In this episode of 'SLA: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone', the hosts discuss the challenges and successes they've experienced in teaching over the current school year. Amidst the pressures of 'Devolson' and the search for suitable teaching materials, the discussion pivots from a planned talk on cognitive load theory to a candid check-in. The hosts share personal anecdotes about adjusting teaching strategies, student engagement, classroom dynamics, grading policies, and dual coding methods. They address the balance between imposing language structure and encouraging the natural flow of learning, while also reflecting on student motivation and participation. Emphasizing flexibility, the episode explores various pedagogical approaches, showcasing how teachers adapt to the ever-evolving classroom environment. The episode wraps with successes, including enrichment through extensive reading resources and program growth, inspired by student-centered learning and inclusivity.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:00 Checking In: School Year So Far
01:58 Classroom Dynamics and Teaching Strategies
04:34 Student Engagement and Participation
09:07 Challenges and Adjustments
12:23 Effective Teaching Techniques
27:59 Cognitive Load Theory and Language Learning
38:23 Success Stories and Program Growth
40:51 Conference Announcements and Closing Remarks

References:

Carrie Toth Discussion Rubric

Ben Tinsley - 10 Minute Drill

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Gaslight How often should we do oral corrective feedback, who is it useful to, and is it always a positive experience for students?
Gatekeep Corrective Feedback and Learner Uptake: Negotiation of Form in Communicative Classrooms (Lyster, Ranta, 1997)
Girlboss How can we give feedback while maintaining a low affective filter, and what should we expect from using CF?


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The Motivated Classroom Podcast

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Gaslight: What NOT to do when attending a conference.

Gatekeep: K-12 world language teachers’ use of conferences as professional
development (Neubauer, Wesley 2023)

Girlboss: First/Best conference experiences.

CI Midwest Discount Code: CISLAYYYS15

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Gaslight: Pitfalls in Free Voluntary Reading Programs

Gatekeep: The Effects of Extensive Reading on Reading Comprehension, Reading Rate, and Vocabulary Acquisition (Suk, 2016)

Girlboss: Successes in FVR and extensive in-class reading.

The World Language Bookshelf

100 Book Challenge

Language Learner Literature Advisory Board (LLLAB)

Write and Discuss

The Game of Quotes by Annemarie Chase

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Gaslight: Troubleshooting asking questions to support comprehension.

Gatekeep: The impact of questioning strategies on target language production and learner confidence

Girlboss: Successes in asking questions

References:

Training teachers: Fluency Matters (Michelle Kindt), CI Summit (Teri Wiechart, JJ Morgan)

Super Seven (Terry Waltz) and Sweet Sixteen Verbs (Mike Peto), blog post by Martina Bex 

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Gaslight: What did we try last year and how did it go?

Gatekeep: Reconnecting to Second Language Acquisition for Innovative Language Pedagogy

Girlboss: What have we done in the classroom that we will continue to do?

• Key Questions in Language Teaching | Higher Education from Cambridge Alessandro Benati
• Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition | Higher Education from Cambridge Bill VanPatten, Megan Smith (not Jessica, sorry!), Alessandro Benati   
• Structured Input: Grammar Instruction for the Acquisition Oriented Classroom Andrew Farley (not Chris, sorry! I’ll get names right next time, promise!)
• Card Talk – Building Classroom Community and Learning About Your Students MrFisherSay
• Structured Input: An introduction to the principles of input processing Languageley 

Text us about how you’ve Gaslit, or Girlbossed your language classroom.

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Text us about how you’ve Gaslit, or Girlbossed your language classroom.

Email us at [email protected]