Episode 66: Developod Episode 66 - Looking back on 40 years of Teacher Development with Adrian Underhill

About this episode

Cecilia Lemos-Harmer and Adrian Underhill discuss the deep connections between language learning, identity, and emotional engagement in the classroom.

In this episode, Cecilia Lemos-Harmer and Adrian Underhill explore how language learning is deeply connected to identity, emotion, and embodiment, rather than being a purely intellectual process. Adrian argues that effective language development happens when learners feel psychologically safe, engaged, and willing to experiment with new sounds and expressions. He emphasises the teacher’s role in creating conditions for learning by managing attention, presence, and classroom energy, rather than simply delivering content. He also highlights pronunciation and voice work as gateways to confidence, self-expression, and communicative competence, noting that learners often need permission to “be different” in another language. This conversation between Ceci and Adrian reframes language teaching as a human, relational practice, where awareness, trust, and physical engagement are central to meaningful learning. Visit Adrian’s website: https://adrianunderhill.com/ To find the complete archive of Developod episodes, go to tdsig.org/developod-tdsigs-podcast

People in this episode

Guest: Adrian Underhill

Topics covered

• teacher development
• language learning
• identity
• emotion
• embodiment
• pronunciation
• self-expression
• communicative competence

Keywords

• psychological safety
• classroom energy
• learning conditions
• human practice

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Adrian Underhill's website

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