Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#167
Do you use authentic texts in your language classroom? To make sure that we are all on the same page with the concept, the simple definition is materials created by and for native speakers not for the purpose of language learning. These materials reflect real-life language use and cultural contexts. They expose students to natural language and cultural nuances. In this episode I share practical strategies to help students interpret and engage in meaningful ways with these materials. Are the benefits linguistic, cultural, maybe both?

Topics in this Episode:

• High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • Episode 160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently
  • Episode 162: Facilitating Target Language Comprehensibility
  • Episode 164: Teach Grammar in a Communicative Context
• Authentic texts are materials created by native speakers for native speakers, such as newspapers, blogs, songs, advertisements, and videos. These texts reflect real-life language use and cultural contexts.
• Using authentic texts exposes students to natural language and cultural nuances, helping them develop better comprehension skills and cultural awareness. It also makes learning more engaging and relevant."
• 5 key strategies to help you effectively incorporate authentic texts into your teaching:
  • Selecting Appropriate Texts
  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • Guided Reading and Annotation
  • Post-Reading Discussions
  • Extension Activities

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

• wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#166
Community. Is this a word that you would use to describe your classroom? Do you and your students feel like you are a part of a supporting and encouraging community each time you and they walk in your classroom? How do you create this type of learning environment? Today, Elodie Channa, a French teacher in British Columbia, Canada, joins me to bring us into her classroom community. We discuss how she uses CI (Comprehensible Input) techniques and methodology to support the classroom community and assure that her students feel valued, seen and understood.

Topics in this Episode:

• what CI is and why it's important for language learning
• how CI can be used to build community in the language classroom
• examples from Elodie's experience where CI significantly enhanced community and engagement in her classroom
• strategies and activities that you can use to ensure your students are receiving CI while also fostering collaboration and connection among them
• adapting CI approaches for different proficiency levels and diverse classroom settings

Connect with Elodie Channa:

• Instagram: @comprehensibleinputON

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

• wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#165
How much of the target language is used in your classroom, by both you and your students? I’m talking about truly communicative language. Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Helen, a German teacher in Wisconsin. Using the target language more regularly and authentically is the area where she wants to level up her teaching practice.

Suggestions:

• Develop consistent classroom routines that naturally incorporate the target language.Greetings and farewells, instructions, and integrate common phrases and questions throughout the day.
• Provide scaffolding tools like visuals, sentence starters, language mats, and anchor charts that students can refer to when they need assistance.
• Design interactive activities that require students to use the target language.
• Consistently model the use of the target language in your own speech and interactions with students. Acknowledging and praising students when they make an effort to speak in the target language.

Action Plan:

This Week:

• Set Clear Expectations and Establish Routines
• Create and display a set of classroom rules in the target language
• Create a "language mat" or anchor chart with common phrases and sentences

The Coming Weeks:

• Plan at least two interactive activities per week that require students to use the target language, such as partner conversations, role-plays, or language games.
• Consistently speak in the target language yourself and use positive reinforcement when students make an effort to speak in the target language.
• Reward system

You can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance. Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

• wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.