Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Claudia Elliott, World Language educator
  • 4.7 (87)
  • 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

    Episode 200: Back to School—How to Get Students Participating Without Raising the Pressure with Justin Slocum Bailey

    Send us Fan Mail We all want students to participate. We want them to raise their hands, share their ideas, react, ask questions, and bring that energy that makes a classroom feel alive. But what happens when they don’t? It is easy to assume that the activity is not working, that students are not motivated, or even that we are doing something wrong. In this special 200th episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I sit down with Justin Slocum Bailey to explore another possibility: Maybe the activity is not the problem. Maybe we need to get the stakes right. As you prepare to go back to school, this conversation will help you think more intentionally about the questions you ask, the topics you choose, and the different ways students can participate without feeling pressured or put on the spot. Justin shares how we can create participation that feels meaningful enough to be worth the effort—but safe enough for students to take the risk. ✨ Takeaways What it means when the stakes for participation are too high or too lowWhy an activity may fall flat even when it is a great activityHow information gaps and opinion questions can make communication more meaningfulWhy some personal questions may feel too risky for studentsHow to create distance from sensitive topics without removing authentic communicationSimple ways students can participate without immediately speaking in front of the classWhy grading every interaction may increase pressure instead of participationWhy curiosity is more helpful than blaming the activity, the student, or yourselfThis episode is an invitation to pause before searching for another activity and ask: Are the stakes too high, too low, or just right for my students? 📌 Resources + Links Mentioned in This Episode Learn more from Justin at Indwelling Language: indwellinglanguage.com Find more about Voces Digital here Follow me on Instagram: @claudiamelliott Explore ready-to-use back-to-school resources for Spanish teachers in my store: Growing With Proficiency on Teachers Pay Teachers Learn more about Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: growingwithproficiency.com/academy

  2. Jul 20

    Episode 199: How to Plan the First Week of World Language Class Without Feeling Overwhelmed

    Send us Fan Mail Planning the first week of school can feel overwhelming—especially when you have a phone full of saved ideas, conference notes, activities, and resources you want to try. But a successful first week is not about doing everything. It is about choosing what will help you build the classroom you want to sustain all year. In This Episode, you will learn: Why more activities do not always create a better first weekHow to connect your first-week plans to your long-term classroom goalsWhy activities should serve a purpose—not the other way aroundHow to begin routines at a pace you can sustainWhy I do not introduce Calendar Talk, sustained reading, and every classroom routine immediatelySimple ways to connect, provide input, reset, and reflect during the first weekHow to create early success for both you and your studentsResources Mentioned Read the full blog post. Learn more about Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy The Academy is open through July 21 at 11:55 PM ET. Join us for the Academy Summer Conference on July 24 and 25, plus ongoing professional development, planning support, classroom resources, and the Creciendo curriculum. Questions about the Academy? Email support@growingwithproficiency.com Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiamelliott/

  3. Jul 13

    Episode 198. How to Build a Sustainable Language Class with Routines That Support Language Acquisition

    Send us Fan Mail What if the reason your class feels hard to sustain is not because your activities are wrong, but because they are standing alone? In this episode of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, I’m talking about routines that support language acquisition—not classroom procedures like entering the room or turning in papers, but pedagogical routines that create the spaces our students need again and again. We’ll look at how routines can help us provide more comprehensible input, build connection, support communication, create moments for reset and regulation, and give students time to consolidate and reflect. Because a sustainable world language class is not built on one perfect activity. It is built on intentional routines that help us use the language in ways that are comprehensible, communicative, and connected. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why one great activity is not the same as a sustainable classWhat pedagogical routines are and how they support language acquisitionHow to create repeated spaces for comprehensible input, connection, communication, reset, and reflectionWhy routines need both consistency and flexibilityHow activities like free reading, Calendar Talk, Question of the Day, Star Student Interview, brain breaks, Write and Discuss, free writes, and exit tickets can become part of a sustainable classroom rhythmHow to start mapping your own weekly routine system without adding more overwhelmResources MentionedFree workshop for Spanish teachers: How to Create a Sustainable Spanish Class That Is Comprehensible, Communicative, and Connected Register here: growingwithproficiency.com/tallergratuitoJoin the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy growingwithproficiency.com/academyCuéntame podcast by Marta Ruiz YedinakMote Chrome Extension for recording quick listening activitiesEpisode with Dr. Bill VanPatten on the two-myths about language acquisition Episode with Chelsea Lawrence about Silent DiscussionBlog post by John Cowart about using data with free writes

