T.A.L.K. Is Interpersonal Mode of Communication and More

Posted on by Vicky Masson
Interpersonal

Many years ago (actually, 2015!) I read an article on T.A.L.K. by Mme. Blouwolff (Thank you!) which made me change how I implemented interpersonal communication in my classes. I loved the task she presented and the rubric she created, so I had to try it! 

What is T.A.L.K.?

T.A.L.K. is an acronym that stands for Talk, Accuracy, Listen, Kindness.

  • T is for Talk in the language for all the Time given. Try to communicate in the Target language. Stay on Topic. Prepare yourself by Thinking: 
  1. What vocabulary words can I use for this topic? 
  2. How do I communicate about this topic in full sentences? 
  3. What questions can I ask?
  • A is for Accuracy when using old and new language functions and structures and old and new vocabulary. A is also for Accountability
  • L is for Listen carefully to others’ answers and comments and build on them
  • K is for Kindness to all group members by contributing to the conversation without interrupting and by inviting others to participate. Be inclusive!

Use the Rubric

At the beginning of the year, I explicitly (and intentionally) use the rubric Mme. Blouwolff created for the first couple of T.A.L.K. ‘practices’ for students to self-evaluate themselves. They find it easier to start this new way of practicing interpersonal communication. It also helps them to understand the expectations of this task.

Explain the ‘Why’ of Interpersonal Communication

When I explain T.A.L.K. and what we are doing to my students I see an immediate positive change in their attitude towards speaking. They are not answering MY questions, they are answering questions their peers ask… They are in control of their interpersonal communication. They own it! T.A.L.K. empowers!

Preparing for T.A.L.K.

T.A.L.K. does not happen in a vacuum. Students practice having interpersonal communication in class every day. I use different resources, such as Amy Lenord’s Chat Mats or conversations based on art, a reading, or a clip they watch. I also vary the pairings using different classroom groupings such as, ‘Table for…’,  two rows, or four corners. 

Two things become apparent when I start T.A.L.K. in my classes. On the one hand, students need to learn how to ask questions, not just memorized phrases, but questions you would normally ask in a ‘real’ conversation. On the other hand, students realize that they need ‘connectors’ to express what they want to say more cohesively. To help them, I create a ‘world wall’ with some ‘connectors’ such as, because, so, when, however, although, etc., and ‘question words’ my students need to use in their conversations.

Interpersonal Communication: Pre, During, and Post T.A.L.K.

Before we start the T.A.L.K. assessment I use some T.A.L.K. routines to help students ease into the conversation:

  • ‘what are we TALKing about today?’ 
  • ‘tips for an amazing T.A.L.K.’, 
  • ‘follow one student’ during the conversation, and 
  • a ‘reflection’ after the T.A.L.K.

In my class, T.A.L.K. is a class activity in which we gather in a circle with a small group in the center and the rest of the students are placed around them (like ‘fishbowl’).

Pre-T.A.L.K.

Before we begin, I make sure students know the topics expected in the conversation by asking them ‘What are we TALKing about today?’ This way, we focus our brains on the vocabulary and functions we need to retrieve from our working memory. 

I continue with ‘tips for an amazing T.A.L.K.’ on how to have T.A.L.K. conversations. Doing this just before starting, also reminds students of the task expectations and helps them lower their affective filter. They might say,

  • If somebody is stuck or does not understand the question you are asking, give options, for example, if you ask ‘What do you do on the weekends?’ and the other student does not know the word ‘weekends’, you might say ‘Saturday? Sunday?’ That way, you are kind and it helps continuing the conversation without an odd silence
  • Invite all to be part of the conversation by asking a question to all the members in the group
  • Talk about things that you know but if you do not remember or do not know a specific word, use words to describe it so a friend can help you
  • Don’t repeat the same questions (‘What do you like?’ ‘How are you?’). Instead, try to ask new questions for the conversation to flow
  • Have three good questions ready in your head in case suddenly everybody is silent
  • Think that the T.A.L.K. assessment is a T.A.L.K. practice 

During T.A.L.K.

While the students in the center would be the ones talking, the ones in the outer circle have to ‘follow one student’ and jot down in their notebooks what he/she says. I can check students’ listening and spelling skills with this and realize who needs more practice on one or both. 

Post-T.A.L.K.

After students have done the T.A.L.K., the other component is a ‘reflection’ about their performance that can be written in their notebooks or using a form. I ask questions such as, 

  • What are you proud of? 
  • What went well for you today?
  • What did you learn about yourself? about your peers?
  • How are you going to prepare yourself for the next T.A.L.K.?  What is one thing that you would do differently next time we have a T.A.L.K.?
  • If you had to give yourself a grade on Talking. Accuracy, Listening, and Kindness about your performance, which would that be?
  • In your opinion, which level of proficiency did your reach for the most part during T.A.L.K.? What evidence do you have to support your self-assessment? What can you do to achieve the next level?
  • How can the teacher help you be more successful next time?

I love reading students’ deep thoughts and reflections on their performance! I learn a lot about them and it gives me hints on what I can do to help each of them.

Give T.A.L.K a Try!

Learning about each other while talking in another language is very satisfying for students. It provides an unimaginable sense of authenticity and pride. Give it a try in your classes!

Sueños: sigamos soñando (Spanish)

Posted on by Vicky Masson
sueño

by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

El mes pasado hablamos de la pluralidad de significados de la palabra sueño. Dicha versatilidad está presente también en los manuales de ELE 📚, lo que nos permite trabajar los diferentes contenidos lingüísticos, así como practicar las distintas destrezas, abordando temas como el descanso y la calidad del sueño (acepciones 1 y 2 del diccionario), la interpretación de los sueños y el mundo onírico (acepciones 3 y 4) y nuestros deseos y expectativas en la vida (quinta acepción).

Veamos, por tanto, algunos de estos manuales, así como otros recursos que puedes encontrar en la red.

Recordar sueños e interpretación de sueños

👉 Para un nivel B1, puedes recurrir al Nuevo Prisma B1 o al Aula Plus 4. En el primero, podrás encontrar un texto con consejos para recordar sueños con el que trabajar la comprensión de lectura 👀; y en el segundo, una actividad de comprensión auditiva 👂 sobre la interpretación de los sueños. Lo ideal es combinar ambas actividades y completar la clase con dinámicas de expresión escrita ✏️ o de interacción oral 🗣 con las que tus estudiantes narren sus propios sueños o interpreten los de sus compañeros.

Narrar sueños

👉 Y eso, narrar un sueño, es precisamente lo que hace el Etapas Plus B2.1: en efecto, en él puedes encontrar un texto literario de Mario Benedetti en el que el autor describe, con gracia, varios sueños, y que te podrá servir para que tus alumnos repasen los conectores del discurso o practiquen el valor onírico del imperfecto.

Sueño y salud

Igualmente, en dicho manual también se aborda la relación entre sueño y salud 😴👩🏻‍⚕️, se presentan expresiones coloquiales y refranes relacionados con la calidad del sueño y las formas de dormir y se trabajan aspectos culturales (en concreto, el surrealismo 🎨).

Aspiraciones

👉 Por último, si tienes un grupo de nivel más avanzado, puedes echar mano del Nuevo Prisma C1, en el que se profundiza todavía más en estos temas, abarcando desde el psicoanálisis hasta los problemas de alteración del sueño, pasando por el surrealismo y el mundo onírico e incorporando además la acepción de sueño en cuanto ambición o aspiración en la vida.

Otros materiales

👉 Además de manuales, también tienes a tu disposición otros materiales con los que llevar los sueños a tu clase. Pensemos, por ejemplo, en recursos multimedia como la canción “Eungenio” Salvador Dalí, de Mecano (ideal para trabajar el surrealismo) o el corto El soñador.

👉 Asimismo, puedes crear tus propios materiales. ¿Qué tal si haces la clásica actividad colaborativa con tarjetas para que tus estudiantes elaboren la trama de un sueño a partir de los elementos (objetos, personajes…) que les vayan saliendo?

Sea como fuere, ya sea entre las páginas de un manual 📚, la letra de una canción 🎼, los fotogramas de un corto 🎞 o las imágenes de un taco de tarjetas 🃏, lo importante es que siempre habrá material al que le podrás sacar todo el partido posible para hacer de las tuyas unas clases de ensueño 😊.

El humor te salva / Humor Heals You (Spanish & English)

Posted on by Vicky Masson
humor

by Justa Rebollo Paz (LTL Contributor)

El humor te salva

Una de las teorías más representativas del humor, tanto en la filosofía como en la psicología e incluso la fisiología, es la teoría de BIENESTAR, el ALIVIO o la SANACIÓN.

El humor (cuyo efecto físico/muscular más claro es la risa), tiene efectos en el sistema nervioso y permite descargar distintos niveles de tensión.

O sea, el humor y la risa tienen el potencial de liberar energía nerviosa acumulada.

  • Llevemos humor por todos lados donde vayamos.
  • Contagiemos humor, risa, alegría.
  • Apelemos al humor en momentos no tan buenos, y transformémoslos en mejores.
  • Respondamos con humor en la vida cotidiana.
  • Descoloquemos la rutina, con una dosis de humor cada día.
  • Despertemos a nuestros hijos con humor, y se despertarán con humor… así de fácil
  • Viajemos con humor, aún con una ciudad llena de tráfico
  • Esperemos el colectivo con humor en esas colas eternas

El HUMOR nos salva de caer en el enojo, en el nerviosismo, en el bajón, en el aburrimiento….

Hagamos de esto un hábito en nosotros. Y de a poco será un hábito y una forma de manejarse para nuestros hijos o nuestras parejas, o nuestros compañeros de trabajo.

Acordate, el humor se contagia.

Y el humor te salva.

Humor Heals You

One of the most representative theories of humor, both in philosophy and in psychology and even physiology, is the theory of WELL-BEING, RELIEF or HEALING.

Humor (whose most obvious physical/muscular effect is laughter) has effects on the nervous system and allows us to discharge different levels of tension.

In other words, humor and laughter have the potential to release accumulated negative energy.

  • Let’s carry humor everywhere we go.
  • Let’s spread humor, laughter, and joy.
  • Let’s appeal to humor in not-so-good moments, and transform them into better ones.
  • Let’s respond with humor in everyday life.
  • Let’s disrupt routine, with a dose of humor every day.
  • Let’s wake up our children with humor, and they will wake up with humor… it’s that easy
  • Let’s travel with humor, even in a city full of traffic
  • Let’s wait for the bus with humor in those eternal queues

HUMOR saves us from falling into anger, nervousness, depression, boredom…

Let’s make this a habit for ourselves. And little by little it will become a habit and a way of handling things for our children or our partners, or our coworkers.

Remember, humor is contagious.

And humor heals you.

https://educar-a-consciencia.webnode.page

Enhancing Student Voice through Cultural Comparisons

Posted on by Vicky Masson
cultural comparisons

by Victoria Berasaluce Guerra

For most of us, curiosity to learn about a new culture is what brought us to this field of world language teaching. Maybe you were attracted to learning about new cultural food, architecture, art or language.

