Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast World Language Classroom
Plongez dans la liste complète des épisodes de World Language Classroom. Chaque épisode est catalogué accompagné de descriptions détaillées, ce qui facilite la recherche et l'exploration de sujets spécifiques. Suivez tous les épisodes de votre podcast préféré et ne manquez aucun contenu pertinent.
Rows per page:
50
1–50 of 255
Titre
Date
Durée
6 Reading and Writing Activities in the CI Classroom
10 Nov 2025
00:29:26
#222
Do your reading and writing tasks feel like an afterthought or are they building blocks for language proficiency? In this second episode of the CI Toolbox series we focus on reading and writing activities that engage students through movement, visuals, collaboration, and just the right amount of challenge. I’ll share strategies to help students process and produce language in meaningful, low-stress ways.
Topics in this Episode:
Reading and writing should feel interactive, connected to input, and in line with students' proficiency level.
In this episode, we’re looking at six activities from my “CI Toolbox” that focus on reading and writing and are adaptable for many levels, with support for engagement and growth.
Hands-On Activities that Motivate and Engage with Heidi Lechner
03 Nov 2025
00:31:09
#221
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
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
Try Something New Part 1 - Why? How? What Gets in the Way?
18 Dec 2023
00:24:12
#124 The new year brings on thoughts of trying out something new. However, the idea of trying something new or modifying your existing practices in the classroom is not always that easy. In this first of a two-part episode, we look at how small, sustainable, and consistent changes or modifications are more likely to stick, rather than attempting to overhaul everything. This week we focus on real examples of trying new things in the classroom successfully, along with ways to overcome any obstacles that might get in the way. Part 2 next week will give you lots of ideas for what you can actually do in the classroom.
Addressing Polarizing Topics in the Classroom with Kent Lenci
11 Dec 2023
00:31:24
#123 Are there topics that you avoid in the classroom? Are there themes that come up and you’re not sure how to handle a potentially polarizing situation? I’ve certainly been there myself and that’s when I turn to my guest today, Kent Lenci, who collaborates with schools as they work toward building a culture of civil discourse in their classrooms and communities. How often do we ask our language students their opinion, on everything from favorite color to politics. We can all use some tools to navigate some of these potentially tricky situations. Kent Lenci is here to provide those tools and insights.
Topics in this Episode:
why it's important to not avoid challenging topics
techniques and strategies teachers can use to create a supportive environment, particularly thinking of students who might be hesitant to express their viewpoints due to fear of judgment or negative consequences.
practical classroom management strategies to keep conversations constructive and focused on learning
how teachers can be prepared for unexpected reactions or comments and foster an atmosphere of empathy and understanding
Kent's thoughts and insights on Robert Jones, Jr.'s quote: “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
How do you implement IPAs effectively in your classroom? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Judy, a German teacher in Illinois. Implementing IPA’s effectively is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice.
Suggestions:
Begin by incorporating IPAs in one unit or topic. This step-by-step approach allows you to refine your techniques and identify what works best for your students.
Authentic materials can be just about anything: a short video, a photo, a brochure. Create a Pinterest board where you can pin authentic resources that you find on the internet.
Develop clear and detailed rubrics to evaluate students' performance in IPAs.
Begin with 2-3 modes on the IPA, then add on the other modes with future IPAs.
Offer formative practice opportunities before the actual IPA to help students become familiar with the assessment format.
Use AI tools, such as ChatGPT to create a possible IPA, or at least offer a template to use.
Create a Pinterest board where you can pin authentic resources that you find on the internet
Action Plan:
This Week:
Choose one unit or topic from your curriculum where you will create an IPA.
Create a clear and detailed rubric that aligns with the IPA tasks
The Coming Weeks:
Design and implement formative practice activities related to the selected IPA unit.
Administer the IPA for the selected unit, using the rubric to evaluate students' performance.
Using Chat Mats in the Language Classroom with Christina Margiore
27 Nov 2023
00:29:20
#121 Have you used chat mats in your classroom? Even if you haven't, I'm sure that you have heard about this useful tool to support students. Today, Christina Margiore, a Spanish teacher on Long Island, New York, joins me to talk us through all the details involved with creating and using chat mats. If you are using them already, you will get some new ideas for sure. New to chat mats? No problem. You’ll soon be ready to use them with ease.
