Best Louise Carleton Gertsch Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 42: Critical engagement with social media 18:27

10d ago18:27

18:27

Attention has become a valuable commodity, especially on social media platforms that use sophisticated algorithms designed to keep us hooked. In this episode we'll be looking at why this is especially challenging for young people, whether all screen time is created equal, and what we can do in the classroom to help students think more critically ab…

1
Episode 41: The climate crisis & the need for agency 15:54

1M ago15:54

15:54

Today, the climate crisis is fundamentally reshaping the planet. And it is the younger and future generations that will bear the brunt of this. In this episode we will be looking at how we need to help young people develop a global mindset as well as agency - in its different modes - to be able to face the challenges ahead.…

1
Episode 40: Learning to ask better questions 16:29

2M ago16:29

16:29

Most of us don’t ask enough questions, good questions. This is not only central for effective communication but also critical and creative thinking. In this episode we’ll be looking at different types of questions, how we can learn to ask better questions, and importantly, what can be done to further this in the classroom. Listen in to find out mor…

1
Episode 39: Using AI: Let’s not outsource our thinking! 14:26

3M ago14:26

14:26

Whether at the BETT show or the International Day of Education, AI is a hot topic right now. It’s no longer coming, it’s here and changing how we teach and learn. Listen in to find out how we can help students navigate AI without losing their critical thinking skills or agency, why AI literacy and search literacy are essential, the importance of un…

1
Episode 38: The power of self-awareness 17:24

5M ago17:24

17:24

Self-awareness is a core component of emotional intelligence - yet most of us overestimate how self-aware we truly are. In this episode we’ll explore what self-awareness is, how it affects us and our work, the importance of changing the questions we ask ourselves, and what students can do to improve their selfawareness to influence their learning o…

1
Episode 37: Fostering democratic competence 16:16

6M ago16:16

16:16

Many people view voting as fundamental to being a good citizen, yet voter turnout is on the decline. In this episode, we’ll be exploring the concept of democratic competence, focusing on the key values, attitudes, skills, and knowledge necessary for its development. We will also be looking at practical ideas and activities for fostering this vital …

1
Episode 36: What makes you curious? 15:29

7M ago15:29

15:29

Have you heard of the five dimensions of curiosity? Do you know what its benefits are? Are you interested in finding out what can be done to promote it in the classroom? Come and join me to find out more!By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

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Episode 35: Working together: keys to effective collaboration 18:31

9M ago18:31

18:31

Today, working in teams is the norm. But why is it that some teams click and others don’t? What lies at the core of effective collaboration? In this episode we’ll be looking at two key components that come up in studies time and again. We’ll also be exploring how we can help students to become more effective at working together.…

1
Episode 34: Back to school with 21st century skills 17:58

10M ago17:58

17:58

As the new school year begins, it’s the perfect time to think about how 21st century skills can be integrated into the classroom. In this episode, I’ll be sharing practical ideas on how to do so, including ways to support student agency, strategies for effective communication when giving and receiving feedback, and a few activities to practise noti…

1
Episode 33: Crafting compelling stories 15:56

11M ago15:56

15:56

Memorable talks often include stories because they help establish a bond between the speaker and audience. To do so effectively, stories need to be chosen and crafted with the audience in mind. In this episode we’ll be looking at how to considered, the structure, the importance of authenticity, and where to find inspiration.…

1
Episode 32: 21st century skills & UK schools 34:04

1y ago34:04

34:04

In today‘s episode I am joined by Matthew Lovett, a former headteacher, now an inspector of schools in England and school governor. He shares insights into a couple of major changes in education in England over the past years, some differences between the independent and state sectors, the growing need for critical thinking skills, a student-led ap…

1
Episode 31: Creativity, innovation & design thinking 17:32

1y ago17:32

17:32

Creativity and innovation are key components of design thinking, a human-centered approach to creatively solving problems. In this episode we'll be looking at what exactly design thinking is, the phases involved in the design thinking process, the kind of mindset people need, and how this creative process can be supported and used in the classroom.…

1
Episode 30: 21st century skills & crafting AI prompts 15:47

1y ago15:47

15:47

Since ChatGPT’s emergence, there have been a lot of debates as to whether to ban it in schools. But does it really hinder critical thinking, problem-solving skills and student agency as some have claimed? On the contrary! In this episode we'll be looking at how these skills are essential for crafting effective AI prompts and evaluating the response…

1
Episode 29: Is anyone listening? 19:50

1+ y ago19:50

19:50

In this episode we'll be taking another look at the key skill of listening. Why is it that many of us tend to overestimate our listening abilities? What does being a good listener really entail? What can we learn from negotiators and journalists? And, of course, what can we do with students to help them focus and listen better? Join me to find out …

