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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, we continue the series on how to build foundational skills for language acquisition in intentional 5-minute blocks.

This episode focuses on one powerful — and often underestimated — skill: asking better questions.

We know questions are essential for staying in the target language, checking comprehension, and personalizing instruction. But when questions feel too complex or unsafe, students shut down. When we stay too long in low-level questions, attention drops.

In this episode, I break down how to sequence questions intentionally so students feel successful, engaged, and ready to communicate — without overwhelming you or them.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why asking questions is a foundational skill for acquisition-driven instruction
• The difference between display questions and referential questions — and why we need both
• How to use circling to add repetition and processing time
• Why circling alone is not enough to sustain communication
• A step-by-step questioning sequence you can use in just 5 minutes
• How to manage cognitive load while increasing student participation
• How to move from comprehension to communication intentionally

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

🎧 Episode 175:
How to Maximize Target Language Use in 5-Minute Blocks

🎧 Episode 157:
Episode with Dr. Karen Leachman and Jason Fritze on the three basic skills for language acquisition

🎧 Episode 54:
Episode with Paulino Brenner on display vs. referential questions and question complexity

Free Webinar Invitation

If you’re thinking, “This makes sense, but how do I put it all together into an actual lesson?” — I’ve got you.

I’m hosting a free live webinar where I’ll show you how to plan ONE lesson for different levels. 

👉 Register at growingwithproficiency.com/onelesson
📅 January 15 | 7:00 PM ET

Five minutes at a time — that’s how we build clarity, confidence, and sustainability in our teaching 💛

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En este episodio de Growing With Proficiency, hablo de tres habilidades esenciales para la adquisición de la lengua que sostienen nuestras clases comunicativas: maximizar el uso de la lengua meta, hacer preguntas que apoyen la comprensión y muevan la conservación y ajustar y personalizar el contenido.

Pero, ¿cómo podemos cultivar estas habilidades sin que creemos una mayor carga de trabajo y mayores niveles de estrés? En bloques de cinco minutos.  Por eso, en este episodio comparto comparto una secuencia práctica de actividades, organizadas en bloques de 5 minutos, que puedes integrar fácilmente en una sola lección y adaptar a diferentes niveles.

La secuencia incluye Estudiante Estrella, Escribir y discutir (Write & Discuss) y una actividad de lectura en clase con traducción, acompañada de actividades basadas en el texto y el juego de la desaparición del texto. El enfoque no es planear más, sino planear mejor, usando rutinas repetibles y sostenibles.

🎯 Lo que aprenderás en este episodio:

• Cuáles son las tres habilidades básicas para la adquisición de la lengua
• Una secuencia clara de tres actividades que maximiza el input comprensible
• Cómo ajustar y personalizar sin añadir más carga a tu planificación
• Por qué las rutinas repetibles hacen la enseñanza más sostenible

🔗 Recursos mencionados

🎧 Episodio 157 – The Three Basic Skills for Language Acquisition Instruction
🎧 Episodio 54 – Paulino Brener: El arte de hacer preguntas en clases de lenguas

📌 Webinario gratuito en español
 🎓Regístrate acá ➡️  Cómo planear UNA lección para diferentes niveles
🗓 15 de enero | ⏰ 7:00 p. m. (hora del Este) 

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Happy New Year, profe 🎉 If you’re setting classroom goals for 2026—this episode is for you.

So many language teachers want the same thing: use more target language, keep students engaged, and support acquisition… but “90% in the TL” can feel overwhelming.

In this first episode of a 3-part mini-series, I’m sharing a more realistic approach: think in 5-minute moments. Because five minutes is doable—and when you repeat it, it adds up.

Inspired by my conversation in Episode 158 with Dr. Karen Lichtman and Jason Fritze, this episode focuses on the foundation: teacher talk that’s comprehensible. Remember: what matters most isn’t how much students speak—it’s how much they understand.

✅ What you’ll learn (takeaways)

• Why comprehensible teacher talk matters more than pushing student output
• How to stop chasing percentages and start building momentum 5 minutes at a time
• 3 practical 5-minute routines to increase target language use without stress:
  • Classroom instructions you can point to, gesture, and recycle
  • A quick daily check-in / morning meeting that builds connection and input
  • A low-stress familiar text + audio (cloze) routine that boosts listening confidence
• What to do when you slip into English (hint: reflect, adjust, keep going)

🎯 Try one routine this week and DM me how it goes!

