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?
In episode 99 of Growing with Proficiency, we welcome back Dr. Karen Lichtman for a great conversation on TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling). Dr. Lichtman explains the three core steps of TPRS: establishing meaning, asking a story, and reading. Our conversation also highlights the importance of co-constructing stories
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 96 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I was joined by Becca Silver to talk about mindset in education. Becca first joined me in episode 36 as we chatted about the “Summer Bandaid Effect”. Click here to listen to that discussion. This post will highlight our discussion as
If you have listened to any of the episodes of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, you know that I love stories. My curriculum is based on stories. Yes, I have to follow a curriculum with thematic units. But, I have decided that instead of doing all those thematic units, I’m
This week in episode 94 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I’m chatting about a great end-of-the-year activity. I’m highlighting Card Talk but with a twist. In episode 82, I also had a discussion about Card Talk with Ben Fisher, listen here to episode 82 for more general information on
Is our assessment and grading system aligned with how we teach? Episode 93 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast opens with this important question. Join me in my conversation with Michelle Olah as we discuss aligning grading practices with actual language proficiency and the disconnect between traditional grading systems and
This week on Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, episode 90 is an in-person episode from the CI Mitten conference. Dr. Diane Neubauer and AnneMarie Chase joined me to talk about the multifaceted concept of student engagement in the world language classroom. In our discussion, we uncover and challenge traditional views
Are you searching for low-prep games perfect for this busy time of year? Look no further! In episode 89, I welcomed two incredible educators from Colombia, Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez. They shared five engaging, low-prep games that are ideal for any classroom setting. These games are designed to boost
This week is the continuation of my conversation with Dr. Bill VanPatten in episode 88 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, click here to listen. In this second part, we continue exploring the intricacies of language acquisition, focusing on the role of grammar,
In this week’s episode of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I was joined by an exceptional guest, Dr. Bill VanPatten. In part 1 of our conversation, Dr. VanPatten shares with us the importance of acknowledging the undeniable role of input in language acquisition, the true nature of language, and the
In Episode 86 of “Growing With Proficiency The Podcast,” I had a powerful conversation with AC Quintero, a remarkable Spanish teacher, writer, presenter, trainer, and coach in language acquisition. In this conversation, we dove into the significance of free voluntary reading in the classroom, exploring how to make reading an
Reading is the key. According to Dr. Stephen Krashen, one of the most important experts in the field of Second Language Acquisition, reading helps students to improve “reading comprehension ability, writing style, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. In addition, evidence shows that it is pleasant, promotes cognitive development, and lowers writing
Are you looking for practical and high engaging activities? If you’re saying, yes, this blog post is for you. There is nothing like a low prep activity that get students moving, interacting and engaging with your content, and that’s why you’re going to love these 5 practical and engaging activities.
Are you looking for a low-prep activity that can engage your students and spark great discussions in class? That activity is Card Talk. In episode 82 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I was joined by Ben Fisher Rodriguez, an exceptional Spanish and German teacher, who shared his insights on
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
Are you tired of feeling misunderstood during administrator observations? In episode 78 of GWP The Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Pablo Martinez to uncover actionable strategies for more successful observations and building a stronger understanding between language teachers and their administrators. In this post, I will highlight our discussion
Are you on the lookout for effective strategies to enhance engagement in your world language classes? In this post, and in Episode 77 of GWP The Podcast, I delve into March Madness, a dynamic approach to using music that has significantly boosted student interest and participation in Spanish classes. In
Are you wondering how to boost interaction among your students within your world language classroom? Struggling to find effective strategies that get students engaged while listening, reading, and writing This week in episode 76 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I am joined by Tan Huynh. He shares his insights
How can we ensure that students not only talk but also listen to each other in group and pair activities? In episode 75 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, we talk about a crucial aspect of building a classroom discourse community — not just encouraging students to speak but also
In episode 73 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I was joined by Erica Peplinsky-Burge and Justin Slocum Bailey to discuss engaging students and encouraging talking in the target language. In this post, I’ll highlight our conversation, but listen above or here for a powerful conversation where we delve into
This week is the final post and podcast episode of our special 3-part series on the 3 Pillars of a Successful Language Classroom! Listen to episode 72 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast to hear the details of the highlights mentioned in this post. Listen to part one and part
This is part two of a three-part series about the pillars of a comprehension based communicative language teaching class. In the first part, we explored the importance of cultivating connections and trust with our students, which is crucial for engaging them in communication which is central in our classes. Find
In a special episode of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I spoke with Leandra Rodríguez and Angelica Ruiz, two exceptional Spanish teachers and members of GWP, The Spanish Teacher Academy, about our conference takeaways spanning from reading to writing and beyond. We also dived into our most significant takeaways from
Welcome to the first part of our exciting three-part series, where we’re diving deep into the foundational pillars of a world language classroom success! In this episode, we focus on the first pillar: Building Stronger Connections. As language educators, we know the start of a new year is a golden
Have you ever wondered if there’s a way to be effective inside the classroom without taking work home or feeling guilty or stressed because you’re not taking work home? Need an idea for this? In this post, I’m diving into four transformative ideas that can help reduce your workload in
In episode 66 of “Growing With Proficiency The Podcast”, I’m excited to have Kia London with us. We chat about making assessments sustainable and effective in world language classes. We started by discussing the basics: How often should we assess our students? What should we focus on when grading? And,
In one of our recent hot seat sessions inside GWP The Spanish Teacher Academy, a member asked us this question: “My students need to talk about their ‘plan de vida’, but they’re short on the right language skills and they’re not too excited about talking. What should I do?” The
Meredith White, an expert in integrating technology in language teaching, joins me in episode 64 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast. If you have a love-hate relationship with technology, this is your episode. In this blog post, I’m sharing the highlights of our conversation, but to hear all the details
Carrie Toth, an author and Spanish educator with over 30 years of experience, joined me this week on Growing with Proficiency The Podcast episode 62 and shared so many low-prep post-reading activities and games designed to engage students with more reading. Episode 62 is part of the series, “Making Comprehensible
Great strategies and content can be repurposed and used in different ways, with slight tweaks that will feel new to your learners and help you simplify language teaching. You don’t have to create a new activity every day. You don’t need to be in front of the class, constantly trying
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.