Languages Pedagogy Podcast

Mike Llerena
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Welcome to the Languages & Pedagogy Podcast, your go-to resource for language educators and enthusiasts. Join us as we explore innovative teaching methods, share valuable tips for mastering new languages, and discuss the latest trends in language education. Whether you're an experienced teacher looking to enhance your classroom techniques or a language learner eager to deepen your understanding, our podcast offers insightful conversations with experts, practical advice, and inspiring stories from educators around the world.

  1. 1d ago

    Ep237. ft. Laura Morales - The Reading Brain: Why Some Children Struggle and What Teachers Need to See (Part 1)

    A child who struggles to read is not necessarily a child who cannot learn. Sometimes, the real problem is that we are looking at the struggle through the wrong lens. In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, psychologist, bilingual educator, and literacy specialist Laura Morales joins the Languages Pedagogy Podcast to unpack what actually happens inside the reading brain—and why understanding that process can completely change the way teachers respond to struggling learners. We explore the critical difference between speaking a language and being literate in it, why English and Spanish cannot simply be taught or assessed through direct translation, and how bilingual students can be misunderstood when educators lack knowledge of how their languages are structured. Laura also takes us inside the cognitive architecture of reading: phonological processing, decoding, semantics, attention, comprehension, automaticity, and higher-order thinking. The conversation becomes even more important when we examine dyslexia, ADHD, autism, neurodiversity, and reading difficulties. Instead of asking only, “Why can’t this child read?”, Laura challenges educators to ask a better question: Which part of the reading pathway needs support? And through one deeply emotional classroom story, we see what can happen when a child who believes she is “the problem” finally meets a teacher determined to find another way. For teachers, literacy specialists, bilingual educators, parents, and anyone serious about the science of reading, this episode challenges assumptions about what reading instruction should actually look like. 📚 Learn more about Laura Morales & LAJAM Education Foundation Explore their work in neurodidactics, literacy, educator development, and creating classrooms designed for lasting impact. 🌐 lajameducation.org📩 Lmorales@lajameducation.org 📖 Don’t Be a Master Teacher; Create a Master Classroom: From Theory to Impact — by Laura Morales 🌐 Explore more language-learning and educational content at www.mikenglishonline.com #readingbrain #bilingualliteracy #scienceofreading #neurodiversity #bilingualeducation #literacyinstruction #languagelearning #teacherdevelopment

  2. 6d ago

    Ep236. ft. Belen Albarracin - The AI Fluency Trap: Why Language Learners Still Need Human Teachers (Part 2)

    AI can make learners feel fluent. The dangerous question is whether that confidence survives a conversation with an actual human being. Part 2 of my conversation with Belen Albarracin moves beyond AI tools and into one of the biggest educational questions of our generation: What should humans refuse to outsource? We explore AI codes of conduct, responsible classroom use, cognitive offloading, critical thinking, speaking confidence, the illusion of fluency, frustration, classroom management, homework, AI tutors, textbooks—and why the human teacher remains irreplaceable. Belen explains why schools should stop pretending students are not using artificial intelligence and start creating explicit rules around when, why and how AI can be used. We also confront a major language-learning risk: AI can provide unlimited practice without embarrassment or judgment—but constant encouragement can create an inaccurate perception of ability. Eventually, every learner needs the reality check of genuine human communication. AI can support language acquisition. It cannot replace the social, emotional and pedagogical complexity of a great teacher. 🎧 Listen to Part 2 and decide where the line between intelligent assistance and intellectual dependence should be drawn. 🌐 Continue learning with me at www.mikenglishonline.com #aiineducation #languagelearning #elt #aitutors #criticalthinking #teacherdevelopment #languageteaching #futureofeducation

  3. Aug 11

    Ep235. ft. Belen Albarracin - Teaching Languages in the AI Era: How Smart Teachers Use AI Without Losing the Human Touch (Part 1)

    AI won’t make great language teachers irrelevant. But teachers who understand how to use it may completely redefine what great teaching looks like. In Part 1 of my conversation with Argentine educator and AI in ELT co-author Belen Albarracin, we explore what artificial intelligence is actually changing inside language classrooms—and what it absolutely cannot replace. We examine AI literacy, prompt engineering, teacher workload, lesson planning, cognitive laziness, AI-generated work, unreliable AI detectors, critical thinking, and the growing responsibility educators have to teach students how to use these tools intelligently. Belen makes one distinction every educator needs to hear: AI can reduce teacher workload without reducing teacher value. The question is no longer whether artificial intelligence belongs in education. Students are already using it. The real question is whether teachers will understand it well enough to guide them. For serious language teachers, ELT professionals, school leaders, and educators preparing students for an AI-powered world, this conversation matters. 🎧 Listen now and rethink what it means to teach intelligently in the AI era. 🌐 Explore more from the Languages Pedagogy Podcast and my work at www.mikenglishonline.com #aiineducation #elt #languageteaching #teacherdevelopment #ailiteracy #edtech #languagelearning #futureofeducation

