Episodios

  • Episode 32: Focus on Form
    Sep 11 2025

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    Episode 32 Show notes - Focus on Form

    Michael Long’s thinking about “focus on meaning,” “focus on form,’ and “focus on forms” in language teaching, for example:

    Long, M. (2008). Focus on form in task-based language teaching. In Language policy and pedagogy (pp. 179-192). John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/82ddd5f2-57ca-4d9e-91ed-5b65b5483395/content


    Diane mentioned Patsy Lightbown related to developmental readiness. Nina Spada is the first author on a piece related to that topic:

    Spada, N., & Lightbown, P. M. (1999). Instruction, first language influence, and developmental readiness in second language acquisition. The Modern Language Journal, 83(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/0026-7902.00002


    PACE as a sort of focus on form was developed by Adair-Hauck & Donato. For example:

    Adair-Hauck, B., & Donato, R. (2002). The PACE model: A story-based approach to meaning and form for standards-based language learning. The French Review, 265-276. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3132708.pdf?casa_token=vLRGTuL4kYoAAAAA:nt-vKHUZm9rkrRCqYUBh_VNlRcAu1hD2g1Q0RM60Y5s64Hf3fR01q1qvOM7TM_Kj0ZvlDnavNZo46XcVVy1ZoqZy81PEoFWJH4wgEYZYSoDOR2ehCQ

    There are many other sources about PACE, including other podcasts or blog posts from language teachers who have used the approach, such as Madame Shepard’s post here: https://madameshepard.com/?p=1761 Mde. Shepard notes the meaning of the abbreviation in her post.


    Pop up grammar & pop ups: Diane presented with Bill Langley (from the SLAYYY! Podcast) on focus on form using pop-ups, sharing the presentation slides link with Bill's permission: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1199IPm-CjHnM7jN1rh6dETFbyd1LGqhG0Dk7jq08c3U/edit?usp=sharing


    Bill VanPatten on processing instruction, for example:

    VanPatten, B. (2002). Processing instruction: An update. Language Learning, 52(4), 755-803. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9922.00203


    Michael Sharwood-Smith input flood: Information about this construct and related ideas about input enhancement and noticing form in the midst of relatively meaning-focused instruction:

    Benati, A. (2016). Input manipulation, enhancement and processing: Theoretical views and empirical research. Studies in second language learning and teaching, 6(1), 65-88.

    https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1134494.pdf


    Story Listening by Dr. Beniko Mason and Comprehension-Aiding Supplementation

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    38 m
  • Episode 31: Child Language Development & Implications for Teachers
    Aug 28 2025

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    Show Notes: Episode 31 (season 4) show notes: Child language development & implications for teachers


    Conversations about Language Teaching Episode 7 was about Conversation Analysis:

    YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zny0LLUh3TM

    Audio-only podcast episode https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2325378/episodes/15229325-episode-7-learning-about-language-classroom-interaction-through-conversation-analysis


    Reed mentioned this presentation by Lourdes Ortega:

    Ortega, L. (2017). The bi/multilingual turn in SLA: How far have we (not) come, and why. In 36th Second Language Research Forum, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.


    Reed referenced Ninio’s research on child syntax (ex, word order), such as the following:

    Ninio, A. (2014). Learning a generative syntax from transparent syntactic atoms in the linguistic input. Journal of Child Language, 41(6), 1249-1275. https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/4230B7158CA10B4F20454430F3A9B6BE/S0305000913000470a.pdf/learning-a-generative-syntax-from-transparent-syntactic-atoms-in-the-linguistic-input.pdf

    Ninio, A. (2011). Syntactic development, its input and output. Oxford University Press. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tJ2k_KeoRhcC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Ninio+child+syntax&ots=ycNoteZRsf&sig=EvZ0KYIbqXytHtPE6-P41jFUJE0#v=onepage&q=Ninio%20child%20syntax&f=false



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    40 m
  • Episode 30: Purposes for Picture Talk
    May 15 2025

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    Episode 30 Show Notes -- Purposes for Picture Talk

    Link to Cheng & Tsui webinar (mentioned by Diane as included Picture Talk): https://youtu.be/HinXS0n762g

    eBook (includes both ‘levels’ of Picture Talk Diane described) https://cheng-tsui.publishercart.com/product/comprehension-based-chinese-ebook/


    Hawaii Department of Education https://learningdesign.hawaiipublicschools.org/standards-based-content/world-languages

    Scroll down to find Session 2 from 2023 (with Diane Neubauer, trainer): Designing Units and Lessons. There is a link to unit and lesson examples there – the elementary example is a unit based around an animal, like Diane talked about pandas.


    Picture Talk episode of Growing with Proficiency (Claudia Elliott’s podcast; no guest, Diane misremembered in the recording) Episode 143: Picture Talk Reimagined – 5 Ways to Make It Sustainable and Student-Led https://growingwithproficiencythepodcast.buzzsprout.com/2051875/episodes/16986398-episode-143-picture-talk-reimagined-5-ways-to-make-it-sustainable-and-student-led

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    37 m
  • Episode 29: Rethinking Authenticity
    May 1 2025

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    Episode 29 Show Notes - Rethinking Authenticity

    Hasegawa, A. (2018). Understanding task‐in‐process through the lens of laughter: Activity designs, instructional materials, learner orientations, and interpersonal relationships. The Modern Language Journal, 102(1), 142-161. https://doi.org/10.1111/modl.12448


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    39 m
  • Bonus Episode 28: 当非母语中文老师
    Apr 17 2025

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    This episode is in Mandarin Chinese. Reed & Diane talk about their experiences as non-native learners, users, and teachers of Mandarin Chinese.


    Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo

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    39 m
  • Episode 27: A Story about Student Production
    Apr 3 2025

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    No show notes this time!

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    38 m
  • Episode 26: Children’s Books & Reading for Vocabulary Growth
    Mar 20 2025

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    Episode 26: Children’s Books & Reading for Vocabulary Growth

    Show Notes

    The Mandarin Companion blog has concise & helpful information about Extensive reading (ER) and 98% known language. This post also describes why children’s books are not necessarily suitable for second language learners:

    https://mandarincompanion.com/7-mistakes-about-extensive-reading/


    Intensive reading & extensive reading compared in a concise post by Mandarin Companion: https://mandarincompanion.com/reading-pain-or-reading-gain-reading-at-the-right-level/


    The podcast “You Can Learn Chinese” also has several episodes related to extensive reading, intensive reading, and other information about learning (particularly) Chinese with a lot of relevance to learning any language: https://mandarincompanion.com/you-can-learn-chinese-podcast/


    Narrow reading:

    Krashen, S. (2004). The case for narrow reading [J]. Language Magazine, 3(5), 17-19. https://sdkrashen.com/content/articles/narrow.pdf

    Renandya, W. A., Krashen, S., & Jacobs, G. M. (2018). The potential of series books: How narrow reading leads to advanced L2 proficiency. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 11(2), 148-154. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1225871.pdf


    English language TV shows used for language learning – some examples:

    10 US or UK TV shows and ideas for learning English from them: https://www.bsceducation.com/blog/best-tv-shows-for-learning-english/

    The Office (US version of the show) https://diziyleogren.com/en/tv-series/the-office – However, Reed & Diane think it’s more important to understand meaning in context than to memorize the long lists of vocabulary provided. The definitions are sometimes also full of specialized vocabulary. Ex: Season 1, ep. 1 lists “berry” as a fleshy fruit from one ovary… that is a very technical definition for a botany student rather than daily life!

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    27 m
  • Episode 25: There Is No Best Method--Why?
    Mar 6 2025

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    Episode 25: There Is No Best Method–Why? Discussing Prabhu (1990)

    Show Notes


    We discussed this article:

    Prabhu, N. S. (1990). There is no best method—Why?. TESOL Quarterly, 24(2), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586897

    It is freely available online at the link above. Diane missed the number of times it has been cited – “only” 1666 citations as of Feb. 28, 2025. That is still quite a lot in the field of applied linguistics/language teaching and learning.


    Needs analysis:

    Ch. 3 of this book is about needs analysis in language course design:

    Macalister, J., & Nation, I. P. (2019). Language curriculum design. Routledge.

    Information about the 2019 (2nd) edition is here:

    https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780429203763/language-curriculum-design-john-macalister-nation

    The first edition of the book (2010 edition) is available freely online here: https://shorturl.at/mX40e


    Prabhu (1990) cites Brumfit, 1984, which appears to be his PhD thesis revised for book publication:

    Brumfit, C. (1984). Communicative methodology in language teaching: The roles of fluency and accuracy.

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    39 m