Episodes

Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
In this episode, we sit down with Gio Giovannelli, President of Pearson’s English Language Learning division, to tackle one of the most important questions in language education today: does it still make sense to learn a language in the age of AI?
AI may offer seamless translation, but as Gio explains, “Language is something much deeper than that.” This thought-provoking conversation explores:
AI’s impact on language learning: Hear how one of the world’s largest learning companies is thinking about and responding to AI.
Communicating the hidden value of language learning: Equip yourself with the knowledge and language to successfully sell the cognitive, cultural, and professional benefits that make language learning even in an AI-driven world.
Leadership lessons for language innovators: Gain practical advice on leading change, fostering creativity, and building resilient teams
This episode is brought to you by LearnCube – the virtual classroom made exclusively for online language education.
👉 Tune in today.

Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
In this unusual episode of the Language Leaders Podcast, we dive into the key insights from Alex Asher’s latest white paper, “LangTech in the AI Era.” Just like in the written paper, we tackle key questions shaping the future of language education including:
- Will generative AI replace teachers?
- Will generative AI make learning a language obsolete?
- How are language businesses using generative AI?
What sets this episode apart? Much of it was created by AI itself. The main conversation was auto-generated in minutes using Google Notebook technology, with Alex’s commentary delivered via a world-leading ai-powered text-to-speech engine.
This episode isn’t just a conversation about AI - it’s a real-world demonstration of how AI is intersecting with and expanding the possibilities in education and for educators.
👉 Tune in to discover how AI is transforming language learning today and what that means for educators and learners tomorrow.
P.S. To gain access to the white paper go to https://go.learncube.com/langtech-in-ai-era-whitepaper

Wednesday Oct 23, 2024
Wednesday Oct 23, 2024
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!

Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
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.

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
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.

Friday Jul 26, 2024
Friday Jul 26, 2024
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.

Saturday Jun 29, 2024
Saturday Jun 29, 2024
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.

Tuesday May 21, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024
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.

Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
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.

Thursday Mar 14, 2024
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
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.

Welcome to the Language Leaders Podcast!
I'm your host, Alex Asher. The aim of this podcast is to provide insights, inspiration, and foresight into emerging trends for leaders in language education.
I started this podcast because I felt there was no one else, and nowhere else, where these important conversations were happening around to grow a successful, scalable language business.
In each episode, I interview a leader in the language education or LangTech space. Together we will dive deep into the diverse challenges and opportunities of our sector, covering all angles including product, technology, operations, pedagogy and leadership.
I hope you enjoy it and please subscribe so you don't miss out on ideas that could transform your business.