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Join host Claudia Elliott in this insightful episode of 'Growing with Proficiency, the podcast,' as she delves into the importance of listening comprehension and skills in world language education with special guest, Marta Yedinek.

Discover innovative strategies and the story behind the renowned podcast 'Cuéntame,' designed to aid Spanish learners. Claudia and Marta discuss methods to prepare students before, during, and after listening activities, offering practical advice for language teachers to implement in their classrooms.

Learn about Marta’s hands-on experience in adapting her podcast to meet the varying needs of her students and takeaway actionable tips to enhance your teaching approach. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation that promises to inspire and support language educators in cultivating proficient and culturally competent learners.

00:00 Introduction to Growing with Proficiency

01:09 Meet Your Host: Claudia Elliott

01:45 Special Guest: Martha Yedinek

01:50 The Importance of Listening Skills

03:11 Creating the Cuéntame Podcast

05:46 Strategies for Effective Listening

08:05 Using Podcasts in the Classroom

11:21 Practical Tips for Teachers

13:16 Engaging Students with Listening Activities

23:16 Reflection and Continuous Improvement

30:09 Final Thoughts and Resources

Meet our guest:

Marta Ruiz Yedinak is a National Board Certified Spanish teacher, Kohl Fellow, and a WAFLT New Teacher Award recipient. She is a passionate provider of comprehensible input and a firm believer of teaching students, not curriculum. She loves sharing with other teachers by presenting at various language conferences such as ACTFL, WAFLT, CSCTFL, FLAND, MittenCI, iFLT, and CIMW, a conference that she co-directs. Marta works for the Ripon Area School District. She is the author of “La princesa y el guerrero”, published by Wayside, and the producer of ¡Cuéntame!, a podcast for Spanish acquisition.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Cuéntame Podcast

List of all the episodes of Cuéntame

Facebook community of Cuéntame

More resources:
Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes
GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
Growing With CI FB Community
Blog
Teacher Pay Teachers Store

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.

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In this episode, Claudia sits down with Nelly Andrade-Hughes, an outstanding Spanish teacher and author of many comprehensible readers and educational materials for Spanish classes, to dive into the art of creating comprehensible texts for language learners. If you're looking to improve your students' engagement and comprehension, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways:

• Why comprehensibility matters: Learn why students must be able to understand 98% of the text for true language acquisition.
• Strategies for writing effective texts: Nelly shares how to use high-frequency verbs, proper nouns, and cognates to build compelling stories.
• The importance of repetition: Discover how to ‘park’ key information to ensure students acquire vocabulary without overwhelming them.
• Adapting content for different levels: From novice to intermediate, find out how to adjust sentence structure, vocabulary, and context to match your students’ abilities.
• Balancing simplicity and engagement: Tips for keeping your text both comprehensible and compelling for middle and high school students.
  
  Books by Nelly Andrade-Hughes:
• Click here to access some of Nelly’s books

More resources:
Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes
GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
Growing With CI FB Community
Blog
Teacher Pay Teachers Store

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.

Send us a text

En este episodio de "Growing With Proficiency, The Podcast", hablamos sobre cómo apoyar a los estudiantes de herencia en clases de español regulares. Discutimos estrategias para evaluar su competencia lingüística, fomentar el orgullo cultural y adaptarnos a sus necesidades en el aula. Además, exploramos cómo utilizar contenido relevante y actividades interactivas que promuevan su participación sin aislarlos ni sobrecargarlos.

Principales puntos del episodio:

1. Evaluar la competencia individual en habilidades interpretativas y comunicativas.
2. Promover una mentalidad positiva hacia los estudiantes de herencia, destacando su riqueza cultural.
3. Implementar estrategias para ofrecer contenido enriquecedor y actividades que fomenten su orgullo lingüístico y cultural.
4. Cómo integrar el input escrito en niveles bajos y medios para estudiantes de herencia.

Recursos mencionados:

• Episodio con la Dr. Alberta Gatti, donde se explora la importancia de la identidad lingüística en el aprendizaje.
• Episodio sobre contenido basado en narrativas, con estrategias para aplicar storytelling en el aula.
• Episodio del "Estudiante Estrella", sobre cómo involucrar activamente a los estudiantes de herencia en clases regulares.
• Episodio sobre el calendario y cómo organizar el año escolar utilizando eventos culturales como herramientas de aprendizaje.

