#176
How do you address your students’ mistakes or errors when speaking in the classroom? Should you address them? Is it useful, and if so, how do you do it? In this episode we are taking on the last of the High Leverage Teaching Practices, Providing Oral Corrective Feedback to Improve Learner Performance. My personal graduate thesis was on feedback in the language classroom and what has been shown to be most effective.  I’ll share a little about my personal findings along with concrete strategies for providing oral corrective feedback to improve learner performance. 

Topics in this Episode:

• High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently
  • Episode 162: Facilitating Target Language Comprehensibility
  • Episode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative Context
  • Episode 167: Guiding Learners to Interpret and Discuss Authentic Texts
  • Episode 171: Focusing on Cultural Products, Practices, and Perspectives
• Oral corrective feedback is the immediate response provided by teachers to learners' spoken errors during language practice. It helps students notice and correct their mistakes, leading to improved language accuracy and proficiency.
• Effective oral corrective feedback supports language development by guiding students towards correct language use, helping them internalize language rules, and improving their confidence in speaking."
• From my thesis Feedback in the Second Language Classroom: The Impact of Explicit and Implicit Negative Feedback on the Interlanguage System: “The unaided learner may eventually learn on his own, but feedback will help him to do this more quickly and efficiently. The research helps to further narrow down the most productive forms of feedback, mainly feedback in the form of negotiation. When the learner is provided with scaffolding that leads him into producing the correct form on his own, he is much more likely to restructure his interlanguage system. This type of communicative feedback will not only provide the most naturalistic communication in the classroom, but will also be the most efficient means of moving the learner toward language that more closely resembles the L2.”
• Strategies:
  • Differentiate Types of Feedback
  • Consider Timing and Frequency of Feedback
  • Create a Supportive Environment
  • Focus on Error Patterns
  • Provide Constructive and Specific Feedback

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassro

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#175
Do students read in your classroom? What do they do with the reading? In this episode I speak with Jennifer Degenhardt and Theresa Marrama. They are both authors of CI Novels that I have personally used in my French and Spanish classrooms. I thought I’d go right to the source when thinking about the many ways that we can engage our students in target language reading. Jennifer and Theresa share their writing process, inspiration for their stories, and  ideas for getting the most out of comprehensible novels.

Topics in this Episode:

•  what comprehensible novels are and why they are valuable tools in world language classrooms
• What inspired Jennifer Degenhardt and Theresa Marrama to write comprehensible novels, and how thet decide on the themes and content for their books
• how teachers can effectively integrate comprehensible novels into their curriculum to maximize student engagement and language acquisition
• examples where using comprehensible novels made a significant impact on students' language learning
• practical strategies implementing comprehensible novels 

Connect with Jennifer Degenhardt and Theresa Marrama:

• Twitter/X: @digilangua1
• Facebook: @Digilangua
• Website: digilangua.co
• Instagram: @digilangua

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#174
How cohesive are your lessons?  Do you feel that activities flow and connect to each other in meaningful ways, or do they sometimes seem disconnected? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Cyndi, a German teacher in Idaho. Planning more cohesive lessons that flow more naturally and are connected to each other is the area where she wants to level up her teaching practice.

Suggestions:

• Use a Consistent Daily Lesson Framework Across All Levels. A consistent framework gives you a structure to plug in content without feeling like you're reinventing the wheel every day. It also provides students with a predictable routine, which enhances engagement and learning.
• Focus on Key Learning Targets and Prioritize. By narrowing your focus, you avoid overloading yourself and the students. Lessons will feel more cohesive because everything revolves around a central goal, which helps bring that “flow” you're looking for. Go deep on compelling topics.
• Chunk Your Time for Efficient Planning. By batching similar tasks, you minimize switching costs and make the process more efficient. This also helps ensure consistency across all your classes and lessens the cognitive load.
• Leverage Spiral Review. Students will see the connections between lessons, and it reduces the pressure on you to cover everything perfectly in one class. By spiraling content, lessons will feel more connected and purposeful, and you’ll also create natural review opportunities for students. Perhaps use that additional block each week during the extended period.

 Action Plan:

This Week:

• Create a flexible lesson template for your 50-minute and 90-minute classes; figure out how the time will be chunked and determine 2-3 activities for this period of time.
• Focus on one learning target per lesson to maintain clarity and coherence.

The Coming Weeks:

• Incorporate spiral review activities into extended lesson blocks to maintain flow and reinforce learning over time.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#173
This is an exciting episode that I recorded live at the 2024 ACTFL Convention and Language Expo in Philadelphia! This year’s ACTFL theme, “Connect for the Love of Languages!”, highlights the importance of building meaningful connections in every aspect of language teaching. In this episode, you'll hear from inspiring educators and leaders who share strategies for connecting with students, fostering cultural understanding, and growing professional networks. These conversations, that we had at the Klett World Languages booth in the exhibit hall, capture the energy and passion of language educators united by their love of teaching and learning.

