Sohelie Zafar: Beyond the Parisian Café

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Are languages fighting a losing battle against the rise of STEM? In this episode, host Will Marks is joined by MFL consultant Sohelie Zafar to discuss how we can raise the profile of languages in an increasingly pressurized curriculum. Moving away from the 'Parisian cafe' stereotype, Sohelie offers practical advice on decolonising the curriculum, making trips more than just a 'jolly', and why language teachers need to be the chief advocates for their own departments. Whether you are a department head or a classroom teacher looking for ways to make your lessons more impactful, this conversation digs into the messy, unexpected realities of modern language teaching. We also reflect on the formative power of the year abroad and why, despite the challenges, there has never been a more important time to be a linguist.