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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I’m joined by the amazing Cécile Lainé to explore how to build cultural and intercultural competence in language classrooms—especially at the novice level. Together, we discuss practical strategies to move beyond surface-level cultural facts and create meaningful, authentic opportunities for students to connect with the world around them.

We dive into actionable ideas like using special person interviews, calendar talk, and holiday explorations to help students develop empathy and curiosity. Cécile also shares her insights on integrating marginalized voices into the curriculum, starting with the communities in your classroom, and facilitating deeper cultural connections through people-centered learning.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What culture and intercultural competence is
• Why culture isn’t just about facts—it’s about empathy, connection, and understanding perspectives.
• The importance of ACTFL’s 5 C’s: communication, connection, comparison, cultures, and communities.
• Four beginner-friendly strategies to explore culture in your classroom, including:
  • Special person interviews to highlight student backgrounds.
  • Calendar talk to uncover cultural gems and celebrations.
  • Using authentic resources and picture talks to explore people, practices, and perspectives.
  • Facilitating discussions about holidays in meaningful and approachable ways.
• Why starting with self-reflection as a teacher is key to transforming your practice.

Connect with me:

• Growing With CI FB Community
• GWP Blog
• GWP Teacher Pay Teachers Store
• GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Resources Mentioned:

1. Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond: Amazon Link
2. ACTFL’s 5 C’s Framework: ACTFL Website
3. Connect with Cécile Lainé:
   • Website: towardproficiency.com
   • Instagram: @towardproficiency
   • Facebook: Toward Proficiency

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a fellow teacher and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Don’t forget to connect with Cécile through the links above for more resources to support cultural exploration and connection in your classroom.

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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Maris Hawkins to unpack the 2024 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. These updated guidelines offer teachers a clearer and more actionable framework to understand and support students’ language development. 

From the introduction of the FACT framework to the inclusion of sociocultural awareness and performance descriptor tables, we explore what’s new, why it matters, and how it can transform your classroom.

Takeaways from the Episode:

1. The FACT Framework
   Learn how Functions&Tasks, Context/Content, Text Type, and Accuracy help define proficiency levels and provide teachers with clear criteria to align lessons, assessments, and feedback.
2. Performance Tables
   Discover how these tables bridge the gap between proficiency and performance, offering strategies students can use to communicate at different levels and helping teachers set realistic goals.
3. Communication Strategies and Sociocultural Awareness
   Explore the emphasis on communication strategies and integrating social-cultural awareness can help teachers design their lessons and provide feedback. .
4. Shifting Terminology
   Understand the move from "memorized" to "rehearsed" language and why high-frequency vocabulary is critical for student success.
5. Practical Tips for Teachers
   Find out how to use these updates to design assessments, scaffold activities, and provide meaningful feedback that empowers students.

Resources Mentioned:

• Access the 2024 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines here.
• Explore Maris Hawkins' blog for more teaching insights: marishawkins.com.
• Growing With CI FB Community
•  GWP Blog
• GWP Teacher Pay Teachers Store

Join the Conversation!
Let me know your thoughts and questions about the new guidelines! Find me on Instagram and Facebook @ClaudiamElliott or join my Facebook community, Growing with CI. Nos vemos pronto—ciao ciao! 😊

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Have you ever felt disengaged or disconnected from your passion for teaching? In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, Claudia Elliott invites outstanding Spanish teacher Mirna Deakle to share her journey of finding her authentic voice in the classroom. 

Mirna opens up about how she overcame burnout by centering her curriculum on culturally rich content and indigenous voices. From a unit inspired by Mayan traditions to fostering real-world connections through virtual meetings, Mirna's story is packed with insights and practical strategies for educators. 

Whether you're looking to revitalize your teaching or bring more authenticity to your lessons, this episode offers a roadmap to reconnect with your purpose and joy as a teacher.

Join us as we explore:

• The emotional and physical challenges of teaching
• How to define clear goals and stay focused despite obstacles
• Practical methods for integrating authentic cultural content
• The importance of community in fostering professional growth

Key Takeaways:

1. Find Your Authentic Voice: Reflect on your personal experiences and values to shape your teaching style.
2. Set Clear Goals: Establish a guiding purpose for your classroom to stay centered and motivated.
3. Integrate Culturally Rich Content: Use real-world stories that blend cultural traditions with modern issues.
4. Create Real-World Connections: Facilitate opportunities for students to interact with individuals connected to the content.
5. Join a Supportive Community: Engage with like-minded educators to share resources, gain inspiration, and grow.

Resources Mentioned:

• Balún Canán by Rosario Castellanos
• Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy (Join Here)
• Previous podcast episodes:
  • Episode 84: The Power of Reading for Language Acquisition with Dr. Krashen
  • Episode 51: Before, During, and After Reading Strategies

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to share it with fellow educators and leave a review. We’d love to hear how you’re finding your authentic voice in the classroom!

For more resources, visit growingwithproficiency.com.

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How can we ensure that students not only talk but also listen to each other in group and pair activities, fostering a vibrant classroom discourse community? In this episode, we talk about a crucial aspect of building a classroom discourse community — not just encouraging students to speak but also to listen attentively to one another during group and pair work.

