World Language Classroom | Teaching Ideas, Activities and Strategies

In this episode we are talking about textbooks.  Some of us use them, some of us don't.  Maybe you are required to use one and maybe it's a choice.  Wherever you are with textbooks there's a place for you in this conversation.  [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by Timothy Chavez, a Millennial Teacher, who, as you will hear, is part of a generation of students that were "brought up on proficiency in the classroom".... proficiency natives if you will.  And these proficiency natives are teaching the way the they learned.  How exciting.

Timothy speaks about...

• his experience as a student with textbooks in the classroom
• how textbooks were traditionally designed and what might be missing
•  whether or not we need to  ditch the textbook all-together or if there are ways to use them effectively
• how to integrate a textbook (when required) with proficiency-based approaches to teaching
• the possibility of teaching without a textbook
• how teachers advocate to administration if they want to move away from a textbook-based curriculum

Connect with Timothy Chávez:

• Instagram: @timothym_bc
• Blog: Working Toward Proficiency

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode we talk all about comprehensible input (CI), which you will see is a useful approach in teaching and learning any language. [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by John Bracey, a Latin teacher, who uses CI very effectively with his students.  He also makes a strong case for all teachers to try out CI, including Latin teachers.

John speaks about...

• his journey with CI and how he discovered it.
• the linguistic benefits of CI. 
• using CI to personalize language and connect with and validate students’ lived experiences.
•  what CI looks like in his classroom.
•  why Latin teachers should use CI.

Connect with John Bracey:

• Twitter: @magisterbracey
• magisterbracey.com

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode I walk through the ACTFL Proficiency Levels and Performance Descriptors.
[sign up for Talking Points]

Topics:

• What they are
• How  they are used in teaching and learning
• How they are designed
• How they are organized
• What each proficiency level involves
• Breakdown of Interpersonal Proficiency Levels
• How to use Proficiency Levels (Performance Descriptors) in the classroom

Blog posts:

•  wlclassroom.com/ican --  walks through writing I can statements that are truly communicative and there is a link to the ACTFL Performance Descriptors
• wlclassroom.com/levelup -- shows what language looks like at each proficiency level and what students can focus on (or do) to level up.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode we talk about Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) in the in language classroom. [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by Jade Greene, a high school teacher in North Carolina, who helps us understand the benefits of reading in the target language and how to set up FVR in our language classrooms.

Jade speaks about...

• the primary benefits of promoting a culture of reading in the language classroom
• choosing books for your classroom library
• students’ responses to the reading options
• how FVR works
• her journey as a CI (Comprehensible Input) author

Connect with Jade Greene:

• Instagram: @lasecundaria_jag
• Twitter: @lasecundariajag
• Facebook

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode we talk about equity in the in language classroom, but it's really about equity in any classroom.  [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by A.C. Quintero who helps us to understand the importance of creating a classroom and student experience that moves beyond equality and focuses on an authentic equity.

A.C. speaks about...

• what students “bring” to the classroom that language teachers need to be aware of.
• how we can assess in ways that are equitable and recognize students’ skills in different areas.
• culturally responsive teaching and how this benefits student.
• teaching equitably in intentional ways.
• biases and our responsibility as teachers to recognize them.

Connect with A.C. Quintero:

• Instagram: a.c. quintero 
• Twitter: @klasekastellano
• Facebook
• Website: acquinterobooks.com 
• Novels and Resources by A.C. Quintero 
• Teaching from The Trenches FB Teacher Resource Group 
• Youtube channel

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode we talk about grammar.  This is always a hot topic in language teaching with lots of questions about how (or even if) we should do it.  [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by Mike Travers, a teacher in Massachusetts, who has presented on this topic many times at teacher conferences, having been named "Best of Conference."  So, who better to help with this conversation?

Mike speaks about...

• The role of grammar in communicative language teaching.
• ACTFL’s Core Practice of Teaching Grammar as a Concept and in Context.
• Why is it essential and beneficial that language structures be taught in context.
• Procedures for teaching grammar in context and as a concept.
• Possible benefits of explicit grammar instruction.

Connect with Mike Travers:

• Twitter: @Travers_Tweets
• Blog: Diaries Of A Mad World Language Teacher

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode I discuss the communication modes, including a look back at the legacy teaching focused on the 4 skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.  Then moving into the arrival of the Communication Modes, which don’t erase the skills, but rather put them into a communicative context.   [sign up for Talking Points]

The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines put communication into these categories: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational.  

Presentational communication 

• One-way speaking or writing that does not allow for real time clarification of meaning.  
• Prepared in advance, not spontaneous

interpretive communication 

• One-way listening or reading that also does not allow for real time clarification of meaning. 
• This may require accessing personal knowledge of the topic or doing research.  

Interpersonal communication

• Two-way speaking that allows for clarification of the message in real time.  
• When communicating interpersonally all speakers and listeners are involved in creating and interpreting the message and work together to assure that there is a collective understanding.

What does it look like in the classroom?

• The 4 skills are woven together; listen then discuss or read and then write.
• Begin with interpretive, then move on to other modes
• IPA: Integrated performance assessment; backwards planning

**Blog Post/Slide Share on  the ACTFL Communication Modes

Let's Connect!

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode we talk about how essential positive teacher-student relationships are, particularly when we want our students to feel valued, comfortable and motivated to speak the target language.  [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by Ebony Thornton, a teacher in Georgia, who speaks about...

• relationships with her own teachers and those that influenced her student-teacher relationships
• barriers that make teacher-student relationships challenging
• respecting distance when needed
• how do you get to know your students
• how effective relationships enhance the teaching and learning experience
• the “savior” complex
• representation in the language classroom
• #BlackWLTeachers

Connect with Ebony Thronton

• Twitter: @EThorntonGHS
• Instagram: @senoritathorntonghs

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode we talk about supporting new language teachers in your department.  If you are an administrator, a new teacher, or a colleague with new department members there is a place for you to jump into this conversation.  [sign up for Talking Points]

I am joined by William Anderson,  who leads a district program with 9 schools and over 40 teachers in the language department.  

William speaks specifically about...

• what to look for when hiring teachers.
• how to support new teachers in the areas of classroom management, assessments and planning.
• what a “good” class or lesson looks like. 
• what new teachers should be asking for support with (but don’t know that they need to ask).
• how colleagues can support new teachers.

Connect with William Anderson

• Twitter:  @PequaWorldLang

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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

In this episode I speak with Katya Hottenstein. 
She and I used to work together and we both started our journey toward teaching toward proficiency around the same time.  Katya shares her insights and experience embracing proficiency as her goals in the classroom. [sign up for Talking Points]

She speaks specifically about...

• her first few years of teaching before embracing proficiency as a goal
• when she started looking outside of the box and why
• what she started to do differently and the results
• how she uses CI  (Comprehensible Input) in her teaching
• the benefits of teaching with CI with  a focus on proficiency

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community

Sign up for Talking Points, my weekly newsletter with tips, tools and resources for language teachers.

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

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