We Teach Languages

In ep 60, Eric Hartman and Richard Kiely respond to listener questions about service learning based on their book Community-Based Global Learning. Richard and Eric approach international, community-based, and global service learning from perspectives that language teachers will find immediately applicable to their own work whether they are taking their students into L2 communities as part of a cou...

In ep 59, Stacey interviews Eric Hartman and Richard Kiely about the principles and experiences that inspired them to write the book Community-Based Global Learning. Richard and Eric approach international, community-based, and global service learning from perspectives that language teachers will find immediately applicable to their own work whether they are taking their students into L2 communiti...

In ep 58, Steve Smith discusses principles for language instruction that will help teachers navigate the complexity of the current post-methods era. Between book/blog writing, academic study, and classroom teaching, Steve is a perennial source of useful information for language teachers.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/06/22/ep-58-with-steve-smith We welcome feedback,...

In ep 57, Stacey interviews Dr. Florencia Henshaw, Director of the Center for Language Instruction and Coordination (CLIC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Florencia discusses some of the resources CLIC has to offer teachers such as free online webinars, how the virtual exchange tool TalkAbroad is making a difference in Florencia's program, and some of the ways that second language...

In ep 56, Stacey talks with Martina Bex, whom many listeners might recognize from her blog, the Comprehensible Classroom. Martina tells us about her journey of figuring out what works best for her and her students and outlines how teachers can write comprehensible texts for their students. If you want to create your own level-appropriate written and oral L2 texts in order to bring in culture or cu...

In ep 55, Stacey learns about designing and assessing L2 writing assignments from Dr. Heather Willis Allen, associate professor of French at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Heather is an accomplished teacher and researcher, co-author of a 2016 book on multiliteracies along with Kate Paesani and Beatrice Dupuy, and brings a research-informed perspective to topics such as how to provide writt...

In ep 54, Sichen Wan interviews an EFL teacher that was influential in her own study of English, Mei Zhou. Mei teaches at a languages-focused high school in Chengdu, China and has been teaching for 18 years. In their conversation, Sichen asks Mei about what excellent language teaching looks like and Mei provides some great advice for new language teachers.  For links and show notes, visit http://w...

In ep 53, Diego Ojeda and Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell, two of the founding moderators of the #langchat Twitter professional development network, share their conversation with us. Diego and Sara-Elizabeth talk about how #langchat got started, some of the challenges of engaging professionally across differences, and other topics related to every language teacher's favorite online chat.  For links and sh...

In ep 52, Dr. Beniko Mason joins the podcast to talk to Stacey about Story Listening and the most efficient way for learners to acquire language. In her four decades of teaching and researching, Dr. Mason has produced both impressive research as well as impressive results for her students. Be sure to check out the show notes to find links to her publications and current projects.  For links and sh...

In ep 51, Stacey interviewed Erin Carlson at the SCOLT (Southern Conference on Language Teaching) annual conference in March. They talk about why Erin is so passionate about professional development, and how she got started presenting at conferences. Erin also shares some of her standing-room-only SCOLT presentation called The Big Three: 3 Daily Activities to Get your Kids Reading, Writing and Spe...

In ep 50, Stacey asks 'Besides proficiency in the language, what do you want your students to learn in your language classroom?" We all want our students to learn  language. However, there are other things students can and should learn through language study. In March, at the SCOLT annual meeting, Stacey asked attendees this question. The answers Stacey recorded reflect teachers' diverse perspecti...

In ep 49, Stacey is joined by Dr. Kate Paesani, the Director of the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA). Kate tells us about the wealth of resources CARLA can offer teachers. She also discusses her research on multiliteracies, a framework that allows learners to engage with authentic texts in multiple ways.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/04/20...

In ep 48, Stacey hears from Australian educator, advocate, and #AusELT administrator, Lesley Cioccarelli. Lesley explains some of the options for language learning and settlement available to recent immigrants in Australia. She also talks about the professional organizations that advocate for the best interests of those learners and why teachers should be members of their local and national profes...

