#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 understa...
#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 look...
#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:Cr...
#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 approachin...
#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 t...
#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 class...
#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 ...
#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 wit...
#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 student...
#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 thi...
#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 condu...
#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 discou...
#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 ...
#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 Worl...
#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 t...
#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 Langu...
#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 (1...
#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 (1...
#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 - Wh...
#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 G...