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
In this week’s Growing with Proficiency The Podcast episode 60, I spoke with a special guest, John Bracey, a Latin teacher who has been using Comprehensible Input methodology for several years. In our discussion, John emphasizes the importance of finding strategies that can be consistently implemented without overwhelming teachers’ work-life
This week’s post is about discovering how simple daily actions can build the trust and rapport that fuel student engagement. I’m tackling the cornerstone of any thriving world language class: motivation. This week on Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I’m also starting a new series called “Comprehensible and Communicative Language
This week, I want to share a recent, top conference takeaway along with activities and a fun tool I learned about. I love conferences! I love to learn, always sit in the front, take notes, and love to talk about my experience. I’m just kind of obsessed. It really motivates
This week on Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, part two of “All About Output” with Dr. Florencia Henshaw is out. Florencia discusses the importance of the process versus the product in writing, which can also apply to oral presentations. She also shares practical ideas on how we can use this
Get ready for the first part of a two-part series all about the fascinating world of output! In episodes 56 and 57 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, Dr. Florencia Henshaw is shedding light on what output truly is and how it plays an important role in developing your students’
Ready to step up your teaching game? This week, I’m sharing five games that are just plain awesome because they’ll keep your students hooked while they get to hear tons of understandable and interesting stuff. Now, why are these games so cool? It’s simple – they make sure every student
This week, we are going to talk about a topic that we assume that we know, but sometimes we just don’t. What is this topic? We’re talking about asking questions. We all know that asking questions plays a significant role in our classes. But let’s get real, when you’ve got
This week, I’m continuing the conversation about reimagining language textbooks for comprehensible and communicative teaching by answering your questions about the subject, and I’m going to start with the topic of vocab. If you missed part 1, episode 52, click here to listen to it first. Vocab The first question
Are you frustrated with language textbooks that seem to prioritize vocabulary lists and grammar drills? This week, we’ll talk about some of the shortcomings of traditional language textbooks and explore four practical ideas to better align them with the principles of second language acquisition (SLA). Stay tuned next week for part
Are you looking for new ideas to help your students comprehend texts beyond words? If you are, this episode is for you! In episode 51 of GWP The Podcast, I’m sharing my biggest takeaways from the AATSP Fall Conference, featuring Dr. Florencia Henshaw, where she shares all about Interpretive Communication
This week in episode 50 of GWP The Podcast, we’ve got Bertha Delgadillo, Spanish teacher and 2022 TOY for the state of Georgia joining us. Bertha is sharing with us all about Hexagonal Thinking in the World Language class. What is Hexagonal Thinking? It’s a great strategy borrowed from the
This week, we’re delving into one of my favorite activities that not only enables me to use a wealth of target language in context but also cultivates connections with my students – the incredible Star Student Interviews! In episode 49 of GWP The Podcast, I share what exactly this activity
Have you ever wondered how to ignite true engagement and create meaningful connections with your students while using the target language? In this post, I share with you the secrets behind the magic of Personalized Questions and Answers (PQAs) and how they can be used in your class as part
Ever come across the 5 E Model? It’s a strategy that initially found its roots in science classes, but guess what? My guest on GWP The Podcast episode 47, Chelsea Lawrence, shares with us how she’s tweaked and fine-tuned it to fit right into her Spanish class. The Five E’s
As a language teacher, something I have learned is that I’m always listening, because we need to continue to grow and our students need the best from us. Doing that requires that we are willing to grow. That is what my special guest in episode 46 of Growing with Proficiency
This week, I am sharing a special GWP podcast episode packed with valuable insights that can make a real difference in your school year. Join us as we dive into an engaging conversation recorded during the CI Reboot 23 online conference in July 2023. In episode 45, two fantastic language
Have you ever found yourself wondering how you can bring about meaningful changes in your teaching practice when faced with numerous constraints like textbooks and curriculum limitations? Well, get ready to be inspired as we dive into an episode that will give you the motivation to make a real difference
Welcome back to Part 2 of our Back to School Series, where I’m excited to share a treasure trove of ideas, activities, and strategies to set the stage for an incredibly successful year. Today, we’re diving deep into that all-important first day of class. Back to School First-Day Approach You
This week, I’m diving into 4 key areas to prepare for a successful academic year before your students even step foot into the classroom. I’m highlighting these key areas in this post, but for all of the details and tips, listen to episode 42 of the GWP The Podcast. 4
In episode 41 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I continued our conversation with Dr. Florencia Henshaw, diving deeper into the world of language acquisition and the role of input. If you haven’t listened to episode 40, listen here to the first part of our conversation. In part 2 of
Are you ready for an AMAZING episode? In this first part of a two-part episode, I had the honor to talk to Dr. Florencia Henshaw who shared her insights not only about the role of input for language acquisition but also how our students need to interact with that input
Get ready to join us in an incredible conversation with Dr. Diane Neubauer about the use of the target language in language classes! In episode 39, we explored all your burning questions about using the target language in class like whether the use of target language is equally effective for
Dr. Lichtman joined me on episode 38 of “Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast” and shared her research findings on language acquisition, specifically focusing on TPRS. We also explored their implications for our classrooms. This conversation is bound to be both fascinating and incredibly helpful as we navigate the decisions we
Are you ready to elevate your teaching practice to new heights? Ready to do some reflection? In episode 37 of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, you’ll learn more about the powerful STEP Forward protocol designed specifically for language teachers. Now, you might be wondering, is this relevant and practical for
What is the #1 thing you’re looking forward to in the summer? Is it the freedom from schedules, the ability to use the bathroom whenever you want, the relief from preparing lesson plans, or perhaps all of the above? Have you heard about the Summer Band-Aid Effect? I feel you.
