Steve Smith

Contrastive Pairs: A Powerful Tool for Clarifying Grammar — When Used at the Right Time Introduction One of the most efficient ways to teach grammar explicitly, without overwhelming students with full paradigms or overloading working memory, is through a technique often referred in th…

A simple way to clarify grammar issues. gianfrancoconti.com/2026/02/11/c...

Hmm. I find his leadership on climate impressive.

Irish man with valid US work permit held in ICE detention for five months Seamus Culleton, who has lived in US for two decades, faces deportation after being arrested on way home from work

Shameful. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

My new book is out! I'm delighted to let you know that that my new book Thinking About Language Teaching (Volume 2) is now out and available as a paperback or ...

In case you missed this. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/01/my-n...

I imagine the same findings might be made for UK-based Spanish text books?

For any teachers uncertain what lexicogrammar is. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2025/04/what...

A good table shared by Gianfranco on the GILT FB group. You might argue that lexicogrammar is better for exams too, depending on the exam? Teaching can contain elements of both, but I’d argue lexicogrammar is better for most learners.

The slides from a talk I gave to teachers at the ALL London January Event. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/01/my-a...

Archives: Updates | frenchteacher.net Description.

One of my regular reminders. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/

I think the NCLE people are more biased towards communicative teaching, but their contract was to support the 2016 review.

My latest post. Keep up! frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/02/gcse...

Recently on my blog. An IB Diploma resource. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/01/an-a...

Yes, that extract is frankly weird.

It’s certainly unique. And the choice of the word pillar implies a view of language and language acquisition not in line with research. Language as lego with foundations. It’s simplistic, in my view.

A Look Back: For The Few Teachers Who Still Believe In “Don’t Smile Until Christmas,” There’s Research Now That Shows It Doesn’t Work For the next month or so, I’ll be republishing my best posts from the last half of 2025.     I don’t think there are many teachers left who believe in the very old idea that they sh…

A Look Back: For The Few Teachers Who Still Believe In “Don’t Smile Until Christmas,” There’s Research Now That Shows It Doesn’t Work larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2026/02/07/a...

This Week’s Free & Useful Artificial Intelligence Tools For The Classroom At least, for now, I’m going to make this a weekly feature which will highlight additions to THE BEST NEW – & FREE – ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS THAT COULD BE USED IN THE …

This Week’s Free & Useful Artificial Intelligence Tools For The Classroom larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2026/02/07/t...

Why study a novel at A-level? Because it’s preparation for uni. We might get more takers with adjustments to grading and a less traditional course. ALCAB’s uni-influenced proposals were not the solution. The evidence is in the numbers.

Meanwhile universities continue to influence A-level syllabuses despite the fact so few do a language at university. Easy to envisage a more practical post-16 course founded on communication.

Wasn’t one goal of the communicative movement to counter that view? ‘Tool for practical communication.’ The Gove/Bauckham era has set us back somewhat?

Just one observation: there are practical reasons for teaching French, Spanish and German. I’m thinking teacher supply, usefulness for travel and demand in the world of work.

New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/02/gcse...

Good to see a new language teacher book. amzn.eu/d/0dyjM9cd

Petition: Act to ensure Bills backed by MPs & public can complete all stages in Parliament We want the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that when bills are supported by MPs & the public, they have the time to complete all their stages in Parliament. We believe this is impo...

A petition has been started by assisted dying campaigner Sophie Blake - who has incurable secondary breast cancer - to stop the Lords from frustrating bills approved by MPs.

Peers are currently debating the assisted dying bill at a snail’s pace.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/75...

New on my blog. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/02/gcse...

A lot of views for my latest post. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/02/cold...

Others may not.

This is a socio-economic thing. Broadly, working class might say tea, middle class dinner or even supper. Supper is posher than dinner. I’m generalising.

@teacherhead.bsky.social writes well about this.

Oh, but our plug sockets! The best!

We enjoyed the Lee Miller, and Turner and Constable exhibitions this afternoon at Tate Britain.