Topics in this Episode:
what chat mats are and how they are beneficial in the language classroom
elements to you include in chat mats
building on existing chat mats and creating new chat mats by unit
specific examples of how incorporating chat mats into lessons and activities
#120 What does participation look like in your classroom? How can you make sure that all students are actively engaged and not just a few that have demeanors that lend themselves to speaking up regularly? In this episode I speak with Timothy Chávez, a Spanish teacher in Massachusetts, who shares his suggestions and techniques for getting all students involved and participating in class. We recorded this episode live in the Exhibits Hall at the MaFLA conference in October. We had lots of spectators stop by to see how it all works and what it looks like to record an episode. I kept the background sound of the exhibit hall excitement in so that you can feel the energy that we did.
Topics in this Episode:
the benefits of Prsida Himmele & William Himmele’s Total Participation Techniques in the world language classroom
how these techniques enhance language learning and student engagement
how Total Participation Techniques promote a comfortable and inclusive learning environment
Specific Total Participation Techniques that Timothy has found most effective
Total Participation Techniques used for assessment
how Total Participation Techniques can be adapted to ensure that all students are actively participating and feeling confident in their communication skills
#119 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.
Do you have to balance common assessments with your proficiency-focused classroom? Is this a bit of a challenge when those common assessments are not all that focus on proficiency and communication? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Lisa, a French teacher in Michigan. Balancing common district assessments in a Proficiency-Focused Classroom is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice. So let's start the conversation.
Suggestions:
Might have to be a both/and during these years of transition. Allow for this.
Leave 1-2 days at the end of a unit to check in on the material that should be covered on the district common assessment. Any topics that were not covered during the unit can be quickly added on at the end so that students are prepared.
Action Plan:
This Week:
Review the district assessments and analyze the proficiency objectives in your curriculum. Identify specific areas where the two align and make sure that the focus remains on language proficiency, while also setting students up for success on the common assessments.
Make note of the topics that will be added on to the final days of the unit to align with the common assessment.
The Coming Weeks:
Initiate discussions with department heads or administrators to advocate for the importance of proficiency-focused assessment in language learning.
Present evidence of its benefits and explore possibilities of incorporating proficiency tasks into district assessments.
Start with the walkers and get them into running mode, then move onto those standing on the side.
__________________________ Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching. ______________________________ Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
Guided Conversations in the Language Classroom with Jamie Rodriguez
30 Oct 2023
00:27:19
#117 How do you support your students through the process of getting them comfortable when it comes to speaking in the target language? On today’s episode I speak with Jamie Rodriquez, a Spanish teacher in Connecticut, who talks us through using guiding conversations to get students to that place of using the target language to speak not only comfortably, but confidently.
Topics in this episode:
what guided conversation are and how they benefit both student performance and language proficiency
strategies for creating effective and engaging guided conversations that align with the curriculum and target language proficiency goals
how to adapt guided conversations for different proficiency levels
success stories of using guided conversations and the significant impact on students' language proficiency and communication skills
#116 Are you using AI tools like ChatGPT? Do you know about all the other AI tools that are out there and can help support your teaching, your curriculum and save you time? Today, Noemí Rodríguez, a Spanish teacher in New Jersey, has thrown herself into the AI world. She shares lots of resources and tells about all the incredibly helpful ways that we can leverage AI tools as language teachers.
Topics in this episode:
what AI is and why should teachers consider using it
advice for language teachers who are eager to embrace AI tools but may feel overwhelmed or uncertain about where to start
Using AI tools to streamline lesson planning while still maintaining personalized learning experiences
striking a balance between leveraging AI tools and fostering meaningful interactions and cultural understanding among your students
examples of specific AI applications that work well in the world language classroom and how do these tools enhance the learning experience for students
#115 Do you have AP language classes in your program? When do you begin focusing on the linguistic and cultural competence skills that students will need to succeed at this level? A Pre-AP or a scaffolded approach to skills and content is beneficial in the language learning process, fostering critical skills and mindsets early on. Whether students pursue a language at an advanced or AP level or not, these skills not only enhance and support academic success, but they also cultivate confidence and competence. We’ll take a look at how we can begin fostering these skills early on.
