In this episode Michelle talks with Denise Wagstaff, 20-year veteran French teacher about her journey to teaching for proficiency – what she has learned and is still learning about her students, her profession and herself. We talk about everything from setting realistic expectations for student language learning to conversations about the role of grammar to Denise’s recent deeper dive into grading practices. Denise Wagstaff has been a teacher for over 20 years and has spent almost her entire car...
Aug 19, 2022•51 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Samara Spielberg about the importance of positive well-being for students, and teachers, by fostering empathy, recognizing stress points, creating a safe space for learning and recognizing external elements outside of the classroom. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podc...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr 32 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Matt Coss about one of the challenges that language teachers face in simultaneously addressing students’ differential level of language development with cognitive maturity. Matt talks about how language classrooms can provide opportunities for critical thinking and fully engage our students’ brains as well as their language development. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle - http...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 6 min
In this special LIVE episode of the Language Lounge Michelle Olah talks with Valarie Rossi about how to create learning environments where ALL students can learn and produce language. Valerie describes her journey using differentiation in her language classrooms and the impact it has had on her students, as well as offers tips and examples for teachers who want to differentiate but aren’t sure where to start. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with M...
Jul 01, 2022•53 min
Michelle talks about the magic of music with Glenda De Hoyos in this episode of the Language Lounge. Glenda shares her “greatest hits” of using music in the early language classroom – using music for routines and transitions, to promote understanding of vocabulary, as an authentic resource, for brain breaks and more! There are ideas for incorporating music in ANY world language classroom. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle - https://twi...
Jun 17, 2022•55 min
Meredith White looks back at her school year and discusses some of the biggest wins and failures. She reflects on what she wants to intentionally bring forward into next year, and what she is going to leave behind. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Meredith White - https://twitter.com/PRHSspanish Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepubli...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Tim Eagan shares both the research and his personal experiences working with teachers and students, on effective use of feedback to facilitate language proficiency. Topics include feedback, formative assessments and comprehension checks, rubrics, and grades. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Timothy Eagan @tjeag - https:...
May 12, 2022•56 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Claudia Elliot, FFLA (Florida Foreign Language Association) and SCOLT (Southern Conference on Language Teaching) Teacher of the Year, about her 3 pillars for teaching language – Connection, Communication and Comprehensibility. Claudia tells us about her journey of growing with proficiency and how this journey has impacted her students. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with M...
May 02, 2022•1 hr 10 min
For Neurodiversity Celebration Month, Michelle and Maureen Lamb discuss practical tips to support neurodiverse learners in language classrooms. And when a variety of supports are provided for more learners, everyone benefits! Tips include communication strategies that make expectations clear, organizational structures to support all learners, and bringing more choice and flexibility to learning tasks and assessments. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langl...
Apr 21, 2022•44 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with 2021 FLAME (Foreign Language Association of Maine) Teacher of the year, and creator of Mundo de Pepita early language resources, Julie Speno. Julie talks about how she has been rethinking her learning goals for her elementary Spanish classes, so they are aligned with a greater purpose that reflect community and core values. Julie talks about how she incorporates themes of peace, social justice, global citizenship, community, equal right...
Apr 13, 2022•2 hr 3 min
In the last episode of our series on Minimalism in Teaching, Michelle Olah talks with Thomas Sauer about decluttering our curriculum and initiatives by examining our teaching practices and questioning if those practices are serving us or our students. He also gives us a preview into the redesigned TELL Project (Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning) Framework that will be coming out soon. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with M...
Apr 06, 2022•56 min
In the second episode of a three-part series on minimalist in teaching, Michelle talks with minimalist Spanish teacher, Lisa McHargue, about how and why she applied minimalist principles to her teaching practice. Lisa offers tips and advice for world language teachers who want to declutter their physical and digital environments, so that they can determine what things and ideas serve them best and rediscover the energy and joy to focus on what matters to them. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitte...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 16 min
In this episode Michelle Olah talks with the authors of The Minimalist Teacher, Tammy Musiowsky Bornemon and Christine Arnold about how teachers can renew their joy of teaching, avoid burnout, and get back to their “why” by decluttering classroom spaces, curriculum, and initiatives in order to focus on what really matters in teaching and learning. This is the first of a three-part series. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michell...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 8 min
Michelle Olah talks with Tim Eagan about high leverage teaching practices and mindsets that positively effect student learning outcomes including providing manageable and actionable feedback to learners, using backward design to build effective lessons, units, curricula, and programs, and setting high expectations for all learners. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 10 min
International Francophonie Day is observed within the International Organization of La Francophonie's 77 member states every March 20 to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture. There are over 369 million French speakers on Earth. On this episode Terri Hammatt talks with French teacher Christine Renaud Merchant, who shares experiences and ideas on teaching French for over 40 years to a wide range of students. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com...
