Language Latte: A Podcast for World Language Teachers

Providing students with input that is conducive for language acquisition: the importance of comprehensible input, the benefits of a comprehensible classroom, and using CI when our school has a prescribed curriculum. Tina Hargaden, an engaging Spanish/French teacher with an outstanding comprehensible classroom shares why she is textbook free and uses CI with her curriculum, plus her best CI tips for teachers.

Tips and strategies to support language learners, lower their anxiety and affective filter, and help them achieve proficiency.

We are talking about dual language programs: what they are, what they aren’t, challenges to overcome, and the necessary features to make them successful. From research to the best practices, I interview a principal who shares how he has been developing his successful dual language program.

A look at ACTFL (American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines and Can-Do Statements, tools to help world language teachers, plus an interview with a world language chair who shares how she uses ACTFL's publications in her school.

Teachers have different ways to reach this younger crowd- but what does the research say? How can we teach early language learners an L2 while they are still developing their L1? Meeting students where they are, can our younger students communicate in both languages? What kind of activities are fun, and keep the kids active and engaged? First the research, and then an interview with Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, a dynamic Mandarin Chinese language teacher who has experience teaching kids around the world.

This episode focuses on our younger learners. How prevalent are early language programs around the world? What are the benefits of early language programs? How is it different than teaching older learners? What kinds of activities are the most effective and engaging- with the maximum impact? A look at the research on early language learners, the advantages of teaching languages to young kids, and then today I’ll interview Nathan Lutz, a French teacher, Global Learning Coordinator, and president of NNELL.

We're talking about communicating in the target language in the world language class. First, we take a look at the research around communicative language speaking. Then I’ll interview Sherry Schermerhorn, a stellar Spanish and French teacher who teaches 100% in the target language. Sherry shares how she decided to switch to 100%, plus her best tips for teachers who want to increase speaking in class, and how she KEEPS students in the target language.

Educational technology is everywhere- but what does the research have to say? How does it help students to learn languages? Can it increase teachers’ effectiveness? What are some introductory technology tools that fit within the world language classroom? A look at the research around implementing technology into learning, and an interview with Rachel Lucas, with excellent recommendations that help teachers teach more efficiently, engage their students, and really revolutionize their teaching.

From the United States, stints in Spain, Ecuador and London, and now to Mexico, I discuss my educational journey to become an ESL and Spanish teacher. In addition to my experiences in the classroom, I also share the history of my web site, KidWorldCitizen.org, and how I came to start the Language Latte podcast.