A Simple Way For Students to Understand Language Proficiency
25 Aug 2025
00:16:28
#211
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
How do you approach writing with students, particularly at the very beginning of their language learning journey? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Jenn, a middle school Spanish teacher in Illinois. Writing is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice. So let's start the conversation.
Suggestions:
Revisit the percentage of each communication mode in your grading and focus more on interpretative mode at the novice level.
Use clear, aligned rubrics for consistent and objective assessment of Novice-level writing in language classes.
Consider a single point rubric
Foster self-reflection and revisions to support language development and boost students' confidence in their writing abilities. Leverage the single-point rubric
Action Plan:
This Week:
Gather resources: Compile a list of Novice-level vocabulary and simple sentence structures suitable for writing tasks.
Develop scaffolded prompts: Create a set of writing prompts that guide students to construct basic sentences and short paragraphs using the identified vocabulary and structures with opportunities to go beyond the expected proficiency level
The Coming Weeks:
Create single- point rubrics that align with the Novice-level writing expectations to assess vocabulary usage, sentence variety, and grammar
Implement scaffolded tasks: Introduce the scaffolded writing prompts in class, guiding students through the process of constructing sentences and paragraphs.
Provide formative feedback: Use the rubrics to offer constructive feedback on students' writing and encourage self-reflection and revisions.
__________________________ I'd appreciate the opportunity to work directly with your department, school or district. Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching. ______________________________ Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
Honing Our Craft with Dr. Florencia Henshaw and Dr. Kim Potowski
02 Oct 2023
00:29:38
#113 Have you listened to the last 2 episodes about Comprehension-Based Language Teaching and Standards-Based Grading? I referenced the book Honing Our Craft, World Language Teaching Today as I prepared those topics. In today’s episode I have the 2 editors of Honing Our Craft, Dr. Florencia Henshaw and Dr. Kim Potowski, who speak about their objectives behind this project, working through the content with 15 contributors and how language teachers can most efficiently and effectively use this very user-friendly resource.
Honing Our Craft
Edited by Dr. Florecia Henshaw (Director of Advanced Spanish at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) & Dr. Kim Potowski (Professor of Spanish Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago),
12 chapters written by educators for educators, with a focus on bridging the gap between research and practical application.
Practical applications and suggestions for language educators that they can adapt to their particular contexts.
Use this link and the discount code JOSHUA25HOC to save 25% on the book.
In This Episode:
What Florencia and Kim would you like educators to gain from reading Honing Our Craft.
The “user friendly”chapter layout.
The process of editing a volume like HoningOur Craft, where the initial idea come from and the writer/editor relationship.
How Florencia and Kim suggest that teachers use HoningOur Craft
#112 Are your assessments and grades in your classes a reflection of what students are able to do with the target language? Are the communication modes in there? Are there parts of your grade that are based on compliance to rules and routines? In this episode I am going to look into what grading based on standards in a proficiency based classroom looks like. And once again, luckily there is a very useful chapter on this topic in the newly published book “Honing Our Craft.” It gives us all the info we need to engage with “Standards-Based Grading for Proficiency-Based Language Instruction." That’s actually the title of chapter 7.
Honing Our Craft
Edited by Dr. Florecia Henshaw (Director of Advanced Spanish at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) & Dr. Kim Potowski (Professor of Spanish Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago)
12 chapters written by educators for educators
Use this link and the discount code JOSHUA25HOC to save 25% on the book.
Standards-Based Grading for Proficiency-Based Language Instruction
Put Standards-Based Grading in Context
Traditional grading system:
Variability in what exactly counts towards the percentage average of a traditional grade.
3 Core Principles of Standards-Based Grading
Focus should be on mastery of specific skills
Multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning
Separate factors such as behavior, punctuality, homework completion and extra credit
Key Terms and Misconceptions
Proficiency: language ability in the real world, unscripted, without practice
Performance: can do with practice in an educational setting.