In ep 47, Rebecca Blouwolff and Tim Eagan talk about their work together in a Massachusetts language department, Rebecca as a middle school French teacher and Tim and as the department chair. They talk about continuing professional development for language teachers from both the teacher and the administrator perspective.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/04/06/ep-47-wit...

In ep 46, Stacey interviews Mura Nava, who teaches English to adults in France, about the state of the English language teaching labor market. Mura shares his experiences as an English teacher in France and introduces us to some individuals and organizations working for justice for teachers.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/03/30/ep-46-with-mura-nava We welcome feedbac...

In ep 45, Stacey talks with Anneke Oppewal, a middle school teacher in North Carolina, and Jennifer Wooten, a college instructor in Florida, about how they have transformed units on food and housing by focusing on questions accessible to novice and intermediate students. Anneke and Jen share specific examples from their own teaching--lessons and units they have built over time through collaboratio...

In ep 44 , Stacey shares an interview with Terry Osborn that she conducted as part of the 2018 issue of Dimension, the peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) . This special issue, which Stacey co-edited with Paula Garrett-Rucks, contains seven chapters all focused on how critical pedagogy and social justice play out in the language classroom. Listeners will g...

In ep 43, Stacey asks Ryuko Kubota, a professor of language and literacy education at the University of British Colombia, about a recent publication in which she explores ten common misconceptions in English language teaching (ELT). Ryuko talks about several of those misconceptions, including how beliefs about native speakers, whiteness, and legitimate forms of language contribute to the general p...

In ep 42, Stacey interviews Daniel Woolsey, an associate professor of Spanish at a liberal arts college in Michigan, who teaches courses including fourth-semester Spanish and Hispanic linguistics. Daniel explains how language teachers can focus on critical cultural content, let go of explicit grammar instruction, and trust the acquisition process to take place.  For links and show notes, visit htt...

In ep 41, Stacey does a bit of digging to learn about different ways teachers conceptualize and make use of vocab lists. Kara Parker, a teacher trainer and consultant in Florida, and Alicia Quintero, a high school teacher in Illinois, both contribute to this discussion about how to make vocab lists useful for learning.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/02/23/ep-41-with-k...

In ep 40, Ningxin Zheng interviews Yang Yu, a graduate student in English Language Education who has previously taught diverse learners in China including peers at the college level and middle schoolers at a school for the blind.  Yang discusses a range of topics including showing respect for learners, maintaining student interest in learning, and teaching pronunciation.  For links and show notes,...

In ep 39, Stacey interviews Gabriele Dillmann, an associate professor of German at Denison University, a liberal arts college in Ohio. Gabriele is the director of the Great Lakes Colleges Association's Shared Languages Program, a project that aims to address issues facing upper-level under-enrolled language courses as well as broadening the course offerings for lesser-taught languages.  This episo...

In ep 38, Stacey talks with Gillian Lord, professor and chair of the Department of  Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Florida, about her work researching and teaching pronunciation.  For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/02/02/ep-38-with-gillian-lord We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspectives on this topic! To contribute to the conversation started her...

In ep 37, a special crossover episode, we get to hear an excerpt of Lisa Shepard's interview with Laura Terril about her book The Keys to Planning for Learning. This interview took place on Thursday January 25, 2018 as part of the #LangBook Twitter chat series and is available on YouTube in its entirety.  Check out the show notes for the video link at http://weteachlang.com/2018/01/26/ep-37-with-l...

In ep 36, Stacey asks Rich Madel, a secondary Spanish teacher and department chair in Pennsylvania, about how he and his colleagues moved from a textbook-based curriculum to IPA-based units that build on authentic resources using backward design.   For links and show notes, visit http://weteachlang.com/2018/01/19/ep-36-with-rich-madel We welcome feedback, resources, and diverse perspectives on thi...