The Language Leaders Podcast

Transforming Language Curriculum with AI: Proven Strategies from Top Educators

In this episode, we dive deep into this year's Language Leaders Content Generation Summit 2024 to uncover how AI is reshaping workflows and enhancing the quality of lesson materials and language curricula.
Our panellists include:
Federico Espinosa (VP of Learning at Lingoda) discusses the pedagogical opportunities and challenges of integrating generative AI into the process of curriculum development.
Amer Bashimam (Product Manager at English Central) shares his personal experience with developing English Central's AI tutor, Mimi, while revealing their approach to overcoming common technical hurdles using AI.
Wilim Abrook (Head of Education at LearnCube) details the key learnings from developing LearnCube's AI Teacher Assistant and explains how fine-tuning large language models might be the answer to high-quality, tailored content for learners.
You'll also hear from Carla Wyburn, CEO of Language Coach AI, and Jonathan Archibold, CTO of Lingoda, as they tackle critical questions around CEFR levelling and the future of AI-powered language teaching.
👉 Don’t miss these exclusive insights from this transformative language industry event. Tune in today!

Leading Tech Revolutions: Jack Marmorstein’s 30-Year Journey from Rosetta Stone to Global LT’s CLO

In this episode, we sit down with Jack Marmorstein, Chief Learning Officer at Global LT, as he shares insights from his three-decade journey in the language education industry.
Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Jack’s career, from his early days as a PhD candidate to becoming one of the first employees at Rosetta Stone.
Hear Jack’s reflections on navigating multiple tech revolutions, including surviving an IPO, and how these experiences have influenced his approach to leadership.
Get his take on the future of AI in language learning and why human-led training will always remain essential.
👉 Tune in today.

Leading ELT Globally: Oxford University Press's MD on Leadership and Innovation

In this episode, we sit down with Santiago Ruiz de Velasco, Managing Director of Oxford University Press's English Language Teaching division, as he shares his remarkable journey through the world of education and publishing.
Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Santiago’s career, including:
From Dining Room to Boardroom: Learn how Santiago’s move from Spain to the UK led him to a lifelong career in education, starting with Pearson and eventually leading global operations.
Embracing Challenges: Santiago reflects on overcoming language barriers and professional hurdles, revealing how these experiences have made him a more resilient leader.
Global Impact and Responsibility: Explore Santiago's approach to leading one of education's most trusted brands amidst unprecedented technological disruption.
This episode was brought to you by LearnCube - the only virtual classroom made exclusively for online language teaching.
Whether you're an aspiring langtech entrepreneur or a seasoned language industry leader, this episode offers valuable lessons on global leadership, adaptability, and the power of passion in driving success.
👉 Tune in today.

Expert Strategies for Superior Student and Client Retention: Insights from Industry Leaders

Ever wondered how industry leaders achieve such high retention rates?
This episode reveals insider strategies and real-world success stories from three expert panelists at the Language Leaders Student Retention Summit 2024.
This includes three proven strategies:
Targeting Learner Groups: Anja Spilker (Founder and CEO) shares how Zaloa Languages transformed retention rates by understanding and targeting specific learner groups.
Multilingual Coaching: Kristina Curtis Ekiz (VP of Customer and Learner Operations) reveals how personalised support in learners' native languages at EnGen boosted engagement and motivation, backed by data.
Data-Driven Success: Laiz Maiochi (VP of Customer Success at Voxy) demonstrates how aligning business and learner goals with benchmarks can dramatically improve retention and prove ROI to stakeholders.
You'll also hear from Alex Asher, CEO of LearnCube and co-author of LangTech, who presents the latest research on effective retention strategies from over a dozen language leaders worldwide.
👉 Don’t miss out on these exclusive insights from this one-of-a-kind language industry event. Tune in today.

