If you’ve ever felt like you’re talking to a wall during class… you’re not alone. You ask a question. Silence. Or you get the classic: “I don’t know.” In my latest podcast interview, I sat down with Sally Barnes to talk about a framework that helps teachers bring back what
There’s a moment every language teacher knows. You start a story. You’re excited. You’ve got the visuals, the gestures, the energy… and then you notice it: eyes drifting, side conversations, that one student staring into the void like they’re watching a documentary about paint drying. So what’s going on? In
If you’ve ever looked at your roster on Day 2 and thought… “Wow. These students are not in the same place.” 😅 You’re not imagining it. In this episode, I unpack the third “basic skill” of acquisition-driven instruction: adjusting and personalizing—the skill that keeps our classes comprehensible, human, and sustainable
As world language teachers, we hear this all the time: Stay in the target language.Ask more questions.Personalize instruction.Engage every student. And if you teach block classes… do all of that for 90 minutes. No wonder it feels overwhelming. That’s why I’ve been sharing a short series focused on building foundational
If 90% target language feels impossible, start with 5 minutes. In this post, you’ll learn three simple, sustainable routines that help you increase teacher talk in the target language while keeping it comprehensible—without rewriting your curriculum. Happy New Year… and a new way to think about “resolutions” If you celebrate
How to keep input flowing when your students (and you) are tired December is my favorite month — my birthday, the holidays, the food, the music, the spirit. I love it all. What I don’t love? Being at school in December and mid-terms. 😅 You know how it goes. Students
December hits differently, doesn’t it?We’re tired. Our students are tired. We’re thinking about grades, concerts, holidays, and family… and somehow, we’re still expected to plan lessons that keep everyone engaged. But after attending ACTFL in New Orleans this year, I walked away with one powerful reminder: The most effective world
A Conversation with Amy Marshal If there’s one thing we all share in world language teaching, it’s this desire: we want our students to understand the language and feel successful using it. And we want that to happen without spending hours building brand-new lessons for every class period. I think
A conversation with Wesley Wood As world language teachers, we want every student to feel welcome, confident, and capable in our classrooms. But when we talk about neurodivergent learners or students with disabilities, many of us feel… uncertain. We care deeply. We want to do right by our students. But
A CONVERSATION WITH KARA JACOBS If you’ve ever wanted to bring more music into your world language classroom, you’re not alone. Music connects students to emotion, culture, and identity — it’s universal! But here’s the challenge many of us face: how do we make authentic songs comprehensible? And if you
If you’ve read my blog or listened to Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast, you already know what I say again and again — the essential ingredient for language acquisition is input. That’s it. Mainly comprehensible language that students can read, see, or listen to. But then comes the big question:
With Dr. Claudia Fernández I’ve heard about Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) for years, but if I’m being honest, I never really understood what it looked like in practice. Like many of us, I’ve been exploring different approaches under the big umbrella of acquisition-based instruction, searching for something that meets both
A conversation with Gary DiBianca If you’ve ever wondered, “CI is great for novices… but do my intermediate students really need it?”—you’re not alone. I hear that question a lot. In this episode of Growing with Proficiency: The Podcast, I invited Gary DiBianca to walk us through what CI looks
It’s that time of year… the honeymoon stage in our classrooms may have faded, and now we’re living the daily ups and downs. Our energy isn’t what it was in August, and keeping engagement high feels harder than ever. What if I told you there’s a simple routine that can
Have you ever asked a great question in class… and the room went silent?Students look down, look away, or freeze. Meanwhile you’re thinking, They should answer. They should participate. That moment is so common and frustrating. In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I share how to reframe
Are errors or accents really blocking communication—or is it about how we listen? That’s the question I want us to sit with. As language teachers, we often talk about communication as the ultimate goal. But how often do we confuse communication with “sounding native”? How often do we correct a
Have you ever felt like getting your students to really use the target language with each other is the hardest thing? You want them to share ideas, agree or disagree, and ask questions. But when the moment comes, silence takes over—or worse, they switch to English. I’ve been there. And
As world language teachers, we understand that comprehensible input is essential for language acquisition. Our job is to make the language comprehensible, and our students’ job is to listen with the intention to understand. When language is comprehensible and comprehended, acquisition happens. That sounds simple enough, right? But in practice,
Let’s be honest, profe—teaching a world language can feel overwhelming. Between planning lessons, grading, classroom management, and trying to stay in the target language, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly playing catch-up. But here’s the good news: there’s one tool that can save you time, lower your stress, and
Do you ever feel like Open House is too short to really explain what happens in your classroom? At my school, I only get seven to eight minutes with parents. That’s barely enough time to breathe, let alone go over late work policies, make-up work, or rules. But here’s the
WITH ELISSA MCLEAN AND ANNABELLE WILLIAMSON This month, I sat down with my friends and amazing language educators Annabelle Williamson (La Maestra Loca) and Elissa McLean to share some of our biggest takeaways from Conference in the Cloud. In this conversation, we shared real strategies we’ve seen work in our
Featuring Dr. Karen Lichtman and Jason Fritze – Episode 157 of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I stop teaching about the language and start using the language to build real communication?”, this episode is for you. Inside this special live recording from CI Reboot,
Let’s be real: lesson planning can feel like a lot. Between standards, mixed-level classes, language goals, and behavior management, it’s easy to get caught in the trap of overplanning or relying on rigid templates that don’t leave space for what matters most: our students. In this episode of Growing With
Starting a new school year in a world language class that focuses on comprehension and communication often comes with questions—from students, parents, and administrators. “Where’s the vocabulary list?”“When do we get grammar notes?”“Why aren’t students talking more?” Sound familiar? These questions used to leave me feeling defensive—like I constantly had
Back to School Series That first week… wow. It brings up all the feelings: excitement, butterflies, maybe even a little chaos. There’s so much we could do, and so many great ideas floating around, that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: we don’t need
If you’re anything like me, you start the school year full of excitement, ideas, and inspiration. But we also know that once we’re back in the classroom that excitement can quickly give way to overwhelm. In the last blog and in Episode 151 of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, I
As we gear up for a new school year, many of us are filled with excitement… and stress. We’re passionate about our students, committed to using the target language in class, and constantly trying to create engaging lessons rooted in second language acquisition (SLA) research. But often, we do it
Have you ever looked around your classroom—papers everywhere, a lesson half-planned, a to-do list still untouched—and thought: “Why can’t I just get it together?” If that’s you, I want to give you a big virtual hug 🤗 and invite you into this week’s conversation on Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast.
