Darren Lester
@mrdlester.bsky.social
Head of Classics and teacher of MFL. Doctoral candidate. Writer of textbooks, resources and academic articles. TTR host and MFL Journal Club organiser.
Pinned
Looking forward to today’s @ttradioofficial.bsky.social MFL Journal Club from 4pm today. Our article this month is all about associative vocabulary techniques.
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Looking forward to today’s @ttradioofficial.bsky.social MFL Journal Club from 4pm today. Our article this month is all about associative vocabulary techniques.
I am live on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social right now talking about the place of webinars in an increaingly screen-fatigued profession. Join the conversation now.
www.podbean.com/lsw/TTradio?...
www.podbean.com/lsw/TTradio?...
The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 22-11-2025 | Podbean Livestream
Welcome.
www.podbean.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I am live on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social right now talking about the place of webinars in an increaingly screen-fatigued profession. Join the conversation now.
www.podbean.com/lsw/TTradio?...
www.podbean.com/lsw/TTradio?...
Listen back to my @ttradioofficial.bsky.social show all about Teach and Thrive Learning Circles here: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-uuqun...
Teach and Thrive Learning Circles: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester
Darren talks about TTLCs and how they can be used to embed teacher-centric wellbeing into your CPD provision.
www.podbean.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Listen back to my @ttradioofficial.bsky.social show all about Teach and Thrive Learning Circles here: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-uuqun...
If you're an MFL teacher and you haven't yet watched my show sponsored by @ioe.bsky.social all about the best CPD for language teachers, please do. It's so important for us to make sure we are at the top of our game and this discussion has some great tips!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
Exploring the best CPD for Language Teachers
YouTube video by Teachers Talk Radio
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
If you're an MFL teacher and you haven't yet watched my show sponsored by @ioe.bsky.social all about the best CPD for language teachers, please do. It's so important for us to make sure we are at the top of our game and this discussion has some great tips!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
I am discussing #TeacherQuitTok on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social this morning. Is it a good look for teachers to be taking their issues with the profession to student-foussed social media? Come and join the conversation.
October 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I am discussing #TeacherQuitTok on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social this morning. Is it a good look for teachers to be taking their issues with the profession to student-foussed social media? Come and join the conversation.
Lots of things are down right now, but Zoom seems to be okay so @ttradioofficial.bsky.social MFL Journal Club will run as normal. Hope to see as many of you as possible at 19:00.
October 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Lots of things are down right now, but Zoom seems to be okay so @ttradioofficial.bsky.social MFL Journal Club will run as normal. Hope to see as many of you as possible at 19:00.
I love Wikipedia, and contrary to many teachers, I encourage it as a jumping off point for research. It can give a useful overview of a topic and (more importantly) it cites its sources. If you don't have access to plentiful journals, you can click through to peer reviewed articles. It's important.
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I love Wikipedia, and contrary to many teachers, I encourage it as a jumping off point for research. It can give a useful overview of a topic and (more importantly) it cites its sources. If you don't have access to plentiful journals, you can click through to peer reviewed articles. It's important.
This Saturday morning I'll be talking about #MOOCs. They had an upswing in popularity during covid but the enthusiasm has died down. Are they still worth doing?
October 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This Saturday morning I'll be talking about #MOOCs. They had an upswing in popularity during covid but the enthusiasm has died down. Are they still worth doing?
Reposted by Darren Lester
*Teachers Talk Connect is back*
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
October 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
*Teachers Talk Connect is back*
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
Reposted by Darren Lester
Trainee teacher or ECT?
Join Dame @alisonpeacock.bsky.social, Lisa-Maria Muller, Yamina Bibi, and Sufian Sadiq as they explore joining the teaching profession and thriving in your early career.
Get support from your professional body as you begin this journey.https://chartered.pulse.ly/ix2bcvo1hg
Join Dame @alisonpeacock.bsky.social, Lisa-Maria Muller, Yamina Bibi, and Sufian Sadiq as they explore joining the teaching profession and thriving in your early career.
Get support from your professional body as you begin this journey.https://chartered.pulse.ly/ix2bcvo1hg
October 13, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Trainee teacher or ECT?
Join Dame @alisonpeacock.bsky.social, Lisa-Maria Muller, Yamina Bibi, and Sufian Sadiq as they explore joining the teaching profession and thriving in your early career.
Get support from your professional body as you begin this journey.https://chartered.pulse.ly/ix2bcvo1hg
Join Dame @alisonpeacock.bsky.social, Lisa-Maria Muller, Yamina Bibi, and Sufian Sadiq as they explore joining the teaching profession and thriving in your early career.