Invitación: Si quieres conocer más sobre nuestra comunidad de Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy, te invito a nuestro tour privado de la academia el 10 de septiembre a las 7:30 PM ET, regístrate en growingwithproficiency.com/tour.

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In this episode of "Growing With Proficiency The Podcast," we dive into five game-changing, low-prep strategies that can transform your world language classroom.

Whether you're looking to build stronger connections with your students, make reading more interactive, or boost student output with minimal prep, these ideas have you covered.

From using class passwords to energize daily routines, to implementing silent discussions that promote deep reflection and collaboration, you'll find practical and powerful tools to enhance your teaching.

Plus, stick around for a special invitation to a private tour of the Growing With Proficiency Spanish Teacher Academy! Don't miss out on these simple yet transformative ideas that can make a big impact in your classroom.

Links and Resources

• Sign up for our private tour of Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy at growingwithproficiency.com/tour
• Sign up to receive the template for Character Autopsy here
• Episode 9 of GWP The Podcast
• Episode 56 and 57 of GWP The Podcast

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.

Send us a text

In this episode of "Growing With Proficiency The Podcast," I'm super excited to chat with two incredible language educators, Alicia Shoemaker and Ben Fisher Rodriguez. We dive into the magic of 'Aha Moments'—those lightbulb moments that bring so much joy and energy to both students and teachers. We talk about what the research says about why these moments are so important and share some practical tips on how you can create more of them in your classroom.

We also get into the nitty-gritty of intercultural competence and cultural humility—big ideas that can take those 'Aha Moments' to the next level by making learning more inclusive and meaningful. Alicia and Ben share some awesome examples and resources that have worked wonders in their own teaching.

Resources:

Dr. Wesley Carpenter at the University of Akron - His definition of 'Aha Moments' as "a sudden conscious change in a person's representation of a stimulus, situation, event, or problem."

Dr. John Hattie and Dr. Jay Berkeley, University of Melbourne - Their 2023 article, Making Learning Visible: Observable Correlates of the Aha Moment when Moving from Surface to Deep Thinking, discusses how 'Aha Moments' in students lead to feelings of joy, relief, self-efficacy, and increased engagement.

2017 ACTFL Can-Do Statements on Intercultural Competence - These statements define intercultural competence as the ability to interact effectively and appropriately with people from other language and cultural backgrounds.

Common Ground: Second Language Acquisition Theory Goes to the Classroom by Florencia Henshaw and Maris Hawkins

Randall Munroe's "What If?" Questions - A resource mentioned for its effectiveness in encouraging students to think critically and reflectively about cultural scenarios, helping to create 'Aha Moments.'

Teaching Tools in a Flash by Dr. Deborah Clark and Dr. Sharma of Kent State University** - This resource provides practical examples of how to approach cultural humility in language classes.

Maris Hawkins’ Blog
Ben Fisher Rodriguez’s Blog

More resources:

Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes

GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Growing With CI FB Community

Blog

Teacher Pay

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.

Send us a text

In this episode, we're offering an alternative to the traditional approach of classroom management. Instead of focusing on control, we'll explore how to cultivate a classroom culture that thrives on student engagement, responsibility, and collaboration.

Join me as I share six practical strategies designed to help you create a positive and proactive classroom environment, where students are naturally inclined to follow norms and contribute to a supportive learning community.

Key Points:

• Understanding SLA: Discover how providing clear reasons behind your expectations can boost student motivation and cooperation.
• Co-Creating Norms: Learn the benefits of involving students in setting classroom norms, fostering a sense of autonomy and ownership.
• Daily Norm Reminders: Explore creative ways to keep norms top of mind through call-and-response techniques and humor.
• Consistency is Key: Understand the importance of consistency in maintaining a positive classroom culture.
• Spotlighting the Positive: Find out how to reinforce good behavior with positive recognition, including claps, high-fives, and class points.
• Building Relationships: Gain insights into the value of truly knowing your students and building strong, supportive connections.

