World Language Classroom | Teaching Ideas, Activities and Strategies

#74
Are you a member of your state language association?  Do you know what might be available to language teachers in your state? In this episode, Jenny-Lynn Delfini and Mike Mitchell highlight the work of state associations for language teachers.  Jenny was the 2022 president and Mike is the executive director of NYSAFLT, the New York State Association of Language Teachers. If you’re not a member of your state language association, you will surely want to be after this discussion.

Topics in this episode:

• Jenny and Mike's journey and history with NYSAFT, from first-year teachers joining as members for the first time to becoming part of the leadership
• what they Jenny and Mike have gained as members of their state language association
• resources that state language associations provide to members 
• how members can get involved
• why every language teacher should be connected to the in their state language association

Connect with Jenny-Lynn Delfini, Mike Mitchell and NYSAFLT

• Twitter: @jl_delf   @NYSAFLT
• Instagram: @jl_delf    @NYSAFLT
• Website: nysaflt.org

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#73
Have you read Common Ground yet?  This book by Florencia Henshaw and Maris Hawkins has been widely used by many educators in the language teacher community.  This week's episode is a rebroadcast of my first episode in the series that I devoted to the book in October. I’m sharing it again with the reminder that you have a few weeks left (end of December 2022) to get your own copy of Common Ground with a 25% discount through the link to Hackett Publishing in the show notes.  Listen for the first time, or listen again for inspiration form this incredibly useful publication from Florencia Henshaw and Maris Hawkins.

Topics in the episode:

• Why this book? Why now? 
• Why I’m a fan of Florencia Henshaw and Maris Hawkins.  
• How the book is set up.
• What to look for in the upcoming episodes devoted to Common Ground.
• Making the discussion interactive on Twitter with Joshua (@wlcalssoom), Florencia Henshaw (@Prof_F_Henshaw) and Maris Hawkins (@Marishawkins).

Get your own copy of Common Ground.  Hackett Publishing has generously offered a 25% discount when you use the code WLC2022. [Available through December 31, 2022].

**The 25% off discount code can be used for any book through the end of December, 2022.  Hackett publishes several intermediate language-learning textbooks in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Latin, and Classical Greek. New releases include Cinema for French Conversation, Cinema for Spanish Conversation, and Les Français.

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• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
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• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

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#72
What does it mean to “teach” a language? In this episode I look at this question, particularly considering the shifts in language teaching and learning over the past 10 years or so. My approach to this question is grounded in a quote from Larson-Freeman and Long that a professor shared with me in graduate school. It continues to guide my approach to teaching. 

"[It is not] because some plants will grow in a desert, [that] watering the ones in your garden is a waste of time. In fact, of course, while the desert may provide the minimum conditions for a plant to grow, watering it may help it grow faster, bigger, and stronger, that is to realize its full potential.”    [Diane Larsen-Freeman, Michael H. Long; An Introduction to Second Language Acquisition Research (1990)]

Links mentioned in this episode

• Episode 41: Practice or Communication (Practice, Activity, Task)

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• Twitter:  @wlclassroom
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• Facebook:  /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

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We record conversations remotely, so you can be anywhere.

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#71
In this episode I’m taking on the question of leveling up.  We often talk about proficiency levels and the output that goes along with each level.  We’ll take a look at some concrete examples of language produced at each level and I’ll share some suggestions for how we can support students in leveling up their language. 

Topics in This Episode:

• The ACTFL Proficiency Levels (Interpersonal)
• Novice Low/Mid/High: single words, chunks, chunked phrases.
• Intermediate Low/Mid/High: discrete sentences, strings of sentences, moving toward paragraphs
• Advanced Low/Mid/High: paragraphs, multiple paragraphs
• Concrete examples of the language that students produce at each level and sub level and what can they do to move up a level or sub level.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Blog Post with PDF download of what language output looks like at each level with suggestions for leveling up
• Episode #12 on Proficiency Levels

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Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.
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Let's connect!

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

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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.

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#70
In this episode, we are talking about how we can create a supportive classroom environment so that learners, particularly those new to language learning, feel comfortable speaking the target language.  Julie Baker, The Director of the French Intensive Language Program at the University of Richmond,  joins me to take this a step further with simple ways of modifying speaking activities that we all are likely doing so that they are indeed communicative. 

