Teachers Talk Radio

Khanh Duc and Jason Chan talk about what non-native English-speaking ELT professionals bring to the classroom, how they can professionalize their practice and discuss hiring practices in the ELT sector.

Darren discusses how society views teachers and what needs to be done in order to restore respect to the profession.

In this Teachers Talk Radio special, host Darren Lester is joined by Maud Waret, Silvia Bastow, and Joe Dale to explore the latest ideas in CPD for languages teachers. The conversation ranges from principled practice and the role of AI, to the new GCSE and its impact on both pupils and teachers. We explore insights from content developed by UCL’s IOE Faculty of Education and Society, created in consultation with leading national and international experts, and tested in real schools, the discussion will focus on languages teachers to critically assess their existing strategies and make thoughtful, informed adjustments to their curriculum without overhauling their entire Scheme of Learning. Brought to you by the National Consortium for Languages Education, visit them here: https://ncle.ucl.ac.uk/language-educators-online/

It’s October. The gloss of summer has worn off. The night’s are closing in. The honeymoon period is over. Liz, Kate and Rachel have a tongue-in-cheek chat about common teacher gripes. Share yours with us and we can discuss them live!

Students want jobs and, for many, a degree feels like the ticket to landing one. But should getting career-ready really be the main purpose of university? What do we risk losing when degrees become too industry-focused? And what happens if we don’t prepare students for work at all? Join Seema as she tackles these big questions with Dr. Paul Caplan, leader of MA Advertising at UAL.

Tom Rogers is joined by Gulcin Cesli, co CEO of Spring Partnership Trust, and Manny Botwe, Headteacher of Tytherington School and President of ASCL, to discuss the important issue of how schools should manage debates on immigration, race, and St George’s flags.

What happens when algorithms meet acids and AI rubs shoulders with Bunsen burners? In this show, we’re diving into the weird, wonderful world of teaching science with tech. in this show Matt is joined by the brilliant Alex Gray.

Teaching for Tomorrow: SDGs, Subject Links & Student Voice. In this thought-provoking show, host Famida Choudhary speaks with educator Sapna Raghava about transforming classrooms into purpose-driven spaces through the power of SDG-focused learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and student-led action. From climate projects and zero hunger campaigns to inclusive strategies for students of determination, the discussion unpacks how real-world learning, tech-enabled differentiation, and empathy can create deeper engagement for every child. Tune in for actionable ideas, classroom stories, and a fresh perspective on what it truly means to teach with care, curiosity, and global consciousness.

The education secretary has said that school leaders should have more training and support on how to communicate with parents effectively. Speaking at the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool this week, Ms Phillipson said heads should not “drift into judgement” when interacting with parents. What do you think?  Jo Fox, Rae Whitehouse, Liz Webb, Michael Wright and Tom Rogers discuss. 

Through the lens of children's literature, Darren explores the sticky debate of self censorship in teaching.