  4. Aug 6

    Ep234. ft. Mike Johnston - Beyond the Ink: How Teacher Authenticity Creates Belonging and Better Schools (Part 2)

    When a school asks teachers to hide who they are, what message does that send to the students watching them? In Episode 234 of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, Mike Johnston returns to take the metaphor of Teaching Is a Tattoobeyond personal identity and into the deeper questions of inclusion, professional judgment, school culture, and belonging. This conversation challenges educators and school leaders to examine whether institutional rules are protecting learning—or merely preserving control. Mike shares the deeply personal story behind his anatomical-heart tattoo, created after chemotherapy, and explains how visible symbols can become invitations to discuss resilience, culture, grief, survival, family, and hope. This episode explores: • Why teachers should question systems that demand conformity• How tattoo policies can exclude cultural and Indigenous identities• Why curiosity is more productive than judgment• How personal stories create powerful student connections• Why novice teachers must stop trying to imitate everyone around them• How schools can distinguish between care and control• Why every educator—not only tattooed educators—belongs in this conversation Authenticity is not the absence of professional responsibility. It is the courage to bring your humanity into your work without abandoning reflection, respect, or accountability. The strongest schools do not force every teacher to look, sound, and teach the same way. They create room for educators and students to be fully seen. Explore professional language coaching and teacher development at www.mikenglishonline.com #teacherinclusion #schoolculture #teacherauthenticity #teachingisatattoo #teacherempowerment #educationleadership #languagespedagogypodcast

  5. Aug 4

    Ep233. ft. Mike Johnston - Teaching Is a Tattoo: Why Great Educators Must Own Who They Are (Part 1)

    The most powerful thing a teacher brings into the classroom is not a textbook, strategy, or qualification—it is who they are. In Episode 233 of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, educator, author, poet, and speaker Mike Johnston joins Mike Llerena to explore the central message behind his book, Teaching Is a Tattoo: teaching does not simply become part of your résumé. It becomes part of your identity. Mike explains why authenticity is essential in education, how teachers silently model confidence and self-acceptance, and why students immediately recognize when an educator is pretending to be someone they are not. This conversation explores: • Why every educator carries personal stories into the classroom • How authenticity creates trust and psychological safety• Why comparing yourself with other teachers weakens your confidence • How poetry and storytelling can deepen student connection • Why the human side of education will always be more powerful than any system You do not need physical tattoos to understand the metaphor. Every experience, struggle, belief, and relationship leaves its mark—and those marks influence how you teach. Serious educators do not erase their identity to fit the profession. They learn how to transform it into their greatest pedagogical strength. Explore language coaching, teacher development, and international exam preparation at ⁠www.mikenglishonline.com⁠ #teacheridentity #teacherauthenticity #educationpodcast #teacherdevelopment #teachingisatattoo #languageeducation #languagespedagogypodcast

  6. Jul 30

    Ep232. ft. Jose Torres - The Dark Side of AI in Education: Dependency, Deception and the Fight for Human Connection (Part 2)

    AI can imitate your writing, reproduce your voice and confidently accuse you of work you genuinely created. The greatest danger may not be that artificial intelligence becomes human—but that humans gradually stop thinking, questioning and connecting for themselves. In Part 2, Mike and Jose Torres move beyond productivity and confront the darker side of AI in education: dependency, hallucinations, academic dishonesty, false detection, voice cloning and the slow erosion of independent thinking. They examine what happens when students use AI to bypass the intellectual struggle required for real learning. They also discuss the growing unreliability of AI-detection systems, which can falsely classify original human writing as machine-generated—potentially damaging academic reputations, employment opportunities and professional trust. The conversation also explores: • Why AI often tells users what they want to hear• How overreliance can weaken recall and problem-solving• Why AI-detection scores should never be treated as proof• The ethical implications of cloning voices and identities• Why long-form lectures may disappear by 2030• How technology can simulate connection while increasing isolation• Why teachers must preserve the human core of education Machines can reproduce information, tone and even personality. They cannot plant a seed of confidence in a student and spend years wondering what that seed eventually became. That remains the teacher’s legacy. If today's conversation inspired you to rethink literacy, phonics, multilingual education, and the future of language teaching, be sure to explore the outstanding work of José V. Torres. José is an ELD/Spanish educator, researcher, author, and the creator of the I Want To Learn English (IWTLE) initiative, where he shares research-based strategies, practical classroom resources, textbooks, articles, and videos designed to empower both teachers and multilingual learners. His work focuses on strengthening literacy through explicit phonics instruction, writing development, and inclusive educational practices, and he regularly presents his research at TESOL and other leading education conferences.  🔹 Website: I Want To Learn English (IWTLE)🔹 YouTube: @JoseTorres2003🔹 Instagram: @jvmyka If you enjoyed this episode, please support José by exploring his resources, subscribing to his channels, and sharing his work with fellow educators. And if you're enjoying the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with colleagues who are passionate about language education. 🌍 Visit my website for more resources, podcast episodes, and professional development opportunities: www.mikenglishonline.com. #aiethics #humanconnection #criticalthinking #academicintegrity #futureofeducation #teachersmatter #languagepedagogy #digitalcitizenship