Topics in this episode:

• what it means to have a “safe space” for speaking the TL, why this is important, and how we can create this type of classroom
• motivating students to speak and interact in the TL with some ways to facilitate this in the classroom
•  how to determine if our activities are truly communication, rather than simply practicing structures and vocabulary
• simple ways to make our activities more communicative with concrete examples
• assessment and evaluation of communication, compared with assessment of language structure and vocabulary

Connect with Julie Baker

• email: [email protected]

 ______________________________
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.

#69
This is the third 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.

Activities Shared in this Episode:

• Quiz-Quiz-Trade
• At the Table
• Shipwreck
• The Card Path

Previous Teacher Toolbox Episodes:

• Episode #25: Go-To Activities for Your Teacher Toolbox (Vol 1) 
• Episode #36: Go-To Activities for Your Teacher Toolbox (Vol 2) 

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

#68
In this episode, we are talking about skill building and how we can help guide students in moving beyond content mastery and using all that vocabulary and those language structures to communicate.  Andrea Isabelli, a French teacher in Illinois, joins me to talk about how she supports communicative skill development with her students.

Topics include:

• Transatlantic Educators Dialogue Program (TED)
  
  
• Defining skills, curriculum, proficiency and  competence.
• What language curriculum has traditionally focused on.  
• Some guidance with skill development.  
• Using content to build skills throughout units and on summative assessments.

Connect with Andrea Isabelli:

• Twitter: @Andrea Isabelli
• Instagram: @aisabelli369
• Email: [email protected]

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

#67
In this episode I’m taking the idea of input a little further.  Most of us are on board and understand the importance of making input comprehensible for students.  But, how can we check that the language is actually being understood by students? Because if they’re not understanding they’re not acquiring. I’ll share tips for checking for understanding and what to do with the info we get.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The quick rundown on input and why it’s beneficial
• The role of comprehensible input
• How to make input comprehensible
• Why check for understanding
• Why the checks are useful and what to do with what we learn
• How to check for understanding
• Strategies for checking for understanding

Podcast episodes referenced in this episode:

• Episode 63: Input and Output in the Language Classroom
• Episode 32: The Origins of CI: Krashen's Input Hypothesis

 ______________________________
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.

#66
This is part 2 of my conversion with Florencia Henshaw and Maris Hawkins, the authors of Common Ground: Second Language Acquisition Theory Goes to the Classroom. We had so much to cover that I had to break it down into 2 episodes. Today, Florencia, Maris and I discuss engaging the communication modes at different developmental levels, moving from input to output, particularly when working with learners progressing from novice to intermediate, collaborating with colleagues and understanding what “progress” looks like in a proficiency-based classroom.  We also have a rather amusing “this or that” conversation.

Connect with Florencia Henshaw:

• Twitter: @Prof_F_Henshaw
• Facebook: Unpacking Language Pedagogy
• Youtube: Unpacking Language Pedagogy

Connect with Maris Hawkins Henshaw:

• Twitter: @marishawkins
• Blog: marishawkins.wordpress.com

Get your own copy of Common Ground.  Hackett Publishing is generously offering a 25% discount when you use the code WLC2022. [Available through December 31, 2022].

**The 25% off discount code can be used for any book through the end of December, 2022.  Hackett publishes several intermediate language-learning textbooks in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Latin, and Classical Greek. New releases include Cinema for French Conversation, Cinema for Spanish Conversation, and Les Français.

______________________________
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.

#65
These are the episodes that we have been waiting for. The  first of a 2-part conversion with Florencia Henshaw and Maris Hawkins, the authors of Common Ground: Second Language Acquisition Theory Goes to the Classroom. We had so much to cover that I had to break it down into 2 episodes.  This is the first part and next Monday (episode 66) you will hear part 2. Today, Florencia, Maris and I discuss what prompted the writing of the book, their collaboration, what they hope teachers get out of Common Ground, how and why their approach is effective, and the all important topic of input. 

Connect with Florencia Henshaw:

• Twitter: @Prof_F_Henshaw
• Facebook: Unpacking Language Pedagogy
• Youtube: Unpacking Language Pedagogy

Connect with Maris Hawkins Henshaw:

• Twitter: @marishawkins
• Blog: marishawkins.wordpress.com

Get your own copy of Common Ground.  Hackett Publishing is generously offering a 25% discount when you use the code WLC2022. [Available through December 31, 2022].

**The 25% off discount code can be used for any book through the end of December, 2022.  Hackett publishes several intermediate language-learning textbooks in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Latin, and Classical Greek. New releases include Cinema for French Conversation, Cinema for Spanish Conversation, and Les Français.

______________________________
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.