Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking as part of the Language Show via Zoom. Slightly dauntingly I was opening the conference thread For Language Teachers so i was conscious of makiing a good impression and setting a precedent for quality!

My talk was similar to the one I delivered at the Talleres de Educacción in June with some additions based on what I’ve done since, focusing on ways that the theme of animals can be used as the vehicle for primary language learning, speciifically in Spanish in my case.

Those that attended live seemed to appreciate the ideas and forgave my fast talking, particularly as time flew by and the last part was a little hurried!

I did promise that I would expland more on the books section so below you will find a list of links to blogposts on books, and also a slide showing several books I recommend followed by some notes on why.

Posts on books:

Hipopótamo feliz, pato enojado http://lisibo.com/2021/09/hipopotama-feliz-pato-enojado/
¿Has visto a mi gata? http://lisibo.com/2020/11/take-one-book-phorum-presentation/
¡Ojo Oso! http://lisibo.com/2021/03/take-one-book-v2-lw2021/
Danza del corral http://lisibo.com/2021/09/danza-del-corral/
Spanish books for WBD http://lisibo.com/2018/02/spanish-books-for-world-book-day-wbd/
Non fiction science books http://lisibo.com/2017/05/non-fiction-books-science/

NB these are posts about Spanish books. I’ve also recently posted about a French book telling a traditional Alsatian story as well as writing about books in German, Italian and other languages that I’ve collected on my travels!

¡Muu Bee Así fue! – love this book as, although it’s a translation, it has the rhythm and rhyme. Also love it because I read rhe English version to my chidlren when they were younger! It’s all about the noises that animals make, although some aren’t quite right…

Un bicho extraño – a lovely book that challenges the way you see things… Good for body parts and descriptions. And the Consejería de Educacción has created activities to accompany it

El pájaro, el mono y la serpiente en la selva – a story told in rebus form – that is, words are replaced by images so it encourages learners to join in.

El pequeño conejo blanco – a story about a rabbit who needs help to evict the goat that is squatting in their house but none of the other animals want to help. Good for empathy and discussing the emotional journey of the characters.

¡Mamá! – a book with very very few words – mostly just a child shouting ¡Mamá! – so great ,for practising intonation and expression, and deducing meaning using picture clues. Numbers 1-10, animals and rooms of the house would be vocuabulary that could be ‘taught’ with the story.

Oso pardo ¿Qué ves? – a classic, along with many other Eric Carle books, due to the repetititve nature of the story. Good for animals and colours (often people change pardo to marrón to link with colours but ti’s good to point out the name of the species of bear is un oso pardo)

La siesta perfecta – if everyone has to wake up on time for an event, who do you leave in charge of ensuring they do? A sloth of course! Will it manage the task? Read and find out!

Cuckoo – a traditional tale from Mexico with ‘crafty’ illiustrations

Tengo alas and Tengo cuatro patas – both very simple, very repetitive board book that lend themselves well to being rewritten and reinvented by learners.

Azul el sombrero, verde el sombrero – another Sandra Boynton book featuring animals, colours and clothing, and a repeated refrain ¡Ay caramba! [see me read it here]

If you signed up for the Language Show, you can watch the replay of my session for the next few months. If you didn’t, you can still sign up and watch all 100+ sessions at your leisure. I’m enjoying working my way through the sessions I picked out in advance, as well as a few I’ve caught along the way!

Over half term I went to Colmar to visit my youngest who is working as a British Council Language Assistant for the year. Whilst there I discovered what a beautiful and interesting place Colmar – and Alsace as a whole – is.

Whilst there, as usual I spent a while in the bookshops and picked out several books as potential purchases before settling on this one for several reasons.

1. It’s cute!
2. It’s repetitive.
3. It’s culturally and linguistically specific to Alsace.
4. The story is a traditional tale, the basis of which is familiar in many countries including the UK.
5. It has a moral – working together they succeed in their ‘quest’
6. It explains what I was eating from the bakery!

Everywhere you go in Colmar you see these two ‘characters’ –une cigogne or Störig, and une fillette avec un schlupfkapp (a little girl with a huge bow in her hair) If you click the words, you can find out more about them.

And when I went to the bakery next to where Jude was staying for our breakfast order, I saw this sign. I already knew that Jude would want one as he has been a great fan of the Grittibänz in Switzerland. However I had no idea that it had it’s own story!

So to the story. It’s one of a series of 5 stories from around France including Le Cheval de Camargue and Le Pêcheur et la sirène de Belle-Île.

The story is recognisable as it follows the same structure as the Gingerbread Man. Maman is baking a ‘mannele’ for her 7 children who eagerly await it coming out of the oven. As soon as Maman opens the oven door, off he shoots crying –
“Je suis le mannele et je cours plus vite que vous. Si vous voulez me manger, il faut d’abord m’attraper!”

