World Language Classroom

#195There are lots of misconceptions about teaching grammar. There are also opinions about whether or not there is a place for teaching grammar in a proficiency-based classroom. In this episode, Catherine Ritz and Mike Travers, authors of Proficiency-Based Instruction: Teaching GRAMMAR for Proficiency, join me to talk about the place of grammar in a proficiency-based classroom.  And yes, there is a place for it.Topics in this Episode:Misconceptions around teaching grammar and how Catherine and Mike's book, Teaching GRAMMAR for Proficiency, addresses them?What it looks like to teach grammar in a way that truly supports communication and proficiency, rather than just memorization and drillsIn a proficiency-based vertical curriculum, how (or should) we incorporate grammar  Should specific grammar structures be explicitly planned for, or should they emerge more organically based on themes and student needs?Examples of an activities and strategies that effectively integrates grammar while keeping communication at the center of learningFirst steps to take when shifting toward a proficiency-based approachGet your copy of Proficiency-Based Instruction: Teaching GRAMMAR for Proficiency.  Use the code ACTFL15OFF to get 15% off the cost of the book.Connect with Catherine Ritz and Mike Travers:Mike's Website: Diaries Of A Mad World Language TeacherCatherine's Webiste: RitzWorldLangConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#194Where do you find opportunities for exploring language and culture beyond the classroom? Have you found ways to involve your students in service learning projects? In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Chris Howell who is the co-founder of the Pulsera Project. This is an organization that supports artisans in Guatemala and Nicaragua through direct connections with schools and students in the United States. My school, Tower School in Marblehead, MA has partnered with Chris and the Pulsera Project. I have so much respect for the work that he and his organization do that I had to have him on the podcast to share all about it.Topics in this Episode:what the Pulsera Project is and what inspired Chris  to co-found the organizationhow the mission has evolved since 2009how the Pulsera Project fosters meaningful connections between U.S. students and artisanseducating students on Fair Tradesuccess stories of artisans and communities that has been positively impacted by the Pulsera Projectadvice for language teachers who want to incorporate service learning and global citizenship into their classroomsConnect with Chris Howell and the Pulsera Project:Website: pulseraproject.orgFacebook: /pulseraprojectInstagram: @pulseraprojecTikTok: @pulsera.projectX/Twitter: @pulseraprojectPinterest: pulseraproject/Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#193Do you use task cards? How can we get the most out of them in our language classrooms? Task cards are useful tools for building engagement, supporting proficiency, and adding variety to your routines. In this episode, we're looking at 15 creative ways to use task cards. You might already have a few that you like to use, and after this episode you have lots more.Blog Post with all 15 ways to use task cards in your language classroom.Topics in this Episode:what task cards arewhat to put on task cards15 ways to use task cards in the language classroomWarm-Ups (Do Nows)Fast FinishersExit TicketStation ActivityScootDifferentiationBack to BackTraditional Board GamesQuiz GamesInteractive Bulletin BoardScavenger HuntIndividual BoardsSub ActivityBinder SheetsAssessmentsBlog Post with all 15 ways to use task cards in your language classroom.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#192How much flexibility or autonomy do you have over your curriculum? Are you able to integrate CI techniques and procedures? This can be a bit challenging if our curriculum is aligned with chapters in a textbook or prescribed units.  Today I speak with Ashley Mikkelsen, a Spanish teacher in North Dakota.  Ashley talks us through her personal journey and experience integrating CI activities into her textbook-aligned curriculum that also includes common assessments.  And these assessments are not always proficiency-based. Is this possible? Ashley shows us how with her quintessential realistic lens. Topics in this Episode:Challenges teachers face when trying to incorporate Comprehensible Input (CI) within a textbook-driven curriculumstrategies and techniques for blending CI with the requirements of a textbook curriculumspecific examples of successfully integrating CI into a textbook lessonhow teachers can make sure that their use of CI aligns with the learning objectives and assessments outlined in the textbookrecommendations for teachers who are new to CI but are required to follow a textbook curriculumConnect with Ashley Mikkelsen:Instagram: @srta_spanishTikTok: @srta_spanishX/Twitter:@afulks2013Website: srtaspanish.comConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#191Do you have effective routines that support your students' language proficiency and communication skills?  We often think of the communication modes, proficiency levels and 90+% target language as the routines that we foster in the classroom. In this episode you'll hear about another type of routine, student-created graphic organizers.  These are visual tools that offer a unique pathway for students to comprehend and engage with the target language.Blog post with visuals to see examples of student-created graphic organizers.Topics in this Episode:effective learning routinesstudent-created graphic organizers (Thinking Maps, Brains Frames)benefits of students creating their own graphic organizerswhen to use student-created graphic organizers (pre-speaking, pre-writing)5 useful types of student-created graphic organizerslinear detailscause and effectbrainstormingcompare and contrastcategorizingBlog post with visuals to see examples of student-created graphic organizers.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#190A few weeks back I posted on LinkIn and Andrea Caulfield left a comment. Andrea is the World Language Curriculum Specialist in Denver Public Schools.  She commented that she uses podcast episodes as a way of bringing professional development and coaching to the 100+ teachers in her district. I was intrigued to learn more about how she managed this logistically and wanted you to hear it as well in case you are interested in doing something similar. Andrea explains how she chooses and recommends episodes, works with teachers to engage with the topics and, of course, the logistics.Topics in this Episode:why Andrea started using podcast episodes as professional development in her language departmenthow she structure discussions and activities around podcast episodes to ensure meaningful professional growth for teachersspecific benefits Andrea has seen in her department since incorporating podcasts into her PD modelchoosing which podcast episodes to useadvice for language department leaders who want to implement podcast-based professional development but aren't sure where to startAndrea's podcast episode database.Andrea's reflection questions:What confirmed or challenged your beliefs in the episode(s) you listened to?What were your biggest takeaways?What is one change you are committed to making in your own practice based on your learning, and what steps do you need to take to make that change?What barriers to successful implementation do you foresee? How might you avoid them?How will you measure success for the change you plan to implement?What questions are you left with?Connect with Andrea Caulfield:Bluesky: @AndreaCaulfield.bsky.socialemail: andrea_caulfield@dpsk12.netConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#189We are all well aware of the importance of comprehensible input in our classrooms, and to support this many of us use stories as the way to do it.  