Steve Smith
@spsmith45.bsky.social
French teacher 33 years, now writing materials frenchteacher.net, blogs and books about language teaching.
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Steve Smith
@spsmith45.bsky.social
· Aug 26
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
Well this is jolly exciting! My new book Let's Get Them Talking! 50 Communicative French lessons is out. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-n...
Reposted by Steve Smith
Here is the third and last post based on the Robert Sakhrani PhD thesis. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/what...
What could schools do to increase uptake?
This is the third of three posts based on the findings of Rober Sakhrani's PhD thesis about why uptake in MFL has declined in schools in En...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 25, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Here is the third and last post based on the Robert Sakhrani PhD thesis. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/what...
Here is the third and last post based on the Robert Sakhrani PhD thesis. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/what...
What could schools do to increase uptake?
This is the third of three posts based on the findings of Rober Sakhrani's PhD thesis about why uptake in MFL has declined in schools in En...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 25, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Here is the third and last post based on the Robert Sakhrani PhD thesis. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/what...
Reposted by Steve Smith
New post out:
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
Why England’s schools are doing so well
And what we need to focus on next
samf.substack.com
September 22, 2026 at 8:35 AM
New post out:
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
England's schools are now the second highest performing in the world outside the far east, according to the OECD's PISA study.
Is this because of policy? Attitude to technology? Cultural factors like immigration? And where can we still improve?
samf.substack.com/p/why-englan...
This post follows on from yesterday's. It's based again on Robert Sakhrani's PhD thesis on declining uptake of MFL in schools. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/teac...
Teachers' view of attitudes to MFL in schools
In my last post, I wrote that I would give you a summary of what Robert Sakhrani found out from his interviews with teachers in the four sc...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 25, 2026 at 10:56 AM
This post follows on from yesterday's. It's based again on Robert Sakhrani's PhD thesis on declining uptake of MFL in schools. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/teac...
Reposted by Steve Smith
We saw this the other day at Trafalgar Square. Very impressive.
September 24, 2026 at 11:47 AM
We saw this the other day at Trafalgar Square. Very impressive.
Fact Finders! A nifty task similar to running dictation. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/fact...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 24, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Fact Finders! A nifty task similar to running dictation. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/fact...
Reposted by Steve Smith
New school year - Join the Association for Language Learning and connect with a supportive network of language professionals.
Use BACKTOSCHOOL10
Join ALL: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/become-...
See what our members say: ALL testimonials: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/member-...
#ALL4Languages
Use BACKTOSCHOOL10
Join ALL: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/become-...
See what our members say: ALL testimonials: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/member-...
#ALL4Languages
September 24, 2026 at 10:12 AM
New school year - Join the Association for Language Learning and connect with a supportive network of language professionals.
Use BACKTOSCHOOL10
Join ALL: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/become-...
See what our members say: ALL testimonials: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/member-...
#ALL4Languages
Use BACKTOSCHOOL10
Join ALL: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/become-...
See what our members say: ALL testimonials: www.all-languages.org.uk/join/member-...
#ALL4Languages
I welcome this. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Pupils to be offered vocational GCSEs in radical shake-up of system in England
Courses such as finance and construction form part of PM’s push for education ‘that offers a path for everybody’
www.theguardian.com
September 23, 2026 at 11:07 PM
I welcome this. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Steve Smith
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/quic...
Quick review: Geoff Jordan’s 30 Key Concepts in Second Language acquisition
Geoff Jordan is well known to some as an acerbic commentator on English Language Teaching (ELT) methodology. His blogs are well-informed an...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 18, 2026 at 3:15 PM
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/quic...
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/quic...
Quick review: Geoff Jordan’s 30 Key Concepts in Second Language acquisition
Geoff Jordan is well known to some as an acerbic commentator on English Language Teaching (ELT) methodology. His blogs are well-informed an...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 18, 2026 at 3:15 PM
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/quic...
Reposted by Steve Smith
French teachers: all you need to know about my new lesson plans book. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-n...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 16, 2026 at 8:04 AM
French teachers: all you need to know about my new lesson plans book. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-n...