Mar 03, 2022•56 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle Olah talks with Tennessee Spanish teacher Paul Jennemann about how he connects language learning with important “21st Century Skills” like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking to engage and motivate students. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Paul Jennemann @profepj3 - https://twitter.com/profepj3 Ha...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle Olah and Linda Markley talk about what it means to “advocate” for languages not only during the annual JNCL-NCLIS Language Advocacy Days, but all year. Everyone is an advocate for languages, whether it is in your classroom with your students, in your school, in your community or on the State or National level. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitt...
Feb 02, 2022•51 min
In this episode, Michelle talks with educator Maureen Lamb about how she is using blended and hybrid learning techniques to navigate the current teaching reality of many educators - high student absentee rates, substitutes shortages, and rapid shifts from face to face to virtual instruction. Maureen shares some tools and strategies that are helping her and her students cope in this ever-changing educational landscape. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/lang...
Jan 19, 2022•49 min
In this episode, Michelle and 2021 Embassy of Spain's Teacher of the Year, Iván Sabau Torrelo, talks about how he makes learning fun in his Spanish immersion classroom by using interdisciplinary, inquiry-based projects and gaming. Iván shares some innovative ways that he connects with students and gets them excited about the content they are learning. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/...
Jan 05, 2022•52 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge Michelle talks with UK Independent modern foreign languages & technology consultant, Joe Dale. Michelle and Joe talk about some of the ways that world language educators around the world have come together to share best teaching practices and support each other since the start of the pandemic and Joe shares some powerful technology tools that can positively impact language instruction whether you are teaching virtually or in person. Visit the Language L...
Dec 16, 2021•1 hr 16 min
TJ is a passionate advocate for Heritage speakers and it was a pleasure talking to him about the strengths that these students bring into our language classrooms and how teachers can support these students when they may not have training or experience in this field. Please join the conversation on Twitter by tagging @langloungepod @michelleolah @ProfeTeeJay and let us know how you celebrate and support the heritage learners in your classroom. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod -...
Dec 01, 2021•35 min
In this episode Michelle talks to Elena Spathis, FLENJ 2021 Teacher of the Year, about some leadership qualities that are important to her and support her continued growth as a world language educator. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Elena @elenaspathis - https://twitter.com/elenaspathis Teachers Need Leaders Too: https://blog.waysidepublishing.com/teachers-...
Nov 18, 2021•49 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle gives 7 tips on how we can make the most out of virtual conferences, including ACTFL Virtual 2021. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepublishing.com Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com opinions ≠ endorsements...
Nov 10, 2021•23 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Joseph Parodi-Brown about how we can make our language classrooms inclusive. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Joseph @jparodi1201 - https://twitter.com/jparodi1201 Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepublishing.com Produced by Wayside Publishing - h...
Oct 29, 2021•57 min
Michelle Olah talks with Leslie Grahn about how teachers can reach Generation Z learners by designing real-world, relevant tasks that engage and motivate the students in our classrooms. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Leslie @grahnforlang - https://twitter.com/grahnforlang Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysi...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 15 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks research and high leverage teaching practices with Alissa Farias. Michelle and Alissa discuss how after an unprecedented time in education with disruptions in student learning, we need to “double down” on the effective teaching strategies that research has shown have the greatest effect on student learning. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://tw...
Oct 14, 2021•53 min
Michelle Olah talks to Greta Lundgaard about how teachers can “park the helicopter” in order to allow students to take more responsibility for their language learning and develop the skills and confidence they will need when they are speaking the language out in the real world. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Connect with Greta @gretafromtexas - https://twitter.com/greta...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 42 min
Michelle Olah talks to Ryan Smith about how we as world language educators, stakeholders and advocates can remove both individual and institutional barriers so that all students can have access to the benefits of learning another language. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepublishing.co...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 6 min
In this episode Michelle talks with Meredith White about how language teachers can articulate and advocate for the support they need at various stages in their careers and why it is important to both find a mentor and be a mentor in order to continue learning and growing as world language educators. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Have a comment or question? Leave a voic...
Sep 22, 2021•56 min
In this episode of the Language Lounge, Catherine shares some of her takeaways from her experience at CLTA’s Summer Seminar “The Socially Just World Language Classroom: Social-Emotional Learning and Framework-Aligned Practices” and talks about how world language educators can support each other in our personal and professional journeys to create more socially just classrooms for our students. Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Mic...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 1 min
