Tag Archives: Activities

221: Hands-On Activities that Motivate and Engage with Heidi Lechner

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Have you ever noticed how students light up when language learning feels real, active, and connected to their world? In this episode, I’m joined by Heidi Lechner, an inspiring German teacher and instructional coach in Illinois. Heidi shares how hands-on, student-centered activities keep learners motivated, curious, and communicating authentically. We’ll talk about why teachers benefit from stepping into the learner’s shoes, how collaboration transforms language use, and strategies you can use to make your classroom come alive.

Topics in this Episode:

  • activities that spark curiosity and keep students motivated in the German classroom
  • Why it’s important for educators to experience activities from the student perspective and how can shift shift the way they teach
  • strategies to move students beyond individual practice into authentic, communicative tasks with their peers
  • examples of how to help students see themselves in the content and connect the language to real-world contexts
  • Klett World Languages Sessions at ACTFL

Connect with Heidi Lechner:

  • Email: heidi@heidilechner.com

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

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201: Ideas to Get Students Speaking More with Sherry Sebesta

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Do you have some go-to activities to motivate your students to speak and engage with the target language in your classroom?  Are you always on the lookout for activities and routines to add to your list of possibilities? In this episode, I speak with Sherry Sebesta, a French and Spanish teacher in New York. Sherry shares suggestions for getting your students speaking the target language more regularly and confidently. You’ll go away with several new things to try out right away.

Topics in this Episode:

  •  Sherry’s goals for language students and how speaking activities work into this
  • how teachers can create a classroom environment that reduces students’ fear of making mistakes and promotes more speaking
  • activities to encourage students to speak more in the target language
  • examples where Sherry’s strategies have increased student speaking confidence and participation in class
  • practical steps to implement Sherry’s speaking activities and ideas in the classroom

Connect with Sherry Sebesta

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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119: Teacher ToolBox Episode (Vol 5)

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This is the fifth 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 lots to share with you.

Sorry (not sorry), But They Will Keep Asking

“Can we play a game?” Embrace the request and discover 15 activities that can be easily adapted to any language or level. Fill your teacher toolbox with ways for students to engage enthusiastically with the target language in all modes.  

Activities mentioned in this episode:

This Google Doc has all of the links.

Interpersonal

Interpretive

Presentational

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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106: Interpersonal Activities and Student Engagement

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This is episode 5 in my 2023 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 28th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at episodes 78 where Meredith White shares lots of interpersonal activities and episode 82 where Wendy Mercado and Valérie Greer give us a wealth of engaging language activities.  Let’s jump in.

  • Meredith White (76): how prescribed (curriculum) grammar and vocabulary come into play with communicative activities
  • effective interpersonal (and communicative) activities that we can use in our classrooms
  • Wendy Mercado & Valérie Greer (82): how “games” or “activities” address skill development and standards
  • lots of ideas for engaging activities and games
    • High Tech
    • Some Tech
    • Low Tech
    • No Tech

Episodes: 

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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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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104: Revisit Teacher Toolbox Episodes

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This is episode 3 in my 2023 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 28th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday.  For today we take a look back at episodes 69 and 85, 2 of my Teacher Toolbox episodes with activity that you can use right away in your classroom. 

Activities Mentioned: 

  • Quiz-Quiz-Trade
  • At the Table
  • Shipwreck
  • The Card Path
  • The Die Decides
  • Logic Puzzles
  • Learn/Practice/Apply
  • Time Capsules
  • ChatGPT 

Episodes: 

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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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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85: Go-To Activities for Your Teacher Toolbox (Vol 4)

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This is the fourth 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…plus a bonus.

Activities and Blog Posts in this Episode:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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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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82: Engaging Language Activities With Wendy Mercado & Valérie Greer

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Could you use a few new ideas to reinvigorate the energy and productivity in your classroom? In this episode, you will get lots of new ideas and suggestions for authentically engaging your students in their language learning.  I’m joined by 2 teachers in New York. Spanish teacher Wendy Mercado and French teacher Valérie Greer.

Topics in this Episode:

  • the essential benefits of authentic engagement and excitement in the language classroom
  • how“games” or “activities”  address skill development and standards
  • lots of ideas for engaging activities and games
    •  High Tech
    •  Some Tech
    • Low Tech
    • No Tech

Connect with Wendy and Valérie:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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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54: Revisit Activities for Your Teacher Toolbox

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This is the last episode in Summer Headspace series. I revisit episodes 25 and 36. These are the 2 Teacher Toolbox episodes where I give you low (and mostly no) prep activities for your language classroom.

Listen to the episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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39: Target Language Games with Kevin Quigley

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If you listed to episode 19 with Trudy Anderson you heard her talk about using Jessica Haxhi’s acronym M.A.G.I.C. in the language classroom.  This stands for Movement, Authentic Resources, Games, Interaction and Communication. The focus on this episode is games.  I speak with Kevin Quigley, a French and Spanish teacher in Vermont, and he shares several low-prep target languages games that you can use in your classroom tomorrow (or even today).

Kevin speaks about:

  • why games, and student engagement in general, are beneficial
  • misconceptions about games
  • several effective games and activities that you use in the classroom right away
  • how often we should use a particular game 
  • the important of mixing up games

Connect with Kevin Quigley:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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25: Go-To Activities for Your Teacher Toolbox (vol 1)

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This episode is the first in a series of episodes that I will publish 4-5 times a year.  In these “Go-To Activities for Your Teacher Toolbox” episodes you will hear suggestions for go-to activities and games that require little-to-no prep and can be easily modified for any language or proficiency level.

Why Games and Activities:

  • useful teaching and learning tool
  • particularly useful when engaging and motivating unwilling and disinterested students
  • opportunities to practice speaking and understanding the target language
  • playing in (with) the language and building confidence
  • Brain Breaks – keep interest and focus
  • provide a relaxed context for risk-taking, lowering the affective filter
    and building community in the classroom.

4 games and activities that are:

  • little to no prep
  • can be pulled out at any time
  • are easily adapted to proficiency level of class

The games and activities:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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