Reposted by Steve Smith
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/new-...
New A-level slide decks on frenchteacher
In recent months I've been using ChatGPT a good deal to speed up my resource writing. Up to now, I haven't used it much at all for producin...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/new-...
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/new-...
New A-level slide decks on frenchteacher
In recent months I've been using ChatGPT a good deal to speed up my resource writing. Up to now, I haven't used it much at all for producin...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM
New from me. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/new-...
French teachers: all you need to know about my new lesson plans book. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-n...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 16, 2026 at 8:04 AM
French teachers: all you need to know about my new lesson plans book. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-n...
The latest from London HQ. I addrd a nice video listening resource this morning. About teenage curfews in France. Roughly 15 towns have them. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
Archives: Updates | frenchteacher.net
Description.
www.frenchteacher.net
September 14, 2026 at 1:19 PM
The latest from London HQ. I addrd a nice video listening resource this morning. About teenage curfews in France. Roughly 15 towns have them. www.frenchteacher.net/latest/
Watching Silo season 3 on Apple. So slow and padded.
September 14, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Watching Silo season 3 on Apple. So slow and padded.
I really enjoyed the De Gaulle film. Just what you would expect from the role: pompous, intransigent, slightly ridiculous and yet inspiring.
September 13, 2026 at 3:12 PM
I really enjoyed the De Gaulle film. Just what you would expect from the role: pompous, intransigent, slightly ridiculous and yet inspiring.
Reposted by Steve Smith
My new book Behaving and Belonging has been released. A great read for anyone in education. Get your copy here amzn.eu/d/01Z6W2Q7
September 13, 2026 at 7:48 AM
My new book Behaving and Belonging has been released. A great read for anyone in education. Get your copy here amzn.eu/d/01Z6W2Q7
Despite what the article says, our experience is that it is possible for villages to have a social life without a café. There are village halls, ‘fêtes des voisins” and other events. www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
The battle to save the dying heart of rural France: the village bistro
Once central to rural life, cafe-bistros are closing in the face of depopulation and falling alcohol consumption, but campaigners are seeking new ways forward
www.theguardian.com
September 13, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Despite what the article says, our experience is that it is possible for villages to have a social life without a café. There are village halls, ‘fêtes des voisins” and other events. www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
From earlier this year. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/05/inte...
Intensive input-output work
In my keynote talk to teachers at the NSW Department of Education French Teachers’ Conference in Parramatta (western Sydney) last week I men...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 12, 2026 at 10:28 PM
From earlier this year. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/05/inte...
If you are in London go to the Amish Kapoor exhibition at the Haywood Gallery.
September 12, 2026 at 11:15 AM
If you are in London go to the Amish Kapoor exhibition at the Haywood Gallery.
Reposted by Steve Smith
My latest post. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/what...
What does it mean to teach communicatively?
It seems a bit odd to me that in 2026 the case still has to be made for Communicative Language Teaching, but here I am making that case! I...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
September 10, 2026 at 8:13 AM
My latest post. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2026/09/what...
Reposted by Steve Smith
Reform UK has received a £36m donation from a British cryptocurrency billionaire called Ben Delo
Last year Delo was given an unconditional pardon by President Trump over a breach of anti-money laundering laws at his crypto trading platform, BitMEX, to which he had pleaded guilty in 2022
Last year Delo was given an unconditional pardon by President Trump over a breach of anti-money laundering laws at his crypto trading platform, BitMEX, to which he had pleaded guilty in 2022
September 12, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Reform UK has received a £36m donation from a British cryptocurrency billionaire called Ben Delo
Last year Delo was given an unconditional pardon by President Trump over a breach of anti-money laundering laws at his crypto trading platform, BitMEX, to which he had pleaded guilty in 2022
Last year Delo was given an unconditional pardon by President Trump over a breach of anti-money laundering laws at his crypto trading platform, BitMEX, to which he had pleaded guilty in 2022