Teachers and leaders who join me for this conversation:

• Caroline Schlegel, Spanish teacher at Frederick County Public Schools (MD)
• Aubrey Swisher, Spanish teacher at Washington County Public Schools (MD)
• Sara Stefanich, Professional Development Coordinator at Klett World Languages
• Maria Carreira, Executive Director of AATSP
• Patrick Wallace, Program Specialist for World Languages and Global Workforce Initiatives (GA); Strategic Relationship Specialist at Klett World Languages

Topics in this Episode:

• The Importance of Connection in Language Learning
• Strategies for Connecting with Students
• Building Cultural Connections
•  Professional Connections and Teacher Community
• The Love of Language Teaching

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#172
Do you have a World Language Honor Society in your school? Have you thought about bringing one to your school?  In this episode, Regina Symonds, a French teacher in Massachusetts, joins me to talk about the benefits of having a language honor society in your school. She shares the details for starting and maintaining a chapter along with cultural, social and service activities that group members engage in. You might be thinking that these language honor societies are just for high school students. Not the case, there are also opportunities for middle schools to get involved. 

Topics in this Episode:

• what World Language Honor Societies are
• the benefits for students who participate in World Language Honor Societies, both academically and personally
• success stories and examples of World Language Honor Societies have making a significant impact on students and the school community
• how schools can effectively promote and support World Language Honor Societies to encourage more student involvement
• practical steps and strategies teachers can take to establish and maintain a successful World Language Honor Society in their schools
• Honor Society websites:
  • French
  • Spanish
  • German 
  • Chinese 
  • Italian
  • Latin

Connect with Regina Symonds:

• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#171
How 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 understanding Cultural Products Practices and Perspectives.

Topics in this Episode:

• High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently
  • Episode 162: Facilitating Target Language Comprehensibility
  • Episode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative Context
  • Episode 167: Guiding Learners to Interpret and Discuss Authentic Texts
• Cultural Products: Tangible and intangible items created by a culture, such as art, literature, music, food and traditions.
• Cultural Practices: The patterns of behavior accepted by a society, including customs, rituals, and routines.
• Cultural Perspectives: The underlying values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape how a culture views the world.
• Cultural Value Dimensions
• 5 Strategies for engaging students in Cultural Products, Practices and Perspectives
  • Selecting Authentic Cultural Materials
  • Contextualizing Cultural Practices
  • Facilitating Communicative Interactions around Cultural Products, Practices and Perspectives
  • Reflecting on Cultural Perspectives
    
    
  •  Integrating Cultural Learning with Language Skills

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. 

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up C

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#170
What 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 looking for some ways to enhance how you are already doing it , you will walk from this episode with actionable tips and suggestions.

Topics in this Episode:

• what Calendar Talk is and how it goes beyond just discussing the calendar
• how Calendar Talk can be adapted to suit different proficiency levels and keep all students engaged
• specific topics and activities that teachers can incorporate into Calendar Talk to make it more interactive and meaningful for students
• examples where Calendar Talk has significantly enhanced students' language learning and classroom interaction in John classroom
• practical steps and strategies that can teachers take to implement Calendar Talk in their classrooms to maximize its effectiveness and student participation

Connect with John Sifert:

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Website
• Newsletter
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#169
What 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:

• Create choice boards that offer a variety of activities aligned with the same learning objectives. Students can select activities based on their interests and preferred learning styles.
• Allow students to choose from a list of project topics or propose their own, giving them the autonomy to explore areas of interest while still meeting curriculum standards.
• For certain activities, allow students to pick their groups based on interest or comfort. You can also mix it up by having students form groups around different themes or tasks they want to work on.
• Offer multiple assessment options that cater to different learning styles and strengths.
• Make the input and output compelling for students

 Action Plan:

This Week:

• Create a simple choice board with nine activities related to the current unit.Observe and take notes on student engagement and preferences.

The Coming Weeks:

• Plan a project-based unit, providing a list of potential topics and formats for final products. Encourage students to present their projects in various formats (e.g., presentation, report, digital creation).
• Design multiple assessment options for an upcoming unit. Ensure each assessment option aligns with the learning objectives and create a consistent rubric.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#168
How 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 approaching, understanding and eventually embracing change. 

Topics in this Episode:

• common sources of resistance to change among world language teachers
• challenges teachers face when adapting their teaching methods
• How colleagues, school leaders and administrators can support teachers through transitions and address their concerns
• effective strategies in overcoming resistance and encouraging buy-in from teachers who are skeptical about changes
• practical steps colleagues, school leaders and administrators can take to start implementing changes
• Episode #9: Teaching Grammar as a Concept and in Context with Mike Travers
• Episode #60: Building & Leading a Proficiency-Based Department

Connect with Tim Eagan and Mike Travers:

• X/Twitter: @tjeag , @Travers_Tweets
• Blog: Diaries Of A Mad World Language Teacher

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#167
Do 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 the benefits linguistic, cultural, maybe both?

Topics in this Episode:

• High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently
  • Episode 162: Facilitating Target Language Comprehensibility
  • Episode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative Context
• Authentic texts are materials created by native speakers for native speakers, such as newspapers, blogs, songs, advertisements, and videos. These texts reflect real-life language use and cultural contexts.
• Using authentic texts exposes students to natural language and cultural nuances, helping them develop better comprehension skills and cultural awareness. It also makes learning more engaging and relevant."
• 5 key strategies to help you effectively incorporate authentic texts into your teaching:
  • Selecting Appropriate Texts
  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • Guided Reading and Annotation
  • Post-Reading Discussions
  • Extension Activities

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. 

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

•  wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter):  @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district?  Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get  tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode  on the podcast.  

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.