The children and Maman set off in pursuit and are soon joined by a knitting chicken (une poule en finette que tricote des chaussettes) a cow in slippers (une vache en schlappe) a stork carrying triplets (une cigogne qui apporte des triplés) a cycling granny (une mémé en vélocité) who chase la mannele across the countryside until he nearly runs in front of a train only to be saved by a little girl with a huge bow in her hair, riding a scooter (une fillette en trottinette avec un schlupf sur la tête) who picks him up and prevents him from being turned into une crêpe. In spite of this, le mannele still finds himself eaten as everyone goes back to the house and… Quel délicieux goûter!

The story is fun and I liked the repetition of the Mannele’s cry as well as the list of the pursuers which all contain a rhyme. However, my favourite part was the use of a glossary explaining Alsatian terms/vocabulary:

la mannele – un petit bonhomme de brioche quel’on confectionne traditionnellement à la Saint-Nicolas
finette – maillot de corps
schlappe – pantouffles (prononcer << chloppeu >>)
Nounndabouckelnoramol! – Écriture phonétique, intrduisible
un schlupf – Nœud à la alsacienne (prononcer << chloupf >>

I also learned the word une mémé which I don’t recall having met before!

Whilst in Colmar I discovered that they call the little brioche men manala (as Jude said like Malala but with an n!) I can also confirm that they are delicious!

And I do think I suit a Schlupf!

Really pleased to be delivering a Linguascope webinar next Tuesday 7th October. I’ve been asked several times but it’s never been a good time. This time, I was asked during a post conference reception last week and the date was near enough for me to be able to say yes immediately.

I’ll be talking about the importance to me of teaching languages rather than just Spanish:

Tuesday 7th October – Lisa Stevens will be talking about how her learners call her Señora Stevens, she doesn’t see herself as a Spanish teacher but as a teacher and explorer of languages. In this webinar, Lisa will explore this thinking, explaining why she feels it’s important to consider and value all languages, and giving examples of how it is possible when the Languages Programme of Study stipulates that over KS2 (aged 7-11) pupils must have made ‘substantial progress in one language.’

You can register for the webinar for free using this link

Looking forward to seeing you – at the start and end anyway as I probably won’t be able to see anything other than my slides when I’m presenting!

In the two following weeks you can also attend webinars by Hannah White and Kerry Bevan.

Tuesday 14th October – Hannah White will share 6 fully funded ideas for bringing additional language and culture into your classroom this year. Register here

Tuesday 21st October Kerry Bevan will be joining us just before the half term break coming to share her experiences tinkering and playing with AI but to create custom reading resources which have a huge impact on learners and language learning! Register here

All Linguascope webinars are free to register and free to attend live, and are not limited to attendees from the UK – all are welcome!

As I outlined in this post, just before the summer holidays I was interviewed for a MOOC entitled Challenge, creativity and empathy: Skills for primary language teaching.

I’m pleased to say that the MOOC is now LIVE and can be accessed on FutureLearn. It’s free to complete if you are able to do it over 3 weeks although it’s possible to pay to gain longer access and official certification. [I never pay and take screenshots of the completed activities as evidence!]

I have yet to ‘log in’ as I’m waiting for the last of the three weeks to be half term in case I get behind so i can’t tell you which module my video is in, but I look forward to find ing out – although I probably won’t watch it as I am my own worst critic!

In spite of not having done it yet, I’m confident that it will be a worthwhile, profitable learning experience as I have completed a previous MOOC with Dr Alison Porter from University of Southampton and Professor Suzanne Graham from University of Reading, as well as taking part in the DELTEA project with them.

Here’s the link to join – see you there over the next few weeks?

UPDATE

I’ve spotted this announcement so will be completing the course around that time (I might start a little earlier!)

I’m excited to be speaking once more at The Language Show 2025. Held annually, this three day event has latterly been held online and this year comprises nearly 90 sessions.

My session is entitled Animal Magic or Animania. details below.

It’s a bit daunting to be kicking off Friday, and in fact the whole event, in the For Language Teachers thread; however I’ve done it before and know that the number that attend live is always much smallere than those who have signed up and will watch later. In fact, that’s exactly what I do!

At £13.50 for access to the whole three days live and also on playback for about 11 months, a ticket is very good value when there is such a variety of sessions in three threads:
*For people who love languages – Talks, tasters, entertainment and insights
*For language teachers – CPD for teachers in primary, secondary, HE, FE, adult
*For language professionals – Interpreters, translators and those who want to put their languages to work.

You can find out more on the website where you can also buy tickets

Here are some of the sessions I’ve picked out as interesting me. One’s even caught the eye of my [non linguist] husband!

I’ve just attended a webinar run by the British Council to launch a brilliant resource that links to the Women’s Football European Championships that begin next week in my beloved Switzerland.

As the British Council site says:

Developed by the British Council, in collaboration with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and funded by the Welsh Government’s Euro 2025 Partner Support Fund, this resource supports key curriculum areas while promoting languages, gender equality and international collaboration.

Designed for learners aged 9-13 (but it was decided by those at the webinar that parts would be perfectly accessible for younger learners) the resources explore the languages of the participating teams as well as linking to PSHE, sport, geography and wider issues such as gender equality and inclusion.

