Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

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Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Claudia Elliott, World Language educator

192 episodes

5 days ago

Send us a text If you’ve ever found yourself searching for an activity that is engaging, meaningful, and actually supports language acquisition, this episode is for you. Many of us want our students to feel confident understanding and using the language — without us spending hours planning something new every day. In this conversation, I’m joined by Amy Marshall, a world language teacher with over 25 years of classroom experience, known for her thoughtful use of ClipChat. ClipChat blends shor...

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Language Learning

All content for Growing With Proficiency The Podcast is the property of Claudia Elliott, World Language educator and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send us a text If you’ve ever found yourself searching for an activity that is engaging, meaningful, and actually supports language acquisition, this episode is for you. Many of us want our students to feel confident understanding and using the language — without us spending hours planning something new every day. In this conversation, I’m joined by Amy Marshall, a world language teacher with over 25 years of classroom experience, known for her thoughtful use of ClipChat. ClipChat blends shor...

Show more...

Language Learning

Episodes (20/192)

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 171: Boost Comprehension and Engagement With ClipChat: A Guide for Language Teachers with Amy Marshall

Send us a text If you’ve ever found yourself searching for an activity that is engaging, meaningful, and actually supports language acquisition, this episode is for you. Many of us want our students to feel confident understanding and using the language — without us spending hours planning something new every day. In this conversation, I’m joined by Amy Marshall, a world language teacher with over 25 years of classroom experience, known for her thoughtful use of ClipChat. ClipChat blends shor...

5 days ago

47 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Re-released Episodio 3 En español: Tres cambios que transformaron mi clase de español

Send us a text En este episodio, comparto uno de mis episodios favoritos en español sobre tres cambios fundamentales que transformaron mi clase y renovaron mi motivación como docente. Estos cambios surgieron a lo largo de 15 años en el aula y responden a una pregunta que muchas profes me hicieron recientemente: ¿Cómo construir una clase donde la conexión, la comunicación y la cultura sean el centro, y donde el español se use de manera auténtica? Hablaremos de: Construir conexiones con l...

1 week ago

28 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 170: How Do We Support Neurodivergent Learners in the World Language Classroom? Designing Inclusive Classrooms

Send us a text A conversation with Wesley Wood What happens when we stop planning for the “average” learner and instead design our classrooms with neurodivergent students and students with disabilities in mind? In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I’m joined by Wesley Wood, Disability Specialist at Georgetown University and former world language teacher, for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about expanding what is possible in the language classroom. Wesley brings d...

1 week ago

1 hour

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 169: How to Use Songs in the World Language Classroom (and Make Them Comprehensible) with Kara Jacobs

Send us a text Every world language teacher knows the power of music — but how do we move beyond karaoke Fridays and make songs truly comprehensible and meaningful for our learners? 🎵 In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, host Claudia Elliott sits down with veteran teacher and blogger Kara Jacobs to unpack how she turns authentic songs and music videos into acquisition-rich, culture-centered units. Together, they explore how to create stories around songs, use visuals to s...

2 weeks ago

41 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 10 Re-Release: Games That Get Students Talking with Christina Margiore

Send us a text There’s never a bad time of the year for a good game. Whether it’s November, May, or that wild week before a break — a well-chosen game can transform your classroom energy and boost your students’ confidence to use Spanish. In this re-release of one of the most-loved episodes of Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast, I sit down with Christina Margiore, a high-school Spanish teacher from Long Island (you might know her as @supersenora), to talk about how she uses games to lower ...

3 weeks ago

40 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Re-Release Episode 89: Discover 5 Games to Boost Engagement & Community in Your World Language Class with Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez

Send us a text Are you searching for low-prep games perfect for this busy time of year? Look no further! In this episode, join us as we welcome two incredible educators from Colombia, Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez. They're here to share five engaging, low-prep games that are ideal for any classroom setting. These games are designed to boost engagement, foster community, review content, and add some fun to your daily routine. Who doesn't need a little extra fun, right? In this discussion,...

1 month ago

52 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 168: How Can Task-Based Language Teaching Engage Students in Authentic Communication With Purpose? A conversation with Dr. Claudia Fernández

Send us a text Have you ever noticed that some students struggle to see their progress in an acquisition-driven classroom? When your lessons focus on comprehensible input and communication, progress can feel invisible to students used to “right or wrong” answers. That’s why Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) can be such a game-changer. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Claudia Fernández, one of the leading voices on TBLT, about how this approach helps students engage in authentic language use...

1 month ago

1 hour 4 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 167: Rethinking Intermediate Classes with Comprehensible Input: A Conversation with Gary DiBianca

Send us a text Does comprehensible input still matter at the intermediate level? Absolutely. In this conversation with Gary DiBianca, he shares how he “levels up” intermediate classes by centering CI, intentionally modeling structures students can recycle (time frames, connectors, question stems), and layering authentic resources that stretch comprehension without overwhelming learners. You’ll hear: What changes—and what doesn’t—at intermediate: same CI foundation, deeper themes, tighter recy...