Mastery: highest level
SBG can be used with any set of standards
Rubrics: core principle of SBG to provide feedback for revision and multiple attempts to demonstrate learning.
Multiple attempts to demonstrate learning
System in place to have retake opportunities: practice, formative, HW, meet with teacher.
Grading behaviors unrelated to mastery
Removes opportunity for implicit bias.
Suggestions
Focus on...
Standards and create rubric accordingly
Differentiation
Feedback and the iterative process
Formative and summative assessments
Do…
Plan units around your learning goals
Collaborate with colleagues for common rubrics, assessment and learning goals (standards)
Plan for reassessments and retakes (ad
Use this link and the discount code JOSHUA25HOC to save 25% on the book.
Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching
18 Sep 2023
00:21:09
#111 What have you heard about Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching? Is this what you are doing in your classroom? In this episode I want to unpack exactly what CCLT is and is not. Luckily there is an incredibly useful chapter on this topic in the newly published book “Honing Our Craft.” It gives us all the info we need to answer the question “What is and What Is not Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching?” That’s actually the title of chapter 4.
Honing Our Craft
Edited by Dr. Florecia Henshaw (Director of Advanced Spanish at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) & Dr. Kim Potowski (Professor of Spanish Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago)
12 chapters written by educators for educators
Practical applications and suggestions for language educators
Use this link and the discount code JOSHUA25HOC to get save 25% on the book.
Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching(CCLT)
Context and Origin of CCLT
Role of Input
Krashen's Input Hypothesis
Presentation-Practice-Production (PPP)
popular because it is conceptually easy to understand
easy to grade and assess
accuracy is main criteria for success
Key Terms and Misconceptions
Communication is not synonymous with oral production (reflection of PPP)
move input to the center of the curriculum
Production and Grammar are not neglected (focus on form, structured input)
Suggestions
What if my textbook follows the PPP approach?
modify activities to give have a communicative goal
What if my exams are grammar-based?
set aside time for grammar explanation
Do…
speak the target language most of the class time.
make input activities meaningful
Don’t…
forget that accuracy is developed gradually
forget comprehension is communication
plan classes around grammar points, grammar is a tool, not a goal
Remember to use this link and the discount code JOSHUA25HOC to get save 25% on the book.
#110 Have you attended a conference specifically for language teachers, either locally, regionally or nationally. If you have, this episode will get you excited about the upcoming conference season. If you’ve never attended, you’ll be inspired to attend for sure. Danja Mahoney and Vilma Nasuti Bibeau, both members of their state language conference planning committee, join me to explore everything that these events have to offer and all that’s in it for language teachers. I live for PD, workshops and a good ol’ conference. I’m so excited.
Topics in this episode:
Benefits of attending a conference for world language teachers
What typically happens at a language teacher's conference?
Who presents at conferences?
Events and activities that are typically available to conference attendees.
Networking opportunities, social gatherings and exhibitors.
How language teacher conferences foster collaboration among attendees.
Streamline Lesson Planning (Leveling Up Coaching Episode)
04 Sep 2023
00:27:16
#109 How do you plan out your individual classes and keep an eye on the pacing? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Tamica, a Spanish teacher in New Jersey. Lesson planning with a close eye on timing and class pacing is the area where she wants to level up her teaching practice. Dive in with us & take the ideas back to your classroom.
Suggestions:
Develop a lesson planning template or framework that includes sections for warm-up activities, instructional content, single, pair and group practice opportunities, and assessments. This helps maintain consistency and organization. Break this into 2 or 3 sections per class.
Create a list of 10 go-to activities and work toward putting the number of minutes along with each one so that you can effectively gauge and determine how long each one will take.
Collect data on how long each activity takes and mix and match the activities.
Action Plan:
This Week: Create a list of 10 go-to activities that include various opportunities for single, pair and group practice opportunities
The Coming Weeks: As you move through the fall and implement the class template and activities, keep track of the minutes on task and make note of the time for planning purposes. Reflect on the effectiveness of your class template and planning. Revise and adjust your future lesson plans based on insights gained from the reflections and student input.
