Send us a text This episode is part of my celebration of the 100th episode of Growing with Proficiency, and our guest today is Haiyun Lu, a Mandarin teacher renowned for her expertise in comprehensible input (CI). In this episode, Haiyun shares her insights on brain-based learning, practical strategies for implementing CI in language classrooms, and how backward design can work in a CI based classroom. Discover how creating a safe and engaging learning environment can transform your teaching and...
Jul 18, 2024•52 min
Send us a text 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 our amazing guests, Jason Fritze and Bertha Delgadillo, on today's episode. Key Points Discussed: Students Don't Listen: How to engage students who seem unrespon...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Send us a text Imagine having your students acquire 0.20 words per minute! That’s 1,200 words per 100 hours of instruction. 🤯 When Margarita Pérez-García heard from Dr. Beniko Mason that there is a Second Language Acquisition methodology that can accomplish that, she was on a mission to bring this methodology to her classroom. This methodology is “Story Listening.” What makes Story Listening different from other Comprehensible-Based methodologies? Story Listening focuses on providing a plethora...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Send us a text ¿Te gustaría saber cómo construir un currículo que no solo facilite la adquisición de una segunda lengua, sino que también cumpla con los exigentes requisitos de tus clases incluyendo tus clases de AP e IB? En este episodio, comparto el modelo clave que he desarrollado para lograrlo en todas mis clases. Descubre cómo puedes aplicar estas estrategias en tu aula: Superando Desafíos Comunes : Descrube cuales fueron los cuatro grandes obstáculos que enfrenté al incorporar los principi...
Jul 01, 2024•36 min
Send us a text Welcome to a milestone episode of Growing with Proficiency! 🎉 Today, we’re celebrating our 100th episode with a deep dive into sustaining joy and passion in teaching. I’m thrilled to be joined by two powerhouse educators, Meredith White and Bertha Delgadillo, who will share their insights on how to maintain joy in our classrooms despite the challenges we face. After countless off-mic conversations with Meredith and Bertha, we’ve identified three pillars that have kept us engaged ...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Send us a text In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, we welcome back Dr. Karen Lichtman for a great conversation on TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling). Dr. Karen Lichtman, an expert in the field and the author of the book Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), explains the three core steps of TPRS: establishing meaning, asking a story, and reading. She highlights the importance of co-constructing stories with students to make language learn...
Jun 20, 2024•48 min
Send us a text In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, the podcast, I sit 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. Originally from France and now residing in Spain, Hélène is an extraordinary language educator and trainer who has guided over 2,000 teachers towards more effective teaching methods. We dive deep into: Breaking the Grammar Myth: Why traditional grammar instr...
Jun 13, 2024•50 min
Send us a text En este episodio, reflexionamos sobre uno de los mayores desafíos que enfrentan los profesores al hacer la transición de métodos tradicionales a métodos comunicativos: la apatía y las distracciones de los estudiantes. Analizamos cómo esta apatía ya existía con los métodos tradicionales, pero se vuelve más evidente cuando necesitamos una participación activa en el aula. Discutimos la importancia de reconocer este hecho y por qué es crucial combatir la apatía para que los métodos de...
Jun 10, 2024•46 min
Send us a text Join us for a powerful conversation with Becca Silver, an instructional coach and the CEO and founder of The Whole Educator. In this episode, we dive into the powerful world of mindsets in education—exploring what growth mindset truly is and how it impacts our brains, backed by fascinating research from Michigan State University. Becca shares why having a growth mindset alone isn't enough and introduces us to the concept of academic mindsets, which include the crucial elements of ...
Jun 06, 2024•40 min
Send us a text Welcome back to Growing With Proficiency The Podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about story asking – a powerful strategy that can help you deliver a ton of comprehensible and compelling input while building a strong community inside your class. In this episode I’ll share what story asking is, why it’s so successful, and how you can effectively implement it in your lessons. We'll explore both scripted and unscripted approaches to story asking, highlighting the benefits of e...
