Mr E
@theniceman.bsky.social
French and Spanish teacher. I like to play football in the park with my brother. Last weekend I went shopping. Next weekend if it is sunny I would like to swim.
https://whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/
https://whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/
Someone at AQA needs to step up.
Penalising things that are on the spec can't be right.
Having to tell strong candidates to be more like weaker ones is damaging.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
Penalising things that are on the spec can't be right.
Having to tell strong candidates to be more like weaker ones is damaging.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
AQA Conversation really not working
At our latest ALL in the East meeting (scroll down for previous meetings on this ALL page ), we discussed the implications of the AQA marks...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Someone at AQA needs to step up.
Penalising things that are on the spec can't be right.
Having to tell strong candidates to be more like weaker ones is damaging.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
Penalising things that are on the spec can't be right.
Having to tell strong candidates to be more like weaker ones is damaging.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
Did you teach your pupils to say
"I like French more than Spanish and German"
You had better go back and teach them to say,
"I don't like Spanish. I don't like German. I like French."
Because for AQA that second answer is two hole bands higher.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
"I like French more than Spanish and German"
You had better go back and teach them to say,
"I don't like Spanish. I don't like German. I like French."
Because for AQA that second answer is two hole bands higher.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
AQA Conversation really not working
At our latest ALL in the East meeting (scroll down for previous meetings on this ALL page ), we discussed the implications of the AQA marks...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Did you teach your pupils to say
"I like French more than Spanish and German"
You had better go back and teach them to say,
"I don't like Spanish. I don't like German. I like French."
Because for AQA that second answer is two hole bands higher.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
"I like French more than Spanish and German"
You had better go back and teach them to say,
"I don't like Spanish. I don't like German. I like French."
Because for AQA that second answer is two hole bands higher.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
The text book has a page on après avoir fini mes études and we encouraged pupils to think about similar utterances to use on other topics. Turns out it would penalise them in the exam because it doesn't contain a conjugated verb so it isn't a clause.
Now we have to tell them not to use it?
Now we have to tell them not to use it?
February 2, 2026 at 6:03 AM
The text book has a page on après avoir fini mes études and we encouraged pupils to think about similar utterances to use on other topics. Turns out it would penalise them in the exam because it doesn't contain a conjugated verb so it isn't a clause.
Now we have to tell them not to use it?
Now we have to tell them not to use it?
For AQA, this is a BOTTOM band answer.
"To improve my Spanish, after finishing school but before going to Uni, I would like to travel, maybe to Mexico rather than going to Spain."
Yes, I concocted it. But this is stuff we are supposed to teach.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
"To improve my Spanish, after finishing school but before going to Uni, I would like to travel, maybe to Mexico rather than going to Spain."
Yes, I concocted it. But this is stuff we are supposed to teach.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
AQA Conversation really not working
At our latest ALL in the East meeting (scroll down for previous meetings on this ALL page ), we discussed the implications of the AQA marks...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:54 AM
For AQA, this is a BOTTOM band answer.
"To improve my Spanish, after finishing school but before going to Uni, I would like to travel, maybe to Mexico rather than going to Spain."
Yes, I concocted it. But this is stuff we are supposed to teach.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
"To improve my Spanish, after finishing school but before going to Uni, I would like to travel, maybe to Mexico rather than going to Spain."
Yes, I concocted it. But this is stuff we are supposed to teach.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
I can see more than two already.
February 2, 2026 at 5:37 AM
I can see more than two already.
The problem with the way AQA mark the exam is that pupils are penalised for using things that are on the spec and we are meant to be teaching.
Do NOT let them use "después de + infinitive". It doesn't count as a clause and drops them a band.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
Do NOT let them use "después de + infinitive". It doesn't count as a clause and drops them a band.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
AQA Conversation really not working
At our latest ALL in the East meeting (scroll down for previous meetings on this ALL page ), we discussed the implications of the AQA marks...
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:12 AM
The problem with the way AQA mark the exam is that pupils are penalised for using things that are on the spec and we are meant to be teaching.
Do NOT let them use "después de + infinitive". It doesn't count as a clause and drops them a band.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
Do NOT let them use "después de + infinitive". It doesn't count as a clause and drops them a band.
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/12/aqa-...
Reposted by Mr E
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"?