  4. Jul 6

    Episode 197: Cómo Empezar el Año Escolar con una Clase de Español Más Sostenible

    Send us Fan Mail En este episodio en español de Growing With Proficiency, converso con tres profes de nuestra comunidad de Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: Ángela Johnson, Mariem Silva y Audrey Ramírez. Aunque enseñan en contextos muy diferentes, las tres comparten cómo han transformado sus clases al entender mejor la adquisición de la lengua y al crear clases más comprensibles, comunicativas, culturales y sostenibles. Hablamos de cómo empezar el año escolar con más intención: creando comunidad, confianza y conexión; usando rutinas que sostienen la clase; siendo flexibles con los grupos que tenemos; y usando contenido culturalmente relevante como el centro de la comunicación. ✨ Takeaways Crear comunidad desde el principio cambia la energía de la clase.La flexibilidad nos ayuda a responder a los estudiantes reales que tenemos.Entender la adquisición nos libera de sentir que tenemos que cubrir toda la gramática.La cultura puede ser el centro de la comunicación, no un extra.Las rutinas bajan la carga mental y sostienen la clase durante el año.📚 Recursos • Taller gratuito en vivo: growingwithproficiency.com/tallergratuito • Lista de espera de la Academia: growingwithproficiency.com/academy • Instagram: @claudiamelliott

  5. Jun 29

    Episode 196: Two Myths About Second Language Acquisition with Dr. Bill VanPatten

    Send us Fan Mail What if some of the most common beliefs about language teaching are actually getting in the way of acquisition? In this special episode of Growing With Proficiency, I sit down with Dr. Bill VanPatten for a powerful conversation originally livestreamed in the IFLT Facebook group as part of CI Reboot. Dr. VanPatten helps us unpack two foundational myths about second language acquisition: the idea that learners internalize grammar rules and patterns, and the idea that children and adults acquire language in completely different ways. We also talk about what this means for world language teachers who are trying to teach with comprehensible input, communication, and proficiency in mind while still navigating textbooks, pacing guides, standards, and assessments. In this episode, you’ll hear about: ✨ Why learners do not acquire language by memorizing grammar rules ✨ Dr. VanPatten’s “linguistic acorn” metaphor ✨ Why acquisition takes time, input, and interaction ✨ What teachers can do when they are required to follow a traditional curriculum ✨ How to think about assessment when students acquire language at different rates ✨ Why teachers need to understand acquisition in order to advocate for their programs Whether you are new to comprehensible input or have been teaching with an acquisition-driven approach for years, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and language to keep moving toward a more communicative classroom. So grab your cafecito and join us for this important conversation about second language acquisition, comprehensible input, grammar, communication, and the myths that may still be shaping our classrooms. 🎧 Press play and let’s grow together. Resources 📌 Dr. Bill VanPatten’s books on Amazon: While We’re on the Topic The Nature of Language Language Acquisition in a Nutshell Cuentos cortos 📌 Download the free Teacher Guide: https://growingwithproficiency.com/teacherguide 📌 Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy 📌 Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudiamelliott 📌 Growing With CI FB Community 📌Blog 📌 Teacher Pay Teachers Store

  6. Jun 22

    Episode 195: 4 Lessons I Learned When My Students Couldn't Communicate in Spanish

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever looked at your students and wondered: "Why aren't they communicating in the language?" In this special episode of Growing With Proficiency, the tables are turned as my friend and fellow educator, Bethanie Carlson Drew, steps in as host and interviews me about my journey from lawyer to language teacher, the challenges that transformed my classroom, and the lessons I've learned along the way. Together, we explore what happened when I realized that despite teaching vocabulary, grammar, and textbook lessons, my students still weren't communicating in Spanish the way I hoped they would. That realization led me down a path of professional growth, curiosity, and discovery that completely changed how I think about language teaching, comprehensible input, and second language acquisition. In this episode, you'll hear about: ✨ The powerful teaching advice my mother gave me that still shapes my classroom today ✨ Why following the textbook wasn't producing the communication outcomes I wanted ✨ The moment I discovered second language acquisition research and how it transformed my practice ✨ How comprehensible input and meaningful communication support language acquisition ✨ Why asking one personal question every day can strengthen relationships and increase student engagement ✨ The importance of professional learning and finding a community that supports your growth ✨ Three practical ways to begin creating a more communicative and comprehension-based language classroom Whether you're new to proficiency-based teaching or you've been teaching world languages for years, this conversation will encourage you to reflect on your practice, embrace growth, and focus on what truly helps students acquire language. If you've ever felt frustrated that your students know about the language but struggle to use it, this episode is for you. So grab your cafecito and join us for an honest conversation about language acquisition, communicative language teaching, comprehensible input, professional growth, and the courage to change. 🎧 Press play and let's grow together. Resources  📌 Student reflection survey. 📌 Download the free Teacher Guide: https://growingwithproficiency.com/teacherguide 📌 Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy 📌 Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudiamelliott 📌 Growing With CI FB Community 📌Blog 📌 Teacher Pay Teachers Store