Do you use short stories, novels or graphic novels or comprehensible (CI) readers with your students? I'm excited to see that many teachers are using and leveraging texts with their students. I want to take this a step further in this episode and tell you about a project that engages students creatively with story details and newly acquired vocabulary and structures. Blog post about the "unpack the book" project with examples and templates.Topics in this Episode:the "unpack the book" projectpreparing to readkeep track of details while readingcharacterschapter summarieshashtagsthe project book pagescovervocabularyhashtagscharacterseventsquotescultureBlog post about the "unpack the book" project with examples and templates. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#188We are always taking on new vocabulary themes and language structures in our language classroom. How do you make sure that your students are engaging with these new topics, particularly when it comes to speaking? In this episode, I speak with Jessica Hall, AKA Miss Señorita, who is a Spanish teacher in Connecticut. Jessica shares 3 speaking activities that are easily modified for various levels and languages. You can use them right away with any vocabulary topic or language structure, and Jessica even provides the templates.Topics in this Episode:importance and benefits of incorporating speaking activities into world language classroomsexamples of speaking activities that can be adapted to different grammar and vocabulary themesensuring that these speaking activities are engaging and effective for students of varying proficiency levelsspecific speaking activities that are particularly beneficial for studentspractical steps and strategies to implement these speaking activities in your classrooms to maximize student participation and learning Jessica's templatesConnect with Jude :Instagram: @MissSenoritaTpTConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#187What do your grades look like? Do the grades that your students earn reflect their mastery and what they can do with and in the target language? In this episode, I speak with Jude Krushnowski, the Director of the World Language Teacher Education Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He walks us through a framework for competency-based grading in our proficiency-based classrooms. Lots of tips, insights and suggestions for making this transition to assessments authentically reflecting our students' competency. Topics in this Episode:what standards-based grading is and how it differs from traditional grading methodshow standards-based grading aligns with proficiency-based instruction and why is it more beneficial for assessmentsexamples where standards-based grading significantly enhanced learning and proficiency growthwhat gets assessed and what does not; what goes into the gradewhat it looks like in practice, particularly gradebook categories, retakes, rubrics vs. points and percentageschallenges teachers might face when transitioning to standards-based gradingConnect with Jude :Twitter/X: @ProfeKrushConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#186How do we ensure our students know exactly what they're working toward in their language learning journey? In this episode, we're diving into Writing Can Do Statements—how to make them concrete, student-friendly, and aligned with proficiency levels and ACTFL's communication modes. We'll explore both yearly and unit-specific Can Do Statements, their role in guiding instruction and assessment, and practical strategies for crafting effective statements that support student growth.Get the Bloom's Taxonomy verb list to use in your Can Do StatementsTopics in this Episode:understanding exactly what Can Do Statements are and how to use them effectively in the classroomusing Success Criteria to write Can Do Statementsusing Bloom's Taxonomy to write Can Do Statementsyearly Can Do Statementsunit-specific Can Do Statementsexamples of effective Can Do Statementstips for writing effective Can Do StatementsGet the Bloom's Taxonomy verb list to use in your Can Do StatementsConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#185What have you learned about your teaching throughout your years of experience? Do you take time to look introspectively at what works well for you and why so that you can replicate it? In this episode, Carmen Scoggins, a Spanish teacher in North Carolina, joins me to talk us through her 5 universal truths about teaching. Though our personal experiences and truths may be a little different, hearing how Carmen frames her universal truths provides an effective framework for articulating our own, and the benefits of doing it.  Topics in this Episode:what Carmen means by "Universal Truths about Teaching" and how she discovered themthe key universal truths Carmen believes are essential for teachers to understand and embracehow these universal truths apply specifically to the context of world language teachingexamples of how these truths have influenced Carmen's own teaching practices and student outcomeswhy and how teachers can incorporate these universal truths into their teaching philosophy and practiceConnect with Carmen Scoggins:Instagram:@srtascoggdawgTwitter/X: @carmenscogginsFacebook: /carmen.scogginsConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#184Are you always on the lookout for new and inventive ideas to bring to our classrooms. I have one simple, yet powerful, tool.  A mini-folding book is a compact, 8-page book made from a single sheet of paper. They are easy to create and can be customized for a wide range of classroom activities.  In this episode I'll tell you how to create the book and then I'll share 10 Ways to use Mini-Folding Books.Blog post with instructions for folding the paper and the 10 ideas for using mini-folding books.Topics in this Episode:what mini-bolding books arehow to create a mini-folding book10 ways to use mini-folding books in the classroomPersonal Information BooksVocabulary BooksStory BooksCultural BooksGrammar Practice BooksDialogue BooksTravel Guide BooksRecipe BooksPen Pal IntroductionsReview BooksConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#183Are you getting more comfortable with AI tools? Are you finding ways to use them to enhance your teaching? Last year, Noemi Rodriguez joined me on episode 116 when AI felt so new and emerging. Noemi is back to talk through advances in AI, new resources for language teachers and getting over some common hurdles.  We specifically focus on leveraging AI tools to support students, particularly around providing feedback and differentiating lessons and activities. Topics in this Episode: how AI tools can be used to support students in world language classeshow AI tools enhance language learning and make it more engaging for studentsspecific AI tools and applications that are particularly effective for supporting students, differentiating and providing feedbackexamples of AI tools being used to support students that enhance or improve students' language proficiencypractical steps and strategies teachers can take to effectively implement AI tools to support studentsConnect with Erin Coleman:Instagram: @team_lologramos Website:  www.ologramosconsulting.comConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#182Calendar talk is a CI (Comprehensible Input) activity that is part of many teachers' routines in the classroom.  It is essentially just that, talking about the calendar.  