Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

219: Design Activities That Are Fun and Communicative

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You just wrapped up a fun, high-energy activity. The room was buzzing, students were laughing and moving, but now you’re wondering: Did they actually communicate? In this episode, we’re unpacking what makes an activity not just fun, but truly communicative. You’ll learn how to spot the difference, adapt your favorite games, and keep language use at the center, without losing the fun and joy. 

Topics in this Episode:

  • Here’s the lens I want to offer you in this episode: Just because students are participating doesn’t mean they’re communicating. With just a few tweaks, your fun activities can become communicative and support proficiency and performance objectives.
  • We don’t have to throw out our favorite games or routines. We don’t need to make everything serious or structured. But, we do need to look at each activity through a new lens: Does it give students a reason to use the language with purpose?
  • Classroom Strategies:
    • Add Purpose and Personalization
    • Use the “Does It Build Proficiency?” Checklist: 1. Are students using the target language to express meaning?2. Is there a real-world connection or purpose? 3. Are students interpreting, negotiating, or producing language? 4. Will this support what they’ll do on an upcoming assessment?
  • Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Design Activities that are Fun and Communicative

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218: 6 Activities for Interaction and Discussion in the Language Classroom

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This is the first of 3 episodes in a series on CI Strategies.  There will be an episode on Story Telling and Narrative techniques, one on Reading and Writing procedures and today’s episode on Interaction and Discussion.  In this episode, we look at six comprehensible input strategies that foster real interaction and personalized discussion. From Picture Talk to Calendar, I’ll share detailed examples, differentiation tips, and practical ways to make your classroom a space for meaningful communication, no matter your students’ proficiency level.

Topics in this Episode:

  • Students are technically “participating,” but are then truly communicating? This has led me to rethink how I define interaction in a language classroom and to find activities that center personal connection and comprehensible input.
  • Six activities from my “CI Toolbox” that promote interaction and discussion adaptable for many levels, with built-in support for engagement and growth
    • Picture Talk
    • PQA (Personalized Questions and Answers)
    • Special Person Interviews
    • Card Talk
    • Weekend Chats
    • Calendar Talk
  • Get the PDF with all of the CI Toolbox Activities: 

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217: Using Authentic Texts at Every Level

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Have you ever wanted to use an authentic resource like a menu, a meme, or a social media post, but thought, “My students aren’t ready for this”? Actually, they are. In this episode, I’ll show you how to use authentic texts at every proficiency level, even with absolute novices. I’ll share practical suggestions for selecting and scaffolding activities that support student engagement with authentic resources.

Topics in this Episode:

  • If you’ve ever hesitated to use authentic materials because you thought students weren’t “ready,” this episode will help to shift your thinking by giving you the tools to bring real-world input into your classroom now, no matter the level.
  • Authentic resources are not the reward for reaching proficiency—they are the pathway to proficiency.
  • The key is in how we select and scaffold those resources.  You don’t have to wait until students understand every word. In fact, they shouldn’t. Because interpretive communications one of the most essential skills we can build.
  • Classroom Strategies
    • Adjust the Task, Not the Text:you don’t need to change the text. You change what you’re asking students to do with it.
    • Use Visual Context and Chunking:include visuals, labels, and structure—and then break the text into manageable chunks.
  • Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Use Authentic Documents at Every Level

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216: Assessment & Feedback: Supporting Growth, Not Just Grades

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Are your assessments really capturing what your students can do with the language? Or are they just measuring memorization and correctness? In today’s episode, we’re diving into what it looks like to assess for performance and proficiency. I’ll share tips for aligning tasks to the modes of communication, using Can Do Statements to drive growth, and giving feedback that supports risk-taking rather than only focusing on what is not completely accurate.

Topics in this Episode:

  • Assessment and feedback are teaching tools, not just measurement tools
  • Questions to consider when looking at feedback and assessments in your classroom: 
    • Do Your Assessments Reflect Performance & Communication? 
    • Do Assessments inInclude the 3 Modes of Communication
    • Do Students Understand How They’re Being Assessed?
    • Does the Feedback Encourage Growth? 
  • Assessment doesn’t have to feel like a judgment. It can be an opportunity to motivate by showing what was done well and guidance on improving on that.
  • Let your assessments and feedback tell students: ‘You can do this—and here’s what’s next.

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215: Boost Interpersonal Speaking Skills at All Levels

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Do your students freeze up during partner conversations? Rely on memorized phrases? Default to English? It’s not just your students, I assure you, and the issue isn’t their ability, it’s the way we structure the speaking task. In this episode, I’ll show you how to get students talking, really communicating, no matter their proficiency level. You’ll learn how to design interpersonal speaking tasks that are spontaneous and supported, with strategies you can right away. Whether your students are Novice Low or headed toward Intermediate High, you’ll leave with a clear framework to make unscripted speaking feel safe, doable, and fun.

