Steve Smith
@spsmith45.bsky.social
French teacher 33 years, now writing materials frenchteacher.net, blogs and books about language teaching.
Pinned
Steve Smith
@spsmith45.bsky.social
· Sep 2
Thinking about Language Teaching Volume 1: Amazon.co.uk: Smith, Steve: 9798296131423: Books
Buy Thinking about Language Teaching Volume 1 by Smith, Steve (ISBN: 9798296131423) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
amzn.eu
Do take a look. There us a LOT of material in my new book. Thanks to those who have bought a copy. amzn.eu/d/bFDHCqT
These could be recommended for Y13 (age 17-18). Long, but slow and clear. youtu.be/EY7nwE1yX60?...
Pourquoi le système de santé en France est en crise ?
YouTube video by Little Talk in Slow French
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
These could be recommended for Y13 (age 17-18). Long, but slow and clear. youtu.be/EY7nwE1yX60?...
www.theguardian.com/environment/... This is better news.
Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA
Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drilling
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:45 AM
www.theguardian.com/environment/... This is better news.
www.theguardian.com/environment/... Should this be the story of the day?
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:28 AM
www.theguardian.com/environment/... Should this be the story of the day?
Reposted by Steve Smith
In a rush but want to use @wayground.bsky.social to support your students’ learning? Check out the library of public activities that other teachers have shared! Here is an example for French:
@alanacolabella.bsky.social #letsfindaway #langchat
@alanacolabella.bsky.social #letsfindaway #langchat
November 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
In a rush but want to use @wayground.bsky.social to support your students’ learning? Check out the library of public activities that other teachers have shared! Here is an example for French:
@alanacolabella.bsky.social #letsfindaway #langchat
@alanacolabella.bsky.social #letsfindaway #langchat
Reposted by Steve Smith
"Another minister, who asked to be kept anonymous, told PoliticsHome it was 'pretty simple': "We either increase our birth rate, slash the state in half, or make the positive case for migration"
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
'It's About Earning Consent': Inside The Labour Government's 'Difficult Tightrope' On Immigration
Government insiders believe there is political space to set out a more positive case for legal immigration. But even Labour MPs who support a progr...
www.politicshome.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"Another minister, who asked to be kept anonymous, told PoliticsHome it was 'pretty simple': "We either increase our birth rate, slash the state in half, or make the positive case for migration"
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Perhaps they could try saying this non-anonymously? Just a thought
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
It looks like I shall be doing sessions in Sydney on 18th April and in Melbourne on 20th April. If any school or association would like me to offer anything around those dates or places please message me. I'd like to be of help.
November 12, 2025 at 3:29 PM
It looks like I shall be doing sessions in Sydney on 18th April and in Melbourne on 20th April. If any school or association would like me to offer anything around those dates or places please message me. I'd like to be of help.
Which leads to better vocab retention: repeating orally or in writing? This 2018 study found a slight, temporary advantage for writing. But 'doing something with the words' is always better than just learning their meaning from a list or app. www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) Written repetition vs. oral repetition: Which is more conducive to L2 vocabulary learning?
PDF | Structural elaboration, i.e. increased attention to word-form, can aid an L2 learner in retrieving the form of a newly learned word (Barcroft,... | Find, read and cite all the research you need ...
www.researchgate.net
November 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Which leads to better vocab retention: repeating orally or in writing? This 2018 study found a slight, temporary advantage for writing. But 'doing something with the words' is always better than just learning their meaning from a list or app. www.researchgate.net/publication/...
From September. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2025/09/para...
Parasocial relationships: an advanced text with exercises
One of the staples of my frenchteacher website is the "text plus exercises" resource format. I take a text based on a syllabus-related topic...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
From September. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2025/09/para...
Gianfranco’s latest blog. gianfrancoconti.com/2025/11/12/n...
No, You Don’t Need Sentence Builders to Teach the EPI Way
1. A myth that refuses to die In my workshops over the years, one myth just refuses to die… the idea that teaching the EPI way means using Sentence Builders. Some individuals even call it ‘Th…
gianfrancoconti.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Gianfranco’s latest blog. gianfrancoconti.com/2025/11/12/n...