What began as simply saying the date has grown into much more than that. In this episode I will share with you my own process of doing a calendar talk activity that engages students on a wide variety of topics as we begin the class. Lots of language and culture is embedded in activity very organically. Sometimes the slides and materials can take quite a bit of time to create. I don't want that to hold you back, so you can make a copy of my Google Slides with all of the embedded links right in the show notes.Topics in this Episode:The evolution of Calendar Talk in my classroom – from a simple "Today is [date]" to a dynamic, engaging discussion that students look forward to.The benefits of Calendar TalkThe process and routine: Date, Time. Weather with visualsEngaging students in specific details about the date, weather and time in their own lives.Moving toward these details in a target language country and leading students in discussions where they compare to their own responses in the previous activity.Practical Tips for doing a calendar talk along with the country comparisonsEpisode #170  with John SifertBe sure to Copy the Google Slides that I use will all of the embedded links to your Google Drive.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#181Have you seen teachers posting on social media about their hexagonal grouping activities? I certainly have and I got curious about how it works and how teachers are using it in their world language classes.  I've seen Erin Coleman posting and presenting workshops on the topic, so I invited her onto the podcast to share with all of us how she uses hexagonal grouping with her students. Erin shares lots of ideas and pro tips so that you can start using hexagonal grouping with your students. Topics in this Episode:what Hexagonal Grouping is and how it works in classroomshow can Hexagonal Grouping can be particularly beneficial in world language classeswhat preparation is involved, creating templates and follow-up activitiesspecific examples where Erin has successfully used Hexagonal Grouping in her language classroompractical tips and strategies for implementing Hexagonal GroupingConnect with Erin Coleman:Instagram: @theengagedspanishclassroom    Website: theengagedspanishclassroom.comConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#180Do you have particular activities and procedures that you use to engage students in your classroom? Many of us have these tried-and-true go-to CI (Comprehensible Input) activities. They get talked about a lot on social media, in language teacher circles and even on this podcast. In this episode I'm going to walk you through 15 CI activities. Be sure to download the free CI Toolbox that includes all 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities with descriptions, suggestions and tips. Topics in this Episode:what CI (Comprehensible Input) ishow to make language comprehensiblethough CI is input-focused, authentic student engagement with the input provides opportunities for comprehension checks and supports acquisition3 categories of CI activities:Interaction and Discussion: These activities focus on fostering interactive communication in the classroom, allowing students to engage with the language in meaningful and personalized ways.Storytelling and Narrative: These activities involve students in storytelling and narratives, offering a rich context for language acquisition through listening and speaking.Reading and Writing: These activities are designed to reinforce comprehension and writing skills through structured and interactive tasksPrevious episodes referenced in this episode to dive deeper on particular topics and activities:Episode #31 with Sarah MoghtaderEpisode #86 with Ashley MikkelsenEpisode #79 with Ben Fisher RodriguezEpisode #91 with Margarita Pérez GarciaEpisode #170 with John Sifert (Padre de cinco)Episode #179 with Bryce HedstromBe sure to download the free CI Toolbox that includes all 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities with descriptions, suggestions and tips. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#179What have you heard about special person interviews in world language classes? Maybe you have tried them yourself. In today's episode I speak with Bryce Hedstrom, a Spanish and Latin teacher in Colorado. He also does quite a bit of professional development with language teachers. Bryce walks us through the benefits of special person interviews, along with actionable suggestions for implementing in our classrooms.  Whether special person interviews are new to you, or if you're looking for some ways to enhance how you are already using them, you will walk away from this episode inspired. Topics in this Episode:what a special person Interview is and how does it fit into a Comprehensible Input (CI) approachthe key benefits of conducting special person interviews for both students and teacherswhat a special person interview looks like in practice; what the teacher does and what students doselecting students for the interviews and preparation involved examples of questions and topics to use during these interviews to keep students engagedfollow up activitiesConnect with Bryce Hedstrom:Instagram: @brycehedstrom.com3254Facebook: /BryceHedstromWebsite: www.brycehedstrom.com Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#178How many preps do you have?  If you have 3, 4 or more, or know someone who does, stick around for this episode. Oftentimes we equate 3 or more preps with 3 or 4 times the work. In this episode Sophie Forker, a French and Spanish teacher in New York City, joins me for a conversation about managing our teacher workload. We talk specifically about navigating a large number of preps, but it ultimately comes down to useful and actionable ways to streamline your lesson planning, whether you have 1 prep or 6. Topics in this Episode:Sophie's personal experience of  having multiple prepseffective strategies for planning and organizing multiple language preps to ensure you stay on top of your workloadhow to  prioritize planning and ensure that each class receives the attention it needs without becoming overwhelmedtools, resources and systems to streamline your preparation process and make it more efficientpractical strategies for effectively managing multiple world language preps in your own classrooms and maintaining a balanced workloadEpisode #79: How to do a Write and Discuss with Ben Fisher-RodriguezConnect with Sophie Forker:Instagram: @mmeforker Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#177The most popular episode of 2024 was the one where I talked about moving from grammar to language functions.  