I remember feeling so thirsty for knowledge when I was a student… I still show that characteristic and joke that I could be a forever student. 

Culture is a key component of world language classes, and so is discovering and empowering our students’ voices. So where do we start? I’ve had students that say they don’t have a culture; they don’t feel they identify with any practice or perspective. But when we start asking questions and challenging their cultural beliefs, interesting answers come forward. A way we teachers can start the discussion is by using the cultural tree model, found in Zaretta Hammond’s book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. The tree model can help us explain to students how different aspects of culture range from being surface level to deep level.

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My work with cultural literacy in the classroom is guided by the ACTFL Cultural Standards of products, practices and perspectives. This means that students need to be acquainted with these terms and understand their meaning before they proceed to higher order thinking skills or write essays about cultural comparisons.

Think: What definitions of culture do you use in the classroom?

The definitions that we use in class for products, practices and perspectives are the following:

PRODUCTS: Are the things people make and use. They can be tangible (an item of clothing, a dish, a craft, a monument) or intangible (laws, the education system or other institutions).

PRACTICES: Are people’s actions. The way they celebrate festive days and events like birthdays and weddings, but also daily activities such as the way members of a culture greet each other, learn, work and interact daily.

PERSPECTIVES: Signal how people of a culture view the world around them, what are their values and beliefs. For example, the relationship between man and nature, attitudes towards life and death, religious beliefs, the concepts of family and friendships, the value of work. Even if we can’t observe perspectives, we can infer them by observing products and practices within a culture.

We need to break down the three Ps and this can be done in numerous ways. One of them is to bring to class an object that has cultural significance, it could be linked to your heritage even. Being Argentinean, one of the cultural products I like to share with my students is the mate, a traditional drink in my country. Not only do I bring the mate and talk about its cultural value, I also show how it is prepared (a cultural practice) and how the ritual of drinking mate is viewed in my community (a cultural perspective). I enjoy explaining how, to drink mate, we require different components (products) that make the cultural practice.

cultural comparisons

Source: Mamá, quiero mate by Catalina Di Cocco, 2017

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Analyze: Why is it important to teach these cultural standards?

It is important to teach these cultural standards mainly for two reasons:

–To encourage critical thinking: students develop critical thinking skills through analysis and interpretation of cultural phenomena.

–To foster global citizenship: cultivate global citizenship by fostering respect for diversity and promoting intercultural understanding and communication. 

Some actionable ideas to work with the three Ps in the classroom through student voice enhancement:

1 Warm-up activity. Have students run a relay race by mentioning as many products, practices and perspectives they can think of in a given amount of time. Make sure you introduce the meaning behind them first. The groups will then need to explain their answers

2 Bring a cultural product that you value, it could relate to your heritage. You can ask students to bring their own cultural product to share with the class, explaining why they chose that specific product. Have students think about the relationship between the product and a cultural practice. We can then help them think how it relates to a cultural perspective.

3 Read an article as a class that touches on cultural products, practices and/or perspectives, and guide the discussion using prepared questions. Remember that perspectives are usually the hardest ones for students to think about on their own. To help you search for an article in the target language, you can think of some of the AP themes crossover (for example: global challenges, beauty and aesthetics, etc.). Don’t be shy to include data and statistics that could add more layers of depth to a topic. 

4 Storytelling and research. Ask your students if they can remember a time when they were struck by how something was done differently in another country/community. Ask them to share how they came to know about the said practice and what were their reactions. Instruct them to research that practice to gain a deeper understanding of its cultural value. This can be presented to the class afterwards. 

5 Compare two celebrations. Have students compare a celebration from their country/community and one from a different culture. They can do this via a visual representation such as a Venn diagram (to add a TPR approach, you could use hula hoops to represent the Venn diagram and cut out words). Make sure they are considering the three Ps when doing the comparison. This is a good practice step before writing essays. Have students explain their comparisons. 

6 Case studies and debates. Deliberate first on a case study (consider a multitude of options to a given issue). Consider how the three Ps will be intertwined. After deliberating, have a classroom debate based on the case study.

Some challenges you might encounter and how to avoid misinterpretation, judgment and incorrect evaluation:

1 Stereotyping – Encourage critical analysis and avoid generalizations. All stereotypes have some level of truth, so teach about them first by giving examples your students might know.

2 Cultural Insensitivity – Promote respectful language and avoid offensive comparisons. Give a couple of concrete examples or stories for students to grasp this concept and its consequences of not practicing it. 

3 Lack of resources – Use online tools and collaborate with cultural experts. There are wonderful videos like the TED talk “The danger of a single story” that would greatly help expand students’ understanding. Provide your students with interesting, current and authentic resources.

    Think: What activities have you used so far to work with cultural comparisons and the three Ps?

    La Importancia de Aprender Español y la Inmersión como Clave para un Aprendizaje Eficaz

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    inmersión

    by Alonso Cano (LTL Contributor)

    El español es uno de los idiomas más hablados en el mundo, con más de 600 millones de hablantes nativos en más de 20 países. Aprender español abre puertas a nuevas oportunidades personales, académicas y profesionales, conectándonos con culturas y comunidades ricas en historia y tradiciones. La importancia de aprender este idioma radica en su impacto global, en su relevancia en sectores como los negocios, la diplomacia, la tecnología y el turismo, y en el valor cultural que aporta.

    Razones para Aprender Español

    Relevancia Global: El español es el segundo idioma más hablado en el mundo por hablantes nativos, después del chino mandarín. Se estima que es la tercera lengua más usada en internet, lo que facilita el acceso a una gran cantidad de contenidos, desde literatura y arte hasta avances científicos y oportunidades de educación superior.

    Ventajas Profesionales: En un mundo globalizado, la capacidad de hablar español abre oportunidades laborales y de negocios en mercados emergentes de América Latina, Estados Unidos y Europa. Cada vez más empresas buscan empleados con habilidades en español para atender a sus clientes o expandirse en mercados hispanohablantes.

    Crecimiento Personal y Cognitivo: Aprender un idioma extranjero, como el español, mejora las habilidades cognitivas, potencia la memoria y facilita la resolución de problemas. Además, permite desarrollar la empatía y una comprensión más profunda de otras culturas, algo esencial en el contexto multicultural actual.

    Acceso a una Riqueza Cultural Inmensa: Al aprender español, accedemos a una vasta herencia cultural, desde la literatura de autores como Gabriel García Márquez y Federico García Lorca hasta el cine, la música y la gastronomía. El español no solo es una lengua; es la puerta a una cultura vibrante y diversa que ha influido profundamente en el mundo.

    La inmersión como Método de Aprendizaje

    Aprender español a través de la inmersión es uno de los métodos más efectivos y enriquecedores para alcanzar fluidez y comprensión cultural. A diferencia de los métodos convencionales de aprendizaje en aula, la inmersión te permite vivir el idioma, sumergiéndote en él de forma natural y cotidiana.

    Ventajas de la Inmersión Lingüística

    Práctica Continua en Contextos Reales: La inmersión ofrece la oportunidad de practicar español en situaciones reales, desde pedir comida en un restaurante hasta conversar con nativos en el mercado. Estas experiencias ayudan a los estudiantes a comprender mejor las expresiones idiomáticas, el tono y las variaciones del español según la región.

    Mayor Velocidad de Aprendizaje: Estar rodeado de hablantes nativos acelera el proceso de aprendizaje, ya que el estudiante se ve expuesto al idioma de manera constante. La inmersión fomenta una rápida adaptación al ritmo, la pronunciación y la gramática, haciéndolos parte del entorno natural del estudiante.

    Comprensión Cultural Profunda: Al vivir en un entorno hispanohablante, los estudiantes no solo aprenden el idioma, sino también las costumbres, las tradiciones y las perspectivas culturales. Esto enriquece la experiencia de aprendizaje y permite una comprensión más completa del español y su cultura. Aprender el significado detrás de expresiones, gestos y rituales sociales profundiza la conexión con el idioma y los valores de las comunidades hispanas.

    Confianza y Fluidez: A través de la inmersión, los estudiantes adquieren confianza para comunicarse y adaptarse rápidamente a diferentes contextos lingüísticos. La exposición constante al idioma fortalece la fluidez, permitiendo que el estudiante se exprese de manera natural y efectiva, incluso en conversaciones espontáneas.

    Elementos Clave de un Programa de Inmersión Efectivo

    Clases con Enfoque Comunicativo: En un buen programa de inmersión, las clases están diseñadas para promover la comunicación y la interacción. Los profesores nativos emplean una metodología práctica que integra ejercicios de conversación, juegos de rol y actividades interactivas, fomentando el uso constante del idioma en situaciones cotidianas.

    Actividades Culturales y Excursiones: Un programa de inmersión integral incluye actividades culturales y excursiones que permiten a los estudiantes experimentar la vida local. Estas actividades pueden incluir visitas a museos, participación en festivales, clases de cocina local y recorridos por sitios históricos. A través de estas experiencias, los estudiantes tienen la oportunidad de aprender sobre la cultura y practicar el idioma en un contexto auténtico y enriquecedor.

    Interacción con Hablantes Nativos: La interacción con nativos es fundamental para aprender a reconocer y usar las variaciones del español, además de enriquecer el vocabulario y la comprensión de los diferentes acentos. Conversar con personas de la comunidad local permite al estudiante adaptarse a distintas maneras de hablar y, al mismo tiempo, entender mejor la cultura y las costumbres.

    Ambiente de Aprendizaje Inmersivo y Natural: El entorno del programa debe estar diseñado para crear una experiencia de inmersión completa. Desde las conversaciones con profesores y compañeros hasta las interacciones en tiendas, restaurantes y otros espacios, el estudiante debe sentir que está viviendo y respirando el idioma en todo momento.

    Consejos para Aprovechar al Máximo la Inmersión en Español

    Participar Activamente: Involúcrate en la cultura local, asiste a eventos, festivales y reuniones para conocer a personas y practicar el idioma en situaciones informales. Cuanto más te expongas, mayor será tu progreso y tu comodidad con el idioma.

    Establecer Metas y Evaluar el Progreso: Define objetivos claros para tu aprendizaje, ya sea mejorar la comprensión auditiva, enriquecer tu vocabulario o ganar confianza en la conversación. Evaluar tu progreso regularmente te ayudará a mantenerte enfocado y a aprovechar al máximo la experiencia.

    Mantener una Actitud Abierta y Positiva: Aprender un idioma es un reto que requiere paciencia y flexibilidad. La inmersión puede ser intensa, pero mantener una actitud abierta te permitirá adaptarte más rápido y disfrutar cada paso del proceso.

    Aprovechar el Entorno para Aprender Constantemente: Escucha las conversaciones de los locales, lee carteles, intenta entender las noticias en español y aprovecha cualquier oportunidad para usar el idioma. La inmersión permite aprender tanto en momentos de estudio formal como en el día a día.

