Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Claudia Elliott, World Language educator
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  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast!  Are you a World Language teacher who is looking for ideas, strategies, activities, and inspiration to create a World Language class where you and your students enjoy using the language to learn about the world and each other?  Do you want to transform your class into an acquisition-driven instruction space where you intentionally provide a ton of comprehensible input?  If you are, you're in the right place. Let's start this journey together. Head over to IG, and send me a DM @claudiamelliott to let me know what topics you would like me to cover in an upcoming episode.Join my free Facebook community, Growing With C. Also, check out my blog to start discovering some of these ideas and strategies at growingwithproficiency.com

  1. 2D AGO

    Re-Release Episode 30: Low-Prep Activities and Three Pillars for High-Engagement in the World Language Class

    Send a text Are you a language teacher looking for ways to engage your students?  If you’re, you’re not alone.  How to engage students is the most common question among teachers today, and that’s why I’m so excited about today's episode of Growing With Proficiency! Let's face it, even the most compelling and relevant unit won't make much of an impact if students aren't engaged with the content. So we're diving into the topic of student engagement and discussing three low-prep activities that you can incorporate into your classes tomorrow. I will share my insights and experience on how to create a more engaging classroom environment. We'll explore ways to spark student interest, keep them motivated, and create meaningful connections between the language and their lives. This episode has something for everyone. So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, settle in, and join me as I explore how to keep your students engaged in language learning. Tune in now to Growing With Proficiency! In this episode, we'll discuss how to engage language learners through three low-prep activities that promote student engagement. Links & Resources Growing With CI FB Community Blog Teacher Pay Teachers Store IG & Twitter: @claudiamelliott

    42 min

  2. FEB 19

    Episode 181: 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive World Language Classroom with Sally Barnes

    Send a text What if every student in your world language classroom was actively engaged, supported, and confident in using the target language? In this practical and inspiring conversation, Sally Barnes shares the powerful framework behind the 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive World Language Classroom. Rooted in research on comprehensible input, student engagement, and low-stress output, Sally offers clear routines and strategies that work across levels, languages, and curricula—so teachers can build sustainable, proficiency-driven classrooms where everyone is doing everything. 🎯 Why This Matters for Language Teachers: The 7 Steps provide a roadmap for transforming participation, comprehension, and confidence in any world language classroom: Replace “I Don’t Know” with Supportive Language: Teach students how to ask for help, request time, and stay engaged instead of opting out. Use Total Response Signals for Full Participation: Move beyond calling on one student at a time and create low-stress, non-verbal ways for everyone to show understanding. Strengthen Comprehensible Input with Visuals and Vocabulary: Leverage gestures, images, annotations, and word supports to stay in the target language and lower the affective filter. Build Structured Conversations Across Levels: Use sentence stems, scaffolds, and clear expectations so students can speak meaningfully—from Level 1 to AP. Design Reading, Writing, and Listening with Proactive Scaffolds: Plan for diverse proficiency levels in the same classroom and support authentic language production with confidence. This episode will help you increase engagement, sustain target-language use, and create an interactive classroom culture where students feel successful and motivated to communicate. Ready? Click to play! Resources & Links: 🔗 Connect with Sally Barnes on Instagram 👉🏽 @sallybarnesTX  💻 Growing With Proficiency Blog 👉🏽 growingwithproficiency.com  📚 Growing With Proficiency TPT Store Sally Barnes Bio Sally is a former Spanish teacher and current trainer/coach with Seidlitz Education. She began her world language journey in 7th grade when she decided to become a Spanish teacher and never looked back! With 12+ years of experience in the classroom, she was named Texas Teacher of the Year by TFLA in 2018 and an Alumni of the Year by her alma mater, Northern Arizona University in 2023. In 2024, she co-authored a book entitled "7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive World Language Classroom" and strives to support language teachers all over the country with strategies and resources for all languages at any level.

    1 hr

  3. FEB 12

    Re-Release Episode 5: Managing Chatty Classes: 5 Strategies to Get World Language Students Actually LISTENING

    Send a text Nothing works if our students aren't truly listening, and I mean truly listening. Do you have that one class that pushes all your buttons? The chatty class where students talk over you, chat in English, and seem to tune out no matter what you try? I listened to this original episode again last week while dealing with my own challenging class, and it reminded me why this message matters so much. Here's the truth: We design compelling input, stay in the target language, and plan engaging activities, but if students aren't listening with intention, language acquisition simply cannot happen. In this episode, you'll discover: 3 things I don't know anymore about managing chatty classes (this honest reflection will shift your perspective)5 practical, classroom-tested strategies to transform your chatty class into focused listeners without sacrificing comprehensible input or a positive classroom cultureReal talk about imperfect classes, imperfect teachers, and imperfect students because your classroom doesn't need to be perfect to be effectiveWhy traditional "quiet down" techniques fail in CI classrooms and what actually worksThis is an old episode, but it's worth listening to again. Whether you're struggling with classroom management right now or just need a reminder that you're not alone in this challenge, these strategies work. Resources mentioned:  Jon Cowart Dictation template by Meredith White Christina Margiore Grant Boulanger Bertha Delgadillo’s sitting transcription templates inspired by the Comprehensible Classroom post GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List Click here to download 5 comprehensible legends in Spanish: Leyendas Latinoamericanas Let's connect:  Facebook community Growing With CI Instagram Blog for more resources TPT Store for ready-to-use Spanish class materials

    29 min

  4. FEB 9

    Episodio 180: Del Input al Output: Un Ciclo de Instrucción que Puedes Repetir

    Send a text Planear clases no debería sentirse agotador. Muchas veces el problema no es la falta de ideas, sino no tener una estructura clara que podamos repetir. En este episodio comparto un ciclo de instrucción del input al output que puedes usar con cualquier texto, tema o nivel. Un ciclo que te permite dejar de improvisar todos los días y empezar a enseñar con más intención. Hablo de: qué necesitan tus estudiantes para entender un tema o textoqué lengua y qué conocimiento previo necesitancómo preparar el input para que sea comprensiblecómo hacer el input guiado qué hacer para extender el inputy cómo acompañar el output sin forzarloUso ejemplos concretos como artículos de Panorama Cultural y eventos culturales actuales como el Super Bowl, para que puedas ver cómo este ciclo se adapta a distintos contextos. Si sientes que planear te cansa más de lo normal, este episodio es una invitación a simplificar y elegir mejor. 🔗 Recursos mencionados en el episodio 🛒 Tienda de TPT – Growing With Proficiency Recursos como Panorama Cultural y Calendar Talk🎧 Episodio del podcast con Anne Marie Chase sobre assessment Una conversación clave para repensar cómo evaluamos en clases de idiomas  📄 Freebie: Character Autopsy (Autopsia del personaje) Plantilla para analizar personajes de cualquier texto

    31 min

  5. FEB 5

    Episode 179: How to Tell Stories So Students Actually Listen: What the Brain Says About Engagement with Erica Peplinski-Burge

    Send a text Why do some stories immediately capture students’ attention—while others lose them halfway through? In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, I sit down with Erica Peplinsky-Burge to explore what the brain tells us about storytelling, attention, and student engagement in the world language classroom. This conversation goes beyond “telling better stories.” We unpack why storytelling works, how the brain processes language through narrative, and what teachers can do to keep students listening without feeling like they need to perform or entertain. If you’ve ever wondered: Why students tune out during storiesHow to make storytelling feel more intentional and less exhaustingWhat actually keeps the brain engaged during listeningThis episode will help you rethink storytelling through a brain-based lens—so your stories support comprehension, connection, and confidence. This conversation is especially helpful for teachers who want more student engagement, stronger listening skills, and sustainable instructional practices. RESOURCES: Erica Peplinski-BurgeMitten CI: Register here  GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting ListGrowing With CI FB CommunityBlogTeacher Pay Teachers Store

    30 min

  6. JAN 29

    Re-Release Episode 118: Low-Stress Assessments with AnneMarie Chase

    Send a text So many teachers ask the same questions: "How do you assess in a proficiency-driven classroom?" "How do you grade without overwhelming students—or yourself?" And, "How do you keep assessment sustainable?" That’s why this episode is worth revisiting. In this re-released episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I sit down with AnneMarie Chase to talk about low-stress assessments and how we can shift assessment away from “gotcha” moments and toward meaningful, acquisition-aligned practices. This conversation focuses on assessments that support language growth, build confidence, and respect both student and teacher energy. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Four essential elements of effective assessments: ease for the teacher, built-in input, low stress for students, and opportunities for every student to experience successWhy mindset matters when it comes to grading and how assessments can become learning toolsAnneMarie’s “magic cards” strategy for assessing speaking and other skills naturally throughout the dayHow listening and reading assessments can function as focused class practicePractical ways to assess speaking that feel engaging instead of intimidatingTips for grading during class time so assessment doesn’t take over your evenings and weekendsIf you’re looking for assessment practices that align with comprehensible, communicative instruction—and help you stay sane—this episode will give you clarity and concrete ideas you can use right away. 🎧 Tune in and reimagine assessment as a low-stress, purposeful part of language learning. Nos vemos pronto. Links mentioned in this episode: AnneMarie Chase’s blogEdutopia article: What Does Research Say About Testing?GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting ListGrowing With CI FB CommunityBlogTeacher Pay Teachers Store

    37 min

  7. JAN 22

    Re-release Episode 22: Making Interpersonal Communication Work: 5 Repeatable Activities That Build Real Conversation with Bethanie Drew

    Send a text Interpersonal communication is what our students want most… and what many of us struggle to make happen without it turning into their common language in 10 seconds 😅 In this re-released episode, I’m joined by a friend and outstanding educator and curriculum designer Bethanie Drew to break down five repeatable, low-prep interpersonal activities that build community and keep students supported enough to stay in the target language. We talk about: Fast Five interviews (quick, structured, high-yield)Roster interviews that push students beyond their usual partnersA small-group discussion format that actually works—even in big classesA write-first → speak-later scaffold (especially powerful for AP/IB tasks)20-/45-second talk cards to build confidence and fluency over timeThis conversation is all about finding the balance between structure and spontaneity, so students can connect, communicate, and grow—sin estrés. If you want conversations that feel more real, more doable, and more sustainable… hit play 🎧 Resources Mentioned in This Episode Bethanie Drew’s blog – Aventuras Nuevas Ideas, lesson reflections, and interpersonal strategies for world language teachers 👉 https://aventurasnuevas.wordpress.com/ Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy Ongoing support, units, training, and planning for acquisition-driven instruction 👉 https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy

    49 min

  8. JAN 15

    Episode 178: Adjusting & Personalizing Instruction: The Core Skill That Makes It Possible

    Send a text (Why one-size-fits-all lessons don’t work—and what to do instead) In this episode, I focus on what I consider the heart of acquisition-driven instruction: adjusting and personalizing what we do in class so all students can stay engaged, successful, and confident—without creating multiple lesson plans. If your classes include a wide range of proficiency levels, literacy skills, heritage learners, or students who “should know this already”… this conversation is for you. Building on insights from my conversations with Karen Lichtman and Jason Fritze, and grounded in research by Bill VanPatten and Stephen Krashen, this episode breaks down why acquisition is slow, piecemeal, and unpredictable—and how that reality should shape the way we plan input, reading, and output. I also share practical routines you can use mañana to make your classroom more inclusive, more human, and more effective. Sí, se puede. 💛 Key Takeaways Comprehensible input needs support. Pair oral language with writing, visuals, gestures, pauses, and slower pacing to help all brains process language.Reading requires intentional scaffolds.Output improves when students have options. Allow multiple ways to respond—yes/no, either/or, gestures, drawings, sentence frames—so more voices are heard.Personalization is what builds community. Using names, asking real questions, co-creating texts, story asking, listen & draw, and Star Student interviews turns class into a shared experience, not a performance.Episodes on the Three Basic Skills for Acquisition – Conversation with Karen Lichtman and Jason Fritze – Episode 177 on asking better questions – Episode 176 on staying comprehensible in the target languageResearch & Frameworks – Bill VanPatten on acquisition as piecemeal and stage-like – Stephen Krashen on comprehensible input and the affective filter – Nancy Young’s Ladder of Reading & Writing – ACTFL Proficiency & Performance Descriptors (via ACTFL)Related Podcast Episodes – Episode 170 with Wesley Wood on supporting neurodivergent learners – Episode on Story Listening with Margarita Pérez-García – Episode on Embedded Reading with Michele Whaley and Laurie Clarcq – Episode on Star Student InterviewsIf you’re a Spanish teacher who wants ongoing guidance, practical PD, ready-to-use resources, and a community that truly gets the realities of our classrooms, I’d love to invite you to join Growing With Proficiency – The Spanish Teacher Academy.

    51 min
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Welcome to Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast!  Are you a World Language teacher who is looking for ideas, strategies, activities, and inspiration to create a World Language class where you and your students enjoy using the language to learn about the world and each other?  Do you want to transform your class into an acquisition-driven instruction space where you intentionally provide a ton of comprehensible input?  If you are, you're in the right place. Let's start this journey together. Head over to IG, and send me a DM @claudiamelliott to let me know what topics you would like me to cover in an upcoming episode.Join my free Facebook community, Growing With C. Also, check out my blog to start discovering some of these ideas and strategies at growingwithproficiency.com

Information

  • Creator
    Claudia Elliott, World Language educator
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Growing With Proficiency The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

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