Ep248. ft. Dr. Paula Cushanick - The Missing Link in Multilingual Learning: Why the Brain Still Needs Human Connection (Part 2)

What happens when technology removes the very struggle the brain needs in order to learn? In Part 2, Dr. Paula Cushanick takes the conversation deeper into memory, rehearsal, cognitive load, psychological safety, relationships and the human conditions multilingual students need to transform exposure into lasting learning. We explore why short-term knowledge does not automatically become long-term memory, why rehearsal and retrieval matter, and how excessive dependence on AI and digital tools may eliminate valuable opportunities for students to think, struggle, practise and produce language themselves. But this episode goes beyond cognitive science. Why can two students receive exactly the same resources and achieve completely different outcomes? Dr. Cushanick argues that relationships, confidence, belonging and low-stress opportunities to communicate can fundamentally change what students are willing and eventually able to produce. We discuss multilingual classrooms, the affective filter, language rehearsal, flexible learning environments, novice teacher development, student-teacher relationships and what a genuinely human-centred classroom could look like. And one principle runs through the entire conversation: Technology should support human learning—not replace it. For educators building the next generation of multilingual classrooms, this is where EdTech meets the science and humanity of learning. 🎓 Want to go deeper into Dr. Cushanick’s work? If our conversation made you rethink the role of EdTech in multilingual education, don’t stop at the episode. Discover Dr. Cushanick’s resources, insights, social platforms, and work helping educators move beyond data and technology toward real language growth. 👉 Connect with Dr. Cushanick and explore her work here: https://linktr.ee/Dr.Cushanick Because technology can support learning—but great pedagogy is what turns tools into transformation. Explore BroadClub Education at www.BroadClubEducation.com #multilingualeducation #scienceoflearning #languagelearning #cognitivescience #edtech #teachers #languageacquisition #education