    La Inmersión como Camino hacia la Fluidez y la Conexión Cultural

    Aprender español a través de la inmersión es una experiencia transformadora que va más allá de memorizar vocabulario y reglas gramaticales. La inmersión ofrece la oportunidad de vivir el idioma en toda su riqueza y complejidad, permitiéndote no solo comunicarte, sino también comprender y experimentar una nueva cultura.

    En un mundo cada vez más globalizado, la habilidad de hablar español y de entender la cultura hispana es una ventaja invaluable. La inmersión es el método ideal para aquellos que desean alcanzar una fluidez auténtica, experimentar el español en su contexto cultural y formar conexiones significativas con el mundo hispanohablante.

    Alonso Cano is at Escuela de Idiomas

    … Y los sueños, sueños son

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    sueño

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    Hace años tenía un montón de sueños. Ahora lo que tengo es sueño 😴 y un montón de años… Es posible que alguna vez hayas leído esta frase entre las muchas que, a modo de chanza, podemos encontrar por la red. Pero más allá de su pertinencia para crear algún meme gracioso con el que asumir de manera jocosa las consecuencias del paso del tiempo en nuestras vidas, dicha frase pone de manifiesto la versatilidad de la palabra sueño en español.

    En efecto, a diferencia de otras lenguas romances, la evolución etimológica nos ha dado a los hispanohablantes una mayor pluralidad en cuanto a las acepciones de sueño, palabra con la que podemos designar tanto la necesidad fisiológica de dormir como las escenas que se representan mientras dormimos, así como los deseos o anhelos que nos motivan a buscar nuestras metas.

    Asimismo, según el significado que transmita, sueño va asociado a diferentes verbos y expresiones, incluyan o no la palabra. Dicho de otro modo, su campo léxico es muy amplio, pues está formado por numerosas expresiones, modismos y combinaciones léxicas que usamos en nuestro día a día y que tus estudiantes deberían conocer. Por ello, con esta entrada, incluimos una infografía en la que podrás encontrar algunas de estas expresiones.

    Dichos significados, al igual que las implicaciones socioculturales que conllevan, están presentes en numerosos manuales de español en diferentes niveles. Así pues, nos gustaría hablarte de algunos de ellos, por si te pudieran resultar útiles para tus clases. Sin embargo, para no alargar demasiado esta entrada y evitar que se te cierren los ojos mientras la lees 😪, dejaremos dichos recursos para nuestra próxima publicación, abrigando el sueño de que la leerás con tanta atención como esperemos que hayas leído esta.

    Focusing on Good Role Models in Our Society (Spanish & English)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    culture

    by Maria Martínez (LTL Contributor)

    Let’s Highlight and Focus on Good Role Models in Our Language Lessons

    Lately, there is a big focus in the media on bad role models in our society. And as important as this is to uncover bad things, to make sure they don’t happen again, to deal with injustice and to keep everyone safe, I think there should be an emphasis on the opposite too. Let’s focus also on the good role models, the people who have achieved and are achieving great things, who have fought and are fighting for injustice, people whose work ethic can inspire the young generations and all of us.

    I propose several activities to do this in our language lessons, activities that can reinforce vocabulary whilst serving as an inspiration.

    What makes a person outstanding and inspiring?

    What qualities do these exceptional people have?

    Just asking those two questions can create a great opportunity to discuss adjectives and values in our society. We can also discuss how some values have changed for the worse, and how we, as a society, are focusing on empty and superficial values. A great opportunity to compare the role models in our society nowadays compared to role models in the past.

    You can focus on any famous inspiring role model or students can also focus on a family member that has really inspired them. Below are a few examples from activities and resources in my channel, Bilingual Cerebros.

    What adjectives can you use to describe a person that really inspires you?

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    Ein Bild, das Text, Menschliches Gesicht, Mann, Person enthält. Automatisch generierte Beschreibung

    From these examples we can discuss how they are the opposite of some of the bad role models that sadly we are seeing recently more than ever on the news, and mention the negative adjectives too, but without giving it too much of a focus, as we want to cover the vocabulary, but we want to focus on the positivity and good role models and not the opposite. What we focus on, grows. So, let’s focus on goodness.

    More examples:

    In my channel you can find biographies of inspiring people with activities to practice the past tenses, reading and comprehension and questions about the texts. These are some of the resources that I recommend:

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    Women that changed the world: https://youtu.be/RQWGwicnDvg?si=cajB7mnuD895EfrU

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    José Hernández: https://youtu.be/7nQPBZ8rmIM?si=IjtYSbznawOOI840

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    Frida Kahlo: https://youtu.be/k3FuLWt-5-w?si=gh-1sNwT3xrkeaVD

    This is the link to the Playlist to this section in the channel:

    Please let me know what other biographies you would like me to upload next, I appreciate your comments.

    I hope these ideas and resources are helpful and inspire your lessons to focus on positivity and to create a better world together.

    Vamos a destacar y enfocarnos en buenos modelos a seguir en nuestras clases de idiomas

    Últimamente, los medios de comunicación se centran mucho en los malos modelos en nuestra sociedad. Y por muy importante que sea descubrir cosas malas, desenmascarar a personas fraudulentas, asegurarse de que no vuelvan a suceder, abordar la injusticia y mantener a todos a salvo, creo que también debería hacerse hincapié en lo contrario. Centrémonos también en los buenos modelos a seguir, las personas que han logrado y están logrando grandes cosas, que han luchado y están luchando por la injusticia, personas cuya ética de trabajo puede inspirar a las generaciones jóvenes y a todos nosotros.

    Para ello propongo varias actividades en nuestras clases de idiomas, actividades que pueden reforzar el vocabulario y al mismo tiempo servir de inspiración. 

    ¿Qué hace que una persona sea excepcional e inspiradora?

    ¿Qué cualidades tienen estas personas excepcionales?

    Simplemente hacer esas dos preguntas puede crear una gran oportunidad para discutir adjetivos y valores en nuestra sociedad. También podemos discutir cómo algunos valores han cambiado para mal y cómo nosotros, como sociedad, nos estamos centrando en valores vacíos y superficiales. Una gran oportunidad para comparar los modelos a seguir de nuestra sociedad actual con los modelos a seguir del pasado.

    Puede centrarse en cualquier modelo a seguir inspirador famoso o los estudiantes también pueden centrarse en un miembro de su familia que realmente los haya inspirado. A continuación, os muestro algunos ejemplos de actividades y recursos en mi canal, Bilingual Cerebros.

    ¿Qué adjetivos puedes usar para describir a la persona que más te inspira?

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    A partir de estos ejemplos podemos discutir cómo son lo opuesto a algunos de los malos modelos que lamentablemente estamos viendo últimamente más que nunca en las noticias, y mencionar también los adjetivos negativos, pero sin darles demasiado énfasis, solo para cubrir el vocabulario, pero lo que queremos es centrarnos en la positividad y los buenos modelos a seguir y no al revés. Aquello en lo que nos centramos crece. Entonces, centrémonos en la bondad.

    En mi canal puedes encontrar biografías de personas inspiradoras con actividades para practicar el tiempo pasado, lectura y comprensión y preguntas sobre los textos. Estos son algunos de los recursos que recomiendo:

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    Mujeres pioneras que cambiaron el mundo: https://youtu.be/RQWGwicnDvg?si=cajB7mnuD895EfrU

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    José Hernández: https://youtu.be/7nQPBZ8rmIM?si=IjtYSbznawOOI840 

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    Frida Kahlo: https://youtu.be/k3FuLWt-5-w?si=gh-1sNwT3xrkeaVD

    Y más biografías en esta sección del canal. Listas de reproducción de esta sección: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TlFjB4h2gVeH0XWB3C-TYWfFEAstkQm&si=17FbbPhCnDACMJEp 

    Por favor déjame saber qué otras biografías te gustarían que suba al canal, agradezco tus comentarios.

    Espero que estas ideas y recursos sean útiles e inspiren sus lecciones para que se centren en la positividad y así crear juntos un mundo mejor.

    Culture is my Daily Catalyst!

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    culture

    by Noemí Rodríguez (LTL Contributor)

    How can we lead with culture on a daily basis in our classrooms?

    Culture can serve as your daily catalyst, as it did for me! A few months ago I had the opportunity to teach a High School Spanish Level III class and we began with the unit, “Stories of the Past”.  The unit’s communicative functions & essential questions are: -How does our past define who we are? -How does our present shape our future? -Recount the past -Describe how life used to be -Compare/contrast life in the past to the present

    Working with department colleagues, we established that we would utilize the reader, “La Llorona de Mazatlan” and backwards planned our unit with the reader in mind, with a focus on Mexican culture, stories & legends.

    As I began with this unit, I had an approximate window of when this unit would conclude and the different points of entry that I wanted to explore with students, based on the upcoming reader, vocabulary & structures necessary to address these communicative goals. I also started the school year with this unit and chose to focus primarily on describing past events & actions. So I began to plan out my weeks….

    Week 1/2: Getting to Know Each Other, Establishing a Classroom Community/Goals & Descriptions of Summer Vacations  (Google Slideshow) 

    Getting to know students and establishing a positive classroom culture is a key ingredient from day one. One way I approached this concept was doing a “Breakout” with students. Thanks to Kristine Keefe-Hasan (@kkeefe_hasan) aka LaProfeAlta, I was introduced to her breakout, Gozadera, which had the students working in teams to try to unlock the puzzles! It was neat to see them working together to build our classroom community during the first few days together. I also used Canva to design my Spanish III syllabus, which was a different way to approach the typical first-day class outline. (rodriguez syllabus espanol iii)

    I started off by describing what I had done in the summer and ironically, I had recently taken a trip to Mexico with my family. I was able to provide input through images and video of my experience and as a pre-assessment for students, asked that the students share the same through the creation of a Screencast video of their summer vacations. This provided me with immediate insight as to how well the students could describe past events and from this, I changed my instructional practices to further emphasize descriptions in the past. 

    Week 3: Highlighting Famous Spanish-Speaking Individuals  (Google Slideshow)

    After the first class meeting, I knew the students needed way more input! I selected the biographical reader, Vidas Impactantes, and broke the class into six different groups, to allow students to become “experts” on a particular Spanish-speaking individual and to also highlight Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Students read in class and I utilized the technique of “Reciprocal Reading” as students alternated which role they played as they read in small groups. As a follow-up assessment, students created informative Google Slideshows about their individual to be shared with the class. They were also given an interpretive reading and presentational writing assessment/quiz focused on key vocabulary. This key vocabulary pulled from Vidas Impactantes had a direct correlation to the unit’s essential questions & the upcoming reader: La Llorona. 

    Week 4/5: El Pasado: Leyendas Mexicanas (Google Slideshow)

    These weeks served as recycling vocabulary from La Llorona, so I continued with my emphasis on input by providing students with (4) Mexican legends that we would read together and discuss. I also provided vocabulary lists through Quizlet, which students practiced with vocabulary both in/out of class. I displayed these lists for students to view & we also “acted” out the words as a whole group.

