#89
Have you heard about Stephen Krashen’s Comprehensible Input Hypothesis?  If you’ve heard about CI, or use it in your classroom, then you know exactly what it is. Today, I want to take this a step further and look at making that input compelling or of particular interest to students.  Not only that, but what about making the output, or how students use the language, equally compelling or of specific interest to them? We’re essentially talking about ways to motivate students and we can always use some suggestions for that.

Topics in this Episode:

• Krashen's Comprehensible Input Hypothesis: Language acquisition occurs when learners are exposed to messages that are slightly beyond their current level of language competence, but that can still be understood with the help of contextual clues.
• Stephen Krashen's Compelling Input Hypothesis: Learners are more likely to acquire language when they are exposed to messages that are interesting, engaging, and personally relevant to them.
• Five suggestions for providing compelling input
• What about making the way students use the language compelling and of personal interest to them as well?
• Five suggestions for providing opportunities for compelling output
• Blog post about compelling input and output

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#88
How do we bring the diversity of cultures of the target language into our classrooms?  In this episode, we are talking about how to do just that.  Kia D. London, a Spanish teacher in Chicago, speaks with me about how she brings the afro-latino diaspora to her students in the classroom. Kia has lots to share from how she came to understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures to how she provides this experience to her students.

Topics in this Episode:

• Kia's personal connection to the Spanish Language and Afro-Latino Culture
• Kia's Cuba trip and what she learned from that experience
• why representation of racial and ethnically diverse content is vital in the language classroom
• why “one-off” lessons around representation of racial and ethnically diverse content are less effective and why should consistency should be the goal
• examples of centering representation and diverse racial and ethnic content from Kia's classroom and curriculum
• how to do this consistently while also engaging students authentically
• what Kia has personally seen as a result of centering diversity and representation in her classroom and curriculum
  
  

Connect with Kia D. London:

• Facebook: Trailblaze Into Language Learning
• Instagram: @clases_de_london, @trailblaze_language
• Twitter:@MaestraLondon, @trailblaze_lang
• Website: trailblazeintolanguagelearning.com, bit.ly/klondon

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#87
How can we bring authentic cultural experiences to our students? In this episode, I’m joined by teacher and podcast host Jenniffer Whyte, who speaks with me about her experience as a self-described “Afro-Latina teacher in the Rural South.” She also has a podcast aptly titled Afro-Latina teacher in the Rural South. Jenniffer Whyte tells us about her teaching journey through Florida, Georgia and Alabama and how she got more comfortable bringing her authentic self into the classroom, and then decided to start a podcast to connect with other teachers.

Topics in this Episode:

•  Jenniffer's journey from the Dominican Republic to the Rural South
• what Jenniffer has learned about yourself while navigating life in the Dominican Republic, NYC, Miami, Atlanta and now Anniston, Alabama
•  how Jenniffer brings her Afro-Latina identity and lived experience into her classroom and how this benefits her students and representation overall
• what led Jenniffer to start a podcast specifically focused on the Afro-Latina experience, and particularly that experience in the rural south
• what Jenniffer hopes that listeners get out of her podcast episodes

Connect with Jenniffer Whyte:

• Podcast: Afro-Latina Teacher in the Rural South
• Facebook: Afro-Latina Teacher
• Facebook Group: Incorporating Afro-Latino Culture in Spanish Classrooms
• Twitter: @JennifferWhyte1
• Website: jennifferwhyte.com

 ______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#86
Do you use reading as a source of comprehensible input in your language classroom? In this episode, we dive into the topic of reading with Ashley Mikkelsen, a Spanish teacher in North Dakota, who shares suggestions and ideas for engaging reading activities that you can do right away in your classroom. Ashley has a true passion for making reading fun and interactive for students. So, grab your notebook and pen, and get ready to add lots of pre, during, and post reading activities to your next lesson.

Topics in this Episode:

• Ashley's journey with literacy
• the benefits of reading in the language acquisition process
• simply reading or truly engaging with a text
• activities for any reading:
  • pre-reading
  • during reading
  • after reading and leveraging the content

Connect with Ashley Mikkelsen:

• Instagram: @srta_spanish
• TikTok: @srta_spanish
• Twitter:@afulks2013
• Website: srtaspanish.com

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#85
This is the fourth teacher toolbox episode.  I hear from listeners all the time that they like the actionable tips and suggestions for activities that they can use with students next week, or even tomorrow. That usually means effective and beneficial, but somewhat minimal prep.  That’s what I bring you on these Teacher Toolbox episodes.  I have another 4 activities to share with you...plus a bonus.

