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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, The Podcast, we’re diving into the essentials of comprehensible input (CI) for intermediate and upper-level Spanish learners. Teaching these levels can feel overwhelming when expectations are high, proficiency levels vary, and the curriculum demands keep piling up! But, as always, no estamos solos – we’re in this together!

In this first part of our three-part series on CI in the upper levels, I’m tackling two major challenges:

• Realistic Expectations: Language acquisition takes time, and today we’re talking about what it means to set achievable goals based on ACTFL guidelines, focusing on how much exposure our students realistically get.
• Scaffolding for Mixed Levels: In any upper-level class, student proficiency can vary widely. We’ll look at strategies to scaffold input and make CI accessible to everyone, from novice-high to intermediate-mid students.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll discuss the impact of curriculum overload and the challenges of messy student output. Plus, in our upcoming Spanish episode, we’ll be joined by a special guest to talk about CI strategies for AP classes!

I’d love to hear your questions for Part 3 of this series. Email me at claudia@growingwithproficiency.com or message me on Instagram at @claudiamelliott or in our free Facebook group, Growing with CI.

Mentioned Links:

• Leyendas Reading Resource: growingwithproficiency.com/leyendas
• Mascotas Reading Resource: growingwithproficiency.com/mascotas
• Panorama Cultural (TPT Store): Search Claudia Elliott Growing With Proficiency or visit my TPT store for cultural resources perfect for your Spanish class.
• ACTFL Performance Descriptors: Check the ACTFL guidelines for deeper insights on language acquisition timing and expectations.
• GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
• Growing With CI FB Community
• Blog

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After nine weeks of school, we all know our students are starting to feel tired, and listening just isn’t going as smoothly as it used to. But we also know how crucial listening is for language acquisition. That’s why I’m re-releasing one of our most popular episodes from Growing With Proficiency, The Podcast—Episode 5!

In this episode, I share five simple, yet powerful strategies to help get your students engaged and listening. This is one you’ll want to listen to more than once because these strategies are not only easy to implement, but they work wonders in the classroom. Tune in and get ready to refresh your approach!

📍 Links:

• Freebie - Legends!
• Freebie - Mascotas
• GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
• Growing With CI FB Community
• Blog
• Teacher Pay Teachers Store

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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I sit down with the amazing AnneMarie Chase to talk about a topic that we can't avoid as educators—assessments! Together, we dive deep into the concept of low-stress assessments and how to shift the focus away from simply measuring language accuracy to building language proficiency in meaningful, stress-free ways.

We discuss:

• Four key elements of a good assessment: ease for the teacher, sneaky ways to provide more input, low stress for students, and allowing every student to succeed in some way.
• The importance of mindset shifts when it comes to assessments, including using them as learning opportunities for students, rather than "gotcha" moments.
• Anmar’s brilliant “magic cards” method for assessing speaking and other skills throughout the school day without the traditional pressure of formal tests.
• How assessments can serve as a great class practice activity where students engage with listening and reading tasks in a highly focused way, allowing us to truly see what they can do.
• How we can assess speaking in a way that is fun for students and teachers.

Plus, we talk about making the assessment process manageable for teachers, sharing tips for getting grading done in class so you're not drowning in paperwork after hours.

Tune in and get ready to make assessing your students a more productive, low-stress, and even enjoyable part of your teaching practice. Nos vemos pronto, chao!

📍 Links Mentioned:

• AnnaMarie Chase's Blog
• Assessment training
• Edutopia article: What does research say about testing?
• Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes
• GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
• Growing With CI FB Community
• Blog
• Teacher Pay Teachers Store

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In this episode, I’m sharing five valuable insights from the recent Florida Foreign Language Association (FFLA) conference that can transform your language classroom. Discover practical strategies and fresh ideas to engage your students and elevate your teaching. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Reading Strategies: Learn how to keep reading accessible while challenging students with higher-level discussions using the question ladder and the “Last Word” game.
2. Content-Based Learning Approaches: Explore how Heather Sweetser's session inspires teaching content through language, focusing on meaningful topics like cultural traditions and environmental issues.
3. Blending Textbooks with Comprehensible Input: Get insights from Dr. Ethiene on using CI techniques within a textbook-based curriculum, leading to happier students and higher achievement.
4. Pre-Reading Activities for Prediction: Discover Lisa Bartels’ approach to helping students predict texts using grids and language chunks, making complex texts more manageable.
5. Input-Based Games for Active Learning: Find out how games like “¿En qué estoy pensando?” can boost listening skills and student engagement with low prep.

Tune in to learn how these takeaways can help you create a more dynamic and student-centered language classroom. Don't forget to check out resources mentioned in this episode at growingwithproficiency.com/mascotas and growingwithproficiency.com/leyendas.