    I utilized different reading techniques such as volleyball translation, whole group reading, popsicle stick reading (randomly calling on students to continue), paired reading and stop/summarize reading. Each legend that students read was read differently. After reading and discussing these different legends, students discussed which was their “favorite” and interviewed my sister-in-law via Skype, who happens to be from Mexico. I also used the song & music video, “Robarte un beso” to emphasize my sister-in-law’s favorite legend: El Callejón del Beso. 

    Week 6/7/8: La Llorona, Our IPA, The Reader & Mexico: El Presente (Google Slideshow 1 , 2 ) 

    Before diving into the reader, “La Llorona”, I wanted to build background knowledge for the students about this legend. Students completed an EdPuzzle activity for homework and I conducted a MovieTalk narrating the legend using a Youtube video. I posted the La Llorona vocabulary in the back of the classroom, so as I retold the story, I could continue to recycle/emphasize certain words.

    At this point, I felt the students were ready to engage in a summative Integrated Performance Assessment with the emphasis of Mexican Legends. Students were provided a different version of La Llorona to read & respond to questions as their interpretive portion, students engaged in a Writers Workshop process by re-writing their own version of their favorite Mexican legend and finally, students had to re-tell their stories/ask questions about one another’s favorite legends for their interpersonal portion via Flip.  Questions posed to assist with their conversations were as follows: 

    • Describa tu leyenda mexicana a tu compañero. 
    • ¿Quién es parte de tu leyenda?  ¿Qué pasó?
    • ¿Cómo terminó tu leyenda?  ¿Te gustó la leyenda? ¿Por qué?

    We began to read the reader as a class and at this point, because of the backward design process and all of the “preloading” of the important vocabulary that was coming up in this reader, students were able to comprehend 90-95% of the story. In one of the beginning chapters, a discussion between the main character and her father takes place about whether or not Mexico is a safe country. We paused as a class to explore this question and I used materials created by the wonderful Kara Jacobs (@karacjacobs) to discuss narco-violence. 

    Taking it a step further and hoping to have students further connect, my brother who is a police officer shared via Google Hangouts how widespread Mexican cartel violence truly is as he described some of his experiences with local gangs and hostage situations. Please know that my intention was not to scare these 10th/11th-grade students but to ensure that they are aware that these crimes are happening globally and also, affecting our communities locally in New Jersey. 

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    Culture Daily

    A wonderful aspect about these culturally relevant readers is that it does provide a teacher with moments to transition for a bit outside of the reader and dive into a topic that is compelling/interesting for the students to explore & discuss. 

    My short experience with teaching Spanish III proved that you CAN utilize common curriculum documents, essential questions, and communicative functions but still allow culture to guide the path & planning of daily lessons. I chose to emphasize Mexico, Mexican culture and legends but there are many different ways one can go to reach that same goal of utilizing a culturally relevant reader with students for communicative purposes!

    Novel Professional Development Initiatives (PDI) for World Language Educators

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    Language Teaching Lab’s Professional Development Initiatives (PDI) is a key component of the what, how, and why of language teaching and learning. Teacher Talks and the LTL Book Club fill a gap in the PDIs already offered by other world language organizations.

    The Teacher Talks is a space and time to discuss specific topics related to the what, how, and why of language teaching and learning.

    The LTL Book Club is an opportunity to converse with other world language educators about the book chosen for the month, on topics and themes relevant to world language educators.

    Both PDIs are based on reading (books or other sources related to world language learning), talking to like-minded and diverse groups of educators, listening to the different voices in the Language Teaching Lab community, and self-reflecting on your teaching and learning. 

    Ideally, educators should read the materials before the discussions, but we know that sometimes, there is no time to do it. With that being said, attending these PDIs, i.e. listening to other educators explore rich ideas from the books and how they transfer in the classroom setting, might help us move forward in our personal and professional lives. So, I encourage you to attend, even if you have no time to finish reading the materials!

    The topics and themes of the books are universal and geared toward finding answers, asking questions, and gaining new insights into language teaching and learning. But that is not all! As part of the PDI community, you may connect with educators who teach the same language, or level or share your philosophy. You may also end up connecting your classes as pen pal friends, for video exchanges, and much more. 

    We know that learning languages opens doors to global opportunities and enriches lives. LTL PDIs is all about empowering teachers to cultivate critical thinkers, life-long learners, and global citizens in every classroom. Language Teaching Lab PDIs connect world language educators to learn together and help us grow professionally and personally. 

    Halloween, El Día de los Muertos y El Día de Todos los Santos + Monsters Competition! (Spanish & English)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    Halloween

    by María Martínez (LTL Contributor)

    Why I love this time of the year!

    I love this time of the year! But when I come to think about it, it wasn’t always the case…

    I grew up in Spain, and when I was little, this time of the year was the beginning of the cold weather, shorter days, longer nights, and still a long wait for Christmas…

    At the beginning of November, we celebrate “All Saints Day”. However, as a child, I didn’t like it, because it would mean going to the cemetery and in those days, children weren’t explained much about it, the importance of that commemoration and its meaning. So, to be honest, I didn’t like it very much…

    However, today, things have changed very much. Thanks to the Internet and social media and the globalization that they brought, we can learn about different ways to celebrate similar things in different cultures. 

    I really find it fascinating how El Día de Muertos is celebrated in México compared to how somber the topic of death is in Spain. It is a great teaching opportunity in lessons to talk about how the same topic can be perceived so differently in different countries. 

    The new generations are enjoying experiencing these traditions, even when they are not typical from their own countries. For example, in Spain in the past, Halloween was always a foreign celebration that you would see in the movies. Nowadays, Halloween is celebrated in many Spanish cities and even small villages and children can experience it firsthand. 

    The same thing can be said about El Día de Muertos in the United States. Nowadays, it is celebrated in many major and smaller cities, for example in Los Angeles, San Diego, Alburquerque to name a few. And it is not only the celebration itself, but the learning about its meaning and all the traditions around it in schools so that children grow up with the experience of this celebration but also an understanding of its meaning.

    I invite you to watch a few resources related to these 3 topics: Halloween, El Día de Muertos y El Día de Todos los Santos. Remember that if you need the PDF or PPT versions from these resources, you can contact me on bilingualcerebros@gmail.com and I will be happy to share them with you. They are free.

    Do you like this time of the year? Was your experience growing up different too? 

    Resources:

    Halloween Monsters Competition

    I invite you all to participate and invite your students to take part in the 2nd edition of the Halloween Monster Competition: https://youtu.be/Y_o2UoOARdw?si=AiRZNwoYrwUtclx8

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    ¡Por qué me encanta esta época del año!

    ¡Me encanta esta época del año! Pero cuando lo pienso, no siempre fue así…

    Crecí en España, y cuando era pequeña, esta época del año significaba siempre el comienzo del frío, los días más cortos, las noches más largas y aún había que esperar mucho para la Navidad…

    A principios de noviembre celebramos el “Día de Todos los Santos”. Sin embargo, cuando era niña no me gustaba, porque significaba ir al cementerio y en aquellos días a los niños no se les explicaba mucho sobre eso, la importancia de esa conmemoración y su significado. Entonces, para ser honesta, no me gustaba mucho…

    Sin embargo, hoy las cosas han cambiado mucho. Gracias a Internet y las redes sociales y la globalización que trajeron, podemos aprender sobre diferentes formas de celebrar estos días en diferentes culturas. 

    Encuentro realmente fascinante cómo se celebra el Día de Muertos en México en comparación con lo sombrío que es el tema de la muerte en España. Es una gran oportunidad didáctica para hablar en las lecciones sobre cómo el mismo tema puede percibirse de manera tan diferente en diferentes países.

    Las nuevas generaciones disfrutan viviendo estas tradiciones, incluso cuando no son típicas de sus propios países. Por ejemplo, en España antiguamente Halloween siempre fue una celebración extranjera que se veía en las películas. Hoy en día, Halloween se celebra en la mayoría de las ciudades españolas e incluso en algunos pueblos pequeños y los niños pueden vivirlo en primera persona. 

    Lo mismo puede decirse del Día de Muertos en Estados Unidos. Hoy en día, se celebra en muchas ciudades grandes y pequeñas, por ejemplo, en Los Ángeles, San Diego y Alburquerque, por nombrar algunas. Y no es sólo la celebración en sí, sino el aprendizaje en los colegios sobre su significado y todas las tradiciones que la rodean para que los niños crezcan con la experiencia de esta celebración, pero también con la comprensión de su significado.

    Te invito a ver algunos recursos relacionados con estos 3 temas: Halloween, El Día de Muertos y El Día de Todos los Santos. Recuerda que, si necesita las versiones PDF o PPT de estos recursos, puede contactarme en bilingualcerebros@gmail.com y estaré feliz de compartirlas contigo. Son gratis.

    ¿Te gusta esta época del año? ¿Tuviste una experiencia diferente en tu niñez?

    Resources:

    Concurso de Monstruos de Halloween

    Os invito a todos a participar e invito a vuestros alumnos a participar en la 2da edición del Concurso de Monstruos de Halloween: https://youtu.be/Y_o2UoOARdw?si=AiRZNwoYrwUtclx8

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    DER: Gamifying Your Units with Digital Escape Rooms

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    DER

    by Victoria Berasaluce Guerra (LTL Contributor)

    If you are reading this article, you might feel intrigued by using digital escape rooms in your World Language classroom. Whether this is your first try at digital escape rooms or a returning fan, here I share some ideas and steps that might be helpful

    Starting with…why even do a digital escape room (DER)?

    Digital escape rooms are basically an activity online where there is an imaginary room you and/or your group must escape from by solving several clues that will finally release you from the room. Physical escape rooms also exist, and you can try them in your class or with friends at a special venue. It’s fun!

    So what are the benefits of DER?

    For starters, their versatility for any unit of your curriculum. They help boost collaborative work and engage students through problem solving and critical thinking. They are also easy to tailor to your classroom’s needs and a novel way to incorporate culture. Last but not least, they prove engaging for educators looking to be creative with their assignments.

    When to use DERs

    You could create a DER for the end of your unit to review the contents seen in class, or you could incorporate them as an introductory activity (keeping in mind that students should be able to tap into their background knowledge in the target language).

    As a plus, digital escape rooms engage students in all core language skills: reading from the clues, listening to audio resources and instructions, writing to solve the clues and speaking between peers and with their teacher, using the target language.

    A teacher can also differentiate through escape rooms by incorporating:

    • different modalities of resources: text, auditory and visual
    • different roles of the players to exploit their talents
    • design an escape room where different paths lead to the same goal

    Next is…brainstorming DERs

    The sky’s the limit when designing a digital escape room. You could base them on any unit you taught, in any language, for every level of language.

    Before starting the building process, teachers need to consider the backwards design planning. This stage can be exhilarating and creative, but you need to be crystal clear on what your objectives are before starting to plan the storyline.