Mentioned in this episode:
Episode 158 (Dr. Karen Lichtman + Jason Fritze)
Episode 160 (Save time, reduce stress, maximize TL with routines)

Other links:

• Find me on Instagram: @claudia.m.elliott
• Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy → growingwithproficiency.com/academy
• Discover culturally rich, month-specific resources for Spanish classes in my TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency.

Nos vemos pronto 💛

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Do you spend too much time lesson planning, searching for files, or managing your inbox—and still feel like you’re always behind?

In this re-released episode of Growing With Proficiency, I’m joined by Lisa McCart to talk about how systems and organization can help teachers reclaim their time without adding more stress.

Teachers spend hours every week redoing lessons, digging through Google Drive (or its equivalent), and trying to stay on top of email. Yet when we hear phrases like organize your drive or clean your inbox, it often feels overwhelming and unrealistic. In this episode, we break down simple, practical systems for teachers that make lesson planning more efficient and help reduce burnout.

Lisa shares actionable strategies for organizing digital files, creating sustainable routines, and managing your inbox so you can focus on what matters most—your students and your well-being.

This episode is especially helpful if you’re looking for:

✅ Teacher organization tips

✅ Lesson planning systems for teachers

✅ Google Drive organization for educators

✅ Time management strategies for teachers

✅ Ways to reduce teacher stress and burnout

If you want to start the year with clearer systems, less overwhelm, and more confidence in your planning, this episode is for you.

Hit play and learn how to reclaim your time—inside and outside the classroom.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Why teachers spend so much time searching for files and recreating lessons

✨ How simple organization systems save time instead of adding more work

✨ Practical ways to organize Google Drive for lesson planning

✨ Inbox management strategies that actually work for teachers

✨ How routines and systems create clarity, not rigidity

✨Why small, consistent systems lead to long-term time savings

Whether you’re a new teacher or a veteran educator, these strategies will help you feel more in control of your time and energy.

Resources Mentioned

• Lisa McHargue
• Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy → growingwithproficiency.com/academy
• Follow me on Instagram @claudiamelliott 
• ​​📑 Discover culturally rich, month-specific resources for Spanish classes in my TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency.

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As the school year wraps up, there’s no better time to reflect—not just on what we think worked, but on how students experienced our class. In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I’m sharing how I use end-of-year surveys to gather meaningful feedback that helps me adjust my teaching and better meet my students’ needs.

I’ll walk you through key survey questions that cover classroom culture, comprehension, learning strategies, and personal progress. I’ll also reflect on the responses of my own students and how those responses are helping me to adjust some of my lessons, routines, and strategies—all while keeping things simple and actionable.

If you want to close the year with purpose and set yourself up for a stronger start next year, grab a notebook and let’s start.

Resources & Links:

1. 🎯 Freebie: 10 Stations Template – Keep students engaged while you reflect! 👉growingwithproficiency.com
2. 🎙️ Related Episodes:
   • Episode 125: 3 Creative Ways to Keep Students Engaged and Learning as the Year Ends
   • Episode 76: Talk, Read, Talk, Write with Tan Huynh
   • Episode 124: Silent Sustained Reading: Why It Works & How to Start

🎉 FREE RESOURCE FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS!

“10 Ready-to-Use Station Activities to Keep Students Engaged!”

✅ Reading & Easy Tasks – Print & go!
✅ Engaging & Interactive – Keep students focused!
✅ Low-Prep & Time-Saving – Less work!

Perfect for those moments when students seem more distracted than ever. 

👉 Grab Your Free Resource Now!

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In this episode, we talk about December. I’m sharing three low-stress activities that keep students engaged, help them revisit everything they’ve learned, and still give them meaningful input, even when their energy (and ours) is running low.

These ideas have worked beautifully in my own classroom. My students stay focused, they collaborate, they read, they listen… and I get to step back a little without sacrificing the quality of the lesson. 