1 month ago

53 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episodio 166: Cómo Enseñar a Estudiantes de Herencia: Estrategias, Rutinas y Pilares para el Aula de Español

Send us a text En este episodio en español de Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, converso con la Dra. Marta Silva sobre un tema esencial para profes de español: cómo enseñar a estudiantes de herencia. Exploramos la diferencia entre clases de herencia y de segunda lengua, y por qué es clave replantear nuestros objetivos, pilares y rutinas para apoyar a estos estudiantes de manera auténtica. En este episodio descubrirás: Los 4 pilares de las clases de herencia: sostenimiento de lengua y cul...

1 month ago

1 hour 1 minute

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Re-Release of Episode 20: Class Jobs: Building Community, Boosting Engagement, and Saving Your Sanity

Send us a text Why am I re-releasing this episode? Because after a few weeks back in the classroom, I felt it again — that weight of doing everything myself: picking up pencils, erasing the board, answering endless “what did I miss?” emails. And I remembered… this episode holds the solution. In this powerful conversation with Annabelle Williamson (La Maestra Loca) and John Seifert, we dive deep into classroom jobs — not just what they are, but why they matter. Annabelle and John share: Their ...

1 month ago

46 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 165: Listening to Silence: How to Use It to Understand and Engage Your Students in the Language Classroom

Send us a text Silence in the language classroom doesn’t mean students aren’t saying anything. Silence is information. In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, we explore why silence can be a valuable source of information and how teachers can use it to foster curiosity, lower risk, and create more meaningful engagement. You’ll learn: The 3 main reasons students don’t respond to questionsHow to make your questions comprehensible and accessibleLow-prep strate...

2 months ago

38 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 164: Are We Listening? Rethinking Accents, Comprehensibility, and Communication in Our Classrooms and Communities

Send us a text Are errors or strong accents really blocking communication—or is it about how we listen? 🎧 In this episode, I share why comments about my accent made me reflect on how we approach communication in our classrooms and in our teacher communities. Together, we’ll explore: Why the hidden goal of “sounding native” can get in the way of real communication.What research says about listening, comprehensibility, and sympathetic listeners.How we can become better listeners by valuing dive...

2 months ago

27 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 163: Silent Discussions: A Simple Strategy to Boost Interpersonal Communication in Your Language Classes

Send us a text Have you ever felt like getting your students to really use the target language with each other is the hardest thing? You want them to share ideas, agree or disagree, and ask questions. But when the moment comes, silence takes over—or worse, they switch to English. In this episode, I sit down with my friend and incredible Spanish teacher, Chelsea Lawrence, to talk about a game-changing strategy: Silent Discussions. ✨ What you’ll learn in this episode: What Silent Discussions ar...

2 months ago

54 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 162: Students Didn’t Meet Expectations? Why That’s Not the Real Problem

Send us a text As teachers, we’ve all been there—you’ve planned the lesson, you’ve given directions, and then… your students just don’t meet the expectations. Blank stares, missing homework, silence after a question. 😩 But here’s the thing: maybe unmet expectations aren’t really the problem. In this episode, I sit down with Becca Silver, founder of The Whole Educator, to explore how shifting our mindset can transform frustration into curiosity—and how that shift can change the way we connect ...

2 months ago

30 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episodio 161: Momentos Auténticos Para Fomentar Interacciones en Español en Clase

Send us a text Seguro te ha pasado: das tu clase en español con toda la energía, pero hay un silencio total. Esa desconexión cansa y desmotiva, porque lo que más deseamos como profes es escuchar a nuestros estudiantes usar el español de manera auténtica. En este episodio hablamos de cómo crear momentos auténticos en clase: oportunidades naturales y significativas para que los estudiantes reaccionen, escuchen y se comuniquen en español sin sentir tanta presión. Te comparto tres pasos cla...

2 months ago

28 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 160: Routines That Stick: Save Time, Reduce Stress, and Maximize Target Language Use

Send us a text Save time, reduce stress, and maximize target language use—because that’s how you create a sustainable school year, profe. 🌟 In this episode, we’re diving into routines: those small but powerful structures that keep your class running smoothly. I’ll walk you through why they matter, the key mindset shifts to make them stick, and practical examples you can start using right away. Because here’s the truth—routines only work if you keep them clear, model them step by step, and sti...

2 months ago

39 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 159: How to Transform Open House Into a Trust-Building Moment

Send us a text Open House isn’t just about sharing rules—it’s your chance to build trust with parents, spark curiosity, and show them how their students can thrive in your class. In this episode, Claudia walks you through her 7–8 minute Open House plan, including what she skips, what she highlights, and how a simple Spanish “mini-lab” makes parents leave confident and excited about language learning. ✨ Takeaways: Why you should skip the long rule list and focus on what makes your class ...

3 months ago

18 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 158: How to Boost Target Language Use with Routines, Play, and Student Connections

Send us a text 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 onePlayful moments that spark joy and engagement—like the Platos game from Will Adam...

3 months ago

24 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 157: What Does It Really Mean to Teach for Acquisition? 3 Key Skills Every Language Teacher Needs

Send us a text 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 skill...

3 months ago

45 minutes

Growing With Proficiency The Podcast

Episode 156: Planning With Purpose — A Conversation with Dr. Diane Neubauer & Dr. Reed Riggs

Send us a text 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 bet...

3 months ago

1 hour 3 minutes