    Some questions to ask yourself:

    1. What are my objectives? Your escape room might be based on a unit or a reading you did in class.
    2. What skills do you want your students to have mastered or practiced after the activity?
    3. Storyline? What narrative are you thinking of?
    4. What rules will I establish for my escape room? Will I give limited attempts to help each group? Will I let them use any resource from the class material? Will it be a collaborative or individual activity? F2F or fully virtual?

    Okay…now how do I actually start a DER?

    To introduce the technical content, I will clarify that even though there are many ways to create DERs, I will focus on the steps to follow when creating them on Google slides. And don’t worry if your school or institution does not use Google. 

    Step 1: Set the room and the mood

    On a blank Google slide, choose your background by clicking on “Background”, then choose an image from your computer or search the web. To add any elements into the room, insert an image. When searching the web, you can add the words “transparent png” to the search to make sure the image does not have a background when you add it onto the slide. You can also add yourself as an emoji from the Bitmoji Chrome Extension in your browser.

    Step 2: Create locks

    You might create your lock/s in a separate Google form. You can customize the header image, add a title and introduction. Remember to click on the three-dot menu to turn on the option “response validation”. You might add a final message once the lock is “opened”. Another way is to use an external tool to create the actual visual locks, such as Flippity.

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    Step 3: Construct clues

    You can choose if you want to set a path of linear clues or let the students find clues randomly. Finding clues randomly will make the game more complex and test their collaboration and communication skills more. You also must decide if you will add any “distractions”, so elements that don’t really lead to anything. This will also add a level of complexity to the game since students will have to discern what elements serve them for their mission and which ones don’t.  You will need to produce links from the elements in the room to the different clues (external sites or Google forms for example).

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    Step 4: Set a timer and make it competitive!

    To set a timer, click on “add video” and search Youtube for a timer specific to the number of minutes you want. Just make sure to watch it first to ensure it is appropriate for school.

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    Step 5: Share it and have fun!

    After testing the DER, copy the URL of the slide and paste it into a blank slide. Change the “/edit” in the URL to “/preview” and hit “Apply”. You will have to allow access so that anyone with the link can view. You can find these settings under the “Share” button on the upper right corner. To make sure your slide gets published and seen, click on “File”, “Share” and “Publish to web”.

    Feel free to reach out and share your DERs!

    Here is an example of a final DER that I created for a unit based on “Agentes secretos y el mural de Picasso” by Mira Canion:

    DER

    Give it a try! Click on the picture or check this link. This is an example so that you get an idea. Please, do not get discouraged if you cannot advance much.

    Enjoy!

    Imágenes en mente – AI y cultura (in Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    Imagenes

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    Hace un año, un usuario de Instagram le pidió a la inteligencia artificial 🗣🤖 que generase imágenes en las que se representara a las comunidades autónomas de España 🇪🇸 como si fueran personas. Después, compartió los resultados a través de su cuenta y las reacciones no se hicieron esperar: se abrió un debate respecto a si reflejaban o no la realidad de cada comunidad 🗨🗯.

    En efecto, ¿por qué se habría elegido, para representar la esencia de una determinada región española, a una persona de un género, edad o rasgos concretos? Bueno, se supone que dichas imágenes fueron generadas después de que el usuario en cuestión hubiera introducido datos relativos a aspectos geográficos, culturales e históricos que, si bien no han trascendido, en algunos casos pueden intuirse 🤔. Así, por ejemplo, Galicia está representada como una mujer mayor, de mirada desconfiada y vestida de manera tradicional 👵. Tal vez de esta forma la inteligencia artificial haya querido reflejar el envejecimiento progresivo de la población gallega y su condición históricamente rural.

    Ahora bien, si el algoritmo que da las instrucciones no deja de ser una producción humana, es lógico pensar que estará sometido a la condición humana, incluida nuestra tendencia a interpretar la realidad en forma de ideas preconcebidas, estereotipos y, especialmente, imágenes mentales 🧠💭.

    Y aquí es adonde queríamos llegar: a la importancia de las representaciones mentales en cuanto formas de ver el mundo y entender la realidad, así como de reflejar nuestras expectativas, deseos y, por qué no, nuestros prejuicios.

    ¿Y a qué viene todo esto? Pues a que, debido a su potencial, también podemos echar mano de las imágenes mentales en nuestras clases 👩🏻‍🏫👨🏻‍🏫. Si no sabes por dónde empezar para poder implementarlas en el aula, te recomendamos un libro 📖 con un título muy directo: ¡Imagínate…! Imágenes mentales en la clase de español, de Sgel.

    En él se plantean una serie de actividades ✏️ cuyo nexo de unión son las imágenes mentales, usadas como catalizador para desarrollar las distintas destrezas del lenguaje. Así, en palabras de los autores, “trabajar con imágenes puede aumentar la fluidez tanto en la producción oral 🗣 como en la escrita 🖋, porque si los alumnos tienen una cosa en mente que quieren decir, quedan liberados de la necesidad de encontrar un mensaje que transmitir, y pueden centrarse en encontrar la forma de expresarlo” (página 18).

    Así pues, seas una persona 🙋🏻‍♀️ o Terminator 🤖😎, nunca está de más recurrir a la introspección, generar como resultado imágenes mentales y expresar con ellas el mensaje que quieras transmitir 🗣🥰.

    Nota: te dejamos los enlaces a la cuenta desde la que se compartieron las imágenes, para que puedas valorarlas:

    Starting Strong: Portfolios & Learner Profiles

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Noemí Rodríguez (LTL Contributor)

    As we all continue to get to know our new groups of language learners, I have been working on different systems to set up the school year for success and highlight language proficiency along the way. I believe that implementing portfolios, self-reflection surveys and having constant communication are solid ways to begin the school year. 

    Portfolios: A Window into Student Growth

    Portfolios serve as a valuable tool for tracking student progress and showcasing their achievements. By incorporating a variety of artifacts such as writing samples, audio samples, projects, and reflections, students can develop a sense of ownership over their learning and see their language growth over time. Ideally, if these portfolios can be a part of their World Language program from year to year – what an incredible way to see students grow along the proficiency continuum. 

    Here are different ways to utilize World Language portfolios:

    • Goal Setting: Encourage students to set personalized learning goals at the beginning of the year. Discuss the WHAT & HOW behind the goals they set. 
    • Showcase Achievements: Celebrate student accomplishments by featuring their best work in their portfolios. This boosts language confidence and encourages future effort. I love being able to pull a students’ portfolio during parent-teacher conferences! 
    • Self-Assessment: Incorporate opportunities for self-assessment throughout the year. This allows students to reflect on their growth and identify areas for improvement. Here is a self & peer assessment for the writing prompt: Who Am I? 
    portfolios

    Digital portfolios offer an easy, personalized space to showcase their growth and achievements. By collecting a variety of writing and speaking artifacts digitally and having students reflect on their learning journey, they can develop a much deeper understanding of their progress and look back at any time. I like to use a Google Form to collect all of the URLs of my students and you can view a sample here. Make sure students change their digital portfolio sending to “anyone with a link can view”. 

    Learner Surveys: Understanding Individual Needs

    Are your students auditory, tactile or visual learners? Surveying students can provide insight into their different learning styles, interests, and goals. By gathering this information, we can tailor our instruction to meet their individual needs. Here are a few websites that I have used to determine which type of learner I have in my class. This is one way to collect data about your students and as a result, monitor & adjust my future lessons according to these learning styles. 

    Another way to learn about your students is to simply administer a survey to “get to know them” and their preferences! I like to learn about a students’ interests, self assess on their Spanish speaking/writing/reading/listening abilities and any obstacles and/or future goals they may have for themselves at the start of the school year. I also like to tap into which units of study are of interest and certain in-class activities they prefer. 

    Here are a few sample Google Form surveys to get to know my students throughout the school year and gather insight on their preferences. 

    By starting off the year with a language growth goal in mind, at the midway point in the year, I like to one on one conference with students to see whether or not they have met the language goal they had proposed and if they haven’t or are still working towards it, they are then asked to state at least two actions that are reasonable and realistic to help them attain this goal by the end of the school year. It also provides insight to administer a similar survey at the midpoint in the school year and again at the end of the year. 

    One on one conferencing or conferencing with students in small groups can go a long way. I highly encourage you to set up appointments with students during the first three weeks of school, mid year point and again at the end of the year. I ask students to schedule themselves over that time period using a Google Doc (sample). Even if this means that I only meet with one or two students each time we have class, this ensures that I dedicate quality time in getting to know my students and discussing their progress in my class. 

    Building Relationships Through Communication

    Effective communication is essential for building trust and rapport with students. Here are some strategies to foster positive relationships:

    • Open-Door Policy: Maintain an open-door policy to encourage students to seek help and support whenever needed.
    • Active Listening: Practice active listening to demonstrate that you value students’ perspectives and concerns.
    • Ongoing Written Communication & Reflection: Students have composition notebooks that serve as a weekly reflection. 
    • Positive Reinforcement: Provide positive feedback and encouragement to reinforce students’ efforts and achievements.

    Students also have composition notebooks that serve as their “Yo aprendí” journals. These notebooks are used at the end of every week and students reflect about their progress in class. They add to these notebooks on a weekly basis (beginning classes in English, one paragraph) and I am able to communicate with students directly by adding my own notes and insights on their reflections. We go back & forth each week – so I am always corresponding with students in a low-stakes way about how they feel, what they did well and any goals they have for the next week ahead. 

    We all understand that it is important to get to know our students and begin to forge relationships right from the first day. By developing strong connections with students, classroom teachers are able to establish climates of respect and mutual understanding in caring, nurturing environments, where student success is celebrated {no matter how big or small!} and learning becomes contagious.

    How will you start strong this school year?

    Headin’ Back-to-School with GenAI

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    GenAI

    by Noemí Rodríguez (LTL Contributor)

    The title of this blog post may make you feel like an actual person is walking alongside you – as you re-enter the school building in the coming days or weeks! The truth is, Generative AI has so many possibilities to ASSIST educators, it is no longer an option to ignore it.

    Those first few days back can be very stressful and while Generative AI (GenAI) can’t set up your classroom for you – it CAN design a welcome letter, back-to-school night presentation or set up a solid seating chart! Generative AI just tipped it’s hat forward, did a little dance and walked in as your new, powerful, strong ALLY {*cue the visual in your mind} – helping to navigate the complexities and many tasks in preparation of a new school year.

    It’s Time to Train Your GenAI Ally!

    Generative AI (GenAI), with its ability to process information rapidly and generate human-like text, offers a wealth of possibilities for educators. Let’s explore how this technology can revolutionize your back-to-school preparation in the coming weeks.

