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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, I’m joined by my friends and fellow educators Annabelle Williamson (La Maestra Loca) and Elissa McLean to share our biggest takeaways from Conference in the Cloud.

We talk about simple, high-impact strategies to help you use more target language in your classroom without adding stress:

• Routines that make Spanish (or any language) the default from day one
• Playful moments that spark joy and engagement—like the Platos game from Will Adams’s Chinese class and Martha Ruiz Yedinak’s What’s in Your Pocket? student job
• Star Student Interviews with tips to keep them fresh, personal, and comprehensible all year long
• Why slowing down, adding repetitions, and remembering what it’s like to be a beginner matters

📚 Resources & Mentions

• Conference in the Cloud — use code CLAUDIA to register
• More about routines here
• Class Jobs with Annabelle Williamson and John Seifer
• Star Student Interview
• TPT Store with Star Student Interview questions for each month
• Growing With Proficiency Blog
• Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist
  
  

🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation, plus practical tips you can try tomorrow to increase target language time, build community, and keep your classes joyful and connected.

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How do we move from teaching about a language to using it to communicate—authentically, meaningfully, and joyfully?

In this special live episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I sit down with two powerhouses in the world of language acquisition—Dr. Karen Lichtman and Jason Fritze—to answer a BIG question:

👉 What does it actually mean to teach for acquisition?

We explore what the research says, what this looks like in real classrooms, and the three core teaching skills that every language educator needs to make acquisition-driven instruction work.

Whether you’re brand new to CI or have been doing this for years, this episode is packed with insights, encouragement, and strategies you can try mañana in your own classroom.

What We Talk About:

• What teaching for acquisition really means (and what it doesn’t)
• The difference between communication and display questions
• Why teacher use of the target language—not student output—is what matters most for acquisition
• 3 core teaching skills for every CI-based classroom:
  • Comprehensible Input – speak in the TL in a way students can understand
  • Purposeful Questioning – real, meaningful questions that spark conversation
  • Adapting Content – tailor topics, resources, and stories to your students
• How to start small (even if you’re still required to follow a textbook)

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Dr. Florencia Henshaw on authentic materials
• Donato & Glisan's Enacting the Work of Language Instruction
• Dr. Karen Lichtman research

🔗 Want more support?

Check out my blog

Check out my TPT Store 👉 Explore all the resources here

Check out my FB Group Growing With CI 📘 Facebook: Growing With CI Community

Sign up for the wait list of GWP The Spanish Teacher Academy

https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy

💌 Loved this episode? Leave a review and tag me on Instagram @growingwithproficiency—I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway!

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Planning for acquisition isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Diane Neubauer and Dr. Reed Riggs for one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had about lesson planning in the world language classroom.

We explore what it means to plan with purpose—centering curiosity, communication, and student connection instead of rigid structures or vocabulary lists.

✨ Key takeaways:

• Why essential questions can guide your unit better than word banks
• How to stay flexible with language goals (because students don’t always know what we think they know)
• The power of interpretive communication—why listening and reading matter just as much (or more!) than speaking
• How routines and student responses can lead the way
• Why language is the vehicle, not the destination

Whether you’re new to acquisition-driven instruction or looking to refine your approach, this episode will inspire and ground your planning process.

🛠️ Mentioned in the episode:

Neubauer, D. (2022). Chinese Language Instruction with Novice Learners: Target Language Topic Development, Engagement, and Comprehension in Online and Hybrid Classrooms: The University of Iowa.

Jacknick, C. M. (2021). Multimodal participation and engagement: Social interaction in the classroom. Edinburgh University Press.

Hiver, P., Al-Hoorie, A. H., & Mercer, S. (2020). Student engagement in the language classroom. Multilingual Matters.

Diane’s YouTube channel

Diane’s Language teaching blog

New eBook: Comprehension-based Chinese, published by Cheng & Tsui

Reed’s Blog: http://www.reedriggs.com/#/

Conversations About Language: https://conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com/

More Resources:

🌐 Connect with Claudia:

Instagram: @growingwithproficiency

Website: www.growingwithproficiency.com

TpT Back to School Sale! 🗓️ August 5–6 — Use code BTS25
👉 Explore all the resources here

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What happens when students expect grammar charts, parents want vocabulary lists, and administrators walk in asking, “Why are YOU doing all the talking?” If you’ve felt that tension, this episode is for you.

In this final episode of the Back to School Series, I share the exact lesson I use in the first week of school that changed a lot for me—how I shifted from feeling questioned and defensive to confidently leading my students, parents, and administrators through the “why” of how we teach languages today.

You'll hear how teaching students about language acquisition and ACTFL proficiency empowers them to engage with purpose, builds trust in your classroom, and lays the foundation for meaningful grading conversations all year long.

In This Episode:

• Why world language class is not like math or biology—and why that matters
• How I introduce language acquisition
• Why educating parents and administrators is key
• Why teaching our students about proficiency will help our students to ask better questions for assessments.
• Why this one lesson created more buy-in, better behavior, and stronger relationships in my class

🧰 Resources + Links from the Episode:

📝 Mini Lesson: How Do We Acquire Language?
👉 Available on TpT

🎯 GWP The Spanish Teacher Academy 👉 Join the Spanish Teacher Academy

🎧 Ep. 78 – w/ Pablo Martinez
👉 Listen now

🎧 Ep. 131 – ACTFL Proficiency Descriptors w/ Maris Hawkins
👉 Listen now

📚 Ohio State Study: The Power of Reading Daily
👉 Read the article

🎁 Want to Start the Year Strong with Everything You Need?

If you're a Spanish teacher ready for:

• Tailored PD for proficiency-based instruction
• Monthly planning support and fresh resources
• A full-year curriculum (Creciendo) that’s comprehensible and compelling
• Panoramas culturales with audio recorded by native speakers
• A thriving teacher community that gets it...

Then the Spanish Teacher Academy is for you! 🎉

👉 Join today at growingwithproficiency.com/academy

🎒 School paying? We accept POs!
📩 Questions? Email: support@growingwithproficiency.com

❤️ Let’s Stay Connected:

Instagram → @claudiamelliott
Podcast archive + blog → growingwithproficiency.com

🎧 Thank you for listening! If this episode inspired you, share it with a colleague and leave a review. Here’s to a joyful, sustainable, and meaningful year!

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The first week of school can feel like a whirlwind—there’s excitement, anticipation, and let’s be honest… pressure. What should you do first? What’s most important? And how can you make sure you’re setting up your students (and yourself!) for a successful, sustainable year?

In this episode, I’m opening up about what I actually prioritize during that first week of school in my Spanish classroom. I’m sharing what I focus on (and what I no longer stress about), how I build trust and connection from day one, and the routines that help students feel safe, welcomed, and ready to use Spanish with confidence.

You’ll hear about:

• What students really bring into your classroom on the first day
• How to make that very first impression count
• Why I lead with connection, not curriculum
• The small changes I’ve made that have had a big impact on student engagement
• How I create an experience where Spanish is accessible and meaningful—even on day one

If you’re feeling the back-to-school pressure or just want a plan that feels human and realistic, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Join the Spanish Teacher Academy for free: growingwithproficiency.com/trial
• Don’t miss our Live Planning Session on July 22—available to all Academy members!
• Want more back-to-school inspiration? Catch:
  • Ep. 151: The 3 Pillars of a Sustainable Language Class
  • Ep. 153: Planning a Sustainable Year
  • Episodio en Español: 5 claves para comenzar el año escolar

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Planning for a new school year can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to create a class centered on communication and proficiency, not grammar features. In this episode, I walk you through five intentional steps to help you map out your year with clarity and sustainability. You’ll learn how to prioritize compelling input, build a flexible curriculum map, and keep your students’ needs and your well-being at the center of your planning.

This episode will help you feel more grounded and confident heading into the school year.

Key Takeaways:

Start with the big picture. Use a year-at-a-glance calendar to identify your teaching windows, breaks, and celebrations you want to highlight.

• Let your communicative anchors lead. Plan around meaningful questions and content, not grammar structures.
• Reuse what worked. Bring back favorite units that felt joyful and effective.
• Fill in the gaps with purpose. Choose content that supports the required curriculum while staying rooted in compelling, comprehensible input.
• Plan for creativity. Schedule storyasking and one-word image sessions to provide rich, personalized input.
• Simplify. Step back and adjust your calendar to keep your plan flexible and realistic. Aim for sustainability, not perfection.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 151: The 3 Pillars of a Sustainable Language Classroom

Episode 152 (Spanish): Cinco Claves para Prepararte Antes del Primer Día

Episode 131: Understanding ACTFL's New Proficiency Descriptors with Mary Hawkins

Episode 33 and 99: Featuring Dr. Karen Lichtman on Language Acquisition Research

Spanish Teacher Academy Trial Access: growingwithproficiency.com/trial

More about the Crescendo Curriculum and planning framework: growingwithproficiency.com/academy

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¿Tienes todo listo para un nuevo año escolar que no solo funcione, sino que se sienta bien? En este episodio te comparto las 5 claves esenciales para un regreso a clases intencional, humano y sostenible en tu clase de español.

En vez de empezar en modo “supervivencia”, este año te invito a comenzar con claridad, conexión y propósito. Estas estrategias están pensadas para adaptarse a tu contexto real y ayudarte a enseñar con más calma y más impacto.

Aquí están las 5 claves que exploramos:

1. Diseñar un espacio lingüísticamente rico que invite al uso natural del español desde el entorno.
2. Crear una estructura de clase efectiva que fomente el input comprensible y te libere del cansancio diario.
3. Conectar de forma auténtica con tus estudiantes, construyendo relaciones que potencien la motivación y compromiso.
4. Planificar con un marco claro y funcional que reduzca decisiones improvisadas y te sostenga todo el año.
5. Establecer sistemas simples pero poderosos que te den paz mental y autonomía en el aula.

Este episodio es para ti si buscas enseñar con pasión, sin sacrificar tu bienestar ni tu energía creativa.

🎁 Y no se te olvide: las puertas están abiertas para que vivas una prueba gratuita de 7 días dentro de Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy. Es el espacio que diseñé para apoyarte en cada etapa de tu camino como profe de español basada en comprensión.

✨ Regístrate hoy en: growingwithproficiency.com/trial

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As we step into a new school year, one word guides everything: sustainability.

In this first episode of a 4-part summer series, I’m breaking down the key to a successful and sustainable language class—one that doesn't run on exhaustion. You’ll learn about the 3 essential pillars that create a joyful, communicative, and manageable classroom experience—plus the one critical consideration teachers often overlook. Whether you're teaching Spanish or any world language, this episode will help you set up your routines, relationships, and planning framework so you can teach with energy and intention all year long.

This is not just about strategies—it’s about making them last.

Grab your cafecito and let’s get started. ☕💬

What you'll learn in this episode:

✅ Why sustainability isn’t optional—it’s essential
✅ The role of context and how it shapes your classroom decisions
✅ Pillar 1: How consistent routines support input, structure, and classroom management
✅ Pillar 2: Why relationships must come before content (especially in the first weeks)
✅ Pillar 3: A clear planning framework grounded in Second Language Acquisition
✅ What’s coming next in the Summer Series
✅ Sneak peek into the 7-day free trial of the Spanish Teacher Academy

Mentioned in this episode:

🔗 Join the waitlist for the 7-day free trial (starting July 7):
growingwithproficiency.com/academy

🎧 Related podcast episodes:

• Episode 11 – How to Plan a 90-Minute Class
• Episode 131 with Maris Hawkins – Understanding the New ACTFL Descriptors
• Episode 90 with AnneMarie Chase – Low-Stress Assessment for Proficiency
• Episode 52 on how to adapt your textbook with CI-based strategies

Let’s keep growing — with joy, clarity, and connection.
If this episode inspired you, please leave a review or share it with a fellow teacher. ✨