Resources:
Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes
GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
Growing With CI FB Community
Blog
Teacher Pay Teachers Store

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Have you ever hesitated to try something new in your classroom, convinced it would require too much work and too little control? That's exactly how I felt about using stations in my language class - until I tried it, and loved it!

In this episode, I’ll share why I decided to try stations, how I set it up, and 10 ideas for different stations. From small-group discussions to gaming and independent reading, the station ideas I'll share are easy to set up, engaging, and adaptable to any level or language. So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and get ready to explore the power of stations in your world language class!

Resources and Links

GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Click here to download 5 comprehensible legends in Spanish: Leyendas Latinoamericanas

Join my Free FB Community Growing With CI

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En este episodio, Claudia explora cómo las charlas del calendario van más allá de discutir el clima y la fecha.

Aprende a crear discusiones orgánicas y significativas en el idioma meta, abordando la vida de los estudiantes, eventos comunitarios y asuntos globales.

Descubre los beneficios de las charlas del calendario para fomentar la curiosidad, proporcionar input comprensible y promover la comunicación auténtica. Claudia comparte estrategias para implementar estas charlas en varios niveles de español, asegurando que sean relevantes y comprensibles.

Growing With Proficiency TPT Store

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach

Growing With Proficiency The Blog

Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

Free FB Community: Growing With CI

https://www.diainternacionalde.com/

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In this episode of Growing with Proficiency: The Podcast, I share lesson ideas for those days when you're not feeling your best, or your students seem disengaged. We've all been there—those moments when students are easily distracted, impatient, or simply not cooperating. And sometimes, as teachers, we’re the ones feeling drained.

I'll talk about practical strategies that provide tons of comprehensible input without relying on oral facilitation. These activities are perfect for creating a balance between high-energy moments and quieter, more independent student work.

Biggest takeaways from this episode:

• How to establish lesson goals that lead to richer learning experiences.
• Creative ways to scaffold meaning through word clouds, matching activities, and TPR.
• Reading activities like traffic light reading, sketch annotations, and gallery walks.
• Why personalized writing and interactive games like Socrative or Textivate can boost engagement on tough days.
• The importance of adapting lessons to your and your students' energy levels to avoid burnout.

Whether you’re having an off day or just need a change of pace in the classroom, these ideas can keep the input flowing while giving you a break. Tune in for actionable tips, and let’s keep growing with proficiency, even on the hardest days!

Listen now for more strategies to keep your students engaged, no matter the challenges!

Resources:
Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes
GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
Growing With CI FB Community
Blog
Teacher Pay Teachers Store
Episode 113
Episode 88 with Dr. Bill VanPatten

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Join host Claudia Elliott in this insightful episode of 'Growing with Proficiency, the podcast,' as she delves into the importance of listening comprehension and skills in world language education with special guest, Marta Yedinek.

Discover innovative strategies and the story behind the renowned podcast 'Cuéntame,' designed to aid Spanish learners. Claudia and Marta discuss methods to prepare students before, during, and after listening activities, offering practical advice for language teachers to implement in their classrooms.

Learn about Marta’s hands-on experience in adapting her podcast to meet the varying needs of her students and takeaway actionable tips to enhance your teaching approach. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation that promises to inspire and support language educators in cultivating proficient and culturally competent learners.

00:00 Introduction to Growing with Proficiency

01:09 Meet Your Host: Claudia Elliott

01:45 Special Guest: Martha Yedinek

01:50 The Importance of Listening Skills

03:11 Creating the Cuéntame Podcast

05:46 Strategies for Effective Listening

08:05 Using Podcasts in the Classroom

11:21 Practical Tips for Teachers

13:16 Engaging Students with Listening Activities

23:16 Reflection and Continuous Improvement

30:09 Final Thoughts and Resources

Meet our guest:

Marta Ruiz Yedinak is a National Board Certified Spanish teacher, Kohl Fellow, and a WAFLT New Teacher Award recipient. She is a passionate provider of comprehensible input and a firm believer of teaching students, not curriculum. She loves sharing with other teachers by presenting at various language conferences such as ACTFL, WAFLT, CSCTFL, FLAND, MittenCI, iFLT, and CIMW, a conference that she co-directs. Marta works for the Ripon Area School District. She is the author of “La princesa y el guerrero”, published by Wayside, and the producer of ¡Cuéntame!, a podcast for Spanish acquisition.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Cuéntame Podcast

List of all the episodes of Cuéntame

Facebook community of Cuéntame

More resources:
Back to School Bundle for Spanish Classes
GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
Growing With CI FB Community
Blog
Teacher Pay Teachers Store