Get support from your professional body as you begin this journey.https://chartered.pulse.ly/ix2bcvo1hg
Reposted by Darren Lester
Join Darren Lester live now - "Teacher Prestige, where did it go?" www.podbean.com/lsw/TTradio?...
The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 11-10-25 | Podbean Livestream
Welcome.
www.podbean.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Join Darren Lester live now - "Teacher Prestige, where did it go?" www.podbean.com/lsw/TTradio?...
No. We must not consent to our likenesses being used in this way. When did "deep fakes" become a good thing? Are we really so blinded by the AI bubble that we are ignoring all the legal, ethical and safeguarding issues that will accompany this?
NEW: Teachers will use “deepfake” technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school. Staff at the Great Schools Trust will create the avatars – which look and sound just like them – using an AI video generator. (Schoolsweek)
October 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
No. We must not consent to our likenesses being used in this way. When did "deep fakes" become a good thing? Are we really so blinded by the AI bubble that we are ignoring all the legal, ethical and safeguarding issues that will accompany this?
Reposted by Darren Lester
"Cultural input is something the students crave, try and weave more cultural aspects into our lessons and more students will sign up for GCSE languages" Maud Waret live now discussing best CPD for languages teachers www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
Exploring the best CPD for Language Teachers
In this Teachers Talk Radio special, host Darren Lester is joined by Maud Waret, Silvia Bastow, and Joe Dale to explore the latest ideas in CPD for languages...
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
"Cultural input is something the students crave, try and weave more cultural aspects into our lessons and more students will sign up for GCSE languages" Maud Waret live now discussing best CPD for languages teachers www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
Reposted by Darren Lester
Listen Back! Self Censorship in Stories: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester
teacherstalkradio.podbean.co...
teacherstalkradio.podbean.co...
Self Censorship in Stories: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester | Teachers Talk Radio
Through the lens of children's literature, Darren explores the sticky debate of self censorship in teaching.
teacherstalkradio.podbean.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Listen Back! Self Censorship in Stories: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester
teacherstalkradio.podbean.co...
teacherstalkradio.podbean.co...
9 hours until our special show focussed on CPD for language teachers, sponsored by the NCLE.
Set yourselves a reminder to tune in live at 6pm UK time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
Set yourselves a reminder to tune in live at 6pm UK time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
9 hours until our special show focussed on CPD for language teachers, sponsored by the NCLE.
Set yourselves a reminder to tune in live at 6pm UK time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
Set yourselves a reminder to tune in live at 6pm UK time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Yr...
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
This Saturday morning on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This Saturday morning on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social
About to go live on Teachers Talk Radio, where I will be discussing the self-censorship of stories.
The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 04-10-25 | Podbean Livestream
Welcome.
www.podbean.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:58 AM
About to go live on Teachers Talk Radio, where I will be discussing the self-censorship of stories.
Reposted by Darren Lester
*Teachers Talk Connect is back*
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
October 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
*Teachers Talk Connect is back*
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
TTR Connect will return to Manchester on Saturday 14th of March 2026!
Are you a teacher/leader who has something to share? Do you teach English, Maths, Science, MFL, RS, Politics or History? Apply to speak now here: www.ttradio.org/connect2026 Tickets out soon!
I've just submitted my first ever peer review of a journal article. I feel like a fully fledged academic now!
October 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I've just submitted my first ever peer review of a journal article. I feel like a fully fledged academic now!
Frohen Tag der Deutschen Einheit!
I was five when Germany unified, but it seems so weird to me that I lived through something so historic. I hope we can all take this time to remember why unity is important.
I was five when Germany unified, but it seems so weird to me that I lived through something so historic. I hope we can all take this time to remember why unity is important.
October 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Frohen Tag der Deutschen Einheit!
I was five when Germany unified, but it seems so weird to me that I lived through something so historic. I hope we can all take this time to remember why unity is important.
I was five when Germany unified, but it seems so weird to me that I lived through something so historic. I hope we can all take this time to remember why unity is important.
1 week until my show with Silvia, Joe and Maud. A huge thanks to the National Consortium for Languages Education for the opportunity to talk about two of my loves: Language Teaching and CPD. Be sure to join us live!
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
1 week until my show with Silvia, Joe and Maud. A huge thanks to the National Consortium for Languages Education for the opportunity to talk about two of my loves: Language Teaching and CPD. Be sure to join us live!
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
@fraubastowmfl.bsky.social
@joedale.bsky.social
@ttradioofficial.bsky.social
This Saturday on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This Saturday on @ttradioofficial.bsky.social