a Universal Design for Learning

89 ¦ UDL: Access for all through a Universal Design for Learning

In this first of a two-part series focusing on differentiation, equity and how to ensure all learners have access to the learning, we look at the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its applications in the language acquisition classroom. This episode goes over the 3 main priorities of UDL and their 9 principles, using an example from the world languages classroom to show how we can apply some of these principles to ensure all of our learners have access to the learning and not just some of them.

Keep in touch and share widely!

Sep 23, 202231:50
88 ¦ Q&A: New students entering a CI class, adult learners & difficult classes
Sep 09, 202226:29
87 ¦ Back to school: Eight strategies for a motivated year

87 ¦ Back to school: Eight strategies for a motivated year

This episode of The Motivated Classroom podcast focuses on going back to school. I go through eight of my top strategies or goals to ensure both we, the teachers, and our students have a motivated year. Most importantly, there is a particular focus in these strategies on teacher and student well-being. Let me know what you think of them and what your goals are for a motivated year in school!

  1. Build relationships, not powerpoints
  2. More autonomy, less monotony
  3. Share passions, not problems
  4. Look at students, not at a screen
  5. Talk more, photocopy less
  6. Be good to yourself, not hard on yourself
  7. Co-create, don't coerce
  8. Think motivation, not examination

As always, please keep in touch and share widely!

Aug 26, 202218:36
86 ¦ Eight zero-prep classroom activities to instil a love of reading
Aug 12, 202229:03
85 ¦ Motivating beginners through easy-to-read novels with Margarita Pérez García

85 ¦ Motivating beginners through easy-to-read novels with Margarita Pérez García

The wonderfully talent teacher, presenter and author of easy-to-read literature, Margarita Pérez García, joins us in the episode of The Motivated Classroom to talk us through how she uses novels in her classroom to motivate and engage beginner language students. As we know from decades of research, reading is a crucial and central element to language acquisition, yet teachers are often unsure how to use reading with beginners. Margarita goes through her favourite low-prep strategies in detail in this episode! A must listen for all #language #teachers!

As always, please keep in touch and share widely!

Jul 29, 202235:15
84 ¦ Comprehensible Input (CI) teaching with intermediate & advanced learners

84 ¦ Comprehensible Input (CI) teaching with intermediate & advanced learners

As a follow-up to the interview with Dr. Stephen Krashen, in this episode we look at a very common question among language teachers: Can we use a Comprehensible Input approach or with 'Acquisition Driven Instruction (ADI)' when it comes to intermediate or more advanced learners? This episode takes a slightly different angle as I demonstrate what CI would look like in my classroom for both beginners and intermediate or advanced students. I hope you find it useful!

As always, please keep in touch and share widely!

Jul 15, 202232:15
83 ¦ Language acquisition through compelling, comprehensible input with Dr. Stephen Krashen

83 ¦ Language acquisition through compelling, comprehensible input with Dr. Stephen Krashen

Professor Emeritus Dr. Stephen Krashen is one of the most important and influential language acquisition researchers in history. His research over 40 years has completely revolutionised our understanding of how languages are acquired. Dr. Krashen has been cited in over 23,000 peer reviewed research journals and has authored more than 560 publications. The 'Input Hypothesis', which showed us how languages are acquired naturally through comprehensible inputs has had a huge impact on how languages are taught in classrooms across the globe. The episode includes a variety of references to insightful research and of course, also has many of Dr. Krashen's famously entertaining, language acquisition anecdotes and stories! An absolute must listen for all #language #teachers

As always, please keep in touch and share widely!

Jul 01, 202246:18
82 ¦ Teaching with Comprehensible Input (CI) Q&A: Inclusion, parents and missing class
Jun 17, 202230:17
81 ¦ Teaching with Comprehensible Input (CI): Is it more inclusive but less authentic?
Jun 10, 202228:18
80 ¦ Teaching with Comprehensible Input (CI): Overcoming the obstacles
Jun 03, 202231:24
79 ¦ Motivation and Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) with Dr. Gianfranco Conti

79 ¦ Motivation and Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) with Dr. Gianfranco Conti

In this episode of The Motivated Classroom podcast, Dr. Gianfranco Conti joins us to discuss acquiring languages through 'Extensive Processing Instruction' (EPI) and how it links to motivation and engagement. Gianfranco shares his expertise, experience and the research around the approach as well as many practical classroom activities. An absolute must-listen for languages teachers!

As always, please keep in touch and share widely!

May 27, 202236:19
78 ¦ Setting, streaming and separating by ability
May 13, 202227:48
77 ¦ Increasing uptake and decreasing dropout in our language programmes
May 06, 202230:10
76 ¦ Q&A: Assessing writing, use of English & not overwhelming beginners
Apr 22, 202227:24
75 ¦ Centring our language class around Black & Brown identities with Ben Tinsley

75 ¦ Centring our language class around Black & Brown identities with Ben Tinsley

Following up on the social justice focus in episodes 73 and 74, in this episode the wonderful Ben Tinsley joins The Motivated Classroom podcast to discuss how he centres his entire languages curriculum and classroom around Black, Brown and other marginalised identities and voices. A brilliant episode where Ben explains how he uses a technique called 'Map-Talk' to amplify and uphold diverse regions and peoples from around the world in his classroom. An absolute must-listen for all world languages teachers!

As always, please keep in touch and share widely!


Apr 08, 202234:04
74 ¦ The languages classroom as a vehicle for social justice
Apr 01, 202228:14
73 ¦ Language, identity and inclusion with Françoise Thenoux
Mar 25, 202243:14
72 ¦ Using the target language: When, why and how
Mar 11, 202223:27
71 ¦ Q&A: Starting class, taking notes and building on class stories
Mar 04, 202229:06
70 ¦ Six easy steps for an effective parent-teacher meeting
Feb 18, 202224:18
69 ¦ Towards an evidence-informed school with Jade Pearce

69 ¦ Towards an evidence-informed school with Jade Pearce

The last in the three part mini series on professional development and the importance of being an evidence-informed teacher. In this episode I am joined by the inspirational, Jade Pearce. Jade shares the journey her school has been on towards becoming an evidence-informed school and gives us all tips to get started on this path in our own contexts. Jade is a fountain of educational and pedagogical knowledge. You don't want to miss this one!

Keep in touch and share widely!

Feb 04, 202236:41
68 ¦ Developing evidence-informed pedagogy through internal professional development

68 ¦ Developing evidence-informed pedagogy through internal professional development

This episodes builds upon and follows on from Ep. 67 with Darren Leslie of Becoming Educated podcast focusing on our roles as 'teaching and learning research leads'. In this episode I discuss the internal, research based, professional development we have started here at The International School of Lausanne in our drive to becoming an evidence-informed school using evidence-informed pedagogy. I explain the rational and research behind how our internal PD structure works at our school and how we actively encourage everyone to be part of our reading research groups.

Keep in touch and share widely!

Jan 28, 202230:29
67 ¦ Collaboration podcast: Motivating, school based professional development with Darren Leslie

67 ¦ Collaboration podcast: Motivating, school based professional development with Darren Leslie

In this first podcast collaboration, I chat with Darren Leslie of the wonderful Becoming Educated podcast. We talk about our roles as 'teaching and learning research leads' at our respective schools, how we got into these positions, why we feel its important to have internal, evidence based, professional development on-going throughout the year and how we got started on this podcast journey! A brilliant conversation that we could have continued all day!

Keep in touch and share widely!

Jan 21, 202250:09
66 ¦ Q&A: Sharing classrooms, minimum contact time & creating a class motto
Jan 14, 202226:25