Let’s talk about something that isn’t always included in teacher PD sessions, workshops, or newsletters—but is very real: What do you do when your school no longer feels like a safe or supportive place to teach? If you’ve ever felt like your values no longer align with your school community…If
A few years ago, when we were just trying to find our rhythm post-pandemic, I started doing something that transformed how I approach the end of each school year—and honestly, my teaching overall. That thing? The S.T.E.P. Forward Protocol. Even now in 2025, I’m still using it. And this year,
A step-by-step guide from my conversation with Dahiana Castro We’ve all been there, profe… There are moments in our classes when everyone is super tired and distracted. This is the time when we don’t need more stress—we need simple, high-impact ideas that bring life back into our classes. 🎧 In
Let me take you back to an activity I tried about a year ago — and my students loved it. It was super low prep.We used a ton of Spanish.And it gave me the opportunity to provide personalized input that actually mattered to them. I did this with my Spanish
Let me take you back to the fall of 2004. I was standing in a Spanish classroom I hadn’t planned to be in. The teacher had walked out, the substitute didn’t speak Spanish, and I volunteered to help… just for a while. I didn’t know then that it would turn
Do your assessments reflect all the powerful things your students have experienced and accomplished this year? In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast, I’m taking a moment to reflect on how we can make our assessments feel more connected to the reality of our classrooms—especially at the end
If you’re like me, you’ve probably used the Read and Draw activity in your class before. It’s a great way to encourage students to read, understand, and visually represent what they’ve learned. But here’s the thing — while it’s fun, I’ve noticed some challenges especially after doing read and draw
AI is everywhere right now. You’ve probably seen it on social media, in teacher groups, or maybe you’ve even tried it yourself. And maybe — like me — you’ve asked yourself this: “Can I really use AI in my classroom and still stay aligned with what I know about language
No matter the season, we all hit points in the school year when things feel harder. Our energy runs low, students feel less focused, and creating engaging lessons becomes more challenging. That’s why today I want to go back to a strategy that is powerful, flexible, and easy to implement:
When we’re alone in our classrooms, it can be hard to zoom out far enough to gain perspective or find solutions. However, we all need a community—a group of colleagues we can talk with to process the challenges and joys of teaching. This post is here to help us do
Last week, I shared four essential takeaways from SCOLT 25 that are at the heart of the strategies I will share with you today. These ideas and takeaways will help us stay consistent and energized when bringing new strategies into our classroom. You can click here to read more about
SCOLT 2025. Wow. ✨ This year’s Southern Conference on Language Teaching in Nashville left me inspired, grounded, and overflowing with reminders of why our work as language teachers matters so deeply. Was it the sessions? The keynote? The conversations in the hallway or over sobremesa? Honestly… it was all of
Today, many of us are facing new regulations that restrict what we can include in our curriculum. These policies, which limit diverse and equity-focused content, have left us questioning how we can continue to support ALL of our students while creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging classroom environment. Now more
As language teachers, supporting and facilitating student output can be both rewarding and challenging. We know how excited students feel when they see what they can write and say in the target language. At the same time, we often view output as evidence of acquisition—yet that’s not necessarily the case.