Activities and Blog Posts in this Episode:

• The Die Decides
• Logic Puzzles
• Learn ,Practice ,Apply
• Time Capsules
• theteachertoolkit.com
• ChatGPT

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#84
Do you use movie or film clips in your classroom?  Allison Wienhold, a Spanish teacher in Iowa, joined me back on episode 30 to talk about using music in the classroom. She left us with so many useful and actionable tips for music that I had to have her back on to share ideas and suggestions for using movies, film clips and other types of visual media.

Topics in this Episode:

• the essential benefits of using video clips or movies in the language classroom from  linguistic and cultural perspectives
• where Allison finds the video that she uses 
• looking for themes or finding a good clip/scene and planing a lesson around it
• various types of video and what to do with them:
  • short films (clip chat, EdPuzzle)
  • TV Series (authentic input)
  • full-length films (culture, themes, seasons, units)
• Allison's thoughts and suggestions around subtitles and modifying audio speed

Episode 30: Music in the Language Classroom with Allison Wienhold

Connect with Allison Wienhold:

• Instagram  @Mis.ClasesLocas
• Facebook: Mis Clases Locas
• Facebook Group: Mis Clases Locas Group
• Twitter: @MisClasesLocas
• Website: misclaseslocas.com

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#83
How do you, your department or school support and integrate students with learning disabilities into your language program? In this episode, we are talking about teaching all students, with a particular focus on students with learning disabilities.  I’m joined by Danja Mahoney, a Latin and Spanish teacher in Massachusetts, who has done extensive research on this topic.  She is here to speak about her doctoral research with actionable tips and advice for all of us.

Topics in this episode:

• Can every student succeed in a language class?
• Are there students whose disability prevents them from learning a language?
• The research on the success of students with disabilities learning a language.
• What teachers can do to build the type of engagement necessary for students with learning disabilities to learn language.
• Examples of accommodations and modifications that teachers can implement to support all students in their language classes.

Connect withe Danja Mahoney:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#82
Could you use a few new ideas to reinvigorate the energy and productivity in your classroom? In this episode, you will get lots of new ideas and suggestions for authentically engaging your students in their language learning.  I’m joined by 2 teachers in New York. Spanish teacher Wendy Mercado and French teacher Valérie Greer.

Topics in this Episode:

• the essential benefits of authentic engagement and excitement in the language classroom
• how“games” or “activities”  address skill development and standards
• lots of ideas for engaging activities and games
  •  High Tech
  •  Some Tech
  • Low Tech
  • No Tech

Connect with Wendy and Valérie:

• Twitter: @senoramercado,@madamegreer
• Website: livenupyourlanguageclass

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#81
What’s the first thing students do when they enter your classroom and the last thing they do before they leave? In this episode we look at Do Nows and Exit Tickets and how they can be very effective ways of setting up the class for the day and providing quick formative assessments and recaps of the class objectives.  Yes, you’ll hear some reasons that support both, but you’ll also get some quick, and in many cases no-prep, ideas to add to your teacher toolbox.  

Topics in this Episode:

• what Do Nows and Exit Tickets are and why they are useful and effective in the language classroom
• examples of Do Nows and Exit Tickets at various proficiency levels
• logistics: where to write the prompts; where and how students record response; what we do with the responses

Blog post with all details and suggestions for using Do Nows and Exit Tickers in the language classroom.
______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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

#80
Where would you say that you are on the path toward teaching for proficiency?  In this episode, we look at the Roadmap to Proficiency framework. This is the framework that Devon Gunning (from La Libre Language Learning) uses as she mentors teachers working toward the goal of teaching with a proficiency objective. Devon joins me today to help us all see where we are on the roadmap with guidance on how we can move further along.

Topics in this Episode:

• Devon's  proficiency journey, where she started and what she has learned along the way
• a teacher's journey (roadmap) to proficiency broken down into 5 phases/steps of where a teacher might identify on their journey
• the identities with a description of each phases/step so that listeners can see where they might be
• guidance for teachers to move themselves along the roadmap
• suggestions for leveling up: Wanderer to Explorer, Explorer to Navigator, Navigator to Globetrotter,  Globetrotter to Local

Connect with Devon Gunning:

• Instagram: @lalibrelanguagelearning
• YouTube: La Libre Language Learning
• Facebook: lalibrelanguagelearning
• Blog: lalibrelanguagelearning.com
• Download your Roadmap to Proficiency
• Practical and Comprehensible Virtual Conference, April 21-23

______________________________
Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching.
______________________________
Let's connect!

• wlclassrom.com
• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
• Instagram:  @wlclassroom
• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

______________________________
Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me on the podcast.  
We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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