An increased emphasis on the importance of oral and aural skills has been the hallmark of recent developments in language teaching. This is reflected both in new GCSE courses and in public statements on modern languages, from HM Inspectorate and the Government alike. Timetable restrictions and the constant pressure on pupils to use English during the normal school day militate against meaningful use of the foreign language for pupils’ own language. With the proposal to delay the start of a second language to 14 it is more important than ever to encourage such meaningful language use. Intensive Language Teaching and Learning draws this strand together, considers lessons from the past and takes a positive look at the way in which the intensive approach can both supplement and complement language learning in the future.