In this in-person episode from the CI Mitten conference, Dr. Diane Neubauer and AnneMarie Chase joined me to talk about the multifaceted concept of student engagement in the world language classroom.

We uncover and challenge traditional views of engagement, offering innovative strategies and real-life applications that will inspire and empower educators.

**Show Notes:**

What is engagement?

• Diane Newbauer discusses her PhD research, providing a nuanced definition of engagement that includes cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral dimensions.
• Discussion on recognizing various forms of student engagement, supported by real classroom anecdotes.

Innovative Strategies for Engagement:

• Anne Marie Chase shares effective techniques for increasing student involvement, including physical activities, gamification, and novel games tailored for end-of-year excitement.
• Introduction of "Centric Circles" for oral assessment and a great way to celebrate progress, fostering a low-stress environment where students can express themselves freely.

Practical Ideas for the End of the Year:

• Explanation of a scavenger hunt activity that utilizes picture talks from the year, enhancing review and comprehension through an engaging, interactive format.
• Discussion of "Movie Talk," a strategy to enhance comprehension and engagement through narrated movie scenes, ideal for end-of-year learning.

Reflection:

• Reflective conversation on the importance of adapting teaching approaches to meet the diverse needs of students.
• Encouragement for educators to experiment with new methods, especially towards the end of the school year, to rejuvenate their classrooms and celebrate student progress.

This episode serves as a toolkit for educators aiming to enhance engagement in their classrooms through thoughtful, innovative, and practical strategies that resonate with both students and teachers alike.

Resources:

AnneMarie Chase Blogcito

Dr. Diane Neubauer’s Podcast: Conversations about Language Teaching

Audio: https://conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsaboutLanguage

Hiver, P., Al-Hoorie, A. H., & Mercer, S. (2020). Student engagement in the language classroom. Multilingual Matters.

Jacknick, C. M. (2021). Multimodal participation and engagement: Social interaction in the classroom. Edinburgh University Press.

Neubauer, D. (2022). Chinese Language Instruction with Novice Learners: Target Language Topic Development, Engagement, and Comprehension in Online and Hybrid Classrooms. The University of Iowa.

More resources:

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

Free stories for Spanish teachers

Growing With Proficiency The Blog

Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

Growing With Proficiency TPT Store

Free FB Community: Growing With CI

Claudia @‌IG

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, Profe Valentina and Carolina also dive into the significance of establishing routines and modeling effective game play in the classroom. Plus, they offer advice on troubleshooting common challenges, such as when classes or individual students are hesitant to participate in game activities.

Tune in now and be part of this great conversation with my paisanas!

Key Takeaways:

• Establishing Effective Routines: Learn how to set up routines that make game play smooth and beneficial.
• 5 Engaging Classroom Games: Discover games you can seamlessly integrate into your lessons at any time of the year.
• Adapting Games for Different Levels: Gain insights on how to modify games to challenge and engage middle and high school students.
• Consistency in Game Play: Understand the importance of playing the same game repeatedly to enhance the use of the target language in your classroom.

Don't miss this opportunity to add these practical, fun-filled games to your class. Subscribe and share with fellow educators looking to uplevel their language classes!

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Guest Bios:

Profe Valentina was born and raised in Colombia and has been teaching Spanish for over 16 years. She has experience teaching students from Pre-K through 8th grade, but her passion lies in elementary education. Valentina's language teaching approach aligns with the latest second language acquisition theories and incorporates culturally responsive practices. Her workshops and presentations are as creative, dynamic, and enthusiastic as her classes.

Carolina Gómez is a Colombian language educator with over 20 years of experience. She holds a B.A. in Languages and Education from the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, and a Master's degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She is currently a PreK-3 Spanish teacher at an independent school in Cambridge, MA. Carolina combines her passion for teaching her language and culture through stories in the classroom. She enjoys connecting and creating a community with other educators through her blog "Fun for Spanish Teachers," different social media outlets, conferences, and workshops.

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Resources:

Carolina’s blog: https://funforspanishteachers.com/

Carolina’s IG account: https://www.instagram.com/funforspanishteachers/

Valentina’s blog: https://profevalentina.com/

Valentina’s IG account: https://www.instagram.com/profevalentina/

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
Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
Free FB Community: Growing With CI
Claudia @‌IG

Welcome back to our conversation with Dr. Bill VanPatten. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, click here to listen.

In this second part, we continue exploring the intricacies of language acquisition, focusing on the role of grammar, the importance of input, and the evolution of output in language learning.

Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on creating engaging and effective language teaching environments, emphasizing the need for compelling content and genuine connections with students.

Key Takeaways:

• Grammar instruction can be whatever each teacher wants, but it's crucial to understand that it does not directly lead to language acquisition.
• Language acquisition is primarily driven by interaction with comprehensible input, rather than by producing output. However, when that interaction happens, output will happen too.
• The progression of output in language learning moves from dependence on the teacher to independent language use. This transition requires patience and understanding from educators.
• Engaging students in language learning involves creating compelling content and fostering authentic connections.

Resources:

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
Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
Free FB Community: Growing With CI
Claudia @‌IG