Top Takeaways

1. Review + Recall + Input
Students list everything they remember about a story or unit, reread the text in groups, and create an illustrated or mapped version.

2. Dictation That Actually Works in December
We combine recall → dictation → comprehension tasks.

3. “Guess Who?” Based on Your Content
A collaborative guessing game using characters, themes, or topics from the semester. Students listen, discuss, negotiate meaning, and celebrate everything they’ve learned.

Free Resource

Want an easy way to keep students moving and collaborating this month?
Download my Stations Template Freebie here:
👉 growingwithproficiency.com/stations

It includes 10 ready-to-use station ideas you can apply to ANY unit — perfect for December when you need structure + movement + input.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 31 — Stations & Rotations
Ten ideas you can use right away, plus the downloadable template.

Episode 125 — More on Stations
A deeper look at creating smooth, purposeful rotations.

Episode 171 — ClipChat with Amy Marshall
 Ideal for seasonal commercials and short clips during December.

Episode 173 — My ACTFL Takeaways + Dopamine
Great for managing energy and motivation during this season.

December can feel heavy… but with the right activities, it can also feel joyful, calm, and full of meaningful learning.

I hope this episode gives you simple ideas to celebrate everything your students have learned — and to take care of yourself, too. 💛✨

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If you are exhausted this December and looking for simple, meaningful ways to keep your students engaged — this episode is your cafecito.

I’m sharing what truly stood out at ACTFL this year, and spoiler alert: it wasn’t a new app, a new tech tool, or a shiny new curriculum. It was something much more human:

✨ Curiosity + Safety = Motivation.

In a powerful session with Samara Spielberg, she shared how dopamine rises when learners experience curiosity, anticipation, and the desire to know what happens next. And the moment she said that, everything clicked. I suddenly saw the pattern in the effective activities. 

In today’s episode, I break down three simple, low-prep strategies I learned at ACTFL you can use right away in your world language class — even in December — to spark that curiosity while keeping comprehension and safety at the center.

🌟 In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why curiosity naturally increases student motivation
• How Picture Talk with one compelling image can create instant intrigue (learned from Mira Canion)
• How cultural storytelling (inspired by Carolina Gómez) builds prediction, anticipation, and deep meaning
• How the Movie Trailer Technique gives you easy engagement with zero prep
• How simple “cliff-hanger” moments create dopamine, motivation, and comprehension
• Why motivation is not about hype… it’s about relevance, safety, and curiosity

And toward the end, I talk about the piece many of us forget: teachers need community too. ACTFL reminded me that when we feel supported, inspired, and connected — our classrooms change.

Which is exactly why I’m so excited about the six-month membership option now open inside Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy.  This is for any Spanish teacher who wants to grow as a teacher, to gain practical, comprehensible-input strategies, and to access culturally rich units, and a supportive community — without burning out.

If you’re thinking, “I want to teach better, but I need it to feel manageable…” this six-month option is exactly for you. 👉 Join the Academy

The World Largets Lesson with SDG

Samara Spielberg IG: @samaraspielberg 

Carolina Gómez IG: @funforspanishteachers

Mira Canion www.miracanion.com

Episode of Growing With Proficiency on Picture Talk
Episode with Karen Rowan on storytelling, comprehension, and brain-friendly instruction

If this episode gave you a spark of hope this December, share it on IG and tag me @growingwithproficiency.

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¿Te sientes que se te acabo la gasolina? ¿Tienes poco tiempo pero muchas ganas de que tus clases sigan vivas y activas? En este episodio te comparto 3 estrategias reales para que tus clases sean dinámicas, participativas y en español — sin que tengas que quedarte hasta tarde preparando cada día.

Hablamos de:

🎯 Preguntas personales y rutinas de entrada que activan la clase desde el minuto uno.

🔄 Brain breaks, pausas mentales y descansos estratégicos para renovar la atención y la energía.

📚 Lecturas culturales o anclas de input + actividades simples alrededor — para mantener español auténtico sin sobrecargar al profe.

💡 Cómo usar plantillas y rutinas listas (como las de la Spanish Teacher Academy) para planear menos y enseñar mejor.