I begin this last episode of 2024 with some podcast stats from 2024 and then you have the replay of episode #141: Shifting the Focus from Grammar to Function.2024 World Language Classroom Podcast Stats :top 10% of all podcast downloads52 episodesMost popular cities with listeners: Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, SydneyMost popular countries with listeners: United States, Canada, Australia, United KingdomMost downloaded episode: #141: Shifting the Focus from Grammar to Function.Total 2024 downloads: 65,000Total minutes of audio published: 1,200Replay of episode #141: Shifting the Focus from Grammar to Function.What have you heard about language functions? I see this as the idea of using the target language to communicate or convey a message rather than only being able to describe the grammatical structures, patterns and vocabulary. In this episode we are going to take a look at this shift in focus, and sometimes mindset, from a primary focus on grammatical forms to language functions with examples and practical strategies.Topics In This Episode:3 aspects of communicative language teaching:1. goal is on communicating and doing something with the language2. student-centered3. focused on understanding the message being conveyed by students despite inaccuracy in language form. language functionsfocus is on communicating, student-centered, understanding the message being conveyed by students despite inaccuracy in language formpractical strategies and examples to support our focus on language functionsNovice Levels: Making Language PracticalIntermediate Levels: Expanding CommunicationEmbrace the Shiftnot an either/or when it comes to grammar it's essential that we embrace this paradigm shift from a focus on grammar and accuracy to a broader emphasis on language functions and authentic communication. ensures that language learning is not just a theoretical exercise, but one that builds proficiency and communicative competence.Blog post on Shifting the Focus from Grammar to FunctionConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for aSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#176How do you address your students' mistakes or errors when speaking in the classroom? Should you address them? Is it useful, and if so, how do you do it? In this episode we are taking on the last of the High Leverage Teaching Practices, Providing Oral Corrective Feedback to Improve Learner Performance. My personal graduate thesis was on feedback in the language classroom and what has been shown to be most effective.  I'll share a little about my personal findings along with concrete strategies for providing oral corrective feedback to improve learner performance. Topics in this Episode:High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard DonatoEpisode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language ConfidentlyEpisode 162: Facilitating Target Language ComprehensibilityEpisode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative ContextEpisode 167: Guiding Learners to Interpret and Discuss Authentic TextsEpisode 171: Focusing on Cultural Products, Practices, and PerspectivesOral corrective feedback is the immediate response provided by teachers to learners' spoken errors during language practice. It helps students notice and correct their mistakes, leading to improved language accuracy and proficiency.Effective oral corrective feedback supports language development by guiding students towards correct language use, helping them internalize language rules, and improving their confidence in speaking."From my thesis Feedback in the Second Language Classroom: The Impact of Explicit and Implicit Negative Feedback on the Interlanguage System: “The unaided learner may eventually learn on his own, but feedback will help him to do this more quickly and efficiently. The research helps to further narrow down the most productive forms of feedback, mainly feedback in the form of negotiation. When the learner is provided with scaffolding that leads him into producing the correct form on his own, he is much more likely to restructure his interlanguage system. This type of communicative feedback will not only provide the most naturalistic communication in the classroom, but will also be the most efficient means of moving the learner toward language that more closely resembles the L2.”Strategies:Differentiate Types of FeedbackConsider Timing and Frequency of FeedbackCreate a Supportive EnvironmentFocus on Error PatternsProvide Constructive and Specific Feedback**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#175Do students read in your classroom? What do they do with the reading? In this episode I speak with Jennifer Degenhardt and Theresa Marrama. They are both authors of CI Novels that I have personally used in my French and Spanish classrooms. I thought I'd go right to the source when thinking about the many ways that we can engage our students in target language reading. Jennifer and Theresa share their writing process, inspiration for their stories, and  ideas for getting the most out of comprehensible novels.Topics in this Episode: what comprehensible novels are and why they are valuable tools in world language classroomsWhat inspired Jennifer Degenhardt and Theresa Marrama to write comprehensible novels, and how thet decide on the themes and content for their bookshow teachers can effectively integrate comprehensible novels into their curriculum to maximize student engagement and language acquisitionexamples where using comprehensible novels made a significant impact on students' language learningpractical strategies implementing comprehensible novels Connect with Jennifer Degenhardt and Theresa Marrama:Twitter/X: @digilangua1Facebook: @DigilanguaWebsite: digilangua.coInstagram: @digilanguaConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#174How cohesive are your lessons?  Do you feel that activities flow and connect to each other in meaningful ways, or do they sometimes seem disconnected? Today's episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Cyndi, a German teacher in Idaho. Planning more cohesive lessons that flow more naturally and are connected to each other is the area where she wants to level up her teaching practice.Suggestions:Use a Consistent Daily Lesson Framework Across All Levels. A consistent framework gives you a structure to plug in content without feeling like you're reinventing the wheel every day. It also provides students with a predictable routine, which enhances engagement and learning.Focus on Key Learning Targets and Prioritize. By narrowing your focus, you avoid overloading yourself and the students. Lessons will feel more cohesive because everything revolves around a central goal, which helps bring that “flow” you're looking for. Go deep on compelling topics.Chunk Your Time for Efficient Planning. By batching similar tasks, you minimize switching costs and make the process more efficient. This also helps ensure consistency across all your classes and lessens the cognitive load.Leverage Spiral Review. Students will see the connections between lessons, and it reduces the pressure on you to cover everything perfectly in one class. By spiraling content, lessons will feel more connected and purposeful, and you'll also create natural review opportunities for students. Perhaps use that additional block each week during the extended period. Action Plan:This Week:Create a flexible lesson template for your 50-minute and 90-minute classes; figure out how the time will be chunked and determine 2-3 activities for this period of time.Focus on one learning target per lesson to maintain clarity and coherence.The Coming Weeks:Incorporate spiral review activities into extended lesson blocks to maintain flow and reinforce learning over time.You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#173This is an exciting episode that I recorded live at the 2024 ACTFL Convention and Language Expo in Philadelphia! This year's ACTFL theme, “Connect for the Love of Languages!”, highlights the importance of building meaningful connections in every aspect of language teaching. In this episode, you'll hear from inspiring educators and leaders who share strategies for connecting with students, fostering cultural understanding, and growing professional networks. These conversations, that we had at the Klett World Languages booth in the exhibit hall, capture the energy and passion of language educators united by their love of teaching and learning.Teachers and leaders who join me for this conversation:Caroline Schlegel, Spanish teacher at Frederick County Public Schools (MD)Aubrey Swisher, Spanish teacher at Washington County Public Schools (MD)Sara Stefanich, Professional Development Coordinator at Klett World LanguagesMaria Carreira, Executive Director of AATSPPatrick Wallace, Program Specialist for World Languages and Global Workforce Initiatives (GA); Strategic Relationship Specialist at Klett World LanguagesTopics in this Episode:The Importance of Connection in Language LearningStrategies for Connecting with StudentsBuilding Cultural Connections Professional Connections and Teacher CommunityThe Love of Language TeachingConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#172Do you have a World Language Honor Society in your school? Have you thought about bringing one to your school?  