A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School

Norbert Pachler editor Ana Redondo editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:29th Aug '23

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This paperback is available in another edition too:

A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School cover

How can you effectively motivate young people to engage with foreign language learning?

How can young people engage with new ideas and cultural experiences within and outside the classroom?

The new and fully revised edition of A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School offers straightforward advice and inspiration for training teachers, newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and teachers in their early professional development. Offering a wide range of strategies for successful teaching in the languages classroom, this third edition includes separate chapters on the core skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening and new chapters on pronunciation and the science of learning.

The chapters provide detailed examples of theory in practice, based on the most up-to-date research and practice, as well as links to relevant sources supporting evidence-informed practice and cover:

  • Strategies for planning engaging lessons
  • Integrating formative and summative assessment
  • Digital tools and services for teaching and learning
  • Helping pupils develop better listening skills
  • Effective speaking activities
  • The role of scaffolds and models in developing writing skills
  • Teaching grammar
  • The intercultural dimension of language teaching
  • The role of multilingualism in foreign language education
  • Engaging with critical pedagogy

A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School is an essential compendium of support and ideas for all those embarking upon their first steps in a successful career in teaching foreign languages.

‘Every language teacher needs to have a copy of this on their bookshelf!’ Trevor Mutton

'This is an outstanding and comprehensive survey of practical ideas for the teaching of Foreign Languages in secondary school… I thoroughly recommend this guide to both training and well-established teachers who (for whatever reason) may not have come across it!’ Helen Myers


This most recent edition of A Practical Guide to Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School is a really welcome volume which will become essential reading for all those who are involved in the vital work of teaching languages to our next generation of children. Written in an accessible way, this new edition is completely up-to-date. Each chapter addresses a key issue, and effectively combines important theoretical perspectives with thoughtful implications for classroom practice. Every language teacher needs to have a copy of this on their bookshelf!

Trevor Mutton, Associate Professor, University of Oxford

This is an outstanding and comprehensive survey of practical ideas for the teaching of foreign languages in secondary school.

In the 15 years since its first edition it has been a ‘must-have’ for anyone starting their teaching career, each chapter written by highly respected practitioners who engage readers through a series of questions, exemplify a range of practical ideas which work in various settings, and give just the right amount of reference to research into the various theories which underpin different approaches.

This latest edition brings existing chapters up-to-date and adds some new elements, for example taking account of new DfE requirements, drawing on recent research into the cognitive sciences and motivation, and giving an opportunity to reflect on what we have learnt through the challenges of delivering teaching remotely or in a hybrid format.

I thoroughly recommend this guide to both training and well- established teachers who for whatever reason may not have come across it!

Helen Myers, Association for Language Learning Invited Trustee

ISBN: 9781032250694

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 403g

204 pages

3rd edition