Si estás buscando una forma sostenible, realista y auténtica de enseñar español, este episodio es para ti.

¿Te interesa explorar más? Ve a growingwithproficiency.com/academy para descubrir cómo puedes unirte a Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy para acceder a recursos completos, plantillas listas y apoyo para planear sin estrés.

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Have you ever felt disconnected from your passion for teaching — like you’re doing all the things but nothing seems to spark joy anymore? You’re not alone. 

In this re-released episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, we talk with Spanish teacher Mirna Deakle, who shares her journey of burnout, rediscovery, and finding her authentic voice in the language classroom.

Mirna opens up about how she shifted from survival mode to purpose-driven teaching by centering her curriculum around culturally rich content and student connection. From a unit inspired by Mayan traditions to facilitating real-world interactions through virtual guest speakers, her transformation shows what’s possible when we stop teaching about the language and start using the language to communicate.

Whether you’re teaching through comprehensible input, content-based instruction, or district-mandated curriculum, this episode offers practical ideas to bring back joy, engagement, and meaning — without adding more to your workload.

🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The emotional and physical challenges that lead many language teachers to feel disconnected
• How to define clear goals and stay focused on what matters despite obstacles
• Practical strategies for integrating authentic cultural content into our classes
• Why student identity, representation, and storytelling increase motivation
• How community and collaboration can reduce burnout and support growth

✨ Key takeaways for world language teachers:

• Find your authentic voice: Your personal story matters — and your students benefit when they hear it.
• Set meaningful goals: Teaching feels lighter when you’re guided by purpose rather than perfection.
• Use culturally rich content: Real voices and lived experiences lead to deeper communication and curiosity.
• Create real-world connections: Students engage more when the classroom feels connected to the world.
• Don’t go alone: Community can make this profession sustainable, energizing, and joyful.

📚 Resources mentioned:

• Balún Canán by Rosario Castellanos
• Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy
• Episode 84 — The Power of Reading for Language Acquisition with Dr. Stephen Krashen
• Episode 51 — Before, During, and After Reading Strategies

If this episode speaks to you, share it with a fellow world language teacher and leave a review — we’d love to hear how you’re rediscovering your voice and joy in the classroom.

For more resources, visit growingwithproficiency.com

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If you’ve ever found yourself searching for an activity that is engaging, meaningful, and actually supports language acquisition, this episode is for you. Many of us want our students to feel confident understanding and using the language — without us spending hours planning something new every day.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Amy Marshall, a world language teacher with over 25 years of classroom experience, known for her thoughtful use of ClipChat. ClipChat blends short films with teacher-guided narration to build comprehension in a way that feels natural, visual, and compelling. Students watch, listen, and make meaning — and we guide the language to match what they need.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What ClipChat is and why it works to support real acquisition
• How to choose the right video clips for different levels
• Why slowing down can actually boost student confidence and understanding
• How small student responses (“guided output”) create a natural pathway for teachers to give even more input
• Practical routines like Write & Discuss, acting with whisper support, puppets, gallery walks, and picture grid listening
• How one short clip can carry your class for days or even weeks — without adding more planning to your plate

This episode is full of strategies that work in real classrooms — including the classes that are wiggly, chatty, distracted, or just tired.

If you’re working to design world language classes rooted in comprehension, communication, and cultural connection, you’ll find something here to take with you tomorrow.

Resources Mentioned

• Read the blog here
• ClipChat Examples & Classroom Materials:
   Zona de Profes on TPT — https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Zona-De-Profes
• Amy’s Website: https://zonadeprofes.weebly.com
• Short Film Playlist for ClipChat: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKhH5MAAh6FpSBBumo6Cv8lG_iS8Q9Lpz
• Free November Resource: Download Here: https://growingwithproficiency.com/diadegracias
• Join the Academy Waitlist: https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy-waitlist
• IG Claudia Elliott
• Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
• Free FB Community

Be Part of the Community

If this episode inspired a new idea, I’d love to hear about it. Tag me on Instagram @claudiamelliott and share which clip you’d like to try — or send me a DM and I’ll help you brainstorm one.

Make sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation.  We grow by learning together — we learn, we try, we grow, and then we pass it on.