The Power of Voice in the Classroom

The Power of Voice in the Classroom

January 27, 2026 · 31 min · Season 14 · Episode 15

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of vocal tone in teaching and its impact on student autonomy and psychological needs.

...With Professor Silke Paulmann In this episode I am joined by Professor Silke Paulmann to discuss why how we sound matters just as much as what we say - the irony, as you will hear, being that my voice this week is far from fine! We often focus on the words we use to support student autonomy—offering choice and avoiding pressure—but Professor Paulmann's research reveals that our vocal tone is a primary carrier of psychological information . Whether you are teaching Early Years or Secondary, the way you modulate your voice can directly impact a student's sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness . From reducing classroom anxiety to helping students feel truly "heard," your voice is one of the most powerful psychological tools in your teaching toolkit . Learn some easy to implement strategies to help your vocal tone. You can find out more here: https://www.tone4you.co.uk/ Key Moments: Introduction to Professor Silke Paulmann: A look at her background in cognitive science and her research on voice as a biomarker . The "Why" Behind the Voice: Why tone carries as much weight as our actual words in autonomy-supportive teaching . Needs-Based Learning: How voice influences the…

People in this episode

Host: Lucinda Powell

Guest: Professor Silke Paulmann

Topics covered

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tone4You

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