In this episode, Regina Symonds, a French teacher in Massachusetts, joins me to talk about the benefits of having a language honor society in your school. She shares the details for starting and maintaining a chapter along with cultural, social and service activities that group members engage in. You might be thinking that these language honor societies are just for high school students. Not the case, there are also opportunities for middle schools to get involved. Topics in this Episode:what World Language Honor Societies arethe benefits for students who participate in World Language Honor Societies, both academically and personallysuccess stories and examples of World Language Honor Societies have making a significant impact on students and the school communityhow schools can effectively promote and support World Language Honor Societies to encourage more student involvementpractical steps and strategies teachers can take to establish and maintain a successful World Language Honor Society in their schoolsHonor Society websites:FrenchSpanishGerman Chinese ItalianLatinConnect with Regina Symonds:FacebookInstagramConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#171How do your students engage with culture in your classroom? One way to approach cultural topics is to look specifically at Cultural Products, Practices and Perspectives. Focusing on these cultural aspects helps students develop intercultural competence, which will then make language learning more meaningful and relevant to them. It also allows students to see beyond language and understand the people who speak it. In this episode I share practical strategies to engage students in understanding Cultural Products Practices and Perspectives.Topics in this Episode:High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard DonatoEpisode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language ConfidentlyEpisode 162: Facilitating Target Language ComprehensibilityEpisode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative ContextEpisode 167: Guiding Learners to Interpret and Discuss Authentic TextsCultural Products: Tangible and intangible items created by a culture, such as art, literature, music, food and traditions.Cultural Practices: The patterns of behavior accepted by a society, including customs, rituals, and routines.Cultural Perspectives: The underlying values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape how a culture views the world.Cultural Value Dimensions5 Strategies for engaging students in Cultural Products, Practices and PerspectivesSelecting Authentic Cultural MaterialsContextualizing Cultural PracticesFacilitating Communicative Interactions around Cultural Products, Practices and PerspectivesReflecting on Cultural Perspectives Integrating Cultural Learning with Language Skills**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up CSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#170What do you know about calendar talks? Maybe you have tried them yourself and maybe you're hearing about them for the first time. In today's episode I speak with John Sifert, a Spanish teacher in Iowa. John, aka Padre de Cinco, walks us through the many benefits of using calendar talk activities, along with actionable suggestions for engaging students in speaking about a variety of topics that go beyond simply saying the date.  Whether calendar talks are new to you, or if you're looking for some ways to enhance how you are already doing it , you will walk from this episode with actionable tips and suggestions.Topics in this Episode:what Calendar Talk is and how it goes beyond just discussing the calendarhow Calendar Talk can be adapted to suit different proficiency levels and keep all students engagedspecific topics and activities that teachers can incorporate into Calendar Talk to make it more interactive and meaningful for studentsexamples where Calendar Talk has significantly enhanced students' language learning and classroom interaction in John classroompractical steps and strategies that can teachers take to implement Calendar Talk in their classrooms to maximize its effectiveness and student participationConnect with John Sifert:YouTubeFacebookWebsiteNewsletterEmail: john@padredecinco.comInstagramConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#169What role does student choice have in your classroom? We know that when students have some ownership over their learning that they are more intrinsically motivated and this leads to real agency in their learning. Today's episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Jen, a Spanish teacher in Missouri. Providing students with regular and authentic choices in her classroom  is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice. So let's start the conversation. Suggestions:Create choice boards that offer a variety of activities aligned with the same learning objectives. Students can select activities based on their interests and preferred learning styles.Allow students to choose from a list of project topics or propose their own, giving them the autonomy to explore areas of interest while still meeting curriculum standards.For certain activities, allow students to pick their groups based on interest or comfort. You can also mix it up by having students form groups around different themes or tasks they want to work on.Offer multiple assessment options that cater to different learning styles and strengths.Make the input and output compelling for students Action Plan:This Week:Create a simple choice board with nine activities related to the current unit.Observe and take notes on student engagement and preferences.The Coming Weeks:Plan a project-based unit, providing a list of potential topics and formats for final products. Encourage students to present their projects in various formats (e.g., presentation, report, digital creation).Design multiple assessment options for an upcoming unit. Ensure each assessment option aligns with the learning objectives and create a consistent rubric.You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #168How well do you navigate change? Are you open to it?  What do you need  to reduce any resistance that you might have? How do you support colleagues through the process?  