1
Episode 28: Storytelling, students & social media 31:23

1+ y ago31:23

31:23

In this episode the English and psychology teacher Katharina Wendrich joins me for a chat about storytelling, students and social media. We delve into how stories can help young people to discover who they are, how social media has changed the way we tell certain stories, how to help students deconstruct stories on social media, using Shakespeare t…

1
Episode 27: The need for global competence 19:43

1+ y ago19:43

19:43

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and interdependent, the importance of global competence has come to the fore. In 2018 it was even included in the PISA assessment test. In this episode we'll be looking at what it is, how it differs from intercultural competence, factors that are key for its development, as well as at some thinking r…

1
Episode 26: Communication: establishing a connection 16:38

2y ago16:38

16:38

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the mostsought after skills today. Yet even though we spend so much time sharing our ideas, we are not always able to get our message across clearly. Come and join me to find out how communication skills can be improved, what top business leaders do to get their ideas across, why non-verbal communica…

1
Episode 25: Learning for life 14:16

2y ago14:16

14:16

Today, everybody is talking about the importance of lifelong learning. Yet what does it actually entail? In this episode we'll also be exploring the attributes lifelong learners have, to what extent it is possible to cultivate these traits, and why it is important to lay the foundations early on.By Louise Carleton-Gertsch

1
Episode 24: Adaptability: the key to navigating change 16:27

2y ago16:27

16:27

Adaptability is considered vital for the future since technological changes are disrupting work as we know it. But why is it key? Can it be measured? To what extent can we learn to become more adaptable? And why is unlearning so important? Listen in to find out more!By Louise Carleton-Gertsch

1
Episode 23: Human flourishing in the 21st century 17:03

2y ago17:03

17:03

Today, our world is changing at such a rapid pace that it is difficult to know what the future of work might look like. So how can we best prepare young people for what is to come? Experts are now talking about redirecting our focus towards human flourishing to equip young people with the skills and attitudes they will need to navigate these change…

1
Episode 22: Critical thinking in the age of digital and AI 18:17

2y ago18:17

18:17

In today’s digital world, we need critical thinking more than ever. The ability to be able to judge the credibility of sources and formulate plausible hypotheses are key. So what can we learn from professional fact checkers? What happens if we delegate search tasks to AI chatbots like ChatGPT? And what implications might this have for the classroom…

1
Episode 21: Embracing new challenges – ChatGPT 30:22

2+ y ago30:22

30:22

ChatGPT has been causing quite a stir. But what can really it do? What are its limitations? What might it mean for students and how will it affect the skills that they need in the future? To find out more, I chatted to a software engineer at a news organisation in the UK.By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

1
Episode 20: Empathy revisited 16:50

2+ y ago16:50

16:50

Empathy has been described as the psychological “superglue” that connects people, yet today it is in decline. In this episode, I’ll be looking at why this is, its importance, what steps we can take to cultivate it, as well as a few ideas for the classroom.By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

1
Episode 19: Putting skills into action 23:47

2+ y ago23:47

23:47

Students came together at the Creators Camp in Coburg this summer to draw up and present an idea for the school of the future. It was an event that saw students having to put 21st century skills into action as they worked towards a common goal. I visited one of the initiators, headteacher Ursula Kick-Bernklau, to find out more about this fascinatin…

1
Episode 18: Leadership – inspiring others to be their best 16:05

2+ y ago16:05

16:05

Leadership is about being inspired and inspiring others. It numbers among the top ten job skills for the coming years. In this episode we'll be looking at the difference between leaders and managers, what all good leaders have in common, which other skills leadership entails, and how we can help students to develop some of these in the classroom.…

1
Episode 17: Creative thinking – it’s all about ideas 17:40

2+ y ago17:40

17:40

Creative thinking is a process that we use to generate or iterate on ideas. It is an essential skill, especially if we are to tackle the issues confronting us today. In this episode we'll be looking at what creative thinking entails, different types of thinking and how to support the creative thinking process.…

1
Episode 16: Global citizenship 16:21

2+ y ago16:21

16:21

The concept of global citizenship has come to the fore in recent years, as countries and cultures have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. People have realised we urgently need to stop focusing on individual and local perspectives and to consider global implications and contexts. In this episode we'll be looking at what global ci…

1
Episode 15: Intercultural competence 20:16

3y ago20:16

20:16

The need for intercultural competence has never been greater and it's considered essential in global business environments. Developing it takes time because it’s a complex process that involves other core skills such as listening and empathy.In today's episode we'll be looking at what intercultural competence entails, the different stages we go thr…