__________________________ Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching. ______________________________ Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
#108 We are back for a new school year. I asked you in the spring what you would like to get from this podcast. In this episode I’m excited to share with you how we will be changing up the podcast episodes (just a little) so that they are exactly what you are looking for and need as you approach your teaching.
#107 This is episode 6 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 79 where Ben Fisher-Rodriguez shows how to do a Write and Discuss and episode 90 where Kaitlin Leppert talks us through parallel texts. These two activities work really well together. Let’s jump in.
Ben Fisher (79): the benefits of using Write and Discuss
Logistics of doing a Write and Discuss
– when you us it
– how you do it
– the procedure
– what you can do after
Ben’s pro tips
Kaitlin Leppert (90): engaging students in a parallel text
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Revisit Interpersonal Activities and Student Engagement
14 Aug 2023
00:04:10
#106 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
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
#105 This is episode 4 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 Allison Perryman talks about seeing, hearing and tasting culture and episode 88 where Kia D. London discusses representation in the language classroom. Let’s jump in.
Allison Perryman (78): formats for presenting and engaging students in diverse cultural experiences
Allison’s approach of seeing, tasting and hearing diverse cultures with students
Kia D. London (88): examples of centering representation and diverse racial and ethnic content from Kia’s classroom and curriculum
how to do this consistently while also engaging students authentically
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Revisit CI Activities and Planning for Proficiency
18 Aug 2025
00:06:57
#210
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.
#104 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.
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Revisit Department Goals and Language Associations
24 Jul 2023
00:03:46
#103 This is episode 2 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 60 where Tin Eagan talks about leading a proficiency-based language department and episode 74 where Mike Mitchel and Jenny Delfini discuss state language associations.
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
This is episode 1 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 the episodes about the book Common Ground.
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
#101 Now that the school year is over hopefully you have a little less on your mind and have a little extra time. This is the perfect time to get into your summer headspace. What do I mean by “Summer Headspace?”
time to reflect without other pressing priorities and issues
opportunity to revisit themes and episodes with a fresh lens
catch something new.
finish an episode that you started
listen to an episode for the first time
I'll group episodes by theme so that you can listen to them together with a 5 minute recap to pull the themes together. The links to episodes will be in the show notes. __________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
#100 Guess what? This is episode 100 of the world language classroom podcast. I was watching data to see if we would get to 100 episodes first or 100,000 downloads. I’m happy to report that we crossed the 100,000 download mark well before this 100th episode. So, thank you so much for your continued support of the podcast and the many guests who have joined me over the past 2 years. In this episode I want to look back at some key takeaways from the collective wisdom of guests and share some listener highlights as well. Can’t wait, so Let’s jump in!
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Planning Communicative Activities Efficiently with Hope Anderson
26 Jun 2023
00:21:22
#99 Do you find it time-consuming to create effective communicative activities? We can all feel that way at times. In this episode, we are talking about how to do this more efficiently. Hope Anderson, a Spanish instructor in Arizona, joins me to offer suggestions for going about our communicative practices a little more efficiently, while also being quite effective. Something for all of us to learn.
Topics in this Episode:
breaking down exactly what we mean by communicative teaching
how to determine if an activity is truly and authentically communicative
the value and benefits of authentic communication in the language classroom.
ways to engage students in communicative tasks without taking a ton of time
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
From a Short Text to a Full Lesson with Sarah Barrientos Svatos
19 Jun 2023
00:27:05
#98 How do you find a text, or any kind of reading that you use with your students? Does it have to be a long piece of text to make sure that students really get something out of it or that you can use as a way for students to engage with the language? Today, Sarah Barrientos Svatos, a Spanish teacher in Spain, joins me to discuss how we can take a short text and turn it into a full lesson that touches on all of the communication modes. She has lots of tips to share so that you can get started right away.
