Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Send us Fan Mail ¿Te gustaría saber cómo construir un currículo que no solo facilite la adquisición de una segunda lengua, sino que también cumpla con los exigentes requisitos de tus clases incluyendo tus clases de AP e IB?  En este episodio, comparto el modelo clave que he desarrollado para lograrlo en todas mis clases. Descubre cómo puedes aplicar estas estrategias en tu aula: Superando Desafíos...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a milestone episode of Growing with Proficiency! 🎉 Today, we’re celebrating our 100th episode with a deep dive into sustaining joy and passion in teaching. I’m thrilled to be joined by two powerhouse educators, Meredith White and Bertha Delgadillo, who will share their insights on how to maintain joy in our classrooms despite the challenges we face. After countless off...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, we welcome back Dr. Karen Lichtman for a great conversation on TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling).  Dr. Karen Lichtman, an expert in the field and the author of the book Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), explains the three core steps of TPRS: establishing meaning, asking a story, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, the podcast, I sit down with Hélène Colinet to discuss why and how we need to break the myth of grammar teaching and the importance of leading our classes with comprehensible input.  Originally from France and now residing in Spain, Hélène is an extraordinary language educator and trainer who has guided over 2,000 teachers towards more...

Send us Fan Mail En este episodio, reflexionamos sobre uno de los mayores desafíos que enfrentan los profesores al hacer la transición de métodos tradicionales a métodos comunicativos: la apatía y las distracciones de los estudiantes.  Analizamos cómo esta apatía ya existía con los métodos tradicionales, pero se vuelve más evidente cuando necesitamos una participación activa en el aula. Discutimos...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a powerful conversation with Becca Silver, an instructional coach and the CEO and founder of The Whole Educator. In this episode, we dive into the powerful world of mindsets in education—exploring what growth mindset truly is and how it impacts our brains, backed by fascinating research from Michigan State University. Becca shares why having a growth mindset alone isn&...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Growing With Proficiency The Podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about story asking – a powerful strategy that can help you deliver a ton of comprehensible and compelling input while building a strong community inside your class. In this episode I’ll share what story asking is, why it’s so successful, and how you can effectively implement it in you...

Send us Fan Mail Are you looking for an interactive and engaging activity to boost your students' participation and build a strong classroom community at the end of the school year? In this episode of "Growing With Proficiency, the podcast," we explore a unique twist on the popular Card Talk activity that my students absolutely loved! In this activity, I’ll share with you how to tur...

Send us Fan Mail Is our assessment and grading system aligned with how we teach?  We’re opening the episode with this important question. Join me in this conversation with Michelle Olah while we discuss aligning grading practices with actual language proficiency. We discuss the disconnect between traditional grading systems and what we do in class, discussing the need for a shift towards proficien...

Send us Fan Mail Brace yourself for an authentic exploration of assessments in the world language classroom.  In this episode, I share personal struggles and transformative insights that reframe how we assess language learning. Discover strategies that emphasize growth and celebrate student progress. Highlights: Reflecting on personal challenges with traditional assessment methods. Examining the f...

Send us Fan Mail ¿Te perdiste la conferencia de CI Mitten? No te preocupes, en este episodio te traemos un cargamento de actividades y estrategias que Nelly Andrade, Dahiana Castro y yo descubrimos y exploramos durante el evento. Desde herramientas interactivas como Flippity, hasta técnicas para crear historias con tus estudiantes, pasando por métodos innovadores para evaluar oralmente y divertido...

Send us Fan Mail In this in-person episode from the CI Mitten conference, Dr. Diane Neubauer and AnneMarie Chase joined me to talk about the multifaceted concept of student engagement in the world language classroom. We uncover and challenge traditional views of engagement, offering innovative strategies and real-life applications that will inspire and empower educators. **Show Notes:** What is en...