    Streamlining Classroom Management

    • Seating Charts: First and foremost, our student’s privacy is of utmost importance. When writing prompts or asking your LLM of choice to assist you with a task- DO NOT INCLUDE IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION! Use initials or first names only! The key is not to provide any of these LLMs your personal information or anyone else’s – be strategic in the precision of your prompt! When designing a seating arrangement for your classroom, you need to consider each of your student’s learning styles and ensure that they are seated to succeed. You can provide a general overview of your class such as: “Create a seating chart for a Spanish 2 class of 25 students, considering language proficiency levels and learning styles.” or provide a specific parameters to include a fairly anonymous student list, classroom layout, student preferences such as: “Arrange my students in a 5×6 seating chart in a table format, considering the following preferences amongst my Spanish 2 students- special seating requirements include: AG needs to sit near the front, BB and CH do not work well together, DP needs to also sit near the front near AG, HD is chatty and should not sit near GR, AG or JV, PR requires a door nearby.” Using a LLM like Gemini makes it easy to export into Google Sheets for future reference and or/adjustments in the future.
    • Attendance: Avoid the traditional roll call in those first few days of school. Instead consider a fun, easy warm up for your students to introduce themselves to the group. This will allow students to say their own {preferred} names AND it gives you a chance to hear how they would like their name pronounced. As someone who dreaded the roll call – class after class – it always felt like nails on the chalkboard when they mispronounced my first name {or sometimes made a joke about “never winning an Emmy“} A student’s name is tied to their identity and it is so critical to ensure that they are made to feel welcomed and valued in those first few days together. You can ask your LLM of choice to provide a variety of fun ways to introduce one’s self on the first few days with this prompt, “It is the first few days of school and you are a Spanish teacher, getting to know each of your new students. You would like for students to quickly go around the room to state their name and introduce themselves by selecting ONE word that best describes themselves, their interests, their summer vacation, etc. Come up with a list of at least twenty different fun introductory topics for students to highlight something about themselves using just one word.“

    Building Community and Engagement

    • Welcome Letters: Wondering how to jazz up your “welcome back” letter? AI can help draft a general welcome letter that you can customize. Try this prompt: “Write an engaging, kind and sincere welcome letter to Spanish 2 students emphasizing the importance of language learning in today’s globalized world. Outline the course’s focus on conversational fluency, cultural competence, and critical thinking skills. Clearly communicate expectations regarding class participation, homework completion, and assessment methods. Include a brief overview of key course themes or units to generate excitement and anticipation. Limit to 500 words.”
    • Syllabus Development: While your expertise is invaluable in crafting a meaningful syllabus, AI can assist in generating initial drafts. Head over to Canva (snag your free educator account if you don’t have one yet!) and browse through their array of templates. You can also provide your LLM of choice, your course goals, learning objectives, and grading policies, and it can create a basic outline. “Write a syllabus for a Spanish 1 course focused on conversational skills, with a grading breakdown of 20% daily preparation, 60% evidence of learning through the modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, presentational, and 20% Integrated Performance Assessments”
    • Get-To-Know-You Icebreakers: Building strong relationships with students and building a community in your classroom from the start is crucial. Generative AI can provide a variety of icebreaker ideas tailored to your class level and interests. For example, “Create 5 icebreaker activities for a French 3 class focused on getting to know one another, discussing summer vacation and personal interests.” Check out this Would you rather? (English / Spanish) resource created thanks to Canva + Bulk Create.

    Enhancing Back-to-School Night

    • Ideas for Back to School Night: If you are looking to change up your upcoming Back-to-School night presentations with parents & guardians, why not ask your personal assistant to help brainstorm new ideas? Try this: “Provide at least three different back to school night activities (no more than 3 minutes) each that I can facilitate with my group of parents and guardians from my German 2 High School Class.“
    • Presentation Slides: It’s easy to create a captivating, informative slideshow! There are many AI slideshow tools out there to help educators, such as Canva, SlidesAI, Almanack.ai or Gamma. Provide AI with key points and desired visuals, and it can generate a basic framework – it provides a wonderful starting point that you can refine and make your own. For example, “Create a PowerPoint slides outline for a Spanish 1 back-to-school night presentation highlighting course goals, materials, and assessment methods.”

    Tips for Using Generative AI (GenAI)

    It’s essential to use GenAI wisely and begin training. You can ask your LLM of choice – “Ask me 20 questions to better understand my role in education.” Once your LLM poses the questions and you reply thoughtfully, it will have this very insightful information moving forward.

    Here are additional tips when prompting your LLM of choice:

    • Provide Clear Instructions: The more specific your prompts, the better the AI’s output. Strategic precision is key.
    • Review and Edit: AI-generated content is a starting point or a first draft. Always review and refine to ensure accuracy of what is created and alignment with your teaching style- make modifications to better fit your needs.
    • Maintain Authenticity: Use AI as a tool to enhance your work, not replace it. Avoid blindly copy/pasting.
    • Ethical Considerations: Be mindful of copyright and plagiarism issues when using AI-generated content. Cite AI

    By harnessing the power of generative AI, language teachers can reclaim valuable time and focus on what truly matters: connecting with students, ensuring that classrooms are a source of joy and designing incredible learning experiences with language acquisition at the core.

    Remember, it’s essential to maintain our human connections in our classrooms. Your passion for language learning and your ability to connect with students are qualities that no AI can replicate.

    GenAI

    Looking to dive in deeper with GenAI?

    Here is where I would LOVE to continue to help support your AI literacy journey as a language educator! I have set up a membership-based learning community exclusively for language educators: The AI Innovator Community for Language Educators (with monthly GenAI workshops, access to five asynchronous courses, a quarterly newsletter with insights, private Innovator community discussion space), I also share often within our Team Lo Logramos FB community, and designed a variety of courses.

    Take advantage of this partnership between Lo Logramos Consulting and Language Teaching Lab – Get a $5 off discount when you use the code LTL5 at checkout, exceptions may apply

    Lo Logramos does accept School POs, so feel free to reach out! team.lologramos@gmail.com

    My Roots, My Heritage

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    heritage my roots, my heritage

    If you follow the blog, you may have read  R.E.S.T., which stands for relaxing, engaging, serendipity, and trying new things. The “S” for serendipity was for me the highlight last month as I ended up visiting the house of my ancestors (on one side of the family) that dates from the 1700s. It moved me more than I expected and that is how I decided to focus this month on My Roots, My Heritage. 

    Past, Present, Future

    The phrase “Don’t forget where you came from” took a whole new meaning to me. It made me see the past reflected in the present and moving towards the future. All I am now is in part the fruit of the values, beliefs, courage, and hope of my ancestors as well as my own experiences that constantly shape who I am. Learning about our roots is necessary in building our future. 

    Heritage

    As educators, we celebrate ‘Heritage Months’ throughout the year to acknowledge and recognize those who came before us and their contributions. According to the Cambridge dictionary, ‘heritage’ is “the history, traditions, practices, etc. of a particular country, society, or company that exist from the past and continue to be important.” 

    Another definition found in Family Heritage Blog states “Heritage is a person’s unique, inherited sense of family identity: the values, traditions, culture, and artifacts handed down by previous generations. We absorb a sense of our heritage throughout our lives as we observe and experience the things that make our family unique.” 

    In celebrating our roots, we get to understand our world and ourselves better. It helps us reflect on our identity, our voices, and our future, as well as the identity and the voices of those who surround us. 

    heritage

    LTL Blogs on Identity and Heritage

    At Language Teaching Lab we have explored topics related to heritage, roots, and identity in several of our articles such as,

    As language educators we have the opportunity to navigate the topic ‘heritage’ in our class for students to understand themselves better as well as understand their place in the world, all while exploring their heritage and roots. 

    Proficiency Levels

    At the same time, we can aim at teaching ‘My Roots, My Heritage’ from an early age and proficiency level. Students progress from the Novice to the Intermediate proficiency levels by answering questions on the topic, such as,

    • What is your name/last name?
    • Why is that your name/last name?
    • Are there any other members of your family you share your name with?
    • Where were you born? 
    • What does the word ‘ancestor’ mean? Who are your ancestors?
    • Where were your ancestors born?
    • What do you know about your family history? 
    • What are your family traditions? Talk to your family and find out!
    • What food is a tradition in your family? When do you have it? How do you have it? With whom?
    • What is your grandparents’ traditional food?
    • Do you know what your grandparents’ grandparents’ traditional food was? You may want to expand traditions regarding celebrations, books, types of music, clothing, flowers, places, etc. You get the idea!)
    • What do you do every day? 
    • Do you know what your ancestors did every day? How can you find out?
    • What is important to your family?
    • Why is it important to understand where you come from?
    • Why is it important to connect to your roots?
    • How does heritage shape your identity?
    • How do you describe your heritage?

    I invite you to think about your own roots and heritage and those of your students, to help find our uniqueness and our common humanity.

    ¿Y a mí me lo preguntas? -Spanish

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    ¿Crees que soy capaz de hacer esta entrada únicamente en forma de oraciones interrogativas? ¿Por qué no iba a ser capaz de ello? 😏 ¿Por ser difícil? 🤔 ¿Por ser absurdo? 🙄 ¿Acaso no sería realmente curioso poder hacerlo? 😉 ¿Lo crees o no? 🤨 ¿A que no has visto ninguna otra entrada planteada de esta manera? 🤭 ¿No te arrepentirás de haber empezado a leer este post tan raro?

    Bueno, me doy por vencido… 😔 Es realmente difícil, prácticamente agotador y, francamente, un poco absurdo… 😮‍💨 ¿Quién me mandaría a mí meterme en camisa de once varas? 🤦‍♂️

    No obstante, sirva el primer párrafo de esta entrada para poner en valor el uso pragmático que se les da a las oraciones interrogativas en el lenguaje coloquial ❓️😌. En efecto, en nuestra vida cotidiana, para lo que menos usamos las preguntas es, precisamente… para preguntar 😲. Me explico: si bien la interrogación es el recurso que utilizamos para obtener una determinada información, también es cierto que, la mayor parte de las veces, en contextos no formales, echamos mano de ella para dar nuestro punto de vista 🤔, expresar sentimientos 😳, reaccionar ante una determinada situación o influir sobre el oyente 🤨.

    Se trata de un contenido complejo, ya que a menudo entran en juego factores paralingüísticos. Pero merece la pena profundizar en él y tenerlo en cuenta en nuestras clases, sobre todo en aquellas actividades que implican interacción oral 🗣. Al fin y al cabo, tus estudiantes están expuestos a la mayoría de estos usos de la interrogación, ya sea en canciones 🎼, en series 📺 o en películas 📽. Vamos, en el español real…

    Por ello, te adjuntamos una infografía 👇 con algunos de estos usos y sus ejemplos, para la que hemos tomado como fuente el libro Español coloquial 📖, de Edinumen. Asimismo, nos gustaría recordarte que también abordamos este tema en el curso de refresco para profesores no nativos que ofrecemos todos los veranos 🤗.

    ¿Qué? ¿A que nos ha quedado bien esta entrada…? 🤔 (¿Acaso creías que no iba a intentar de nuevo redactar en forma de preguntas? 😌 ¿Por quién me has tomado? 🤭).