We’ll wrap up with a few bonus strategies to help you stay grounded and effective as you cultivate your classroom culture.

Tune in to learn how to shift from managing your classroom to fostering a culture that supports student success!

Videos mentioned:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CejhQC9hUO8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji59kolNu3c

Resources and Links mentioned:

Comprehensible and Communicative Language Education: Free Teacher Guide

Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes

GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Growing With CI FB Community

Blog

IG & Twitter: @claudiamelliott

Teacher Pay Teachers Store

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.

Send us a text

This is our first collaboration episode with the outstanding Dr. Liam Printer, host of the Motivated Classroom Podcast. In this episode, we dive into the heart of language acquisition, motivation, and community-building in the classroom. We share practical strategies to inspire your students, enhance comprehensible input, and create a learning environment where every student feels empowered. Regardless of your context of teaching, this episode offers valuable insights into how motivation and acquisition are connected.

Check out the main highlights of this conversation.

-Understanding Context in Language Teaching: Liam and Claudia discuss the importance of contextually appropriate pedagogies and how these principles can be applied in various teaching environments.

- Navigating Upper-Level Language Classes: Strategies for maintaining high levels of comprehension and motivation in upper-level courses, including the integration of authentic resources.

- Building Community and Connections: How getting to know your students on a personal level can transform classroom dynamics and enhance learning outcomes.

- Practical Activities for Engaging Students: Dr. Liam Printer and Claudia share engaging classroom activities like the “Know your classmates”, "Off-Topic Challenge" and the "Mentira" game to keep students motivated and involved.

Dr. Liam Printer

Dr. Liam Printer hosts The Motivated Classroom podcast and is currently an Instructional Coach at the International School of Lausanne in Switzerland, where he works with teachers to improve their practice. Prior to this role, Liam was the Leader of Pedagogical Innovation and Approaches to Learning at the school. Liam has been a teacher of additional languages for the past 17 years. He currently teaches Spanish and English in the middle and high school as part of the International Baccalaureate. His Motivated Classroom podcast was listed in the Top 5% of all downloaded podcasts worldwide in 2022 with over 400,000 listens to date. His Doctorate in Education focussed on motivation and teaching languages through storytelling and his research has been published in various peer reviewed journals and it has been cited over 30 times in the past 3 years in other academic research. Liam also holds a Masters in French, a Postgraduate Diploma in teaching of modern languages, a Bachelor's degree in Business and languages, and he is currently working on a Masters in Applied Linguistics and Teaching of English. His book with Oxford Hachette publishing, on motivation and language teaching, will be published in 2025. Liam has been invited as the Keynote speaker at more than 10 international language teaching conferences and he continues to work with a wide range of schools and districts around the world on raising motivation in the language classroom. If you'd like to learn directly from Liam, check out his upcoming online workshops on his website www.liamprinter.com.

Links and resources!

Comprehensible and Communicative Language Education: Free Teacher Guide

Back to School Bun

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.

Send us a text

Welcome back to Part 2 of our Back-to-School Series on Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast! In this throwback episode, we revisit Episode 43, "A Powerful First Day: Crafting an Engaging Back-to-School World Language Class for Success!"

Why is the first day so significant? Because that initial encounter with your students sets the tone for the entire year ahead. Making a positive impact from the start can pave the way for a year filled with growth, excitement, and meaningful connections.

Join me as I guide you step-by-step through a treasure trove of ideas, activities, and strategies curated for that memorable first day of class. Grab a warm cafecito or your favorite beverage, and let's dive in. You'll leave with practical and actionable ideas to make your first day a magical experience for both you and your students.

Click play, get cozy, and let's make this year the best one yet! See you inside!

Links and resources!

Comprehensible and Communicative Language Education: Free Teacher Guide

Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes

GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Growing With CI FB Community

Blog

IG & Twitter: @claudiamelliott

Teacher Pay Teachers Store

I’m excited to share that the 2024 Klett World Languages Back 2 School Conference is now open, and the best part? It’s asynchronous, so you can dive in at your own pace! I’ll be there as one of the keynote speakers alongside the amazing Joe Dale, and we’re joined by an incredible lineup of experts.
Use code CLAUDIA for 30% off. Click here to get your ticket.