1
Episode 14: Sharing ideas: the importance of presentation literacy 20:57

3y ago20:57

20:57

Today, the ability to share our ideas through effective presentations is absolutely key. But many of us are frightened of speaking in public. So, what can we do to conquer this fear? In this episode we'll also be looking at some of the different formats we have for sharing our ideas, why every presentation begins with the audience, and how we can h…

1
Episode 13: Connecting through storytelling 19:22

3y ago19:22

19:22

Storytelling is in our genes. We have always used stories tounderstand the world around us. And in the 21st century, we need them more than ever to be able to share our ideas and inspire others. Join me to find out how the storyteller’s brain connects with the listener’s, what makes an effective story, as well as a few ideas for storytelling in the…

1
Episode 12: Digital literacy Part 2 19:37

3y ago19:37

19:37

Digital literacy is not just about knowing how to find and consume information, it’s also about creating and communicating. But the choice of media will depend on the target audience and our purpose. In this episode we’ll be looking at some of the different media on offer, as well as steps students need to take when creating and communicating using…

1
Episode 11: Digital literacy Part 1 18:18

3+ y ago18:18

18:18

What does it mean to be literate in today’s world? How can we help students to confidently navigate the digital sphere? In this episode we’ll be looking at three key steps we need to take and how we can help students to become better at validating knowledge online.By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

1
Episode 10: Exercising agency 20:23

3+ y ago20:23

20:23

Leaner agency is not only important for school but essential for life-long learning. It’s not a quality that we are either born with or not, but an ongoing process that unfolds over time. In this episode we’ll be looking at what it entails, other qualities that are key, as well as how its development can be supported in the English-speaking classro…

1
Episode 9: The power of grit 17:50

3+ y ago17:50

17:50

Grit has been shown to play an important role in why people succeed. But what is it that makes some people grittier than others? In this podcast we’ll be looking at the role resilience plays, how a growth mindset is key and some strategies for building grit that also work in the classroom.By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

1
Episode 8: Stepping into someone else’s shoes: empathy 26:19

3+ y ago26:19

26:19

Empathy is considered one of the most important resources we have. But what is it? What habits do highly empathetic people have, and how can we learn to develop greater empathy? In this episode I’ll also be talking to the Englishteacher Andrea Holler about how she encourages empathy in the classroom.…

1
Episode 7: The art of listening 19:05

3+ y ago19:05

19:05

In this podcast we'll be exploring the art of listening, a skill that many people feel is sorely neglected today. We'll be looking at what makes a good listener, why active listening is key, and how to help students to hone the skill that is at the root of all (language) learning.By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

1
Episode 6: Finding common ground: communication 21:08

3+ y ago21:08

21:08

Today, we are used to communicating across a range of media on a regular basis. But this does not mean that it’s something we do well. Join me to find out what happens to our brains when we communicate, which factors hinder effective communication and what this means for the English classroom.By [email protected] (Louise Carleton-Gertsch)

1
Episode 5: Working towards a common goal: collaboration 22:05

4y ago22:05

22:05

Collaboration is about the process of working together towards a common goal, and it’s essential in today’s world. But working well in a team and having a shared mindset do not necessarily come naturally to us. This is because effective collaboration requires a range of qualities and skills. The good news is that students can already begin to hone …

1
Episode 4: At the heart of being human lies creativity 20:23

4y ago20:23

20:23

Creativity is central to who we are as humans. It’s not only essential for our personal and social wellbeing but is also a skill that is in great demand. Come and join me as we look at different levels and kinds of creativity, ways we can cultivate it (yes, everyone is creative!) and what we can do to foster it in schools and the English classroom!…

1
Episode 3: Delving deeper: critical thinking 24:57

4y ago24:57

24:57

Critical thinking is one of the most in-demand skills for the workplace today. But what does it actually entail, and how can we train ourselves to become better at it? In this episode, I’ll also be talking to the English teacher Jürgen Thamerus to find out how he hones his students’ critical thinking skills in the classroom. So why not come and joi…

1
Episode 2: It all begins with curiosity 18:24

4y ago18:24

18:24

As humans, we are driven by curiosity, the urge to answer the question why. But why is this? What does research tell us about its importance for learning? What can we do to create an environment that fosters curiosity? And what are some of the consequences for teaching English? Come and join me to find out more!…

1
Episode 1: Introducing the 4 Cs 14:53

4y ago14:53

14:53

Who came upwith the idea for the 4 Cs? Why are they so important for today’s students?Which other skills and qualities will they need? And how does this all informEnglish teaching today? Come and join me as we explore the answers in this inaugural podcast in theseries Learning English Today – the 4 Cs and beyond!…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Louise Carleton Gertsch Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen