Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

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

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

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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:

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

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Posted in Podcast Episodes, Teaching Methodology and Research

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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!

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

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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

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

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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 

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

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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.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

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209: Revisit Calendar Talk and Special Person Interviews

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This is episode 5 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 August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at a few CI strategies. In episode 170 I speak with John Sifert about calendar talk and in episode 170 I discuss special person interviews with Bryce Hedstrom.

Episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

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208: Revisit the Leveling Up Coaching Episodes

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This is episode 4 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 August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at 3 Leveling Up Coaching episodes.  Episode 165 about supporting target language, episode 169 about student choice and episode 174 about cohesive lessons and flow in the classroom.

Episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

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207: Revisit Working Smarter and AI Tools

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This is episode 3 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 August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at episode 163 where I talked about working smarter and not harder with Amy Marshall and episode 183 where I talked with Noemi Rodriguez about supporting students with AI tools.

Episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
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206: Revisit Authentic Texts and Products, Practices & Perspectives

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This is episode 2 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 August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at 2 more of the high leverage teaching practices. Episode 167 about guiding learners to interpret and discuss authentic texts and episode 171 about focusing on cultural products, practices and perspectives.

Episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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