Topics in this Episode:
what we mean by a “short text”
the benefits of using a short text
are short texts only effective at novice level or also effective at higher proficiency levels?
how to set students up for success by preparing them to engage with the text (pre-reading activities)
how to support students while they engage with the text (during-reading activities)
how to check for understanding of the text and set students up to produce output (post-reading activities)
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
#97 Please take this 3-5 minute feedback survey (mostly multiple choice). This will provide incredibly valuable information as I move on to the next 100 episodes.
This episode is all about you, the World Language Classroom Podcast listener. As I say at the start of every episode, thank you for taking the time out of your week to listen to me and other teachers discuss topics of language teaching and taking those ideas into your classroom. This is just one of the many things that make you an incredible educator. We are soon coming up on episode 100. I’ve learned a lot and have changed some things about the podcast based on your feedback. I want to make sure that the next 100 episodes and your listening experience are even better. That’s what we’ll take on in this episode.
Topics in this Episode:
the importance of listener feedback and its role in shaping the podcast
creating a valuable and tailored experience for the audience
__________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Teaching Heritage Language Learners with Courtney Nygaard
05 Jun 2023
00:34:54
#96 Do you have heritage speakers in your language class or perhaps you have full classes of heritage speakers? In this episode, we are talking about how to design and implement curriculum and daily class activities that meet the specific needs of heritage speakers. Courtney Nygaard, who has full classes of heritage speakers in Minnesota, joins me to talk about how she designs her classes and offers useful tips and suggestions for working with this unique group of students.
Topics in this Episode:
who our heritage language learners are and how Courtney came to teaching this population of students
the early days, lessons learned and where Courtney is now with her heritage language classes
what the curriculum looks like with heritage speakers and how this differs from the “typical” second language curriculum
Courtney's core beliefs behind her heritage learner curriculum
the core components of her curriculum and her process for delivering it
differentiating what can be a wide ranges in proficiency, particularly with regard to literacy
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Curriculum and Structure in the CI Classroom with Adriana Ramirez
29 May 2023
00:42:13
#95
What is a highlight or takeaway from the first 100 episodes of the World Language Classroom Podcast? Leave a 20-20 second audio recording HERE. I hope to include you in episode 100. If recording your voice isn't your thing, please send me your highlight to include through a DM on Twitter or Instagram.
What does curriculum look like in a classroom that puts comprehensible input at the center of the language acquisition experience? Is it possible, in fact, to follow a curriculum, in either a traditional or reinvented way? In this episode, we look at this very question with Adriana Ramirez, a Spanish teacher in Canada. Adriana helps us to see what curriculum looks like in her classroom as she implements a CI approach to language teaching and learning.
Topics in this Episode:
the key aspects of a CI (Comprehensible Input) classroom that are a departure from some more legacy approaches
“curriculum” in a CI classroom and how do we plan for and document the learning
the structure of a lesson and the student experience
why CI is ultimately more beneficial than a vocabulary and grammar-focused curriculum
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Revisit Calendar Talk and Special Person Interviews
11 Aug 2025
00:04:25
#209
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.
What is a highlight or takeaway from the first 100 episodes of the World Language Classroom Podcast? Leave a 20-20 second audio recording HERE. I hope to include you in episode 100.
How do we choose the input that we use when engaging students in comprehensible input activities? In this episode, we are talking about the idea of targeted comprehensible input. Angie Torre, a Spanish teacher in California, joins me to talk about the pros and cons of using targeted and non-targeted comprehensible input. There are likely diverse opinions on this out there, so here is our chance to find the common ground.
Topics in this Episode:
what “targeted” and “non-targeted” Comprehensible Input are and their objectives
the varying opinions on both approaches
Angie's personal reasoning behind using targeted Comprehensible Input
the benefits of considering age and developmental levels in the language acquisition process
planning of a lesson or unit that using targeted Comprehensible Input
sheltered videos, how do you use them, and the effectiveness
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
What is a highlight or takeaway from the first 100 episodes of the World Language Classroom Podcast? Leave a 20-20 second audio recording HERE. I hope to include you in episode 100.
How do you approach assessment in your language classroom? Is it about quizzes and tests on particular vocabulary and language structures, or do you focus on students demonstrating what they can do with the Target Language? In this episode I am going to focus on Integrated Performance Assessments (or IPA’s). This type of assessment provides a chance to determine what students are able to do with the target language, rather than just what they know about the language.
