Black History & Hispanic Heritage in Language Curriculum with Jenniffer Whyte
#203What do we mean when we talk about representation in the classroom? More specifically representation in our language classrooms? How can we make sure that our students understand the variety of cultures and experiences that are part of the target language culture? In this episode, Jenniffer Whyte joins me to talk about bringing the Afro-Latinx and Black heritage into our classroom curriculum. You will walk away with concrete ways to go about this and might even be ready to put together an all-school event or assembly at no cost. Jenniffer tells us all about how she does it. Topics in this Episode: resources or materials that teachers can use to ensure Black and Afro-Latinx voices are authentically included in their curriculumhow teachers can introduce these topics in ways that foster curiosity and meaningful discussions effective strategies for introducing Black history and culture to younger students in an engaging and age-appropriate waydetails about Jenniffer's whole-school Black History and Hispanic Heritage programs with no budget, including creative ways teachers can do the same in their own schoolsmoving beyond only celebrating Black History and Hispanic Heritage during designated month with concrete ways teachers can weave these histories and contributions into their world language curriculum year-roundConnect with Jenniffer Whyte:Facebook: Afrolatina TeacherInstagram: Afrolatina TeacherX: @JennifferWhyte1Youtube: Afrolatina TeacherConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter): @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram: @wlclassroomFacebook: /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________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.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast. Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.
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Planning and Teaching for Proficiency
#202I want to make sure that you start your new school in the fall with a clear framework for planning and teaching for proficiency. I created a free reflection and planning tool that will guide you as you create a classroom that prioritizes what students can do with language. In this episode I will tell you all about it and point you to where you can get yours today.Planning & Teaching for Proficiency: A Guide for Language TeachersTopics in this Episode:By focusing on performance, proficiency, communication, and authentic language use, you can support students on this journey to using the target language authentically and communicatively. I created a guide to support your planning and teaching that focuses on performance in the classroom and eventually increased target language proficiency when they are using the language in authentic, real-world situations.Each section highlights essential components that support confidence and proficiency growth. You'll also see actionable steps that you can take right away:Purposeful PlanningComprehensible Input & Student Output Meaningful Tasks & Relevant PracticeAssessment & FeedbackProfessional Reflection & CollaborationCommon Challenges in Proficiency-Focused ClassroomsNext Steps and Your Action PlanPlanning & Teaching for Proficiency: A Guide for Language TeachersConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter): @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram: @wlclassroomFacebook: /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________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.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast. Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.
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Ideas to Get Students Speaking More with Sherry Sebesta
#204Do you have some go-to activities to motivate your students to speak and engage with the target language in your classroom? Are you always on the lookout for activities and routines to add to your list of possibilities? In this episode, I speak with Sherry Sebesta, a French and Spanish teacher in New York. Sherry shares suggestions for getting your students speaking the target language more regularly and confidently. You’ll go away with several new things to try out right away.Topics in this Episode: Sherry's goals for language students and how speaking activities work into thishow teachers can create a classroom environment that reduces students' fear of making mistakes and promotes more speakingactivities to encourage students to speak more in the target languageexamples where Sherry's strategies have increased student speaking confidence and participation in classpractical steps to implement Sherry's speaking activities and ideas in the classroomSherry's blog post with 20 Ways to Get Your Students Speaking in the Target LanguageConnect with Sherry SebestaInstagram: @worldlangcafeFacebook: /worldlanguagecafeX: @worldlangcafeBlog: worldlanguagecafe.comPinterest: /worldlangcafeConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter): @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram: @wlclassroomFacebook: /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________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.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast. Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.
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Tips for Common Challenges in Proficiency-Based Classrooms
#200How do you feel about the CI strategies, proficiency-based procedures or communicative language teaching that you do in your classroom? You hear a lot about it, either on this podcast, from colleagues or on social media. Lots of good stuff. But, do you sometimes feel like it seems like it's always smooth sailing with no challenges in other classrooms while you definitely have them in your own classroom? Well, me too. We all have them. In this episode I will address some of these common challenges with practical solutions to help navigate them.Topics in this Episode:Blog post on Common Challenges in Proficiency-Based ClassroomsImplementing comprehensible input (CI) strategies in a proficiency-based language classroom comes with its challenges at times. With proactive planning we can create an engaging and effective learning environment for all students.Common obstacles and practical solutions to help you navigate them.Different Proficiency LevelsLarge Class SizesStudent ResistanceTime ConstraintsAssessment and AccountabilityClassroom Management Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter): @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram: @wlclassroomFacebook: /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________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.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast. Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.
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Celebrating Identity and Dialects in Heritage Classes with Courtney Nygaard
#199How can celebrating identity and dialects transform the experience of language learners? In this episode I'm joined by Courtney Nygaard, a teacher of heritage Spanish speakers in Minnesota. Courtney shares how she honors and values her students' identities as a way to build confidence, connection, and community in the classroom. We talk about practical strategies for embracing dialectal differences, navigating varied proficiency levels, and fostering a space where all students feel seen and valued. Whether you teach a heritage class or not, this conversation will inspire you to make your classroom a place where every student and experience is valued.Topics in this Episode: importance of celebrating identity and dialects in language classesstrategies or activities you can use to acknowledge and honor the diverse identities and dialects of your studentschallenges that might arise when students speak different dialects or have varying levels of proficiency in the heritage languageCourtney's success stories and examples where celebrating identity and dialects positively impacted her students' learning and engagement?for teachers who don’t have heritage classes, how you can create an inclusive and supportive environment that respects and celebrates the linguistic diversity of your studentsEpisode 96: Teaching Heritage Language Learners with Courtney NygaardConnect with Courtney Nygaard:Instagram: @profenygaardWebsite: www.heritagespanish.com, www.profenygaard.comConnect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community: wlclassrom.comX (aka Twitter): @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomInstagram: @wlclassroomFacebook: /wlclassroomWLClassroom Facebook Group__________________________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.______________________________Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast. Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.
Colombia