    Academia Iria Flavia – Spanish Courses – Know all the possibilities! Get a 20€ off discount when you use the code LTL20 at checkout, exceptions may apply

    Preguntas ifspanish.com/en/cursos-profesores/

    Hispanic Heritage Month: Ideas for Lessons and Resources (English and Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    bilingual cerebros Hispanic Heritage

    by María Martínez (LTL Contributor)

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TlFjB4h2gUSjM3eV-Zan1gOAVO8l9q6&si=Ont68OJ_YShdl_Rh

    Hispanic Heritage Month has started having a big impact and has gained importance in schools in the USA during the last decade or so, but it all started 56 years ago. “The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.

    Instead of starting at the beginning of September, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place over 30 days starting on the 15th — a nod to the anniversaries of national independence for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all recognize September.

    From Bilingual Cerebros we offer a range of free resources and activities to support students, families, schools and teachers celebrating this special month. From biographies to celebrate important and inspirational people in the Hispanic community to virtual visits to the 21 Spanish speaking countries exploring their gastronomy, traditions, music, festivals and celebrations, places and monuments to visit and creating projects in the classrooms. Bilingual Cerebros shares all these free resources to support the Bilingual Community all over the world. Feel free to request any resources by email at bilingualcerebros@gmail.com 

    These are the recommended sections and activities you can use:

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TlFjB4h2gVeH0XWB3C-TYWfFEAstkQm

    And don’t miss these quizzes to test your knowledge about Spanish Speaking Countries:

    1. Quiz about Spanish Speaking Counties / Cuestionario sobre Países Hispanohablantes / 50 Questions
    2. 21 Países hispanohablantes: ¿De qué países son estas banderas? / Spanish Speaking Countries quiz

    Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

    El Mes de la Herencia Hispana ha comenzado a tener un gran impacto y ha ganado importancia en las escuelas de EE.UU. durante la última década, pero todo comenzó hace 56 años. “La observación comenzó en 1968 como Semana de la Herencia Hispana bajo el presidente Lyndon Johnson y fue ampliada por el presidente Ronald Reagan en 1988 para cubrir un período de 30 días que comenzó el 15 de septiembre y finalizó el 15 de octubre. Fue promulgada como ley el 17 de agosto de 1988. 

    En lugar de comenzar a principios de septiembre, el Mes de la Herencia Hispana se lleva a cabo durante 30 días a partir del día 15, un guiño a los aniversarios de la independencia nacional de varios países latinoamericanos: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Nicaragua reconocen septiembre. 

    Desde Bilingual Cerebros ofrecemos una gama de recursos y actividades gratuitas para apoyar a estudiantes, familias, escuelas y profesores que celebran este mes tan especial. Desde biografías para celebrar a personas importantes e inspiradoras de la comunidad hispana hasta visitas virtuales a los 21 países de habla hispana explorando su gastronomía, tradiciones, música, festivales y celebraciones, lugares y monumentos para visitar y creando proyectos en las aulas. Bilingual Cerebros comparte todos estos recursos gratuitos para apoyar a la Comunidad Bilingüe en todo el mundo. No dudes en solicitar cualquier recurso por correo electrónico bilingualcerebros@gmail.com 

    Estas son las secciones y actividades recomendadas que puedes utilizar:

    Y no te pierdas estos cuestionarios para poner a prueba tus conocimientos sobre los países de habla hispana:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuKPNoCoFc
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t_iSyVSTmg

    ¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana!

    La Influencia Árabe en la Lengua Española

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    https://euroidiomas.eu/

    by Alonso Cano (LTL Contributor)

    La lengua española, también conocida como castellano, es un reflejo vivo de la historia y la rica interacción cultural que ha tenido lugar en la península ibérica. Una de las influencias más significativas y duraderas en el español es la del árabe, una lengua que dejó una profunda huella durante los más de 700 años de presencia musulmana en España, desde el siglo VIII hasta el XV.

    Según el filólogo español Rafael Lapesa, más de 4.000 palabras de nuestro léxico (incluidos los topónimos) provienen del árabe, lo que supone en torno a un 8 % del vocabulario total del castellano.

    Contexto Histórico de la Influencia Árabe

    La influencia árabe comenzó con la conquista musulmana de la península ibérica en el año 711 y se extendió durante la dominación de al-Ándalus, el territorio gobernado por musulmanes. Durante este periodo, hubo un intercambio cultural y lingüístico intenso entre los habitantes musulmanes y los cristianos y judíos que convivían en la región.

    https://euroidiomas.eu/

    Aportaciones Léxicas

    El legado más evidente de esta convivencia es el vasto número de palabras de origen árabe que se han incorporado al español. Se estima que alrededor de 4.000 palabras en el español moderno tienen raíces árabes. Estas palabras abarcan diversas áreas del conocimiento y la vida cotidiana, reflejando la avanzada cultura y tecnología de al-Ándalus. Algunos ejemplos notables incluyen:

    • Almohada (al-mujadda): Refiriéndose al cojín o almohada.
    • Almendra (al-majroud): La fruta seca del almendro.
    • Aceituna (al-zaytūna): La fruta del olivo.
    • Algodón (al-qutn): Material textil obtenido de la planta de algodón.
    • Alcohol (al-kuḥl): Sustancia química que se encuentra en bebidas fermentadas.
    • Alcalde (al-qāḍī): Funcionario que preside un ayuntamiento.

    Influencia Árabe en Términos Científicos y Técnicos

    La influencia árabe es especialmente notable en términos científicos y técnicos. Durante la Edad Media, los eruditos musulmanes hicieron avances significativos en campos como la matemática, la astronomía, la medicina y la química. Muchas de las palabras relacionadas con estos campos provienen del árabe, como:

    • Azimut (al-sumūt): Término de navegación y astronomía.
    • Cero (ṣifr): Número que representa la nada.
    • Jirafa (zarāfa): El animal africano de cuello largo.
    • Química (al-kīmiyā): La ciencia que estudia la composición y propiedades de la materia.

    Influencia Árabe en la Toponimia y la Nomenclatura

    La presencia árabe también se refleja en los nombres de lugares. Muchos topónimos en España tienen origen árabe, como:

    • Guadalquivir (al-wādi al-kabīr): El gran río.
    • Guadalajara (wād al-ḥijāra): El valle de las piedras.
    • Almería (al-Marīyya): La atalaya o torre vigía.

    Impacto en la Gramática y Fonética

    Además del léxico, el árabe ha influido en la fonética y la sintaxis del español. Algunos sonidos presentes en el español, como la aspiración de la “h” en ciertas regiones, pueden rastrearse hasta la influencia árabe. Asimismo, la estructura de algunas expresiones y la incorporación de partículas como “ojalá” (inshallah, que significa “si Dios quiere”) reflejan esta herencia.

    https://euroidiomas.eu/

    Legado Cultural

    Más allá de la lengua, la influencia árabe se extiende a la arquitectura, la música, la gastronomía y otras áreas de la cultura española. Este legado cultural enriquece y define la identidad única del mundo hispanohablante.

    La Influencia Árabe

    La influencia árabe en la lengua española es un testimonio de la rica historia de interacción y convivencia en la península ibérica. Este legado lingüístico no solo añade profundidad y riqueza al español, sino que también nos recuerda la importancia del intercambio cultural en la formación de las lenguas y las sociedades. Hoy, las palabras de origen árabe en el español son un puente hacia un pasado compartido y una celebración de la diversidad cultural.

    la influencia árabe

    ¿Cuál es tu palabra favorita de influencia o raíz árabe? A nosotros nos gustan muchas… Aceite o gazpacho entre nuestras preferidas.

    Euroidiomas Escuela de Idiomas de Úbeda

    20 Decisiones por minuto / 20 Decisions per Minute

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Justa Rebollo Paz (LTL Contributor)

    20 Decisiones por minuto /20 Decisions per minute

    20 Decisiones por minuto

    🤎 Débora Ball, de la Universidad de Michigan, afirma que los docentes toman un promedio de 20 decisiones en el lapso de un minuto y medio; y nos alerta sobre la necesidad de que éstas no queden libradas al azar, ya que de eso depende la calidad de lo que se enseñe.

    🤎 De las decisiones que toma un docente en una clase, se calcula que el 97% se tomarán de forma rápida e inconsciente. 🤎Este tipo de decisiones, si bien son efectivas para resolver situaciones rápidas, son las más proclives a errores.

    🤎 Muchas de ellas son decisiones pequeñas, de gestión en el aula, de motivar a ciertos alumnos de manera distinta que a otros, de intervenir frente a una situación disruptiva, de cambiar de estrategia cuando alguna no es suficiente, de tareas administrativas o de logística, de cómo transmitir conocimientos dejando que sus alumnos experimenten, planificación de actividades, cambio de voz, observaciones, etc.

    🤎 Por otra parte la Dra. Bondie, profesora de la Escuela de Educación de la Universidad de Harvard, propone que los docentes analicen sus decisiones diarias, tomándose un tiempo para pensar en profundidad sobre las elecciones realizadas y los motivos que las llevaron a tomarlas.

    🤎 Para esto es importante tener al día la planificación diaria o semanal.

    🤎 Como directivos tenemos la responsabilidad de demandar y exigir la planificación, no solamente para supervisar y estar al tanto de lo que se hace, sino para colaborar con la efectividad y calidad de la enseñanza, y evitarles tanto estrés a los docentes.

    🤎 La propuesta es que podamos reflexionar en cada comunidad educativa en la búsqueda individual y colectiva de mejora de nuestras decisiones en el aula, y en la escuela.

    20 Decisions per Minute

    🤎 Deborah Ball, from the University of Michigan, states that teachers make an average of 20 decisions in the span of a minute and a half; and alerts us to the need for them not to be left to chance, since the quality of what is taught/learned depends on that.

    🤎 Of the decisions a teacher makes in a class, it is estimated that 97% will be made quickly and unconsciously. 🤎 These types of decisions, while effective in resolving quick situations, are the most prone to errors.

    🤎 Many of them are small decisions: classroom management, motivating certain students differently than others, intervening in a disruptive situation, changing strategies when one is not enough, making tasks that are administrative in nature or about logistics, on how to transmit knowledge by letting your students experiment, activity planning, changing voices to grab students’ attention, observations, etc.

    🤎 On the other hand, Dr. Bondie, a professor at the Harvard University School of Education at Harvard University, proposes that teachers analyze their daily decisions, taking time to think in depth about the choices made and the reasons that led them to making them.

    🤎 For this, it is important to keep up with the daily or weekly planning.

    🤎 As leaders we have the responsibility to demand and demand planning, not only to monitor and be aware of what is being done, but also to collaborate with the effectiveness and quality of teaching, thus, avoiding more stress to teachers.

    🤎 The proposal is that we reflect in each educational community on the individual and collective quest to improve our decisions in the classroom, and at school.