Topics in this Episode:
Henshaw and Hawkins' recommendations around assessments in Common Ground
aligning instruction with assessment
Success Criteria
what an Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) is
the 3 sections of an IPA: interpretive, interpersonal, presentational
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Critical Thinking Skills in the Language Classroom with Lisa Shepard
08 May 2023
00:32:41
#92
What is a highlight or takeaway from the first 100 episodes of the World Language Classroom Podcast? Leave a 20-20 second audio recording HERE. I hope to include you in episode 100.
What classes do you think of when you hear about Critical Thinking Skills? Is this for science, social studies and literature, or is there a place for it in our World Language Classes. My guest today, Lisa Shepard, a French teacher in Ohio, is here to show that our language classrooms are the ideal place to highlight and hone critical thinking skills. Lisa shares her reasoning along with many suggestions for building these skills in the target language at every proficiency level.
Topics in this Episode:
what we mean by “critical thinking skills”
why critical thinking skills are essential in our classrooms and as part of our curriculum
concern about addressing critical thinking skills in the target language, particularly at the novice level
strategies (activities and procedure) that focus on and hone critical thinking skills in the language classroom
– Analyze Authentic Resources
– Solve Problems Collaboratively
– Create informational and persuasive messages for cross-cultural audiences
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
#91 Have you heard about, or maybe even used, Story-Listening in your classroom? I wanted to learn more about this interpretive listening procedure and how it can be used along with interpretive reading. Margarita Perez Garcia, a Spanish and French teacher and author in Australia, joins me to talk through all the details of Story-Listening. Maybe you have the flexibility and autonomy to go all in with this methodology in your classroom. If not, Margarita shares how we can use Story Listening along with other procedures.
Topics in this Episode:
what Story-Listening is
the benefits of Story-Listening
what does Story-Listening looks like
what you need to do if I want to use Story-Listening tomorrow
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Parallel Texts in the Language Classroom with Kaitlin Leppert
24 Apr 2023
00:35:45
#90 Have you used a parallel text in your language classroom? Maybe this is a new concept to you, like it was for me, or maybe you could use some new ways of going about it. Either way, stick around because in this episode, we are talking about using parallel texts. I’m joined by Kaitin Leppert, a Spanish teacher in Wisconsin, who has lots of experience to share around this effective teaching procedure.
Topics in this Episode:
what a Parallel Text is and why teachers should consider using them
engaging students in a parallel text – creating an original text – whole Class parallel texts – individual/small group parallel texts
specific examples of a parallel text activity that you Kaitlin has done with students
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
The Input is Compelling, But What About the Output?
17 Apr 2023
00:25:04
#89 Have you heard about Stephen Krashen’s Comprehensible Input Hypothesis? If you’ve heard about CI, or use it in your classroom, then you know exactly what it is. Today, I want to take this a step further and look at making that input compelling or of particular interest to students. Not only that, but what about making the output, or how students use the language, equally compelling or of specific interest to them? We’re essentially talking about ways to motivate students and we can always use some suggestions for that.
Topics in this Episode:
Krashen's Comprehensible Input Hypothesis: Language acquisition occurs when learners are exposed to messages that are slightly beyond their current level of language competence, but that can still be understood with the help of contextual clues.
Stephen Krashen's Compelling Input Hypothesis: Learners are more likely to acquire language when they are exposed to messages that are interesting, engaging, and personally relevant to them.
Five suggestions for providing compelling input
What about making the way students use the language compelling and of personal interest to them as well?
Five suggestions for providing opportunities for compelling output
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Representation in the Language Classroom with Kia D. London
10 Apr 2023
00:42:00
#88 How do we bring the diversity of cultures of the target language into our classrooms? In this episode, we are talking about how to do just that. Kia D. London, a Spanish teacher in Chicago, speaks with me about how she brings the afro-latino diaspora to her students in the classroom. Kia has lots to share from how she came to understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures to how she provides this experience to her students.
