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In this episode of "Growing with Proficiency," I’m exploring the use of a rubric for developing interpersonal skills in the world language classroom, with a special focus on listening skills.  As World Langauge teachers, we know that providing comprehensible input is essential for acquisition-driven language classes. However, listening is a crucial skill that requires a ton of practice and development.

By using this rubric, we can create a space for self-reflection and communication with our learners, while also giving them a voice and creating accountability.

In this episode, I'll walk through how I use the rubric before, during, and after class, and discuss the importance of evaluating its success and reflecting on its impact.

Ready? Click play and happy listening.

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Interpersonal Skill Rubric

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In this episode, I’m so thrilled to have Karen Rowan, an expert in language acquisition, sharing with us the fascinating science behind the power of storytelling in our classrooms. Karen will walk us through great findings about how our brain reacts to stories and insights into how stories can engage our students' brains and make language acquisition more effective.

But we won't stop there! Karen will also give us practical tips and strategies on how we can take advantage of this science and make storytelling even more compelling in our classes.

Karen's expertise and enthusiasm for storytelling will leave you inspired and equipped to create engaging and memorable language lessons for your students. So grab your headphones and join us for this exciting episode on the science of storytelling!

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Readers for World Language Classes

Wired for Story Lisa Cron

Brain Rules by John Medina

Learning Another Language Through Actions Dr. James Asher

TPR is More then Commands at All Levels Contee Seely and Elizabeth Romjain

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Are you looking for a way to build stronger connections with your students while also promoting language acquisition? Look no further than calendar talk! Join us on this episode as we dive into the world of calendar talk and discover how it can be a powerful tool for building community in your classroom.

From setting up a successful routine to incorporating engaging topics to going beyond the basics and exploring cultural celebrations and events, we've got you covered. Discover how you can make every minute count and create a strong classroom culture while delivering a ton of comprehensible input with calendar talk.

Tune in now to learn more!

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Calendar Talk\Blog Posts here and here

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What would any of our learners love to do with the language? To have a conversation! But as teachers, we know the challenge of fostering meaningful conversations entirely in the target language. So, what can we do to support our students in building community and making real connections through conversation?

On this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with language expert and educator Bethanie Drew about interpersonal activities. Bethanie is not only an incredible Spanish teacher, presenter, blogger, and curriculum expert, but she is also FLANC Teacher of the Year for 2022-2023.  Join us as we delve into the top 5 interpersonal activities that will encourage authentic conversations and discussion in your language class. Ready? Hit play now!

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45 seconds--sample activity

Discussion Thursday

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As a world language teacher, we understand the importance of fostering communication, listening, and interpersonal skills in our learners. But sometimes, traditional classroom activities can fall short in providing the level of engagement and excitement you desire for them. That's why this is a very exciting episode for you!

In this episode, we'll dive into the world of gallery walks and explore how to use this strategy to bring movement, collaboration, and engagement into our language classes. You'll learn about five different strategies that you can use to create a dynamic, interactive, and supportive learning environment where our learners can use their language skills, build connections with each other, and connect with the content in a meaningful way.

So, are you ready to unleash the power of gallery walks? Hit play and start exploring the possibilities now!

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Hey there language lovers! Get ready for a fun and powerful episode all about class jobs. We've got two amazing World Language teachers joining us to share their wisdom and experience. Annabelle and John will share with us why class jobs are so important, what the best ones are, and how to make them a staple in your class.

Trust us, this is a can't-miss episode! Whether you're an experienced teacher or just starting out, you'll pick up some fantastic tips and ideas to help bring your language class to life.

So grab a coffee or your shoes, click play, and let's get started!

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Class Jobs Course

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In this episode of our podcast, we're tackling the oh-so-important topic of vocabulary acquisition.  As language teachers, you understand the importance of vocabulary in language acquisition, but do you know why focusing on vocabulary is so crucial, what words to concentrate on, and how to introduce them in a memorable way? 

I’ll share my answers to those questions, and I will take it a step further with two bonus activities to help make those words stick.

Hit play now and join me as I explore the world of vocabulary.

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We Teach Languages

The Comprehensible Classroom

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How can we transform our World Language teacher classes and find more joy? Join me in this conversation with Esther Galo, a Spanish teacher, who is as passionate as you are to help her students to grow in their proficiency.  Esther became a Spanish teacher because she wanted to impact more students with the gift of a language but soon she found that her passion was not enough.  Esther struggled for a few years with lack of engagement and, as she said, “seeing her students not learning” which was killing her joy and love for teaching.

It took vulnerability and courage but Esther decided to reflect on how effective her approach to teaching was.  Esther used those dark days of the pandemic to learn more about language acquisition and the role of comprehensible input.  At that point, Esther decided to make foundational changes to her practice.  It took time and it wasn’t, and it’s still not,  perfect but she did it and she keeps doing it.  The best part is that now Esther has a much more engaged class and she and her students are using more Spanish than ever in class.  

If you want to know how Esther did it and what it took, click play, and let’s start.

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Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy is OPEN!!! Join now!!

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Once upon a time … Nothing better than a good story.  My best memory as a child was listening to my dad tell me a story. Stories are powerful even inside our classes, and that’s what I’m sharing with you in this episode. 

In this episode, you will discover the power of stories in the world language classroom. I’ll share a little bit of the science behind the use of stories for education and how stories connect emotionally with students, help them retain better, and promotes their understanding of different emotions, beliefs, and values. 

You’ll discover 3 different strategies to incorporate stories in your classes and 5 activities you can do after telling a story regardless of the level of your class.  You don’t want to miss this.  Click play and let’s begin. 

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Live Planning Together Session and Map Your Year Free Video Series

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For many of us, listening to our students using the language in class and even outside the class is the ultimate dream.  Isn’t it? Whether you are a brand new teacher or an experienced teacher, like me, what would it mean to have a class where students are engaged in class discussions using the language? What if your students are willingly participating in communicative activities in class? What if they are not only growing in their proficiency but also in their cultural competence? Now that is something spectacular, and it’s something that I have experienced firsthand once I started incorporating basic principles of second language acquisition in my class. 

And the first and most important one of those principles for me is the role that comprehensible input plays in language acquisition.  In this episode, I’m sharing with you why we all should have a clear understanding of the role of comprehensible input in second language acquisition and 3 ways to incorporate it in your classes.  

Ready? Click play and let’s start. 

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Map Your Year Free Video Series

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Weekend chat by Bethany Drew