Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative Context

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The topic of grammar is always up for discussion. Does the question of teaching grammar have a simple yes or no answer? Is it an either or?  Is there a place for a both/and?  I will suggest that there is this episode by focusing on form. Focusing on form involves drawing students’ attention to linguistic elements within a communicative context. Teaching grammar in context helps students see how grammatical structures are used in real communication. I’ll break down this topic with strategies, each with concrete tips and examples to help you integrate grammar instruction communicatively into your classroom. So, Let’s jump in!

Topics in this Episode:

  • High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • Focusing on form involves drawing students’ attention to linguistic elements as they arise incidentally in lessons, without interrupting the flow of communication. The PACE model stands for Presentation, Attention, Co-construct, and Extension, a structured approach to teaching grammar in context.
  • Teaching grammar in context helps students see how grammatical structures are used in real communication, making the learning process more meaningful and effective. The PACE model supports this by integrating grammar instruction into engaging and relevant activities
  • PACE: Presentation, Attention, Co-Construction, Extension
  • The PACE model provides a structured yet flexible framework for teaching grammar in context, making it more engaging and effective for students.
  • PACE is an example, others include Discovery Technique and Teaching Inductively
  • Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently
  • Episode 162: Facilitating Target Language Comprehensibility

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. 

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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163: Work Smarter, Not Harder with Amy Marshall

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We’ve heard this idea of working smarter and not harder. Does that sound like something that is easier said than done? Do you feel that efficiency might sometimes compromise your teaching and how and what students are learning. In this episode I take on this idea with Amy Marshal, Spanish teacher in Massachusetts. Amy offers lots of tips, insights and suggestions for saving yourself time as a language teacher, while not compromising the effectiveness of your teaching and what your students learn.

Topics in this Episode:

  • what it means to work smarter, not harder, in the context of teaching world languages
  • key strategies that can help language teachers work more efficiently and effectively in their classrooms
  • examples of low-preparation activities that provide high value and engagement for students
  • balancing the need for thorough lesson planning with the goal of reducing workload and avoiding burnout
  • steps teachers take to implement efficiency-focused and low-preparation ideas in their classrooms to enhance their teaching and maintain a healthy work-life balance

Connect with Amy Marshall:

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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162: How to Make Language Comprehensible

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We talk a lot about making language comprehensible in our language classroom. This is essential now that we understand how critical this is to language acquisition. When students understand what they hear and read, they begin the acquisition process. It also boosts their confidence, making them more willing to participate and take risks in using the language. In this episode, we’ll explore practical strategies to help make the target language comprehensible for your students.

Topics in this Episode:

  • High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • Comprehensibility is critical because it supports language acquisition. When students understand what they hear and read, they can engage more deeply and retain more information. It also boosts their confidence, making them more willing to participate and take risks in using the language.
  • 5 strategies to build a  discourse community in your classroom, each with tips and examples
    1. Use of Visuals and Realia
    2. Scaffolding Language
    3. Contextualize Vocabulary
    4. Engage Students with Interactive and Communicative Activities
    5. Provide Comprehensible Input (i+1).  Krashen’s hypothesis that language acquisition occurs when learners are exposed to language just above their current level.
  • Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. 

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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Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes, Teaching Methodology and Research

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161: Make Your Language Classroom Warm and Welcoming with Allison Perryman

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Is your world language classroom a welcoming space for students? Would you describe it as warm and welcoming? Can it be? Should it be? Is it helpful for learning? My guest today, Allison Perryman, sure believes that it is.  Allison joins me to discuss how she makes her Spanish classroom a warm and welcoming community where students feel recognized, valued, understood and ultimately completely supported by their classmates and teacher. This surely makes it a classroom incredibly conducive to language learning.

Topics in this Episode:

  • what inspired Allison to focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment in her classroom
  • examples of how a welcoming classroom environment has positively impacted student engagement and language learning outcomes
  • the role relationships play in creating a warm classroom atmosphere, and how do you foster strong connections between students and between students and the teacher
  • specific strategies for making your classroom feel inviting and inclusive for all students
  • addressing and supporting the diverse cultural backgrounds of students to ensure everyone feels represented and valued
  • Episode 78: Seeing, Hearing & Tasting Culture with Allison Perryman

Connect with Allison Perryman:

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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160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently

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What is a discourse community? Essentially, it’s a learning environment where students actively engage in meaningful communication, using the target language to interact, collaborate, and build relationships. It’s a space where every student’s voice is valued and encouraged. Is that what you would like to see in your classroom? I’m guessing you’re thinking, Yes!  But, how do we create this space for our students? In this episode I’ll give you five key strategies for building a discourse community in your classroom.

Topics in this Episode:

  • High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • A classroom discourse community is a learning environment where students actively engage in meaningful communication, using the target language to interact, collaborate, and build relationships. It’s a space where every student’s voice is valued and encouraged
  • 5 strategies to build a  discourse community in your classroom, each with tips and examples
    1. Establish Norms and Expectations
    2. Promote Student Interaction
    3. Use Authentic and Meaningful Tasks
    4. Encourage Reflective Practice
    5. Model Effective Communication

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. 

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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159: The Inspiring Story of the Mariposa in Nicaragua

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I have something that I want to share with you as we go into this new school year. If you know me you know that I have talked a lot about my experiences in Nicaragua and I have been there this summer.  I had an opportunity to sit down with Paulette Goudge and talk about what this Mariposa experience is and to bring it to you on this episode of the podcast. I can wait for you to hear all about what goes on in La Concha, Nicaragua.  So, let’s jump in.

Topics in this Episode:

    • I have been visiting San Juan de la Concepción, Nicaragua for over 10 years. Hear about my personal experience working with Paulette Goudge and La Mariposa.
    • Paulette’s first visits to Nicaragua in the 1980’s and adopting her daughter.
    • The vision for La Mariposa.
    • The Mariposa has many community projects to support the local community and provides income to families that would otherwise not be able to earn.
    • While La Mariposa is called an eco-hotel and Spanish school, it is so much more than that with all of the volunteer opportunities available.
    • Who goes to La Mariposa?
    • Sustainable food practices.
    • Visit the La Mariposa: mariposaspanishschool.com

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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158: Revisit Teacher Toolbox Episodes

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This is episode 7 in my 2024 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 episodes 119 and 132, which were teacher toolbox episodes. 

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.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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157: Revisit Grammar, Language Functions and Proficiency Growth

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This is episode 6 in my 2024 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 141 where I talk about transitioning from grammar to language functions and episode 145 where I discuss concrete ways to promote proficiency growth.

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.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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156: Revisit Guided Conversations and Chat Mats

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This is episode 5 in my 2024 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 episodes 117 where Jamie Rodriguez talks about guided conversations and episode 121 where Christina Margiore and I discuss chat mats.

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.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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155: Revisit Coaching Episodes

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This is episode 4 in my 2024 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 the Leveling Coach episodes where I coach several language teachers who are working on a challenge area in their teaching. 

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.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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