I particularly liked the language part where learners are encouraged to match the language with the country and also these two activities that I thought sounded great fun and also give children choice and control over the language they want to explore.

The resources are freely downloadable from the British Council website here, and if you teach in a Welsh medium school, they are available in Welsh too.

I’m going to explore further and use some of the activities with Y6 as it’s that time of year and I feel they’d enjoy it. I also think it’s good to have a debate about equality in sport and discuss why women’s football was banned for so long (do the children think it’s unfair?)

If you use the resources, please share on social media or email the British Council as they and the Football Association of Wales (FAW) who worked with them and and the Welsh Government’s Euro 2025 Partner Support Fund that funded the resource would love to know how it’s gone.

So – congratulations Y Dreigiau on qualifying. I’ll be supporting you just as long as you’re not playing the Lionesses (13th July)

It was my great honour to be invited to speak once more at the Talleres de español in London last weekend. Hosted by the Consejería de Educacción at Instituto Vicente Cañada Blanch, the day was packed with sessions focused on good teaching and learning in the Spanish classroom.

After the keynote delivered by the inimitable Bernadette Holmes, I attended a workshop led by Sara Alonso Jimeno all about using music and art in the primary Spanish classroom – AICLE con ritmo y color before moving on to a session led by Irene Carmona Velasco from the Europa School who was talking about creativity and technology – Español en movimiento.

Lunch as usual was delicious and the Estrella Galicia was very welcome on a hot day.

In the afternoon, I delivered my talk entitled Animania based around using animals as the starting point to explore learning in the Spanish classroom. I started by talking about choosing and ntroducing vocabulary, and SPaG in Spanish complimenting and reinforcing English. My second section was about using ‘noise’ – animal sounds to encourage participation, making an animal symphony and songs that can be used for a multitude of reasons. The third part was focused on reading and ideas for exploiting books – and I have so many of them! Following on naturally from here we explored creativity and culture, and giving learners agency for their learning by providing a structure that they then innovate. Finally the focus moved to how Spanish can be used in a cross curricular way in PE, Science, Geography, PSHE and for outdoor learning.

The day ended with a Zumba class – what a way to end the day, singing, dancing and perspiring profusely whilst having fun!

I’m very much looking forward to the Talleres de español at Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch in London. This yearly event organised by the Consejería de Educación en Reino Unido e Irlanda and la Junta de Castilla y León is always well worth attending not simply for the learning but also for the delicious lunch! I’ve attended many times before and always look forward to it.

As you can see, there are streams for secondary and primary contexts as well as general sessions. This year there are several based around the arts – acting, dancing, music, fashion – and I am particularly looking forward to rounding off the day with some Zumba!

My session will be entitled Animania and will take, as the name suggests, animals as a theme and look at how they can be used in the primary classroom. Ideas will include using fiction and non fiction texts as well as music, movement and poetry, and discuss grammar, phonics, progression and motivation along the way.

If you’re interested in attending find out more and register here https://www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/reinounido/convocatorias-programas/formacion-profesorado/historico-formaciones/talleres-de-la-consejeria/talleres-de-la-consejeria-2025.html

And if you’d like to get a taste of previous years’ Talleres, there’s an archive here or you can find out my thoughts on previous events in these posts 2022 2021 2016 2011a 2011b

On Friday I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dr Alison Porter from University of Southampton and Professor Suzanne Graham from University of Reading on the subject of challenge and creatiivty in the Primary Languages classroom.

Over the last couple of years I have participated in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) led by Alison and Suzanne to explore challenge, creativity and empathy and then along with my Y5 Spanish classes, took part in the DELTEA research project using a phonics app and digital storytelling to put the learning into practice and explore the impact on motivation, empathy and language learning. Thsi interview followed up these experiences and will form part of a new MOOC.

During the interview I talked about my learning during the MOOC about Self Determination Theory, the need for intrinsic motivation and an optimal amount of challenge for learners’ self efficacy and the relationship between challenge and creativity. I also shared how a Strengths Based pedagogy and an asset based (what learners CAN do) rather deficit based mindset have become very important in my thinking and consequently planning for QFT. The conversation then moved on to how this was demonstrated during the DELTEA project in my setting, what was learned from the project, and how we have moved forward following the conclusion of that phase in July 2024. It concluded with me sharing a ‘hot off the press’ example that I felt gathered all those threads together and demonstrated the need for and value of challenge for ALL our learners, and the undeniable effect on their self efficacy / vision of themselves as a language learner.

It was lovely to take time to reflect on the process and realise the impact this has all had on my setting. In the business of school, it’s rare that you have time to do that! I’m really looking forward to the MOOC of which my video will form a small part as I always welcome an opportunity to learn, reflect and hone my skills as a language learner and educator.

Here are my notes from Language World 2025 held in Kenilworth this last weekend.

Hopefully they will act an aide memoire to those that attended and offer a taste of what was said to those who didn’t. Thank you to all the speakers for their excellent presentations. I’ve been left with much to consider and action.