Do you need new classroom games for student engagement? This week on Growing with Proficiency – The Podcast, I recorded an amazing episode with Dahiana Castro, an amazing Spanish and French teacher! Dahiana shared three super fun games that will bring back the energy and excitement to your classroom. These games are
This week, I had the pleasure of having a thought-provoking conversation with Akash Patel, a renowned Spanish teacher, the current president of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), and the founder of the Happy World Foundation. In episode 34 of the Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, Akash
How often do you ask your students for their feedback? If I’m honest, this is a practice that I incorporated in my class just a few years ago, but I wish I had done it before because the impact has been tremendous. I know that asking for student feedback can
Are you feeling end-of-the-year burnout? Or maybe you’re looking for practical, engaging lessons that can stand independently at any point during the year. In this post, I share my insights on what to avoid at the end of the school year and how to keep students engaged and motivated until
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! In this episode, I’ll share why I decided
How to engage students is the most common question among teachers today, and having high-engagement can be especially challenging towards the end of the year. Let’s face it, even the most compelling and relevant unit won’t make much of an impact if students aren’t engaged with the content. This week
The AP and IB exams are just around the corner, and you may be feeling like there’s still so much to cover or that your students aren’t quite ready. But don’t panic! In episode 29 of the Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, we’re chatting with Bertha Delgadillo and Christina Margiore,
This month, we celebrate National Poetry Month with a conversation that is sure to inspire world language teachers everywhere. In episode 28 of the Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with Diego Ojeda, a renowned world language educator, presenter, trainer, blogger, and author. Diego is
Are you feeling bored and uninspired in your own language classroom? I’m not talking about your students, I’m talking about YOU. The truth is, we all need new ideas and fresh perspectives to keep us engaged and motivated in our teaching practice. That’s why I love attending conferences like SCOLT
This week, Joe Dale, a UK Independent modern foreign language & technology consultant, joined me on the Growing with Proficiency Podcast and shared how to use ChatGPT in language classes. This week, you’ll learn how to use this tool to generate customized text, vocabulary lists, activities, and assessments to lighten
This week, I’m exploring the use of a rubric for developing interpersonal skills in the world language classroom, with a special focus on listening skills. As World Langauge teachers, we know that providing comprehensible input is essential for acquisition-driven language classes. However, listening is a crucial skill that requires a
In episode 24 of the Growing with Proficiency – The Podcast, I’m thrilled to have Karen Rowan, an expert in language acquisition, sharing with us the fascinating science behind the power of storytelling in our classrooms. In episode 17 of the podcast, I shared with you how I use storytelling
Are you looking for a way to build stronger connections with your students while also promoting language acquisition? Look no further than calendar talk! Join us on this episode as we dive into the world of calendar talk and discover how it can be a powerful tool for building community
What would any of our learners love to do with the language? To have conversation! But as teachers, we know the challenge of fostering meaningful conversations entirely in the target language. So, what can we do to support our students in building community and making real connections through conversations? Authentic
Are you tired of watching your students fall asleep during class or scrolling through their phones with little to no engagement with the lessons? Want to bring life back into your language lessons? Look no further than Gallery Walks! This strategy gets your students moving while they engage with different
Have you thought about implementing class jobs in your classroom or even tried it once or twice but struggled? Would you love to have a way to create jobs for all the little tasks during class? Get ready for a fun and powerful episode all about class jobs. In episode
As language teachers, you understand the importance of vocabulary in language acquisition. But do you know why focusing on vocabulary is so crucial, what words to concentrate on, and how to introduce them in a memorable way? In this week’s post, I’ll share my answers to those questions, and I
How can we transform our World Language teacher classes and find more joy? Join me in this conversation with Esther Galo, a Spanish teacher, who is as passionate as you are to help her students to grow in their proficiency. Esther became a Spanish teacher because she wanted to impact
I love stories because my dad used to tell me stories all the time, especially when we went to his farm. My dad is from Santander, Colombia, and his farm was three or four miles from the highway. We had to walk or ride in on a mule to get to
During the first week of January, I went to my state conference in Orlando. I wasn’t super excited to go the first week of the new year, but I am happy that I did. When I go to conferences, I meet amazing teachers and have such interesting conversations. This week,
Going back to school after the New Year’s break is the opportunity for a fresh start while setting your students up for success. This week, I’m sharing how you can build relationships and engage students at the start of the year in your world language classes. What I do today
Check out these numbers. On average, people spend 2 hours per day looking for files they swear they just saw inside their drives. Teachers spend between 5 to 7 hours per week on lesson planning, and most people spend up to 13 hours per week managing their inboxes. How can
Reflecting on what worked and didn’t work too well in our classes helps us gain self-awareness and steer the wheel in the right direction if needed. And I cannot think of a better way to do this activity than with my great friends and colleagues Bertha Delgadillo and Annabelle Williamson
As we get close to the end of the year and are wrapping things up in our classes to go on our much needed break, I wanted to share with you an end-of-the-year activity that I believe we all must do. This activity is a reflection activity for you and
Today, I’m answering a question that I often get asked by teachers. The question is, “How do I plan for a block class?” I have a 90-minute block class, and I always have had one. I haven’t known anything different except for the fact of how I plan for one.
How can we encourage our students to use the target language more in class? That’s a question we’re always asking. Even though “talking” is not essential for language acquisition, talking and using the target language is the reason why our students are in our classes. They want to use the
Have you ever been to the Annual Conference of ACTFL? This was my first one, and it exceeded all my expectations. I attended 11 sessions and ALL of them were incredible, but the best part was just meeting online friends in person and having great conversations with like-minded language educators.
I started teaching in 2004, but I never started out to be a teacher. My mom is a teacher though. So, when I started teaching, I knew that I had lots of learning to do. I knew this because I saw my mom always studying, always reading a book, always
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.