In this episode we are looking at the growing number of opportunities for teachers – and students- of learning and teaching languages online. We are discussing the advantages and disadvantages, how to be a successful online teacher, and the most popular platforms right now. Then we speak with T’helah Ben-Dan, who shares her thoughts on teaching Hebrew on-line, plus her best tips for teachers.

What do research findings indicate about world language study and students with learning disabilities? Which strategies, instructional methods, and adaptations can we employ as language teachers to help all students reach their goals and achieve competence? After an introduction to current research, I speak with Dr. Irene Konyndyk, author of Foreign Languages for Everyone, who shares 8 really effective approaches for world language teachers to boost language learning for kids with learning...

The United Nations has declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages. It’s the perfect opportunity to look at the prevalence of indigenous languages around the world, plus best practices to overcome common hurdles. Then we speak with Quechua instructor Américo Mendoza-Mori, who describes the history of Quechua education, and how it is being taught today.

As language teachers, we know that if students aren’t interested in the language we’re teaching, their progress will be stagnant, and their attitudes will affect the entire mood of the class. Motivation is at least as important as aptitude in language acquisition. We examine motivation, and how we can apply it to get kids interested and inspired in class. I talk to Australian teacher Simone Baluch, who shares tips and activities she uses to get her learners excited, curious, and attentive in...

In this episode we are looking at the importance of teacher-students relationships, how they affect learning, and what the research says about community building in class. Then we speak with John Bracey, who shares activities he uses to build community, and how they have even helped with classroom management and behavior.

Teachers around the world are getting creative and producing clips to use with their students. We’ll examine 10 different platforms and methods to mix audio, images, and videos for our learners, and then we will speak with Angie Torre, who’s going to share how she recorded conversations for her students to learn from.

In this episode we are discussing the use of media in our classrooms. Photos and videos are excellent authentic resources, whether as curiosity-inducing speaking/writing prompts, a look into cultural insights, an introduction of vocabulary, or as a source of comprehensible input. We look at why and how media is effective in engaging students in class, and then you are going to love the 6 activities that Sarah Breckley shares in her interview.

Global education: integrating learning about world culture and human geography into our lessons, which leads to global competency. It is undeniable that our world is more interconnected than ever. We’ll look at what global competence means, and how world language classes offer such a clear path to competency in a new culture and a portal to understanding the wider world. Then, in my interview with Homa Tavangar, we discuss easy global education tools to get started.

In this episode we are discussing classroom management: keeping kids on task, engaged, and acquiring the language. We look at setting up the rules, expectations, and routines in class, plus introduce the Responsive Classroom, and then I interview Julie Speno is a K-4 Spanish Teacher in Maine, in her 25th year teaching languages.

We are discussing music in the world language classroom. We’ll look at the benefits of using music with our students, plus go over tons of ideas of activities using music in class. I interview Elisabeth Alvarado, a Spanish teacher who transformed her classroom when she changed the way she incorporated music in her lessons. Elisabeth shares 5 ways to use music in class, with tons of example activities for different ages!

In this episode we are discussing our students, and how to keep them in our language programs through the advanced levels. We will talk a bit about what schools are doing to retain students, and then I’ll interview Casey Chon, who is studying Arabic education at Boston University. She’s going to share her ideas on keeping our student numbers up and our language programs growing.

We're talking about using IPAs (Integrated Performance Assessments) in the language classroom. IPAs are a classroom-based performance assessment model developed by ACTFL to assess the progress that language students are making towards proficiency. We'll look at the 3 tiers of an IPA, the rubrics, and how to use them in class to get an overview of students' proficiency as learners are attempting to understand, interpret, and analyze when they are reading, hearing, or seeing.

The role of reading in class, and the benefits our students get from reading in the target language: a look at how teachers are getting students to read for pleasure, reading topics of interest and books of their own choosing. Learn about the power of reading as a necessary input activity in our students’ journey towards proficiency. We talk about classroom libraries, and engaging activities. I also interview A. C. Quintero, a Spanish teacher who has authored multiple books for language...

What are the key action items new teachers can do to relieve stress, and have a manageable work-life balance? What is the role schools play in supporting new teachers, and the best types of support we can offer our new colleagues? Looking at attrition rates- why is this support important and necessary? Let’s first look at what the research says about supporting new teachers, plus best practices, and then I’ll interview Diego Ojeda- a teacher with 30 years of experience in classrooms from...

How- and why- should world language teachers incorporate the diverse cultures that speak the languages we are teaching? Does social justice play a role in language classrooms? A look at the current research on culturally inclusive classrooms, and how teachers can show our students that their experiences, and their voices matter. Dr Hines-Gaither helps us examine how we can reach the students we teach, and how we can diversify the content we use.

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...

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...

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.