Introduction What research tells us about developing accurate, fluent and independent readers. Reading aloud is a staple of the modern foreign languages classroom. Yet it is often poorly sequenced,…

Introduction Dictation is one of the oldest activities in the language teacher’s repertoire. Yet, despite its apparent simplicity, it is also one of the most cognitively demanding things we can ask…

The events This June and July I will be delivering a ‘Teaching Lexicogrammar: from modelling to spontaneity’ workshop in London (17th June) and Manchester (1st July) focused on one of t…

Introduction For a long time now, and certainly across many of the classrooms I have visited in recent years teachers have been working hard to improve GCSE writing outcomes while quietly sensing t…

Recasts Recasts are the most frequent form of feedback that teachers give students in the course of oral interactions. They consists of utterances by the teacher that repeat the student’s erroneous…

Introduction: Where These Tips Come From Supporting a struggling MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) colleague requires more than goodwill and a few general observations. It demands a combination of res…

Introduction Every language teacher brings something distinct to the classroom: a teaching persona, a philosophy, a set of gut instincts. Some prize grammatical precision, while others favour spont…

Introduction Modern language teachers are increasingly contending with a new kind of learner—one shaped not primarily by the classroom, but by a digital media ecosystem designed to prioritise immed…

by Gianfranco Conti, PhD. Co-author of 'The Language Teacher toolkit', 'Breaking the sound barrier: teaching learners how to listen', 'Memory: what every teacher should kno…

Introduction Alongside listening, speaking is the skill that scares learners the most—and rightly so. Unlike writing, where you can take your time and carefully polish your words, speaking happens …

Introduction Alongside listening, speaking is the skill that scares learners the most—and rightly so. Unlike writing, where you can take your time and carefully polish your words, speaking happens …

Join fellow educators in a Q&A session with Dr Conti on the implementation of EPI.

Introduction When I first heard the phrase “You shall know a word by the company it keeps” by J.R. Firth during my MA in TEFL around 25 years ago, it reshaped how I thought about vocabulary teachin…

Introduction When I first heard the phrase “You shall know a word by the company it keeps” by J.R. Firth during my MA in TEFL around 25 years ago, it reshaped how I thought about vocabulary teachin…

The impact on social development among young children may be more severe in the long term than currently understood.

0. Introduction In the field of second language education, the question of what constitutes an outstanding language teacher has been widely investigated. In this article I synthesise findings from …

1. Introduction Let’s face it—language learning is a messy, multi-layered business. It’s not just about memorising vocabulary lists or drilling verb conjugations. Beneath the surface, there’s a tan…

Introduction Second language acquisition (SLA) research strongly indicates that learners need to understand the vast majority (around 90–98%) of the language input they receive for optimal learning…

by Gianfranco Conti, PhD. Co-author of 'The Language Teacher toolkit', 'Breaking the sound barrier: teaching learners how to listen', 'Memory: what every teacher should kno…

Introduction Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) approach has gained recognition in the field of Modern Foreign Language (MFL) teaching as an innovative methodology that promotes long-term reten…

Introduction Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) approach has gained recognition in the field of Modern Foreign Language (MFL) teaching as an innovative methodology that promotes long-term reten…

Introduction Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) approach has gained recognition in the field of Modern Foreign Language (MFL) teaching as an innovative methodology that promotes long-term reten…

YouTube video by ADECS Educational Consultancy Services

Introduction With the introduction of the new GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum in 2024, students and teachers alike have been considering how grammar influences the final grade. Gramm…

Introduction Teaching chunks in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) has been extensively supported by research as more effective for developing fluency than traditional, isolated word-based methods. Lea…

Introduction Teaching chunks in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) has been extensively supported by research as more effective for developing fluency than traditional, isolated word-based methods. Lea…

Introduction With the introduction of the new GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum in 2024, students and teachers alike have been considering how grammar influences the final grade. Gramm…

Teaching language by topics in Instructed Second Language Acquisition (ISLA) is a common approach, but research shows both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons base…

Teaching language by topics in Instructed Second Language Acquisition (ISLA) is a common approach, but research shows both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons base…

Introduction The book I have always wanted to write has finally been written and about to come out. It is a very innovative book in that it embeds listening-to-learn in an input-to-output sequence …

0. Introduction L2 learners sometimes repeat sounds incorrectly due to a combination of cognitive, phonetic, and perceptual factors. Here are some key reasons why this happens, supported by researc…

0. Introduction L2 learners sometimes repeat sounds incorrectly due to a combination of cognitive, phonetic, and perceptual factors. Here are some key reasons why this happens, supported by researc…

The Language Teacher Toolkit. 1,674 likes · 2 talking about this. The Language Teacher Toolkit is the page of Steve Smith and Gianfranco Conti, teacher educators.

Here are the dates of my upcoming face-to-face and online workshops from the end of February to the 20th of March. The tour will start at Toynbee School, Southampton, and will end on the island of …

Introduction Listening is widely recognized as one of the most challenging yet crucial skills in second language acquisition. Despite its importance, traditional listening instruction in many langu…

Introduction Listening is widely recognized as one of the most challenging yet crucial skills in second language acquisition. Despite its importance, traditional listening instruction in many langu…