May 30, 2024•40 min
Send us a text Are you looking for an interactive and engaging activity to boost your students' participation and build a strong classroom community at the end of the school year? In this episode of "Growing With Proficiency, the podcast," we explore a unique twist on the popular Card Talk activity that my students absolutely loved! In this activity, I’ll share with you how to turn the simple drawings our students do in card talk into a pair-reading activity plus a gallery walk. Main Highlights:...
May 23, 2024•15 min
Send us a text Is our assessment and grading system aligned with how we teach? We’re opening the episode with this important question. Join me in this conversation with Michelle Olah while we discuss aligning grading practices with actual language proficiency. We discuss the disconnect between traditional grading systems and what we do in class, discussing the need for a shift towards proficiency-based assessments. We also explore the implications of such a shift, including the philosophical and...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Send us a text Brace yourself for an authentic exploration of assessments in the world language classroom. In this episode, I share personal struggles and transformative insights that reframe how we assess language learning. Discover strategies that emphasize growth and celebrate student progress. Highlights: Reflecting on personal challenges with traditional assessment methods. Examining the focus of our assessments: from knowledge to functional use. Understanding the purpose behind our assessm...
May 09, 2024•40 min
Send us a text ¿Te perdiste la conferencia de CI Mitten? No te preocupes, en este episodio te traemos un cargamento de actividades y estrategias que Nelly Andrade, Dahiana Castro y yo descubrimos y exploramos durante el evento. Desde herramientas interactivas como Flippity, hasta técnicas para crear historias con tus estudiantes, pasando por métodos innovadores para evaluar oralmente y divertidos juegos para dinamizar tus clases, hoy te compartimos una abundancia de recursos útiles. Te invitamos...
May 06, 2024•52 min
Send us a text In this 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. We uncover and challenge traditional views of engagement, offering innovative strategies and real-life applications that will inspire and empower educators. **Show Notes:** What is engagement? Diane Newbauer discusses her PhD research, providing a nuanced definition of engagement that...
May 02, 2024•1 hr
Send us a text Are you searching for low-prep games perfect for this busy time of year? Look no further! In this episode, join us as we welcome two incredible educators from Colombia, Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez. They're here to share five engaging, low-prep games that are ideal for any classroom setting. These games are designed to boost engagement, foster community, review content, and add some fun to your daily routine. Who doesn't need a little extra fun, right? In this discussion, Pr...
Apr 25, 2024•52 min
Send us a text Welcome back to our conversation with Dr. Bill VanPatten. 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, the importance of input, and the evolution of output in language learning. Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on creating engaging and effective language teaching environments, emphasizing the need for compelling content and genuine connections with stud...
Apr 18, 2024•37 min
Send us a text In this special, we’re joined by an exceptional guest, Dr. Bill VanPatten. In this 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 limitations of traditional instruction. Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on how language acquisition really unfolds and offers practical advice for language teachers seeking to foster genuine communication and growth in their students....
Apr 11, 2024•45 min
Send us a text In Episode 86 of "Growing With Proficiency The Podcast," we 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 engaging and meaningful experience for students of all levels. Alicia emphasized the importance of building a supportive community and understanding students...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr
Send us a text En este episodio titulado "Voces Diversas y Representación en la Formación de Profesores de Lengua," tenemos el placer de contar con la presencia de Bertha Delgadillo. Juntas, exploramos la importancia crucial de incluir una amplia variedad de voces y perspectivas en el mundo de la enseñanza de idiomas. Reflexionamos sobre nuestras propias experiencias y antecedentes, y cómo estos tienen gran valor dentro de la comunidad docente. En esta conversación, reflexionamos sobre cuales fu...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Send us a text Join us in this powerful conversation with Dr. Stephen Krashen, a renowned expert in the field of Second Language Acquisition. In this episode, Dr. Krashen shares his invaluable insights on the critical role of reading in language learning, the importance of compelling input, and the often-overlooked distinction between acquisition and learning. Main Highlights: The Role of Grammar : Discover Dr. Krashen's perspective on how grammar fits into the language acquisition puzzle and wh...