  7. Jun 15

    Episode 194: What My Students Said Helped Them Learn Spanish Most (And Why Nobody Agreed)

    Send us Fan Mail At the end of every school year, I ask my students one question: What activity or strategy helped you grow the most in Spanish this year? This year, their answers surprised me. Some students chose Daily Personal Questions. Others selected Silent Sustained Reading. Some preferred podcasts, cultural articles, Calendar Talk, Star Student Interviews, content-based units, or creating stories. What stood out most? Nobody agreed. And that led me to an important realization about language acquisition, student engagement, and comprehensible input. In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I reflect on what my students taught me about Dr. Stephen Krashen's concept of optimal input and why the search for the "perfect" activity may be keeping us from creating truly sustainable language classes. If you've ever wondered how to keep students engaged while providing rich, comprehensible input throughout the entire school year, this episode is for you. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: • Why there is no single activity that every student finds engaging or effective • What my students' survey responses revealed about language acquisition • How to provide compelling, comprehensible, rich, and abundant input • Why students need multiple entry points into the language • How daily routines like Silent Sustained Reading, Calendar Talk, podcasts, and Daily Personal Questions support acquisition • Why 50 or 90 minutes of any one activity can become exhausting • The planning shift that transformed my classroom and reduced decision fatigue • How routines create a more sustainable world language classroom Whether you teach Spanish, French, German, Latin, Chinese, or another language, this episode will help you rethink student engagement and build a classroom that is both acquisition-driven and sustainable. 🎧 Listen now. Resources Mentioned 🖥️ CIReboot 2026 📌 Student reflection survey. 📌 Download the free Teacher Guide: https://growingwithproficiency.com/teacherguide 📌 Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy 📌 Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudiamelliott 📌 Growing With CI FB Community 📌Blog 📌 Teacher Pay Teachers Store

  8. Jun 8

    Episode 193: Three Things That Worked Better Than I Expected This Year

    Send us Fan Mail What actually helped students learn this year? As language teachers, it's easy to spend our end-of-year reflection focused on what didn't work. In Episode 191, I shared some of the challenges I faced this year. In Episode 192, I reflected on behavior, classroom culture, relationships, expectations, and the lessons I learned from a particularly challenging freshman class. But reflection isn't only about identifying problems. It's also about paying attention to what worked. After surveying 158 students and reading every response, I noticed three themes that kept appearing. Interestingly, none of them were new strategies or trendy activities. Instead, they were reminders of the foundations that have guided my teaching for years. In this episode, I share: ✔ Why strong student-teacher relationships continue to be one of the most powerful tools for language acquisition ✔ What my students' feedback revealed about classroom community and belonging ✔ How stories, reading, and meaningful communication continue to support student growth ✔ Why students consistently named routines like Free Voluntary Reading and daily conversations among their favorite activities ✔ What student survey data taught me about engagement, structure, and success in the world language classroom ✔ The feedback students gave me about vocabulary support, group activities, classroom noise, and participation If you're reflecting on your own school year, planning for next year, or looking for ways to create a more engaging and effective language classroom, this episode will help you identify the practices worth keeping. Resources Mentioned 📌 Download the free Teacher Guide: https://growingwithproficiency.com/teacherguide 📌 Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy: https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy 📌 Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudiamelliott 📌 Growing With CI FB Community 📌Blog 📌 Teacher Pay Teachers Store

See All (233)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
87 Ratings

About

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
    233
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Growing With Proficiency The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

You Might Also Like