Send us Fan Mail Are you searching for low-prep games perfect for this busy time of year? Look no further! In this episode, join us as we welcome two incredible educators from Colombia, Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez. They're here to share five engaging, low-prep games that are ideal for any classroom setting. These games are designed to boost engagement, foster community, review content,...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to our conversation with Dr. Bill VanPatten. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, click here to listen. In this second part, we continue exploring the intricacies of language acquisition, focusing on the role of grammar, the importance of input, and the evolution of output in language learning. Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on creating engaging and effective languag...

Send us Fan Mail In this special, we’re joined by an exceptional guest, Dr. Bill VanPatten. In this conversation, Dr. VanPatten shares with us the importance of acknowledging the undeniable role of input in language acquisition, the true nature of language, and the limitations of traditional instruction. Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on how language acquisition really unfolds and offers practi...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 86 of "Growing With Proficiency The Podcast," we had a powerful conversation with AC Quintero, a remarkable Spanish teacher, writer, presenter, trainer, and coach in language acquisition. In this conversation, we dove into the significance of free voluntary reading in the classroom, exploring how to make reading an engaging and meaningful experience for studen...

Send us Fan Mail En este episodio titulado "Voces Diversas y Representación en la Formación de Profesores de Lengua," tenemos el placer de contar con la presencia de Bertha Delgadillo.  Juntas, exploramos la importancia crucial de incluir una amplia variedad de voces y perspectivas en el mundo de la enseñanza de idiomas. Reflexionamos sobre nuestras propias experiencias y antecedentes, y...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this powerful conversation with Dr. Stephen Krashen, a renowned expert in the field of Second Language Acquisition. In this episode, Dr. Krashen shares his invaluable insights on the critical role of reading in language learning, the importance of compelling input, and the often-overlooked distinction between acquisition and learning. Main Highlights: The Role of Gramma...

Send us Fan Mail I love conferences, and this one was not the exception.  SCOLT 24 was full of amazing sessions, incredible presenters, and outstanding conversations.  In this episode, I will do my best to share with you some of my biggest takeaways. Key Highlights: Strategies to use your textbook as a guide on the side: Daily routine with Gallery Walk and Games of Consequences Games to add engage...

Send us Fan Mail Are you searching for a powerful low-prep activity that you can use in any of your classes? Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Ben Fisher Rodriguez, an exceptional Spanish and German teacher, who will share his insights on Card Talk. I must admit, I haven't utilized Card Talk much in my classes, usually only a few times a year. However, after this conversation with Ben,...

Send us Fan Mail Si no has escuchado la primera parte de esta conversación, ve al episodio 79 para escuchar y después regresa a este.  En esta segunda parte nos adentramos en la nueva metodología que la Dra. Alberta Gatti propone para apoyar el desarrollo de la competencia escrita de los estudiantes de herencia. Esta metodología tiene tres componentes: A. Lectura independiente, B. Análisis de Text...

Send us Fan Mail Did you take a Second Language Teaching Methods class? I did. However, in that class, I didn't learn about comprehensible input or the nature of language, which are the essential foundations in Second Language Acquisition. That's why this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, I sit down with Elicia Cárdenas, the Director of Training at the Comprehensible Classroom,...

Send us Fan Mail ¿Te has preguntado cómo apoyar de manera efectiva a tus estudiantes de herencia en su desarrollo de expresión escrita? En esta primera parte de un episodio especial, nos sumergimos en una conversación con la Dra. Alberta Gatti, experta en literatura, alfabetización y lingüística aplicada, para explorar los objetivos y metodologías en nuestras clases con estudiantes de herencia. Pr...

Send us Fan Mail Are you tired of feeling misunderstood by your administrators during observations? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Pablo Martinez to uncover actionable strategies for more successful observations and building a stronger understanding between language teachers and their administrators. Key Highlights: The Reality of Administrator Knowledge: Dr. Martinez discusses the common g...

Send us Fan Mail Are you on the lookout for effective strategies to enhance engagement in your world language classes? Join us in this episode as we explore the power of incorporating music into language learning with Justin from Spanish Plans. We delve into March Madness, a dynamic approach to using music that has significantly boosted student interest and participation in Spanish classes. March...