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users
Class-action lawsuit alleged that Google's voice assistant illegally recorded and shared private conversations with advertisers.
www.cbsnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"?
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
AI ruins another song.
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 PM
AI ruins another song.
What does this even mean!
February 1, 2026 at 8:45 PM
What does this even mean!
Reposted by Mr E
Last week we held a fantastic 'Thinking Strategically' event, exploring the possibilities of universities working in multi-year partnerships with local schools, drawing on the impact from the LFA project in Hounslow.
Catch up now with the recording 👇
@ucflangs.bsky.social @rhemus.bsky.social
Catch up now with the recording 👇
@ucflangs.bsky.social @rhemus.bsky.social
Thinking Strategically: Working in Partnership with Local Schools
This session explores the possibilities of universities working in multi-year partnerships with local schools, drawing on the impact from the LFA project in Hounslow.
ilcs.sas.ac.uk
January 30, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Last week we held a fantastic 'Thinking Strategically' event, exploring the possibilities of universities working in multi-year partnerships with local schools, drawing on the impact from the LFA project in Hounslow.
Catch up now with the recording 👇
@ucflangs.bsky.social @rhemus.bsky.social
Catch up now with the recording 👇
@ucflangs.bsky.social @rhemus.bsky.social
Reposted by Mr E
Oracy talks! Classroom talk shapes learning. This teacher-led oracy strand focuses on practical approaches to help every pupil find their voice.
Come and listen to Suzi Telford, Claire Price at TTR Connect 2026 in the oracy strand!
Get your FREE ticket now: ttradio.org/connect2026
Come and listen to Suzi Telford, Claire Price at TTR Connect 2026 in the oracy strand!
Get your FREE ticket now: ttradio.org/connect2026
February 1, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Oracy talks! Classroom talk shapes learning. This teacher-led oracy strand focuses on practical approaches to help every pupil find their voice.
Come and listen to Suzi Telford, Claire Price at TTR Connect 2026 in the oracy strand!
Get your FREE ticket now: ttradio.org/connect2026
Come and listen to Suzi Telford, Claire Price at TTR Connect 2026 in the oracy strand!
Get your FREE ticket now: ttradio.org/connect2026
Great. Except Bill doesn't begin with a P.
February 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Great. Except Bill doesn't begin with a P.
Right. I think I know what happened here...
February 1, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Right. I think I know what happened here...
Every time. Every single time, it has things wrong that you wouldn't spot if you were genuinely asking for information.
February 1, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Every time. Every single time, it has things wrong that you wouldn't spot if you were genuinely asking for information.
AI making up nonsense about information in Ofsted reports. I knew to challenge it, but most wouldn't!
February 1, 2026 at 2:48 PM
AI making up nonsense about information in Ofsted reports. I knew to challenge it, but most wouldn't!
Lots of posts coming through from different quarters on the messiness of learning and how to relate it to sequencing of teaching. Maybe we are about to open up some interesting areas of educational thinking.
The #Stochastic #Mind in #LanguageLearning
msipressblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
#learerdifferences #neurodiversity #langaugelearningaptitude
msipressblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
#learerdifferences #neurodiversity #langaugelearningaptitude
The Stochastic Mind in Language Learning
News about MSI Press authors; Excerpts from MSI Press authors' books; Carl's Cancer Compendium information; tips for authors
msipressblog.blogspot.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Lots of posts coming through from different quarters on the messiness of learning and how to relate it to sequencing of teaching. Maybe we are about to open up some interesting areas of educational thinking.
Really important post.
Breaking down knowledge is NOT the same as breaking down and building up skills.
Breaking down knowledge is NOT the same as breaking down and building up skills.
Complex skills are the product of simple parts, properly sequenced. carlhendrick.substack.com/p/the-archit...
The Architecture of Learning: Complex Skills Are Made of Simple Parts
On near decomposability and the design of learning systems
carlhendrick.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Really important post.
Breaking down knowledge is NOT the same as breaking down and building up skills.
Breaking down knowledge is NOT the same as breaking down and building up skills.
Reposted by Mr E
A must see for all colleagues and students who still believe Spain is a tropical enclave at 35 degrees all year long. Here's the current global ranking of snow in ski resorts:
February 1, 2026 at 10:50 AM
A must see for all colleagues and students who still believe Spain is a tropical enclave at 35 degrees all year long. Here's the current global ranking of snow in ski resorts: