Reimagining Language Learning with Kyle Larson

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 instructionWhy input (reading + listening) drives language acquisitionThe disconnect between language acquisition theory and classroom practiceSupporting long-term English learners beyond basic communicationThe role—and limits—of translation tools and translanguagingWhy one-size-fits-all pacing fails language learnersAI as a supplement to support differentiation, not replace teachersLow-tech, high-impact solutions for students with limited digital accessKyle 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.comEmail: [email protected] this episode, we discuss:Connect with Kyle Larson: