We Teach Languages

In ep 35, Stacey talks with Laura Parker about her experiences teaching both English and French to native English-speaking students. Laura discusses the overlaps between the two types of language teaching and some the challenges that ELA teachers face in the US high school context.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/01/12/ep-35-with-Laura Parker We welcome feedback, resou...

In ep 34, Danielle Dorvil interviews Professor Raul Rosales Herrera, Associate Professor of Spanish at Drew University. Raul discusses his perspective on excellent language teaching and the goals he and his institution have set for students.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/01/05/ep-34-with-raul-rosales We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspectives on this t...

In ep 33, Stacey talks about how the podcast grew in 2017, some of the themes and highlights from the year, and how listeners can get involved as guests and contributors in 2018.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/12/22/ep-33-2017-year-end-wrap-up We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspectives on this topic! To contribute to the conversation started here, leave...

In ep 32, Stacey shares an interview with Walter Hopkins, instructor and assistant director of the Michigan State University Spanish language program. Walter discusses his perspective on excellent language teaching, unpacks some of the issues faced by new language instructors, and explains how his language program has developed around proficiency goals.   For links and show notes, visit http://wet...

In ep 31, Stacey chats with Maris Hawkins, a middle and high school Spanish teacher who has used class novels, graphic novels, and free voluntary reading in her classes, as well as a variety of technologies to make student learning visible. Maris is also a prolific blogger and discusses how we can all share what's happening in our own classrooms and get ideas and resources from other teachers shar...

In ep 30, Jose Luis de Ramon Ruiz interviews Patrick Murphy about how his teaching has changed during his nearly 20 year career teaching language courses at the university level. In their conversation, they touch on how Patrick uses Twitter to connect students to real-time culture as well as his future plans for virtual reality as a learning tool. Patrick also discusses how being afraid to fail ca...

In ep 29, Stacey interviews Joe Barcroft, a professor and researcher specializing in vocabulary acquisition. His articles appear in journals such as Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Language Learning, The Modern Language Journal, Foreign Language Annals, and others. In this interview, we discuss his ten principles for vocabulary acquisition from his book Input-Based Incremental Vocabulary I...

In ep 28, Stacey interviews Joe Barcroft, a professor and researcher specializing in vocabulary acquisition. His articles appear in journals such as Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Language Learning, The Modern Language Journal, Foreign Language Annals, and others. In this interview, we discuss his ten principles for vocabulary acquisition from his book Input-Based Incremental Vocabulary (...

In ep 26, Stacey talks with Manuela Wagner all about her new book, Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence Across the Age Range: From Theory to Practice (Multilingual Matters, 2017) co-edited with Michael Byram and Dorie Conlon Perugini. Manuela describes how this collaborative, practice-oriented work came to be and how it might be useful for teachers.  For links and show notes, visit http...

In ep 26, Stacey talks with Justin Slocum Bailey about his work as a teacher, consultant, and teacher developer. Justin discusses teaching Latin communicatively, and then answers a listener question about how how teachers can maintain their own proficiency in the language they teach.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/11/03/episode-26-teaching-communicative-latin-and-mai...

In ep 25, Stacey responds to a comment from a listener about whether tests have any place in the language classroom. Stacey recalls some previous interviews in which tests were discussed, and gives two examples of how tests might be applied effectively to help students interpret and retrieve language.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/10/27/ep-25-listener-comment-on-test...

In ep 24, Caleb Howard interviews Amanda Seewald, a teacher, coach, and curriculum developer in New Jersey, about her experiences advocating for world languages and for her students, including how her advocacy work led to the signing of the Seal of Biliteracy into law in 2016.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/10/20/episode-24-advocacy-with-Amanda-Seewald We welcome fee...

In ep 23, Stacey asks Paul Sandrock, Director of Education at ACTFL, about performance assessment. Why should teachers use performance assessment, how does it work, and what resources does ACTFL have to help? For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/10/13/episode-23-performance-assessment-with-paul-sandrock We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspectives on this topic!...

In ep 22, Sarah Arvidson interviews Kari Neely, an associate professor of Arabic, about some of the challenges associated with maintaining a college Arabic program through the third year. They discuss how Kari integrates native and heritage speakers into her third year course, which varieties of Arabic to teach and when, and how technology can help students acquire vocabulary. For links and show n...

In ep 21, Stacey interviews Sebastiaan Faber, Professor and Chair of Hispanic Studies at Oberlin College, about the some of the cross-curricular innovations in his department including languages across the curriculum, team teaching with faculty from other departments, and incorporating campus resources into the classroom experience.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/09/2...

In episode 20, Caleb Howard interviews Noemi Rodriguez, a language supervisor in New Jersey, about the trends and challenges she has observed both in her position as supervisor and in her work as a language teacher. Noemi also discusses her passion and process for creating professional development opportunities for language teachers.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/09/...

In episode 19, Stacey talks with Caleb Howard about the impact professional development has made in his teaching career and teaching practice. After attending his first ACTFL convention in 2012, Caleb reevaluated his target language use with his early language learners and started a blog to help others use 90%+ target language in the classroom.. For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.c...

In episode 18, Stacey interviews Catherine Ousselin, a French teacher from Washington state who holds the distinction of being the 2017 Pacific NW Council for Languages Teacher of the Year.  She is also a finalist for the ACTFL Teacher of the Year honor for 2018 and an avid technologist. Catherine discusses specific technologies and classroom practices that she employs in her classroom, including...

Stacey wraps up her conversation with Gianfranco Conti, a well-known MFL (Modern Foreign Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher and teacher developer. We talk about a few of Gianfranco's tips for how to maximize student learning and focus on long-term progress. For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/08/25/we-teach-languages-episode-17-making-research-more-ac...

In episode 16, Stacey interviews Gianfranco Conti, a well-known MFL (Modern Foreign Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher and teacher developer. He has taught languages all over Europe and in Malaysia, and has a deep knowledge of both research and practice. In his blog, Gianfranco synthesizes research on language teaching and learning to make it more accessible to teachers. We...

In episode 15, Stacey turns the microphone around on Liz Lake and Stephanie Hernandez, two faculty members in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Minnesota who started a podcast in order to provide their students with meaningful, authentic listening opportunities. They discuss their work and invite listeners to use their podcast episodes in their own classrooms. For links...

In episode 14, Stacey talks with Lisa Shepard, a language teacher who, over the course of her 29-year teaching career, has successfully transitioned from verb conjugations and traditional tests to authentic resources and performance assessments. Lisa shares her own journey as well as practical advice for teachers interested in teaching for proficiency. For links and show notes, visit http://weteac...

In episode 13, Stacey asks Noah about his experience as the 2013 ACTFL Teacher of the Year. Noah also shares resources and ideas for two of his favorite topics in language education: culture and technology.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/07/28/we-teach-languages-episode-13-toy-culture-and-technology-with-noah-geisel We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspect...

In episode 12 of We Teach Languages, Stacey interviews Laurel Abreu about a class she teaches that explores racial and linguistic diversity in Spanish, about a 2016 paper she wrote on teaching racial diversity, and about her own journey to grow as a teacher and become more aware of difference.    For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2017/07/21/episode-12-teaching-racial-diversity...

In episode 11 of We Teach Languages, Stacey answers a couple of listener questions about teaching culture. 1) Should I teach culture in students' native language or in the target language? 2) What is the best way to assess students' knowledge of culture?  We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspectives on this topic! To contribute to the conversation started here, leave us a voicemail or...