Guests: Isla McIntosh & Alasdair Harris

In this episode of The Language Lab, we speak to two people at very different ends of their teaching journeys — and both with powerful perspectives on what the future of language education might look like.

First, Will catches up with Isla McIntosh, a former student turned trainee teacher and music graduate. Isla shares honest reflections on student engagement, the role of wellbeing in education, and how technology is shifting what it means to be an inspiring teacher in today's classroom.

Then we dive into the world of AI with Alasdair Harris, founder of LingoTeach.ai, a platform built by teachers, for teachers. Alasdair shares how LingoTeach uses AI to dramatically reduce teacher workload, streamline lesson creation, and keep classroom content dynamic and personalized. But the conversation goes further—into digital ethics, the human side of teaching, and how to reclaim energy, creativity, and balance in a high-pressure profession.

From green screen weather forecasts to AI-generated rap battles, from mental health advocacy to the rise of classroom bots—this episode explores how teachers can stay grounded while innovating with purpose.

Links & Resources:

Our Website: www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

Try LingoTeach: https://lingoteach.ai/

Music Credit:“Jump and Jive” by All Good Folks via Uppbeat – Copyright Free Music for Creators uppbeat.io

In this episode of the Language Lab Podcast, I’m joined by Jérôme Noguès – a teacher, AI advocate, and all-round creative force in the MFL world. We talk about what actually gets students engaged, from using tools like Suno to write original French songs, to building lessons around student voice, gamification, and the EPI approach. There’s also a healthy dose of honesty about phones in classrooms, AI ethics, and why mini whiteboards are still undefeated.

If you’re looking for ways to make your language classroom more dynamic, tech-savvy, and just plain fun (without losing the grammar), this one’s for you.

You can also check out Jérôme’s own podcast, The AI Language Lab, for bite-sized insights on how technology is reshaping MFL:
The AI Language Lab on Spotify

Find more from us at: www.languagelabpodcast.co.uk

Support the podcast and access bonus content over on Patreon:
The Language Lab on Patreon

In this episode of The Language Lab, I engage with Kate Clifton, founder of Kate Languages, as she shares her transition from traditional classroom teaching to becoming a resource creator and trainer for Modern Foreign Language (MFL) educators. We explore her journey through burnout in the high-stakes education system and the importance of mental well-being for teachers. Kate reflects on the current challenges facing MFL teachers in the UK, including the pressures of grading and societal attitudes towards language learning. She also discusses the integration of AI tools in the classroom and how they can enhance lesson planning. Throughout our conversation, Kate emphasizes the significance of community and support among educators, offering practical advice to help them advocate for language teaching and nurture a love for languages in their students.

The Language Lab Website

https://www.katelanguages.co.uk/

The KateLanguages Podcast