  7. Jul 28

    Ep231. ft. Jose Torres - AI Won’t Replace Great Teachers But Teachers Who Master It Will Lead the Future (Part 1)

    AI is not coming for great teachers but refusing to understand it could put educators at risk. The real divide in education will not be between teachers and machines. It will be between professionals who know how to use AI strategically and those who continue working as though the technology does not exist. In Part 1 of this provocative conversation, Mike sits down with returning guest Jose Torres to examine how artificial intelligence is already transforming lesson planning, differentiation, assessment, data analysis and teacher productivity. Jose explains how he created a customized AI assistant trained around his curriculum, rubrics and classroom expectations—allowing him to plan an entire week of lessons in a fraction of the time. He also shares the mistake that taught him an essential lesson: AI output must always be reviewed by a qualified educator. This episode explores: • Why resistance to AI creates more work for teachers• How AI could reduce administrative overload and teacher burnout• Which educational roles may face disruption first• How prompting is becoming a core professional skill• Why AI should support teacher judgment—not replace it• What human educators provide that machines cannot replicate The future belongs neither to technology enthusiasts nor technology skeptics. It belongs to reflective teachers who understand the tool, question its output and use it without surrendering their professional expertise. If today's conversation inspired you to rethink literacy, phonics, multilingual education, and the future of language teaching, be sure to explore the outstanding work of José V. Torres. José is an ELD/Spanish educator, researcher, author, and the creator of the I Want To Learn English (IWTLE) initiative, where he shares research-based strategies, practical classroom resources, textbooks, articles, and videos designed to empower both teachers and multilingual learners. His work focuses on strengthening literacy through explicit phonics instruction, writing development, and inclusive educational practices, and he regularly presents his research at TESOL and other leading education conferences.  🔹 Website: I Want To Learn English (IWTLE)🔹 YouTube: @JoseTorres2003🔹 Instagram: @jvmyka If you enjoyed this episode, please support José by exploring his resources, subscribing to his channels, and sharing his work with fellow educators. And if you're enjoying the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, don't forget to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with colleagues who are passionate about language education. 🌍 Visit my website for more resources, podcast episodes, and professional development opportunities: www.mikenglishonline.com #aiineducation #teachersusingai #edtech #teacherdevelopment #languagepedagogy #futureofeducation #aitools #teacherburnout

  8. Jul 23

    Ep230. ft. Victoria Radomiljac - Think in English? AI? Daily Habits? The Truth About Breaking the Intermediate Plateau (Part 2)

    What if fluency isn't about studying more—but about studying differently? Most language learners never escape the intermediate plateau because they're searching for shortcuts instead of changing how they interact with the language. In Part 2 of this fascinating conversation, Mike welcomes back Victoria Radomiljac to explore what truly separates learners who remain stuck from those who finally achieve confident communication. Together, they challenge some of the biggest myths in language learning. Should you really "think in English"? Can artificial intelligence actually make you fluent? Why do so many learners consume hours of Netflix, podcasts, and YouTube videos but still struggle to express themselves? Victoria shares practical classroom strategies developed through years of experience, showing why exploration, reflection, meaningful repetition, and daily habits consistently outperform passive exposure. Inside this episode you'll discover: • Why AI should support—not replace—your thinking• How to use movies, podcasts, and TV series as active learning tools• The myth of "thinking in English"• Why communication matters far more than sounding native• How teachers can develop independent learners instead of dependent students• Why context and discourse analysis accelerate fluency• The daily habit that creates long-term language growth This conversation isn't about learning faster. It's about learning smarter. If you're serious about mastering English—or helping others do the same—this episode will completely reshape your perspective on fluency. 🎙️ Listen now and discover how real breakthroughs happen. 🌍 Visit: www.mikenglishonline.com #languagelearning #englishlearning #fluency #aiineducation #elt #languageeducation #englishteacher #podcast

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Welcome to the Languages & Pedagogy Podcast, your go-to resource for language educators and enthusiasts. Join us as we explore innovative teaching methods, share valuable tips for mastering new languages, and discuss the latest trends in language education. Whether you're an experienced teacher looking to enhance your classroom techniques or a language learner eager to deepen your understanding, our podcast offers insightful conversations with experts, practical advice, and inspiring stories from educators around the world.

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