In our ever-evolving world of language teaching and learning there are opportunities for change in our practice. But, is it easy? In this episode, I speak with Tim Eagan and Mike Travers, who are teachers and administrators in Massachusetts. They share some actionable insights and suggestions for approaching, understanding and eventually embracing change. Topics in this Episode:common sources of resistance to change among world language teacherschallenges teachers face when adapting their teaching methodsHow colleagues, school leaders and administrators can support teachers through transitions and address their concernseffective strategies in overcoming resistance and encouraging buy-in from teachers who are skeptical about changespractical steps colleagues, school leaders and administrators can take to start implementing changesEpisode #9: Teaching Grammar as a Concept and in Context with Mike TraversEpisode #60: Building & Leading a Proficiency-Based DepartmentConnect with Tim Eagan and Mike Travers:X/Twitter: @tjeag , @Travers_TweetsBlog: Diaries Of A Mad World Language TeacherConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #167Do you use authentic texts in your language classroom? To make sure that we are all on the same page with the concept, the simple definition is materials created by and for native speakers not for the purpose of language learning. These materials reflect real-life language use and cultural contexts. They expose students to natural language and cultural nuances. In this episode I share practical strategies to help students interpret and engage in meaningful ways with these materials. Are the benefits linguistic, cultural, maybe both?Topics in this Episode:High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard DonatoEpisode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language ConfidentlyEpisode 162: Facilitating Target Language ComprehensibilityEpisode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative ContextAuthentic texts are materials created by native speakers for native speakers, such as newspapers, blogs, songs, advertisements, and videos. These texts reflect real-life language use and cultural contexts.Using authentic texts exposes students to natural language and cultural nuances, helping them develop better comprehension skills and cultural awareness. It also makes learning more engaging and relevant."5 key strategies to help you effectively incorporate authentic texts into your teaching:Selecting Appropriate TextsPre-Reading ActivitiesGuided Reading and AnnotationPost-Reading DiscussionsExtension Activities**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #166Community. Is this a word that you would use to describe your classroom?  Do you and your students feel like you are a part of a supporting and encouraging community each time you and they walk in your classroom? How do you create this type of learning environment?  Today, Elodie Channa, a French teacher in British Columbia, Canada, joins me to bring us into her classroom community. We discuss how she uses CI (Comprehensible Input) techniques and methodology to support the classroom community and assure that her students feel valued, seen and understood.Topics in this Episode:what CI is and why it's important for language learninghow CI can be used to build community in the language classroomexamples from Elodie's experience where CI significantly enhanced community and engagement in her classroomstrategies and activities that you can use to ensure your students are receiving CI while also fostering collaboration and connection among themadapting CI approaches for different proficiency levels and diverse classroom settingsConnect with Elodie Channa:Instagram: @comprehensibleinputONConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #165How much of the target language is used in your classroom, by both you and your students? I'm talking about truly communicative language. Today's episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Helen, a German teacher in Wisconsin. Using the target language more regularly and authentically is the area where she wants to level up her teaching practice.Suggestions:Develop consistent classroom routines that naturally incorporate the target language.Greetings and farewells, instructions, and integrate common phrases and questions throughout the day.Provide scaffolding tools like visuals, sentence starters, language mats, and anchor charts that students can refer to when they need assistance. Design interactive activities that require students to use the target language.Consistently model the use of the target language in your own speech and interactions with students. Acknowledging and praising students when they make an effort to speak in the target language. Action Plan:This Week:Set Clear Expectations and Establish RoutinesCreate and display a set of classroom rules in the target languageCreate a "language mat" or anchor chart with common phrases and sentencesThe Coming Weeks:Plan at least two interactive activities per week that require students to use the target language, such as partner conversations, role-plays, or language games.Consistently speak in the target language yourself and use positive reinforcement when students make an effort to speak in the target language.Reward systemYou  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #164The topic of grammar is always up for discussion. Does the question of teaching grammar have a simple yes or no answer? Is it an either or?  Is there a place for a both/and?  I will suggest that there is this episode by focusing on form. Focusing on form involves drawing students' attention to linguistic elements within a communicative context. Teaching grammar in context helps students see how grammatical structures are used in real communication. I'll break down this topic with strategies, each with concrete tips and examples to help you integrate grammar instruction communicatively into your classroom. So, Let's jump in!Topics in this Episode:High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard DonatoFocusing on form involves drawing students' attention to linguistic elements as they arise incidentally in lessons, without interrupting the flow of communication. The PACE model stands for Presentation, Attention, Co-construct, and Extension, a structured approach to teaching grammar in context.Teaching grammar in context helps students see how grammatical structures are used in real communication, making the learning process more meaningful and effective. The PACE model supports this by integrating grammar instruction into engaging and relevant activitiesPACE: Presentation, Attention, Co-Construction, ExtensionThe PACE model provides a structured yet flexible framework for teaching grammar in context, making it more engaging and effective for students.PACE is an example, others include Discovery Technique and Teaching InductivelyEpisode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language ConfidentlyEpisode 162: Facilitating Target Language Comprehensibility**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #163We've heard this idea of working smarter and not harder. Does that sound like something that is easier said than done? Do you feel that efficiency might sometimes compromise your teaching and how and what students are learning. In this episode I take on this idea with Amy Marshal, Spanish teacher in Massachusetts. Amy offers lots of tips, insights and suggestions for saving yourself time as a language teacher, while not compromising the effectiveness of your teaching and what your students learn.Topics in this Episode:what it means to work smarter, not harder, in the context of teaching world languageskey strategies that can help language teachers work more efficiently and effectively in their classroomsexamples of low-preparation activities that provide high value and engagement for studentsbalancing the need for thorough lesson planning with the goal of reducing workload and avoiding burnoutsteps teachers take to implement efficiency-focused and low-preparation ideas in their classrooms to enhance their teaching and maintain a healthy work-life balanceConnect with Amy Marshall:YouTube: @zonadeprofesInstagram: @zonadeprofesTwitter: @zonadeprofesLinkedIn: @Amy MarshallConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #162We talk a lot about making language comprehensible in our language classroom. This is essential now that we understand how critical this is to language acquisition. When students understand what they hear and read, they begin the acquisition process. It also boosts their confidence, making them more willing to participate and take risks in using the language. In this episode, we'll explore practical strategies to help make the target language comprehensible for your students.Topics in this Episode:High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard DonatoComprehensibility is critical because it supports language acquisition. When students understand what they hear and read, they can engage more deeply and retain more information. It also boosts their confidence, making them more willing to participate and take risks in using the language.5 strategies to build a  discourse community in your classroom, each with tips and examplesUse of Visuals and Realia Scaffolding LanguageContextualize VocabularyEngage Students with Interactive and Communicative ActivitiesProvide Comprehensible Input (i+1).  