

The Motivated Classroom
Dr. Liam Printer
A 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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 7, 2024 • 29min
115 ¦ Seven ways to use questions to maximise acquisition and build connections
Discover the power of questioning in the language classroom! Learn techniques like the circling method to enhance engagement and retention. Explore how strategic questioning boosts comprehension and encourages spontaneous dialogue among students. Personal anecdotes and research-backed strategies make this discussion both engaging and insightful. Perfect for educators looking to deepen connections and maximize learning outcomes!

Feb 9, 2024 • 30min
114 ¦ Universal grammar: Our language learning superpower?
This third and final episode in the mini-series on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research and theory. This one looks at Chomsky's concept of Universal Grammar; the idea that we all possess an innate mechanism that allows us to decipher and encode language with ease.
In this episode I try to look at both sides of the research on this and also at where the common ground lies. There is, always, lots of valuable practical implications for teachers too!
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.

Jan 25, 2024 • 32min
113 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is there a critical age period for language learning?
This second in a special mini-series on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) explores the Critical Period Hypothesis and language learning. Is there a critical age period for natural, easy, and effortless language acquisition or can anyone achieve success regardless of age?
We take a look at various research studies and what the evidence has to say about this key question. Of course, this has major implications for language teachers and their practice so I hope you all enjoy it!
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.

Dec 15, 2023 • 26min
112 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is using CI enough in high-stakes exam classes?
This first episode in a special mini-series on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) focuses on what approach we should use with students who are preparing for a high-stakes test such as entry to university. Is CI enough on its own?
We take a look at various aspects and theories of SLA research including the output hypothesis, the interaction hypothesis, the noticing hypothesis and the Input-Interaction-Output model of instruction.
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.

Dec 1, 2023 • 27min
111 ¦ Q&A: Online teaching, AI and stories in class
A special Q&A episode this week with some brilliant questions from the patrons of the podcast. We explore how to keep the motivation high when teaching online, making use of AI tools in the language acquisition class, how long a co-created story should take and how to get started with a free voluntary reading programme and library in class.
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.

Nov 17, 2023 • 57min
110 ¦ Story Listening: Lessons from classroom practice with Cécile Lainé
For the third in the 3-part series on "Story Listening", I am joined by the wonderful and inspirational Cécile Lainé. After Episode 108 with Dr. Beniko Mason and Alice Ayel, followed by a look at the research in Ep. 109, Cécile now provides the much needed perspective on Story Listening through the eyes of a classroom practitioner.
Cécile shares her insights and research on using Story Listening in the classroom. She also provides us with many easy-to-implement classroom tools to ensure Story Listening is a success in our classrooms. A fantastic conversation with so much food for thought! Merci, Cécile.
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.

Nov 3, 2023 • 23min
109 ¦ Storytelling as pedagogy
Explore the transformative power of storytelling in education. Discover how narrative-driven teaching enhances language acquisition and boosts vocabulary retention. Learn about the significance of diverse inputs in memory and comprehension. Personal experiences highlight the emotional engagement that stories foster. Upcoming workshops are announced, promising to deepen skills in this impactful pedagogical approach.

7 snips
Oct 21, 2023 • 44min
108 ¦ The power of Story Listening for acquisition and motivation with Dr. Beniko Mason and Alice Ayel
Dr. Beniko Mason, Professor Emerita from Japan, and Alice Ayel, a seasoned French and Spanish teacher, dive into the transformative power of story listening for language acquisition. They explore how this innovative approach enhances comprehension and reduces stress in learning environments. The duo shares tips on engaging students through interactive storytelling and discusses the impact of drawing on narrative comprehension. Their insights reveal how story listening can bridge gaps for beginners and foster natural language development.

4 snips
Oct 6, 2023 • 39min
107 ¦ Reading a class novel in 11 zero-prep steps
After many emails and requests on the topic, this week's #MotivatedClassroom episode looks at the practicalities of how to go about teaching a class novel in the language acquisition classroom.
I go through my 11 step process for beginning and ending the reading of a novel as a class. I use these graded novels in almost every unit and they form the backbone of all of my units! How do you go about it?
... and stay tuned right to the end of the episode for a big announcement!!
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.

Sep 22, 2023 • 30min
106 ¦ Connections and competence: The third week of the year and beyond
The third and final part in the three part mini series on how I start the year and work towards a motivated classroom: This episode focuses on how we start the first unit and particularly, how to introduce themes or topics that are potentially a little more serious.
I also discuss a variety of comprehensible input techniques and how I try to weave these into the core unit, as well as some strategies for using mini whiteboards for retrieval practice and recall.
Please let me know what you think!
Keep in touch and share widely!
Full programme notes are available on www.liamprinter.com/podcast.
Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram @themotivatedclassroom, Twitter @motclasspodcast and Facebook @themotivatedclassroom.
I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom.
Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Facebook.
Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on patreon.com.