The latest from me. Mainly advanced level resources. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
Archives: Updates | frenchteacher.net
Description.
www.frenchteacher.net
November 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The latest from me. Mainly advanced level resources. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
The latest from London HQ. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
Archives: Updates | frenchteacher.net
Description.
www.frenchteacher.net
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The latest from London HQ. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
So Trump wants $1 billion of UK citizens’ money? Is that right?
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
So Trump wants $1 billion of UK citizens’ money? Is that right?
A W1A moment for the BBC. Where’s Hugh Bonneville when you need him?
November 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A W1A moment for the BBC. Where’s Hugh Bonneville when you need him?
Clare Seccombe’s reaction to the CAR in England. changing-phase.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Curriculum and Assessment Review: reflections from a primary languages practitioner
The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) was first commissioned by the Government in July 2024. The review panel, convened and led by ...
changing-phase.blogspot.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Clare Seccombe’s reaction to the CAR in England. changing-phase.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
This is good. gianfrancoconti.com/2025/11/10/f...
From Exposure to Ownership: Deep Processing Techniques That Make Vocabulary Last
Introduction In my experience working with teachers and observing classrooms around the world, one pattern emerges again and again: students appear to “know” a great deal of vocabulary, and yet the…
gianfrancoconti.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:58 AM
This is good. gianfrancoconti.com/2025/11/10/f...
Reposted by Steve Smith
I talked with Will Marks. And managed to confuse the themes of Mission Impossible and The Pink Panther. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Steve Smith, EPI and Why Grammar Drill Isn’t the Answer
Podcast Episode · The Language Lab Podcast · 03/07/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I talked with Will Marks. And managed to confuse the themes of Mission Impossible and The Pink Panther. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
The view from here
November 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The view from here
In other news I have been working with Dr Conti in the second edition of our listening handbook Breaking the Sound Barrier.
November 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
In other news I have been working with Dr Conti in the second edition of our listening handbook Breaking the Sound Barrier.
frenchteacher.net 180 new or updated resources so far this year.
frenchteacher.net | French worksheets and resources
Over 2000 editable worksheets, presentations, texts, sentence builders, grammar, vocabulary, oral and listening activities for French teachers.
frenchteacher.net
November 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
frenchteacher.net 180 new or updated resources so far this year.
Reposted by Steve Smith
The recommendations of the curriculum review and DfE response are for first teaching in 2028. So we hopefully have time to get it right!
November 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The recommendations of the curriculum review and DfE response are for first teaching in 2028. So we hopefully have time to get it right!
The latest additions to my site. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
Archives: Updates | frenchteacher.net
Description.
www.frenchteacher.net
November 8, 2025 at 7:50 AM
The latest additions to my site. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
Here’s a reminder of just how much MFL (esp Fre and Ger) at A-level has declined in popularity since the 1990s. www.bstubbs.co.uk/a-lev.htm#F
A level National subject grade percentages
National percentage figures for A level subject grades,
Student Performance Analysis, examination results service, GCE exams, examination, percentage grade analysis,national subject percentages, Advan...
www.bstubbs.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Here’s a reminder of just how much MFL (esp Fre and Ger) at A-level has declined in popularity since the 1990s. www.bstubbs.co.uk/a-lev.htm#F
A new post from Gianfranco gianfrancoconti.com/2025/11/06/d...
Developing Reading Fluency in the MFL Classroom: What Cutting-Edge Research Tells Us and Implications for GCSE exam preparation
Introduction When we speak about reading fluency in the MFL classroom, we are often—understandably—thinking about vocabulary and comprehension. However, research over the last decade has made somet…
gianfrancoconti.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A new post from Gianfranco gianfrancoconti.com/2025/11/06/d...
What makes language lessons enjoyable? A study of Chinese university students. It's often university students. "Be funny" seems to be important! www.oasis-database.org/details/49dj...
www.oasis-database.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
What makes language lessons enjoyable? A study of Chinese university students. It's often university students. "Be funny" seems to be important! www.oasis-database.org/details/49dj...
Here is the curriculum review. www.gov.uk/government/p...
Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report
The conclusions and recommendations of the independent review of the curriculum, assessment and qualifications system in England.
www.gov.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Here is the curriculum review. www.gov.uk/government/p...