Krashen's hypothesis that language acquisition occurs when learners are exposed to language just above their current level.Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #161Is your world language classroom a welcoming space for students? Would you describe it as warm and welcoming? Can it be? Should it be? Is it helpful for learning? My guest today, Allison Perryman, sure believes that it is.  Allison joins me to discuss how she makes her Spanish classroom a warm and welcoming community where students feel recognized, valued, understood and ultimately completely supported by their classmates and teacher. This surely makes it a classroom incredibly conducive to language learning.Topics in this Episode:what inspired Allison to focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment in her classroomexamples of how a welcoming classroom environment has positively impacted student engagement and language learning outcomesthe role relationships play in creating a warm classroom atmosphere, and how do you foster strong connections between students and between students and the teacherspecific strategies for making your classroom feel inviting and inclusive for all studentsaddressing and supporting the diverse cultural backgrounds of students to ensure everyone feels represented and valuedEpisode 78: Seeing, Hearing & Tasting Culture with Allison PerrymanConnect with Allison Perryman:YouTube: @TheCulturalClassroomInstagram:  @TheCulturalClassrmFacebook:  @TheCulturalClassroomBlog: TheCulturalClassroom.blogEmail: Hola@theculturalclassroom.blog__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #160What is a discourse community? Essentially, it's a learning environment where students actively engage in meaningful communication, using the target language to interact, collaborate, and build relationships. It's a space where every student's voice is valued and encouraged. Is that what you would like to see in your classroom? I'm guessing you're thinking, Yes!  But, how do we create this space for our students? In this episode I'll give you five key strategies for building a discourse community in your classroom.Topics in this Episode:High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard DonatoA classroom discourse community is a learning environment where students actively engage in meaningful communication, using the target language to interact, collaborate, and build relationships. It's a space where every student's voice is valued and encouraged5 strategies to build a  discourse community in your classroom, each with tips and examplesEstablish Norms and Expectations Promote Student InteractionUse Authentic and Meaningful TasksEncourage Reflective PracticeModel Effective Communication **Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #159I have something that I want to share with you as we go into this new school year. If you know me you know that I have talked a lot about my experiences in Nicaragua and I have been there this summer.  I had an opportunity to sit down with Paulette Goudge and talk about what this Mariposa experience is and to bring it to you on this episode of the podcast. I can wait for you to hear all about what goes on in La Concha, Nicaragua.  So, let's jump in.Topics in this Episode:I have been visiting San Juan de la Concepción, Nicaragua for over 10 years. Hear about my personal experience working with Paulette Goudge and La Mariposa.Paulette's first visits to Nicaragua in the 1980's and adopting her daughter.The vision for La Mariposa.The Mariposa has many community projects to support the local community and provides income to families that would otherwise not be able to earn.While La Mariposa is called an eco-hotel and Spanish school, it is so much more than that with all of the volunteer opportunities available.Who goes to La Mariposa?Sustainable food practices.Visit the La Mariposa: mariposaspanishschool.comConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #158This is episode 7 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at episodes 119 and 132, which were teacher toolbox episodes.  Episodes: Teacher Toolbox Episode (Vol. 5) (119)Teacher Toolbox Episode (Vol 6) (132)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #157This is episode 6 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at episode 141 where I talk about transitioning from grammar to language functions and episode 145 where I discuss concrete ways to promote proficiency growth.Episodes: Shifting the Focus from Grammar to Function (141)Concrete Ways to Support Proficiency Growth (145)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #156This is episode 5 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at episodes 117 where Jamie Rodriguez talks about guided conversations and episode 121 where Christina Margiore and I discuss chat mats.Episodes: Guided Conversations in the Language Classroom with Jamie Rodriguez (117)Using Chat Mats in the Language Classroom with Christina Margiore (121)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #155This is episode 4 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at the Leveling Coach episodes where I coach several language teachers who are working on a challenge area in their teaching.  Episodes: Tamica, Streamline Lesson Planning (109)Jenn, Teaching and Assessing Writing (114)Lisa,What If Common Assessments Are Not Proficiency-Based (118)Judy IPAs and World Language Standards (122)Victoria Addressing Disruptions Constructively, Effectively and Equitably (130)Stephanie, Engaging Speaking Activities for Language Growth (134)Liz, From Unit Plans to Daily Lessons (138):Stephanie, Keep Up Your Own Target Language Proficiency and Confidence (143):Leveling Up Check-Ins (147)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #154This is episode 3 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at episode 135 where Fadi Aboughoush talks about class pacing and brain breaks and episode 136 where I discuss classroom management.Episodes: Pacing Your Lessons with Fadi Aboughoush (135)10 Strategies for Effective Language Classroom Management (136) Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #153This is episode 2 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at episodes 124 and 125 where I talk about trying something new in your classroom.Episodes: Try Something New Part 1 - Why? How? What Gets in the Way? (124)Try Something New Part 2 - What Will that New Thing be? (125)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #152This is episode 1 in my 2024 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at my episodes about the book Honing Our Craft.  In episode 111 I talked about Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching, in episode 112 I talked about Standards-Based Grading and in episode 113 I spoke with the editors of Honing Our Craft.  