Teaching a language is more than grammar and vocabulary—it’s about connection, empathy, and understanding diverse cultures. In this blog, I share insights from my conversation with Cécile Lainé, a French teacher passionate about embedding culture and intercultural competence into her novice-level classrooms. If you’ve ever wondered how to teach culture

In episode 131 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, Maris Hawkins, an experienced language educator and co-author of Common Ground: Second Language Acquisition Theory Goes to the Classroom, helps us better understand the newly updated ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and how they can support our teaching practices. Listen above or here

Have you ever felt disengaged with your own profession? Need something to inspire you? Do you sometimes wonder how to reconnect with the passion that initially drove you to become a teacher? Staying engaged and connected with our job requires more than just understanding teaching strategies—it demands a deep sense

Start the year grounded in what truly matters, including building connections. In episode 128 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I’m sharing my first-day-back lesson plan that focuses on my three pillars: staying comprehensible, building connections, and fostering communication. These pillars keep us centered on our ultimate goal: facilitating meaningful

What if we recognized language learners as linguistically gifted individuals, rich in stories, knowledge, and potential? In episode 127 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I have a powerful conversation with Juliana Urtubey, 2021 U.S. Teacher of the Year, where she shares her inspiring framework of Joy and Justice in

As the school year wraps up, there’s no better time to reflect—not just on what we think worked, but on how students experienced our class. In episode 126 of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I’m sharing how I use end-of-year surveys to gather meaningful feedback that helps me adjust my

Keeping students engaged and focused during the last weeks of school can feel like an impossible task. But what if you could turn this tricky time into a fun, engaging learning experience—without burning yourself out? In episode 125 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I’m sharing 3 powerful strategies that

What if you could easily add more reading to your classroom to support language acquisition and cultural competence without overwhelming yourself with extra work? Research shows that reading is one of the most effective ways for students to grow in proficiency. So, how can we make time for it in

Teaching intermediate learners and upper-level Spanish learners can feel overwhelming when expectations are high, proficiency levels vary, and the curriculum demands keep piling up! In episode 119 of Growing With Proficiency, The Podcast, we’re diving into the essentials of comprehensible input (CI) for intermediate and upper-level Spanish learners.  This is

We all have days when we’re not feeling our best or our students seem disengaged. For those days, we need lesson ideas that create a balance between high-energy moments and quieter, more independent student work. In episode 115 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I talk about practical strategies that

In episode 112 of “Growing With Proficiency The Podcast,” we dive into five game-changing, low-prep strategies that can transform your world language classroom.  Whether you’re looking to build stronger connections with your students, make reading more interactive, or boost student output with minimal prep, these ideas have you covered.  Low-Prep

In episode 98 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I sat down with Hélène Colinet to discuss why and how we need to break the myth of grammar teaching and the importance of leading our classes with comprehensible input. This post will highlight our discussion, but to hear Hélène’s wealth

In episode 80 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I sat down with Elicia Cárdenas, the Director of Training at the Comprehensible Classroom, to talk about the essential principles of language acquisition that we should all know. Elicia talked about the fundamental nature of language, the complexities of teaching grammar