Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the second part of our series, where we delve deeper into the concept of reimagining language textbooks to enhance the effectiveness of language teaching and make it more engaging. In our previous episode, we explored this exciting approach, and our audience didn't hold back, posing a wide array of questions across four major themes: vocabulary, grammar, structurin...

Send us Fan Mail Are you frustrated with language textbooks that seem to prioritize vocabulary lists and grammar drills? If you are,  this is the episode for you. In this episode, we'll talk about some of the shortcomings of traditional language textbooks and explore four practical ideas to better align them with the principles of second language acquisition (SLA). Discover how to shift the f...

Send us Fan Mail Are you looking for new ideas to help your students comprehend texts beyond words? If you are, this episode is for you! In this episode, I'll share my biggest takeaways from the AATSP Fall Conference, featuring Dr. Florencia Henshaw, where she shares all about Interpretive Communication and its vital role in language acquisition. Get ready to discover or rediscover highly eff...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Growing With Proficiency The Podcast. We've got something special lined up for Episode 50!!!  In this episode, we've got Bertha Delgadillo,  Spanish teacher and 2022 TOY for the state of Georgia. Today Bertha is sharing with us all about Hexagonal Thinking in the World Language class.  But, what is Hexagonal Thinking? It´s a great strategy borrowed from t...

Send us Fan Mail ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado cómo pequeños cambios en la forma en que enseñamos pueden tener un impacto profundo en la experiencia de aprendizaje? En este episodio especial, te invito a explorar mi aula de español, donde transformé tres prácticas fundamentales: nombres, lenguaje y cultura. ¿Qué ocurrió cuando me di cuenta de que era hora de cambiar? En este episodio compartiré có...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we're delving into one of my favorite activities that not only enables me to use a wealth of target language in context but also cultivates connections with my students – the incredible Star Student Interviews! In this episode, I'll be sharing what exactly this activity entails, how to smoothly introduce it to your class, the types of questions to pose, strategies...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how to ignite true engagement and create meaningful connections with your students while using the target language? In this episode, I share with you the secrets behind the magic of Personalized Questions and Answers (PQAs) and how they can be used in your class as part of your daily routine but also to elevate your curriculum. Tune in to learn my 3-question...

Send us Fan Mail Ever come across the 5 E Model? It's a strategy that initially found its roots in science classes. But guess what? In this episode, Chelsea Lawrence shares with us how she's tweaked and fine-tuned it to fit right into her Spanish class. So, what exactly do those E's stand for? Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate – they're like the building blocks...

Send us Fan Mail Join me for an exciting new episode of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast that will make you want to dance – not just on the dance floor, but in your mind too!  Have you ever pondered over the question,  “¿Quieres bailar conmigo?” "Do you want to dance with me?" It's more than a simple inquiry; it's a gateway to a world of emotions, experiences, and tradition...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a special episode packed with valuable insights that can make a real difference in your school year. Join us as we dive into an engaging conversation recorded during the CI Reboot 23 online conference in July 2023. In this episode, two fantastic language educators, Adriana Ramírez and Dahiana Castro, share their proven strategies for nurturing trust and confidence in th...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself wondering how you can bring about meaningful changes in your teaching practice when faced with numerous constraints like textbooks and curriculum limitations? Well, get ready to be inspired as we dive into an episode that will give you the motivation to make a real difference in your classroom! In this episode, we bring you the incredible journey of An...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Part 2 of our Back-to-School Series, where we're excited to share a treasure trove of ideas, activities, and strategies to set the stage for an incredibly successful year. Today, we're diving deep into that all-important first day of class. But you might be wondering, why is the first day so significant? Well, it's because that initial encounter with...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, we dive into 4 key areas to prepare for a successful academic year before your students even step foot into the classroom. Join us as we explore how to optimize your classroom space, strategic classroom arrangement, essential information to communicate to our students and parents, and student surveys. Discover how working o...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Florencia Henshaw, diving deeper into the world of language acquisition and the role of input. Join us as Florencia sheds light on the concept of processing instruction, unraveling its significance in helping students establish form-meaning connections. Discover how these principles can be effectively applied to design-structu...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready for an AMAZING episode? In this first part of a two-part episode,  I had the honor to talk to Dr. Florencia Henshaw who shared her insights not only about the role of input for language acquisition but also how our students need to interact with that input and practical strategies for all teachers to compel students to not only listen but make form-meaning connection...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to join us in an incredible conversation with Dr. Diane Neubauer about the use of the target language in language classes! In this episode, we'll explore all your burning questions about using the target language in class like whether the use of target language is equally effective for language acquisition or whether we should let students use their first language i...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for another episode of "Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast"! In today's episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Dr. Karen Lichtman, a renowned expert and researcher in the field of second language acquisition and TPRS. Join us as Dr. Lichtman shares her research findings on language acquisition, specifically focusing on TPRS, and explores their impl...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to elevate your teaching practice to new heights? In this episode of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, we invite you to explore the powerful STEP Forward protocol designed specifically for language teachers. Now, you might be wondering, is this relevant and practical for my classroom? The answer is a resounding yes! Discover the key elements of STEP Forward: Stud...

Send us Fan Mail What is the #1 thing you're looking forward to in the summer? Is it the freedom from schedules, the ability to use the bathroom whenever you want, the relief from preparing lesson plans, or perhaps all of the above? I feel you. I love every aspect of summer too, but I've also experienced how quickly it can slip away, leaving me without the relaxation and rejuvenation I h...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for an amazing episode with Dahiana Castro, an amazing Spanish and French teacher! Dahiana is sharing with us today three super fun games that will bring back the energy and excitement to your classroom. These games are like hidden treasures that you'll want to keep until the perfect moment. So, grab your popcorn and tune in to discover these awesome activities that...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this inspiring episode for a thought-provoking conversation with Akash Patel, a renowned Spanish teacher, the current president of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), and the founder of the Happy World Foundation. Akash takes us on a journey through his personal experiences, sharing how his passion for languages and a tragic event led him to c...

Send us Fan Mail How often do you ask your students for their feedback? If I’m honest, this is a practice that I incorporated in my class just a few years ago, but I wish I had done it before because the impact has been tremendous.  That’s why in this episode of "Growing With Proficiency, I'll share with you the why and how I ask for my students’ feedback. I know that asking for student...

Send us Fan Mail Are you feeling end-of-the-year burnout? Or maybe you're looking for practical, engaging lessons that can stand independently at any point during the year. Look no further than this must-listen podcast episode! Join me as I share my insights on what to avoid at the end of the school year and how to keep students engaged and motivated until the very last day. Plus, discover th...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever hesitated to try something new in your classroom, convinced it would require too much work and too little control? That's exactly how I felt about using stations in my language class - until I tried it, and loved it! In this episode, I’ll share why I decided to try stations, how I set it up, and 10 ideas for different stations.  From small-group discussions to g...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a language teacher looking for ways to engage your students?  If you’re, you’re not alone.  How to engage students is the most common question among teachers today, and that’s why I’m so excited about today's episode of Growing With Proficiency! Let's face it, even the most compelling and relevant unit won't make much of an impact if students aren't eng...