Episodes: Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching  (111)Standards-Based Grading (112)Honing Our Craft with Dr. Florencia Henshaw and Dr. Kim Potowski (113)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #151Now that the school year is over hopefully you have a little less on your mind and have a little extra time. This is the perfect time to get into your summer headspace.  What do I mean by that?  You'll soon understand.  Let's jump in.time to reflect without other pressing priorities and issuesopportunity to revisit themes and episodes with a fresh lenscatch something new.finish an episode that you startedlisten to an episode for the first timeI'll group episodes by theme so that you can listen to them together with a 5 minute recap to pull the themes together. The links to episodes will be in the show notes.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #150How often do we stop to reflect on our teaching?  Hopefully we take the time and opportunity to do it regularly so that we are teaching our students as effectively as possible.  In this episode I'm going to talk about reflective practice and how we can use this as language teachers.  I'll also include a discussion of success criteria and how this can work into our reflective practice.  I know, this all sounds way up there in the theory world.  I promise you it's not and that it's fairly simple.Topics in this Episode:Reflection can help you to be more creative and try new things. It's very easy to get stuck in a rut and it can be helpful to think about what you are doing and why you are doing it. This can help to spark new ideas and ways of thinking.Reflection in Learning and Professional Development: Theory and Practice, Moon, J. (1999)Reflective Practice for Language Teachers:TeachAssess the effect your teaching has on learningConsider what can improve the quality of teaching and learningTry the new ideasReflect on effectivenessRepeatThe Success Criteria Playbook John T. Almarode, Douglas Fisher, Kateri Thunder, Nancy Frey (2021)Tim Eagan on Episode 60: Leading a Proficiency Focused Language DepartmentSuccess Criteria:What will be learned?Why is it going to be learned?How will I know that it has been learned?What will I do with what I learned? Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #149As teachers, and proficient second language speakers,  we have figured out ways to communicate words that we don't know. We can teach this skill to students early on so that they can begin doing it right away. Circumlocution is a strategy for describing or defining a concept instead of saying or writing the specific words (when we don't know it). We can teach students how to do this and give them tools to help in the process. In this episode I give suggestions to teach students how to cicumlocute along with games  for practicing this skill.Blog Post on Circumlocution.Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #148What is your understanding of the word proficiency? This is a concept that we use all the time in our language classrooms. How about the word performance? This concept is also becoming more commonplace in our teaching vernacular. When we say that we are proficiency-oriented or teach toward proficiency, are we also able to assess proficiency in our language classrooms, or should we focus on performance, and what does that even mean?  Well, that's our topic for this episode….defining exactly what we mean by proficiency and performance, how they relate to each other and which one we should focus on and assess in our classrooms.Topics in this Episode:Blog Post on Performance and ProficiencyProficiency: This term refers to a learner's ability to use the language across various situations, regardless of familiarity with topics or contexts.  It's about what one can do with the language, no matter where, when, or how it was learned.Performance: On the other hand, performance is more about using the language within structured settings like classrooms.  It involves applying “learned” language skills within familiar contexts and content areas.Do we assess Proficiency or Performance in the classroom? Preparing students for performance with high leverage teaching practices:grammar as conceptbackwards planningappropriate feedbackauthentic resourcesuse target language for teachingcommunicative activitiesConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast. #147Throughout the school year I published Leveling Up Coaching episodes with language teachers who are taking on a challenge area in their teaching or simply wanted to improve in a particular area. As part of this collaborative relationship we talk through some possibilities and come up with an action plan. After some time implementing I check back in to see how things are going.  On today's episode you will be a part of that follow-up.Leveling Up Coaching Episodes & Action Plans:Tamica, Streamline Lesson Planning (109)Jenn, Teaching and Assessing Writing (114)Lisa,What If Common Assessments Are Not Proficiency-Based (118)Judy IPAs and World Language Standards (122)Victoria Addressing Disruptions Constructively, Effectively and Equitably (130)Stephanie, Engaging Speaking Activities for Language Growth (134)Liz, From Unit Plans to Daily Lessons (138):Stephanie, Keep Up Your Own Target Language Proficiency and Confidence (143)Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  __________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.

#146When it comes to providing comprehensible input, is it possible to use authentic resources? In this episode, we explore how to use authentic listening resources as a form of comprehensible input with Steven Lopez, a Spanish teacher in New York. Steven shares his process for preparing and scaffolding listening tasks so that students are able to confidently understand the target language in authentic contexts.  You will walk away with lots of ideas to use in your classroom.Topics In This Episode:interpretive listening  as a foundational skill for students in language acquisitionhow incorporating authentic listening materials enhances students' language proficiency and confidenceexamples of successful classroom activities practical strategies that teachers can use to engage students in interpretive listening tasks that support the development of speaking and writing skillsensuring that interpretive listening activities not only serve as an entry point but also scaffold students' progression towards more complex speaking and writing tasksConnect with Steven Lopez:Twitter/X : @Profelopez21Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

#145In this episode I'm taking on the question of leveling up.  We often talk about proficiency levels and the output that goes along with each level.  We'll take a look at some concrete examples of language produced at each level and I'll share some suggestions for how we can support students in leveling up their language.Topics In This Episode:The ACTFL Proficiency Levels (Interpersonal)Novice Low/Mid/High: single words, chunks, chunked phrases.Intermediate Low/Mid/High: discrete sentences, strings of sentences, moving toward paragraphsAdvanced Low/Mid/High: paragraphs, multiple paragraphsConcrete examples of the language that students produce at each level and sub level with suggestions for  what they can do to move up a level or sub level.Links mentioned in this episodeBlog Post with PDF download of what language output looks like at each level with suggestions for leveling upEpisode #12 on Proficiency LevelsConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.______________________________Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.______________________________Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.