From Teacher to Online Language School Pioneer: The English Farm Story

Discover how Matthew Radich turned his passion for teaching into a thriving, bootstrapped online language school.
In this inspiring episode, we uncover the journey behind The English Farm and explore:
Winning One Niche at a Time: Uncover the surprising market gap Matthew identified and how he leveraged it to catapult The English Farm to success in Japan's competitive language learning landscape.
Building a Global Team: Gain insights into creating a culture of trust and autonomy that attracts and retains top teaching talent across the world.
Balancing Innovation and Perseverance: Understand the delicate dance between pushing technological boundaries and maintaining the grit to overcome entrepreneurial challenges.
Whether you're an aspiring edtech entrepreneur or a seasoned language industry leader, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons on building a successful online language school.
👉 Tune in today.

Taking a Company Public: Gaku Nakamura’s Journey from Startup to Market Leader

How did Gaku Nakamura build the biggest online English tutorial company in Japan and the Philippines?
In this rare interview, Gaku and I explore:
The Founding of RareJob: Trace Gaku's journey from a bold startup in 2007 to a global leader in online English education.
Thriving in the Competitive Japanese Market: Gain insights and practical advice on succeeding in Japan's unique business landscape.
Innovation and Opportunity: Discover how RareJob is leaning into AI with its own AI-driven business English-speaking test, Progos.
👉 Don’t miss out on these exclusive insights from a pioneering language leader. Tune in today.

Steering Success: Sana Ronda's Journey to Building One of France's Leading Corporate Language Training Companies

How did Sana Ronda transform a struggling 20th-century brand into a thriving 21st-century corporate language training empire, now serving over 13,000 learners annually?
Discover the secrets of B2B success in the latest episode of the Language Leaders Podcast.
Sana is one of the most resilient and charismatic language leaders I've interviewed. In our conversation, we explore:
The founding of Linguaphone, tracing Sana's journey from scrappy startup in 2005 to the leader of a language empire today;
No-nonsense advice on how to thrive in corporate sectors in France;
Turning crisis into opportunity time after time during Sana's 19-year entrepreneurial journey (You'll respect her as much as I do once you hear her stories from the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19.).
👉 Don’t miss out on these exclusive insights from a seasoned language leader. Tune in today.

Governing Languages: How a Family-Owned Business Became the Leading Provider of Language Services to the Government of Canada (B2G).

Discover the unique journey of a family-owned business that has emerged as the leading language training provider for the Canadian government.
 
In this episode, Jeremy Frohlich, COO of LRDG, offers an insider's look into blending family values with the aspirations of building a globally recognised language training service.
 
In our conversation, we delve into:
The origins of LRDG, highlighting Jeremy's transition from sales to leadership within the family business.
The intricacies and strategies behind successfully navigating government tenders and contracts, offering invaluable insights for businesses eyeing public sector partnerships (B2G).
How governments are thinking about AI and how to find the right balance between compliance and progress.
Tune in today. 

Empowering Language Learners: Katie Brown’s Journey to Revolutionize ESL Education

The U.S. presents unique challenges and opportunities for ESL education, catering to a diverse population of immigrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages. In this episode with Katie Brown, founder and Chief Education Officer at EnGen, we delve into:
The founding journey of EnGen, aimed at empowering non-native speakers with essential English skills for inclusion and economic mobility.
A deep dive into the ESL education landscape in the U.S., highlighting the needs of immigrants and refugees, and how EnGen addresses these through technology and personalized learning.
Expert advice from Katie on navigating and succeeding in the ESL education space, and the upcoming trends poised to reshape language learning.
Join us for an insightful conversation on transforming ESL education with Katie Brown.
Tune in today.

Breaking Into Japan: Tyson Batino’s Secrets to Language School Success

Japan is one of the largest markets of language education in the world but is a challenging market to enter. In this episode with Tyson Batino, the visionary behind two successful English language schools in Japan, we discuss:
How Tyson founded and scaled his language businesses, One Coin English and Japan Switch
Explains the language education ecosystem in Japan including Eikaiwa, Gakudo and afternoon schools, Jukus (cram schools), online teaching and more.
Provides advice on how to win the Japanese market and what trends are likely to impact the future of language education.
Tune in today.