Candace is back this week as we talk with Kyle Larson, former ESL teacher and founder of a language learning platform designed specifically for secondary English learners. Kyle shares how teaching across Latin America, China, and the United States shaped his perspective on language acquisition, and how those experiences led him to design tools that better support newcomers and long-term English learners.
From the limits of memorization-heavy instruction to the role of reading and listening as the true engine of language growth, this conversation explores what actually moves the needle for emergent bilingual students. Kyle also discusses the realities teachers face—overwhelming diversity of language levels, shrinking staffing supports, and the need for practical tools that content teachers can actually use in real classrooms.
The episode wraps with a fast-paced “Keep It or Cut It” game on common language learning practices, including translation tools, vocabulary quizzes, grammar-first instruction, and AI in the classroom.
How global teaching experiences influence language instruction
Why input (reading + listening) drives language acquisition
The disconnect between language acquisition theory and classroom practice
Supporting long-term English learners beyond basic communication
The role—and limits—of translation tools and translanguaging
Why one-size-fits-all pacing fails language learners
AI as a supplement to support differentiation, not replace teachers
Low-tech, high-impact solutions for students with limited digital access
Kyle also shares how his platform and companion notebooks aim to individually pace students from newcomer status through reclassification, giving them immediate support through QR-connected tools while still maintaining the benefits of paper-based learning.
Website: languagelearning.com
Email: Kyle@language.io
In this episode, we discuss:Connect with Kyle Larson:
