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This episode is part of my celebration of the 100th episode of Growing with Proficiency, and our guest today is Haiyun Lu, a Mandarin teacher renowned for her expertise in comprehensible input (CI).

In this episode, Haiyun shares her insights on brain-based learning, practical strategies for implementing CI in language classrooms, and how backward design can work in a CI based classroom.

Discover how creating a safe and engaging learning environment can transform your teaching and help your students thrive. Learn about the importance of authenticity in the classroom, the power of storytelling, and how to effectively plan CI lessons.

Show Notes

Key Points:

1. The Brain and Learning:

• Discussion on how the brain processes information and the importance of a safe learning environment.
• Explanation of the fight, flight, or freeze response.

2. Comprehensible Input and Classroom Strategies:

• Overview of CI strategies like personalized questions and collaborative storytelling.
• Importance of novelty and movement in the classroom.

3. Implementing Backward Design:

• Start with the end goals in mind and plan lessons that build towards those objectives.

Join us for a powerful conversation that will leave you inspired and ready to bring the magic of comprehensible input into your classroom.

Resources from Claudia

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott and FB @claudiamelliott

FREE LIVE CLASS: Discover the 5 Step Framework to Design the Perfect Back To School Lesson

Resources from our guest:

• Facebook
• Ignite Chinese
• Movie Talk with Haiyun Lu

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

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Are you feeling excited yet overwhelmed about shifting to comprehension-based instruction? If so, you're not alone. Understanding SLA (Second Language Acquisition) research highlights that this shift is not just an option but a necessity. So, how can we make it happen without burning out?

We dive into these questions with our amazing guests, Jason Fritze and Bertha Delgadillo, on today's episode.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Students Don't Listen:
   • How to engage students who seem unresponsive.
   • Strategies to make lessons fun and communicative, including using music, games, and performances.
   • Building effective classroom routines that keep students involved and interested.
2. I Have a Curriculum:
   • Leveraging your agency to create an authentic, communicative curriculum.
   • Understanding how languages are acquired by following SLA research.
   • Embracing core practices that enhance language proficiency and understanding.
3. I Am Alone:
   • Finding and connecting with a supportive community of educators.
   • The importance of professional development and sharing your practice.
   • Embracing the mindset that you are enough and transmitting that energy to your students.

Join us for this insightful discussion and gain valuable perspectives on overcoming common obstacles in your journey to comprehension-based teaching. You'll leave feeling empowered and connected to a community dedicated to enhancing language acquisition and cultural competence in the classroom.

Resources mentioned:

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott and FB @claudiamelliott

FREE LIVE CLASS: Discover the 5 Step Framework to Design the Perfect Back To School Lesson

Jason’s Trello: https://trello.com/b/jr5u6xNe/high-leverage-teaching-for-world-languages

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

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Imagine having your students acquire 0.20 words per minute! That’s 1,200 words per 100 hours of instruction. 🤯 When Margarita Pérez-García heard from Dr. Beniko Mason that there is a Second Language Acquisition methodology that can accomplish that, she was on a mission to bring this methodology to her classroom.

This methodology is “Story Listening.” What makes Story Listening different from other Comprehensible-Based methodologies? Story Listening focuses on providing a plethora of comprehensible, or as Margarita would say, potentially comprehensible input to the students.

Story Listening is a multimodal approach, incorporating auditory input delivered by the teacher and written input through Guided Self-Selected Reading.

In this episode, you’ll be part of a Master Class about Story Listening. Margarita will dive into the following aspects:

• What is Story Listening?
• Why is Story Listening a method to provide OPTIMAL input?
• What are the steps to Story Listening?
• What are the most common obstacles when a teacher is trying to incorporate this methodology in their classroom?
• How to overcome these obstacles.

I highly recommend you listen to this episode more than once and, at some point, sit down and take notes. It’s that good.

Grab your favorite drink, hit play, and happy listening!

Resources:

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott and FB @claudiamelliott

FREE LIVE CLASS: Discover the 5 Step Framework to Design the Perfect Back To School Lesson

Margarita Pérez-García: Masterclass and more

Dr. Beniko Mason Website

Story Listening Site

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

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¿Te gustaría saber cómo construir un currículo que no solo facilite la adquisición de una segunda lengua, sino que también cumpla con los exigentes requisitos de tus clases incluyendo tus clases de AP e IB?

En este episodio, comparto el modelo clave que he desarrollado para lograrlo en todas mis clases. Descubre cómo puedes aplicar estas estrategias en tu aula:

• Superando Desafíos Comunes: Descrube cuales fueron los cuatro grandes obstáculos que enfrenté al incorporar los principios de adquisición de segunda lengua en mis clases especialemnte de AP e IB, y cómo los superé.
• Observaciones Transformadoras: Conoce las observaciones clave en mis clases que llevaron a la creación de este modelo curricular efectivo.
• Guía Paso a Paso: Sigue los pasos específicos que utilicé para desarrollar este modelo que facilita tanto la adquisición de lenguas como el cumplimiento de los requisitos curriculares.
• Narrativas en Acción: Descubre cómo combinar el aprendizaje basado en contenidos con narrativas para mejorar la comprensión y el compromiso de los estudiantes, logrando así un aprendizaje más significativo y efectivo.

Recursos y Enlaces Mencionados en el Episodio:

1. Enlace a mi página web: Growing With Proficiency
2. Guía de Principios de Adquisición de Segunda Lengua: Descargar PDF
3. From Research to the Classroom FREE Video Training: Accede al Entrenamiento Gratis
4. Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy: Únete a la lista de espera
5. Episodios Relacionados del Podcast:
   • Episodio 52: "Estrategias de Enseñanza Efectiva para AP"
   • Episodio 68: "La Narrativa en el Aula de Idiomas"

No te pierdas este episodio lleno de ideas prácticas y estrategias efectivas para transformar tu enseñanza y cumplir con las exigencias curriculares sin sacrificar los principios de adquisición de lengua.

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

Click here to join us!

Send us a Text Message.

Welcome to a milestone episode of Growing with Proficiency! 🎉 Today, we’re celebrating our 100th episode with a deep dive into sustaining joy and passion in teaching. I’m thrilled to be joined by two powerhouse educators, Meredith White and Bertha Delgadillo, who will share their insights on how to maintain joy in our classrooms despite the challenges we face.

After countless off-mic conversations with Meredith and Bertha, we’ve identified three pillars that have kept us engaged and passionate in our teaching careers: Community, Learning and Growth Mindset, and Boundaries.

Episode Highlights:

Power of Community: Meredith and Bertha emphasize the importance of building and maintaining a supportive educational community. They share personal stories of how community connections have sustained their passion for teaching and helped them navigate the ups and downs of the profession.

Learning and Growth Mindset: Choosing the right learning opportunities and maintaining a growth mindset are crucial for keeping excitement and joy in the classroom. Our guests discuss how continuous learning not only boosts our confidence but also enhances our teaching practice.

Boundaries: Establishing boundaries is essential for maintaining joy in teaching. Meredith and Bertha share practical tips on how to say no or yes appropriately and discuss why setting boundaries is crucial for avoiding burnout and staying passionate about teaching.

Resources Mentioned:

• Meredith White on Social Media
• Bertha Delgadillo's Resources
• Growing with Proficiency Website for additional resources, past podcast episodes, and Claudia's personal blog.

Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our Facebook Group for discussions and more resources

Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and let's dive into how we can keep our teaching lives vibrant and joyful.

🎉 100th Episode Giveaway Alert! 🎉

To celebrate our 100th episode, we're giving away some amazing prizes! 🎁✨ Enter for a chance to win:

📚 A unit from our brand new Creciendo Curriculum

🌐 A yearly subscription to Panorama Cultural with 3 articles per month at 2 levels

🏫 A free month as a member of Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy, where you can access the entire Creciendo Curriculum, all the training, plus a ticket to attend our Back To School Conference!

📞 A 30-minute one-on-one coaching call with me

💳 A $25 TPT or Target gift card

How to participate: 1️⃣ Follow me on Instagram or Follow the page on Facebook and comment on the giveaway post with your favorite episode 🎙️

Additional entries: ➕ Share the giveaway in your stories and tag me! ➕ Write a review of the podcast, take a screenshot, and send it to me via DM ✉️ ➕ Tag a friend in the comments who you think will love to listen to our podcast 👥

🗓️ The giveawa

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

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In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, we welcome back Dr. Karen Lichtman for a great conversation on TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling).

Dr. Karen Lichtman, an expert in the field and the author of the book Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), explains the three core steps of TPRS: establishing meaning, asking a story, and reading. She highlights the importance of co-constructing stories with students to make language learning both engaging and effective.

Listeners will learn about the power of questioning, and the benefits but also the limitations of "circling," to reinforce language structures and ensure comprehension. Claudia and Karen discuss the benefits of either/or questions in reducing student anxiety and increasing engagement.

The conversation also touches on strategies for integrating grammar into TPRS, with a brief exploration of TPRS 2.0. Claudia shares her experiences with pop-up grammar and co-writing stories, emphasizing the natural curiosity and learning that emerge during these activities.

Throughout the episode, the importance of cultural integration in language teaching is underscored. Claudia and Karen discuss how incorporating cultural content and real-life narratives can enrich the learning experience and make it more relevant for students.

Finally, the episode wraps up with practical tips on lesson planning and maintaining a balanced approach in language classes. Claudia and Karen agree that mixing various strategies, such as special person interviews and calendar talks, can create a dynamic and effective learning environment.

Join Claudia and Dr. Karen Lichtman for this episode, packed with valuable takeaways for language teachers seeking to enhance their practice with TPRS.

Key Points:

• Introduction to TPRS and its principles
• Importance of comprehensible input and communication in language teaching
• Techniques for effective questioning and student engagement
• Strategies for integrating grammar into TPRS
• The role of cultural content in enriching language education
• Practical tips for lesson planning and creating a balanced curriculum

Resources:

Our guest: Dr. Karen Lichtman https://www.karenlichtman.com/

Episode 38 with Dr. Karen Lichtman

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott and FB @claudiamelliott

🖇️ TPT Store: Growing With Proficie

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

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In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, the podcast, I sit down with Hélène Colinet to discuss why and how we need to break the myth of grammar teaching and the importance of leading our classes with comprehensible input.

Originally from France and now residing in Spain, Hélène is an extraordinary language educator and trainer who has guided over 2,000 teachers towards more effective teaching methods.

We dive deep into:

• Breaking the Grammar Myth: Why traditional grammar instruction often fails and how to shift towards a more natural language acquisition process.
• Communication Over Rules: The importance of meaningful communication and using language in context.
• Frequent and Relevant Vocabulary: How focusing on high-frequency vocabulary can build a strong linguistic foundation.
• Implementing Comprehensible Input: Practical strategies for incorporating comprehensible input and personalized questions and answers (PQA) into your lessons.

Join us for a conversation filled with practical insights and strategies you can bring into your classroom right away.

Click play and happy listening

Resources Mentioned:

Our guest: elenecolinet.com / @helene_colinet_profesora

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott and FB @claudiamelliott

🖇️ TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency

Free 3-Part Video Training for Spanish teachers: From Research to the Classroom. Facilitating Language Acquisition and Boosting Engagement

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

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En este episodio, reflexionamos sobre uno de los mayores desafíos que enfrentan los profesores al hacer la transición de métodos tradicionales a métodos comunicativos: la apatía y las distracciones de los estudiantes.

Analizamos cómo esta apatía ya existía con los métodos tradicionales, pero se vuelve más evidente cuando necesitamos una participación activa en el aula. Discutimos la importancia de reconocer este hecho y por qué es crucial combatir la apatía para que los métodos de input comprensible sean efectivos.

Además, comparto cinco estrategias específicas para enfrentar estos desafíos.

¡Haz clic y escucha para preparar el camino hacia una enseñanza de idiomas más comprometida y efectiva!

👩🏽‍💻 FREE 3-Part Video Training From Research to the Classroom! Sign up not.

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency at The Spanish Teacher Academy

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott and FB @claudiamelliott

🖇️ TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency

When: July 24th or 25th @ 7 PM ET

Join our live class, and learn how to

🔗 Connect with Your Students from Day One
🧱 Implement a Structured Framework
💓 Ignite Your Passion for Teaching

Click here to join us!