Topics in this Episode:
Kia's personal connection to the Spanish Language and Afro-Latino Culture
Kia's Cuba trip and what she learned from that experience
why representation of racial and ethnically diverse content is vital in the language classroom
why “one-off” lessons around representation of racial and ethnically diverse content are less effective and why should consistency should be the goal
examples of centering representation and diverse racial and ethnic content from Kia's classroom and curriculum
how to do this consistently while also engaging students authentically
what Kia has personally seen as a result of centering diversity and representation in her classroom and curriculum
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Personal and Teacher Identity with Jenniffer Whyte
03 Apr 2023
00:38:43
#87 How can we bring authentic cultural experiences to our students? In this episode, I’m joined by teacher and podcast host Jenniffer Whyte, who speaks with me about her experience as a self-described “Afro-Latina teacher in the Rural South.” She also has a podcast aptly titled Afro-Latina teacher in the Rural South. Jenniffer Whyte tells us about her teaching journey through Florida, Georgia and Alabama and how she got more comfortable bringing her authentic self into the classroom, and then decided to start a podcast to connect with other teachers.
Topics in this Episode:
Jenniffer's journey from the Dominican Republic to the Rural South
what Jenniffer has learned about yourself while navigating life in the Dominican Republic, NYC, Miami, Atlanta and now Anniston, Alabama
how Jenniffer brings her Afro-Latina identity and lived experience into her classroom and how this benefits her students and representation overall
what led Jenniffer to start a podcast specifically focused on the Afro-Latina experience, and particularly that experience in the rural south
what Jenniffer hopes that listeners get out of her podcast episodes
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Lots of Activities for Any Reading with Ashley Mikkelsen
27 Mar 2023
00:48:03
#86 Do you use reading as a source of comprehensible input in your language classroom? In this episode, we dive into the topic of reading with Ashley Mikkelsen, a Spanish teacher in North Dakota, who shares suggestions and ideas for engaging reading activities that you can do right away in your classroom. Ashley has a true passion for making reading fun and interactive for students. So, grab your notebook and pen, and get ready to add lots of pre, during, and post reading activities to your next lesson.
Topics in this Episode:
Ashley's journey with literacy
the benefits of reading in the language acquisition process
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
#85 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.
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
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.
Movies, Video, Shorts and Clips with Allison Wienhold
13 Mar 2023
00:31:39
#84 Do you use movie or film clips in your classroom? Allison Wienhold, a Spanish teacher in Iowa, joined me back on episode 30 to talk about using music in the classroom. She left us with so many useful and actionable tips for music that I had to have her back on to share ideas and suggestions for using movies, film clips and other types of visual media.
Topics in this Episode:
the essential benefits of using video clips or movies in the language classroom from linguistic and cultural perspectives
where Allison finds the video that she uses
looking for themes or finding a good clip/scene and planing a lesson around it
various types of video and what to do with them:
short films (clip chat, EdPuzzle)
TV Series (authentic input)
full-length films (culture, themes, seasons, units)
Allison's thoughts and suggestions around subtitles and modifying audio speed
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities with Danja Mahoney
06 Mar 2023
00:35:15
#83 How do you, your department or school support and integrate students with learning disabilities into your language program? In this episode, we are talking about teaching all students, with a particular focus on students with learning disabilities. I’m joined by Danja Mahoney, a Latin and Spanish teacher in Massachusetts, who has done extensive research on this topic. She is here to speak about her doctoral research with actionable tips and advice for all of us.
Topics in this episode:
Can every student succeed in a language class?
Are there students whose disability prevents them from learning a language?
The research on the success of students with disabilities learning a language.
What teachers can do to build the type of engagement necessary for students with learning disabilities to learn language.
Examples of accommodations and modifications that teachers can implement to support all students in their language classes.
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.
Engaging Language Activities With Wendy Mercado & Valérie Greer
27 Feb 2023
00:47:28
#82 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
______________________________ Work with Joshua either in person or remotely. ______________________________ Sign up for Talking Points for tips, tools and resources for language teaching. ______________________________ Let's connect!
______________________________ 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.