If you’re looking for a few new ideas to keep your world language students engaged while building their proficiency and cultural understanding, you’re in the right place! At our recent Winter Conference of Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy, I had the incredible opportunity to learn from some incredible
Between our students, curriculum demands, and everything happening in our communities, it’s easy to lose sight of the core principles that truly drive language acquisition. That’s why I’m excited to revisit my powerful conversation with Dr. Bill VanPatten. In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, the Podcast, Dr. VanPatten challenges
Have you ever handed your students a reading passage, only to watch their eyes glaze over in frustration? Or maybe you’ve heard the dreaded “This is too hard!” before they even attempt to read? You’re not alone. As language teachers, we want our students to feel confident when reading because
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
Are we reading enough in our classes to truly support language acquisition? Research says reading is the most effective way for students to grow in proficiency and cultural competence. But, how can we add more reading without feeling overwhelmed by extra work? In Episode 84 with Dr. Stephen Krasen, he
This week’s episode 122 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast is packed with actionable insights to help you simplify and strengthen your classroom practices. It is the final installment of our three-part series, Elevating Intermediate Learners with Comprehensible Input. We’re tackling the questions YOU asked from authentic resources to grammar
Episode 121 of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast is the second part of our series on intermediate learners. In part two, I focus on two major challenges: output and curriculum. You can hear part 1 here, and read the blog here. In this post, I’ll highlight part two, but to
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
After nine weeks of school, we all know our students are starting to feel tired, and listening just isn’t going as smoothly as it used to. But we also know how crucial listening is for language acquisition. That’s why I’m re-releasing one of our most popular episodes from Growing With
In episode 118 of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I sit down with the amazing AnneMarie Chase to talk about a topic that we can’t avoid as educators—assessments! We dived deep into the concept of low-stress assessments and how to shift the focus away from simply measuring language accuracy to
In episode 117 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I’m sharing five valuable insights from the recent Florida Foreign Language Association (FFLA) conference in Orlando that can transform your language classroom. You’ll discover practical strategies and fresh ideas to engage your students and elevate your teaching. In this post, I’ll
Have you ever hesitated to try something new in your classroom, convinced it would require too much work and too little control? That’s exactly how I felt about using stations in my language class – until I tried it, and loved it! This week on Growing with Proficiency The Podcast,
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 114 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, we delve into the importance of listening comprehension and skills in world language education with special guest, Marta Yedinek. Marta’s sharing innovative strategies and the story behind the renowned podcast ‘Cuéntame’, designed to aid Spanish learners. Marta and I discuss methods
In episode 113 of Growing with Proficiency the Podcast, I’m discussing how we can write comprehensible texts for our students. And if you’re thinking, “No, I don’t write my text because I have resources and I have a curriculum”, you still want to listen to this episode because even if
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 111 of “Growing With Proficiency The Podcast,” I’m super excited to chat with two incredible language educators, Alicia Shoemaker and Ben Fisher Rodriguez. We dive into the magic of ‘Aha Moments’—those lightbulb moments that bring so much joy and energy to both students and teachers. We talk about
This week, we’re offering an alternative to the traditional approach of classroom management. Instead of focusing on control, we’ll explore how to cultivate a classroom culture that thrives on student engagement, responsibility, and collaboration. When I was thinking about episode 110, Antanas Mockus, a previous mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, came
Growing with Proficiency The Podcast episode 109 is our first collaboration episode with the outstanding Dr. Liam Printer, host of the Motivated Classroom Podcast. In this episode, we dive into the heart of language acquisition, motivation, and community-building in the classroom. We’re also discussing practical strategies to inspire your students,
Episode 108 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast is Part 2 of our Back-to-School Series on Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast! In this throwback episode, we revisit Episode 43, “A Powerful First Day: Crafting an Engaging Back-to-School World Language Class for Success!” You might be wondering, why is the first
In this throwback episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, we revisit Episode 42, “Setting The Stage: Key Areas To Prepare for a Successful Year in our WL Classes.” As the new academic year approaches, it’s the perfect time to refresh our strategies for a smooth and successful start. Join
Have you ever wondered how comprehensible input-based teaching varies across different educational levels? How does it look in an elementary school compared to middle and high school? Episode 105 has the answers! Tonya Kindberg, Kathy Perry, Graciela Enceñat, and I explore how comprehensible input-based teaching looks at different educational levels,
Episode 104 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast is part of my celebration of the 100th episode, and our guest is Haiyun Lu, a Mandarin teacher renowned for her expertise in comprehensible input (CI). Haiyun shares her insights on brain-based learning, practical strategies for implementing CI in language classrooms, and
Are you feeling excited yet overwhelmed about shifting to comprehension-based instruction? If so, you’re not alone. Understanding SLA (Second Language Acquisition) research highlights that this shift is not just an option but a necessity. So, how can we make it happen without burning out? We dive into these questions with
Imagine having your students acquire 0.20 words per minute! That’s 1,200 words per 100 hours of instruction. When Margarita Pérez-García, my guest in episode 102 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, heard from Dr. Beniko Mason that there is a Second Language Acquisition methodology that can accomplish that, she was
I can’t believe it—we’ve hit 100 episodes of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, and over 85,000 downloads! In our special 100th episode, we’re not discussing specific strategies or the latest research. Instead, we’re tackling a big question we all ponder: How can we keep being joyful in our teaching career?
I help World Language teachers so that they can engage language learners with comprehension, communication, and connections. Let’s build proficiency!
Learn more about me and how I can help you here.