While our last episode focused on engaging students in talking, here, we spotlight the other side of oral communication: listening. We discuss practical strategies to enhance listening skills among students, ensuring that everyone is heard and that discussions are meaningful and inclusive.

Highlights:

• The Importance of Listening: Understanding why listening is as critical as speaking for a productive classroom discourse community.
• 4 Key Strategies: Unpacking strategies to improve student listening in interactive settings, extending beyond the teacher-student dynamic to include peer-to-peer listening.
• Modeling listening behaviors through body language and expressions.
• Encouraging students to build on each other's answers to foster deeper conversations.
• Practicing asking follow-up questions to keep the discussion flowing.
• Teaching the skill of negotiating meaning to enhance understanding.
• Giving students compelling reasons to listen, such as finding similarities/differences or agreeing/disagreeing to spark interest and engagement.
• Practical Tools and Activities like the dice activity for small groups.
• Reflective Practice: Incorporating reflection through exit tickets that prompt students to consider their peers' contributions, reinforcing the value of listening.
• Assessment Insights: Discussing assessment strategies inspired by Donato's "TALK" model from "The Keys To Planning for Learning" by ACTFL

Listening is the silent half of oral communication, vital for a strong classroom discourse community.  You will discover many strategies to promote listening.  Click play and happy listening.

Resources Mentioned:

• Ep. 5: How to Make them Listen: 5 Strategies to Get Students Listening
• Ep. 73: Engaging Students and Encouraging Talking in the Target Langauge with Erica Peplinski-Burge and Justin Slocum Bailey
• Ep. 22: Empowering Conversations: 5 Interpersonal Activities to Build Communicatie Skills with Bethanie Drew
• Ep. 10: How to Encourage Students To Speak in the Target Language with Christina Margiore
• "The Keys To Planning for Learning" by ACTFL, specifically Donato's "TALK" model for assessing communication skills.

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¿Sientes que el compromiso de tus estudiantes no es el que esperabas? ¿Notas fatiga tanto en ellos como en ti cuando utilizas las mismas estrategias una y otra vez? En este episodio, te comparto cómo usar tres diferentes estructuras de instrucción para mantener a los estudiantes más comprometidos y participativos.

Descubre cómo alternar entre instrucción colectiva, en grupos pequeños e individual para crear un equilibrio que fomente la adquisición del lenguaje, la curiosidad y la conexión en el aula. Además, te cuento los desafíos que cada una presenta y las estrategias prácticas que puedes implementar de inmediato para superarlos. 🌟

👉 No te pierdas mi clase virtual gratuita: 5 Game-Changing Twists for Your Favorite CI Activities to Keep Students Engaged
📅 15 de enero, 7:30 PM ET
Haz clic acá para registrarte!

Recursos mencionados:

1. Clase virtual gratuita: 5 Game-Changing Twists for Your Favorite CI Activities to Keep Students Engaged
   👉 Regístrate aquí
2. Episodio 128: The Ultimate Plan for the First Day Back
3. Episodio 71 del podcast: Estrategias para construir conexiones en clase.
4. Episodio sobre estaciones: Ideas para implementar actividades en estaciones en el aula.
   👉 Baja 10 actividades para estaciones acá

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Start the year grounded in what truly matters. In this episode, I’m sharing my first-day-back lesson plan that focuses on my three pillars: staying comprehensible, building connections, and fostering communication. These pillars keep us centered on our ultimate goal: facilitating meaningful language acquisition while creating a classroom where students feel seen and inspired.

It’s so easy to get distracted by flashy activities or trends, but this episode is all about grounding ourselves in strategies that work and staying intentional as we begin the semester.

Highlights you’ll love:

• 🌟 How to use check-ins to connect with your students’ emotions and goals for the new year.
• 📚 A simple, impactful reading activity centered around New Year’s resolutions.
• 🗓️ Calendar talk that integrates personal and cultural relevance.
• 🎤 STAR student interviews to spark authentic communication.
• 📝 Write-and-Discuss techniques to model and support student writing.

Resources mentioned:

• Episode 126: Insights from Juliana Urtubey on the framework of Joy and Justice in education.
• Episode 50: Exploring Hexagonal Thinking with Bertha Delgadillo to foster deeper student connections.
• Free Master Class: “5 Game-Changing Twists for Your Favorite CI Activities to Keep Students Engaged”
  👉 Sign up at growingwithproficiency.com/engage25.

Let’s start 2025 strong with clarity, purpose, and impactful strategies. Press play and join me in creating a semester grounded in connection and communication. 🎧

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What if we recognized language learners as linguistically gifted individuals, rich in stories, knowledge, and potential?

In this powerful conversation, Juliana Urtubey, 2021 U.S. Teacher of the Year, shares her inspiring framework of Joy and Justice in Education. Rooted in her experience as a bilingual special education teacher, Juliana offers practical ways to recognize students' strengths, build classroom community, and redefine what success looks like in education.