Topics in this Episode:

  • how to increase real, unscripted student talk without overwhelming them
  • students don’t need more vocabulary lists or more scripted dialogues, they need support for real–time interaction. 
  • spontaneous speaking doesn’t mean unprepared. It means unscripted
  • we often think of “spontaneous” speaking as something students either can do or can’t do. But just like writing or reading, it can be taught and scaffolded.
  • classroom strategies:
    • frame the Conversation with Can-Do Statements
    • use a repeatable framework: Set the Purpose, Prep the Language, Create the Conditions, Reflect and Repeat
  • Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Boost Interpersonal Speaking at All Levels

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214: Be Intentional With Your Planning

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Do your lessons ever feel like a mix of good activities that just don’t quite connect? You’re not alone—and it’s frustrating when all your effort doesn’t lead to real language growth. In this episode, we talk about how planning intentionally from the first input to the final assessment so everything works together to build proficiency. You’ll get practical ideas, a clear framework, and a fresh approach that makes planning easier and more effective. So, let’s jump in.

Topics in this Episode:

  • We have to start planning with the end goal of communication in mind, not the content, not the textbook unit, not even the grammar point. But communication. 
  • When we think about what students need to be able to do with language—what they’ll say, write, listen to, and read—and then work backwards from there, everything starts to click into place.
  • This is the foundation of backward design and intentional planning.
  • Classroom startegies:
    • Start with the “I Can” Statements
    • Align the Input, Tasks, and Assessment
  • Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course:  Intentional Planning for Proficiency: From Input to Assessment.

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

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213: Ready for Tomorrow Quick Wins

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Are you always looking for better ways to support your language learners? That’s probably why you listen to this podcast—because you care about teaching. But time is limited, and sometimes you just need a quick, practical idea you can try tomorrow. That’s exactly why I created the Ready for Tomorrow Quick Win PD series. In this episode, I’ll walk you through these short, focused courses designed specifically for world language teachers with real classroom strategies that actually stick.

Take a look at the courses!

Topics in this Episode:

What Is the Ready for Tomorrow Series?

  • A collection of 30-minute mini-courses for world language teachers.
  • Focused on quick wins—you can watch today and use it in class tomorrow.
  • Includes: A short, focused audio lesson (like a podcast episode with visuals), Printable note sheet, Planning templates, Proficiency-level examples, Reflection prompts, Certificate of completion

What Makes These Different?

  • Specifically for language teachers. No need to adapt or translate strategies from other content areas.
  • Truly actionable. Not theory-heavy or overwhelming.
  • Efficient and practical. Just 30 minutes each—no fluff.
  • Flexible. Learn anytime, anywhere—at your pace.
  • Made for teachers like you. Focused on your goals, your learners, your classroom realities.

Pricing and Access Options

  • Each course is available individually for $10.
  • Or grab the growing bundle (20% Discount):

Take a look at the courses!

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212: Setting Goals for Students and Teachers

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Are your goals for this year focused on what you’ll teach or what your students will be able to do with the language? In this episode, we’re talking about goal setting, for you and your students, in a way that’s centered on language proficiency, not just study habits or behavior. I’ll walk you through a practical framework to set meaningful goals that set you up and your students up for a year that’s focused, communicative, and confidence-building.

Topics in this Episode:

  • why student goal setting is important
  • SMART goals and proficiency-based goals
  • why teacher goal setting is important
  • choosing a focus area for setting teacher goals
  • suggestions for keeping goals active throughout the school year
  • Student Goal Setting Sheets

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211: A Simple Way For Students to Understand Language Proficiency

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211: A Simple Way For Students to Understand Language Proficiency; French, Spanish
Do your students know exactly what they can do in the target language? If you asked them right now, could they tell you their current proficiency level and the specific skills they’re working toward? In my experience, when students understand the proficiency path, they take ownership of their progress in a very meaningful and personal way. In this episode, I share how I help students visualize and track their growth using a Path to Proficiency Wall and how you can do the same in your classroom.

Topics in this Episode: 

  • make  proficiency levels clear and student-friendly
  • how to use text type and functions to explain growth
  • design a Path to Proficiency Wall for your classroom
  • help students self-assess and set goals
  • use the wall to guide family and student conversations
  • how shift feedback toward leveling up instead of grades
  • See an example and get your own Proficiency Path 

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210: Revisit CI Activities and Planning for Proficiency

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This is episode 6 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning next week on August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at some activities that you can use as you begin the school year.  In episode 180 I tell you about lots of CI activities that you can use tight away and in episode 202 I talk about the free guide I created for planning and teaching toward proficiency.

Episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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