Mar 28, 2024•39 min
Send us a text I love conferences, and this one was not the exception. SCOLT 24 was full of amazing sessions, incredible presenters, and outstanding conversations. In this episode, I will do my best to share with you some of my biggest takeaways. Key Highlights: Strategies to use your textbook as a guide on the side: Daily routine with Gallery Walk and Games of Consequences Games to add engagement: Cup Stacks and Seis Discussion activities: Discussion Diamond and Silent Discussion The significan...
Mar 21, 2024•40 min
Send us a text Are you searching for a powerful low-prep activity that you can use in any of your classes? Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Ben Fisher Rodriguez, an exceptional Spanish and German teacher, who will share his insights on Card Talk. I must admit, I haven't utilized Card Talk much in my classes, usually only a few times a year. However, after this conversation with Ben, I'm convinced to incorporate it more frequently. Card Talk is a simple yet impactful activity where students re...
Mar 14, 2024•52 min
Send us a text Si no has escuchado la primera parte de esta conversación, ve al episodio 79 para escuchar y después regresa a este. En esta segunda parte nos adentramos en la nueva metodología que la Dra. Alberta Gatti propone para apoyar el desarrollo de la competencia escrita de los estudiantes de herencia. Esta metodología tiene tres componentes: A. Lectura independiente, B. Análisis de Texto, C. Escritura independiente en el aula. Para el desarrollo de esa escritura independiente hay element...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Send us a text Did you take a Second Language Teaching Methods class? I did. However, in that class, I didn't learn about comprehensible input or the nature of language, which are the essential foundations in Second Language Acquisition. That's why this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, I sit 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 talks about the f...
Mar 07, 2024•48 min
Send us a text ¿Te has preguntado cómo apoyar de manera efectiva a tus estudiantes de herencia en su desarrollo de expresión escrita? En esta primera parte de un episodio especial, nos sumergimos en una conversación con la Dra. Alberta Gatti, experta en literatura, alfabetización y lingüística aplicada, para explorar los objetivos y metodologías en nuestras clases con estudiantes de herencia. Principales aspectos destacados: Objetivos de las clases con estudiantes de herencia: Discutimos objetiv...
Mar 04, 2024•57 min
Send us a text Are you tired of feeling misunderstood by your administrators during observations? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Pablo Martinez to uncover actionable strategies for more successful observations and building a stronger understanding between language teachers and their administrators. Key Highlights: The Reality of Administrator Knowledge: Dr. Martinez discusses the common gap in administrators' understanding of second language acquisition and its impact on classroom observa...
Feb 29, 2024•49 min
Send us a text Are you on the lookout for effective strategies to enhance engagement in your world language classes? Join us in this episode as we explore the power of incorporating music into language learning with Justin from Spanish Plans. We delve into March Madness, a dynamic approach to using music that has significantly boosted student interest and participation in Spanish classes. March Madness isn't just a competition; it's a gateway to cultural immersion and linguistic enrichment. Thro...
Feb 22, 2024•36 min
Send us a text Are you wondering how to boost interaction among your students within your world language classroom? Struggling to find effective strategies that get students engage while listening, reading and writing? Look no further—this episode is for you. Join us as we welcome Tan Huynh, a secondary school educator with a deep focus on English language acquisition, author, podcaster, and consultant. Joining from across the globe, Tan shares his insights into the powerful Talk Read Talk Write...
Feb 15, 2024•49 min
Send us a text How can we ensure that students not only talk but also listen to each other in group and pair activities, fostering a vibrant classroom discourse community? In this episode, we talk about a crucial aspect of building a classroom discourse community — not just encouraging students to speak but also to listen attentively to one another during group and pair work. While our last episode focused on engaging students in talking, here, we spotlight the other side of oral communication: ...
Feb 08, 2024•37 min