🎯 Why This Matters for Language Teachers:

Juliana’s 5 Pillars of Joy and Justice offer a roadmap for transforming how we support language learners:

1. Recognize Brilliance: See beyond language proficiency levels by valuing students’ stories, strengths, and cultural wealth.
2. Reflect on Context: Identify who might not be experiencing joy or belonging in your classroom and adapt to ensure inclusion.
3. Grow Collective Wellness: Create a supportive space where everyone—students, teachers, and families—thrives through mutual care.
4. Engage in Generational Learning: See families as holders of valuable knowledge, not just as participants in school events.
5. Design for Collaboration, Not Compliance: Build a learning environment where student voices shape classroom practices, fostering a sense of ownership and purpose.

This episode will encourage you to see your students through a strengths-based lens, redefine what “success” means in language learning, and create a classroom culture that honors every student’s journey. Ready? Click to play!

Resources & Links:

🔗 Find more about Juliana Uturbey here 👉🏽 https://juliana-urtubey.com/

🎯 Freebie: 10 Stations Template – Keep students engaged while you reflect! 👉🏽 growingwithproficiency.com

💻 Growing With Proficiency Blog

📚 Growing With Proficiency TPT Store

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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

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Are your students tuning out as the school year winds down?

Keeping students focused during the last weeks of school can feel like an impossible task. But what if you could turn this tricky time into a fun, engaging learning experience—without burning yourself out?

In this episode, I’m sharing 3 powerful strategies that will keep your students active, learning, and excited to participate—all while giving you space to breathe and teach with intention.

Plus, I’m giving away a FREE Ready-to-Use Resource Pack with templates for 10 station activities that will transform your classroom. Download it now!

🎯 Key Takeaways:

✅ Why Year-End Engagement Feels So Hard: Learn why students lose focus at the end of the year—and how to reset the learning vibe.

✅ Strategy 1: Stations for Focused Learning: Discover how to set up simple stations that boost reading, and interaction while you work with small groups.

✅ Strategy 2: Rotations for Recap & Review: Use rotations to reinforce what students have learned with creative brain dumps, illustrated one-pagers, and group summaries.

✅ Strategy 3: Pre-Recorded Listening & Reading Tasks: Create audio and video tasks students can complete independently using tools like EdPuzzle or Formative.

💻 Tool of the Week:

Chrome Extension: Mote
Looking for an easy way to record audio for your class? Mote is a Chrome extension that lets you record short audio clips directly from your browser. It’s a game changer for teachers looking to integrate more listening without extra prep!

📢 Resources & Links Mentioned:

The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

🎁 Download Your Free Resource Pack:
“10 Ready-to-Use Station Activity Templates” 

🎙️ Related Podcast Episode:
Episode 32: “How to Use Stations for a Low-Stress, High-Engagement CI Classroom” 

Episode 118: Low-Stress Assessments with AnneMarie Chase

Episode 64: Teaching Without Tears: Effective Technology in Language Classes with Meredith White

💡 Let’s Connect!
✨ Follow me on Instagram
📧 Join my free Facebook group: Growing With CI FB Community

👉 Ready to keep your students engaged through the end of the year? Don’t miss this episode and grab your freebie today!

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What if you could easily add more reading to your classroom to support language acquisition and cultural competence without overwhelming yourself with extra work? Research shows that reading is one of the most effective ways for students to grow in proficiency. So, how can we make time for it in our busy classes?

In today’s episode, we dive deep into Silent Sustained Reading (SSR)—a simple, yet powerful strategy to boost your students' reading skills. You’ll learn how SSR works, why it’s so effective, and how to make it work for you and your students. I also share tips for building a library on a budget, keeping students accountable, and creating a routine that gets results.

And don’t miss our new segment, “The Tool or Activity of the Week,” sponsored by Growing With Proficiency – The Spanish Teacher Academy!

Episode Highlights:

• What is Silent Sustained Reading (SSR)? Learn what SSR is, why it’s so effective for language acquisition, and how it fosters a love of reading.
• Building a Library on a Budget: Tips on creating a diverse and accessible library for your students, including asking for PTA funds, using DonorsChoose, and creating your own books.
• How to Make SSR Work for You: Practical strategies for when to implement SSR in your classroom, setting up reading logs, and using choice boards to engage students.
• Keeping Students Accountable: How to ensure your students are really reading and engaging with the material, without the need for grading or additional assignments.
• Translation Race: This week's “Tool or Activity of the Week”—a fun and competitive game that encourages translation practice and gets students involved while adding a little luck to the mix.

Tool or Activity of the Week: Sponsored by Growing With Proficiency – The Spanish Teacher Academy

This week’s highlighted activity is Translation Race learned from Nelly Andrade—a fun and interactive way for students to listen to sentences, comprehend, and translate in groups, with a lucky dice twist to keep things exciting and level the playing field.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Growing With Proficiency – The Spanish Teacher Academy: Join the waitlist to be the first to know when doors open at growingwithproficiency.com/academy.
• DonorsChoose: https://www.donorschoose.org/
• Revista Literal by Spanish Martina Bex
• Le petit journal by Toward Proficiency
• Bryce Hedstrom resources

If you’re ready to get reading in your classroom and boost your students’ language acquisition, this episode is packed with tips to make it happen. Be sure to try Translation Race this week and share how it goes with your class!