    El poder de la colaboración a través de murales colaborativos (in Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    No vamos a descubrir nada nuevo si afirmamos que saber colaborar es fundamental para la formación integral de nuestros estudiantes 🤝. Sin embargo, a veces no es sencillo desarrollar y saber llevar esta idea a la práctica 🤔🤯.

    Para conseguirlo, es preciso que los alumnos se impliquen en las distintas tareas y proyectos del aula. Y obtener tal implicación pasa, en primer lugar, por darles a conocer las diferentes herramientas colaborativas que la red pone a su disposición 🛠💻.

    Hoy hablaremos de tres de ellas, que sin duda podrán servirte para que tus estudiantes puedan intercambiar puntos de vista respecto a la manera de enfocar las tareas que estén realizando en ese momento. Su rasgo en común es la idea de mural colaborativo ✏️🧱🖊, si bien cada una de ellas está “especializada” en un aspecto concreto de dicha colaboración. Todas ofrecen versiones gratuitas con restricciones en cuanto al uso de sus funcionalidades, que se pueden desbloquear accediendo a las versiones de pago 💳.

    Plataformas de colaboración:

    Padlet

    👉 Así, por un lado, tenemos Padlet, quizás la más sencilla e intuitiva de las tres. Puedes asignar a cada grupo de trabajo un padlet desde el que podrán subir los resultados de sus investigaciones 📝, compartir recursos y enlaces 🔗 y comunicarse entre ellos y contigo 🗨.

    Stormboard

    👉 Si prefieres hacer mayor hincapié en las lluvias de ideas 🌧, tu plataforma es Stormboard, ya que está especialmente diseñada para ello. Con ella, podrás no solo plantear dichas tormentas de ideas ⛈️, sino también organizarlas y administrarlas (si bien las funcionalidades superiores están reservadas para las opciones de pago).

    Mindmeister

    👉 Y si lo tuyo son los mapas mentales 🗺💭, te recomendamos Mindmeister. En efecto, con esta última podrás generar mapas mentales en línea a partir de las aportaciones de tus alumnos. Se parte de una idea principal, desde la que se pueden crear subtemas ilimitados ♾️, que además se pueden ir enriqueciendo con archivos adjuntos 📎 o recursos multimedia 🔊🎞.

    Además, la versatilidad de estas plataformas hace que no se ciñan a un contexto concreto. De esta manera, seguro que les encontrarás un hueco en cualquier punto de la secuenciación de tus clases: para introducir un tema, como repaso de contenidos ya trabajados o como actividad final.

    Lograr la colaboración entre los estudiantes

    Lo importante es hacer de ellas una herramienta con la que conseguir que tus estudiantes se impliquen en todas aquellas tareas que les propongas 🙋🏽🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️.

    El poder de la colaboración

    Más que hablar… Juego de roles para el nivel intermedio o más (in Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    Hablar por hablar fue un programa radiofónico nocturno que alcanzó su mayor éxito en los años noventa y en la primera década del siglo XXI 📻🌃. En él, la gente llamaba para contar algún problema de tipo personal con la esperanza de que los otros oyentes les dieran algún consejo al respecto 🗨☎️.

    No sólo hablar

    La gente hablaba 🗣, sí, pero seríamos injustos con la riqueza de la lengua española si solo nos limitáramos a este verbo. En efecto, en dicho programa unos contaban, exponían, confesaban, reconocían, manifestaban, anunciaban, revelaban, lamentaban, proclamaban o pedían, mientras que otros contestaban, opinaban, aconsejaban, replicaban o proponían. Como vemos, este programa era un reflejo de diversas funciones comunicativas a las que podemos referirnos más allá de los verbos hablar o decir.

    Practicar otros verbos de habla

    Y eso es lo pretendemos en esta entrada: proponerte una actividad con la que tus estudiantes podrán practicar diferentes verbos de habla (enriqueciendo su vocabulario), así como el estilo indirecto.

    Para poder desarrollarla, necesitaréis:

    -Un oyente que llame a la radio planteando un problema y un locutor que reciba la llamada (primera representación).

    -Dos oyentes que llamen para aconsejar a la primera persona y que interactúen con el locutor (segunda representación).

    -Otras dos personas que, al día siguiente, comenten el programa (tercera representación). Aquí es donde deberán usar el estilo indirecto, sintetizando lo que escucharon la noche anterior en la radio mediante oraciones en las que deberán emplear una variedad significativa de verbos de habla.

    Una vez terminado este primer turno de representaciones, podréis continuar con más llamadas radiofónicas hasta que haya participado toda la clase ↩️.

    Recurso útil

    Para que puedas llevar a cabo dicho juego de roles, te adjuntamos una infografía 👇 en la que aparecen una serie de situaciones incómodas o embarazosas 😅😳 (que hemos tomado de ¡Exprésate! Actividades de expresión oral, de SGEL), así como varios de verbos de habla 🗣, que serán los que tus estudiantes deberán usar cuando reproduzcan las conversaciones en estilo indirecto.

    ¡Seguro que de vuestro programa de radio saldrán consejos muy interesantes! 🥰

    hablar

    Globally Grooving: Using Authentic Music in the Language Classroom

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Noemí Rodríguez (LTL Contributor)

    I LOVE using music in my classroom with students. How about you? Music is engaging, helps with retention of key structures & vocabulary and provides a great lens into the target language and culture! Between the awesome, dance-promoting beats, incredible repetition and cultural connections, music is an easy way to check off several boxes as a world language teacher! Here are some of my top ways to globally grove with your students!

    Use Music to Investigate Target Culture

    Using music goes WAY BEYOND just the lyrics! Before listening to a song with students, why not delve into a musician or band’s background- who are they? where are they from? how long have they been together? what kind do they make? Play the music video – without sound – and ask students to make observations about what they see. Can students create a list related to our 3Ps: practices, perspectives, products from the target culture? Or write a simple story around what they see? Would you, as the classroom teacher, be able to design a Movietalk around this music video?

    Please see this previous blog post to learn more about the Movietalk technique. In the music video, is there dancing? Can students in your class try the dance from the music video? Or can they create their own dance? If you can get your students moving – sometimes my high school students were a bit reluctant – dancing to music can be SO FUN!

    Music Competitions

    Whether you have students compete in a dance off, lip sync battle, or karaoke competition, using music each week can be incredibly engaging for all learners. Assign a new song each week to your groups! Try it! Students listen to the song for a few minutes during each class, with lyrics provided and if you want to infuse some gestures to match the lyrics – why not?

    On Fridays…

    On Fridays, I would host our weekly music competition towards the end of our time together and we had a “batalla” between each of the classes. Would Period 1 sweep the competition this week or perhaps Period 4? I kept a simple tally of “points” for their combined efforts in singing, dancing and overall enthusiasm with performing our weekly song as a class. The class that “wins” for the week would receive a certificate of musical talent (template here)- which all students would sign – I laminate and would proudly display in our classroom.

    Other Educators…

    For my weekly competitions, I used authentic music and sometimes, music made for students learning a language – Señor Wooly and Canciones de HipHop by the textbook series: Realidades were easy to use with students for their catchy beats and simple lyrics.

    Señor Wooly also has a great website with a ton of activities embedded around his catchy tunes! And if you can – pick up some of those inflatable microphones, it can really inspire students to sing!

    *Señor Ashby hosts two annual music competitions known as “Locura de marzo” and “Locotubre” – in the Facebook community, teachers are so incredibly generous with their creative creations and I SO appreciate that all of the authentic songs are carefully selected by educators – so you know the songs are a-ok to sing with students!

    Leading up to each competition, teachers share activities, readings, slideshows- all connected to the songs that as deemed the “sweet sixteen”. Voting takes places on a GLOBAL level and students can predict their winners from the very start- just like a March Madness Basketball Bracket! There are plenty of Spotify playlists too, and here is one by Cassie Molloy that has all of the previous songs in one place, over eight hours!

    *Maniemusicale is available for my French teacher friends.

    authentic music

    Cloze Activities

    An easy way to have students listen to the music is to create a cloze activity, as they listen, they fill in what is missing from the lyrics! A great website that can help students listen for what is missing is lyricstraining.com. I’ve had one student volunteer sit and fill in what is missing, as the class sings the song out loud, filling in what they believe is missing and music videos are available from all over the globe!

    There are also many teachers who have generated AMAZING Activities on the topic for the WL classroom. Here are some of my favorites from the Spanish teacher community – Bertha Degadillo shares ideas on her blog & resources on her TPT page, Kara Jacobs has resources on her blog page: CEAuthRes, and Allison Wienhold has competitions during Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as música miércoles on her blog & TPT store .

    Extension Activities

    –Draw images to represent the lyrics/chorus in a song, have students compare & contrast.

    –Lyric scramble – students put the lyrics in the correct order after listening.

    -Create (or have students create) true/false statements or guiding questions about the lyrics.

    -Use a word cloud (generated from the chorus or lyrics) to either pre-teach vocabulary or help prompt a post-viewing writing activity.

    –Change it up! Have students use the melody and create their own song / change the lyrics.

    -Use music as a timer for your Daily Do Now or Classroom Activities.

    Music For my Elementary Friends

    Having time with my almost nine month old, I have enjoyed singing along to several songs in Spanish made for young children! We dance, move around and sing to the tunes every day- many involve animals! Here are some of my favorites {so far!} for the little ones!

    Tortuga, Tortuga La Vaca Lola Susanita tiene un ratón Los pollitos dicen pio pio Veo Veo

    I hope you are inspired to use music with your students this week and always! If you have any other ideas or resources for the language classroom related to songs, please feel free to share below!

    For more blogs on the topic visit

    Book Review Summer Contest / Concurso de verano de reseñas de libros

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by María Martínez (LTL Contributor)

    Book review contest with prizes for winners

    Here’s to a summer with fewer screens and more reading to let your imagination soar!

    A contest for all ages with 4 categories: Infant, Primary, High School, and Over 18. With prizes for the winners donated by fantastic writers that will make your imagination fly. We invite you to participate and share with your friends and family.

    Concurso de reseñas de libros

    ¡Por un verano con menos pantallas y más lectura para dejar volar tu imaginación!

    Un concurso para todas las edades con 4 categorías: Infantil, Primaria, Secundaria y Mayores de 18. Con premios para los ganadores donados por fantásticos escritores que harán volar tu imaginación. Anímate a participar y comparte con tus amigos y familiares.

    Las reseñas o recomendaciones de libros deben incluir los siguientes puntos:

    Infantil:

    Primaria

    Plazo de presentación:

    31 de agosto de 2024

    Email: bilingualcerebros@gmail.com

    Meaningful Feedback is Critical for All 

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    https://languageteachinglab.com

    by Noemí Rodriguez (LTL Contributor)

    Feedback is essential to the learning process, whether we seek it or we receive it. 

    Learning and teaching are incredibly dependent on feedback. What opportunities do you provide for your students to receive feedback and reflect? And, as an educator, how do you seek feedback from your colleagues, administration or students to enhance your lessons?

    In my classroom, I create opportunities for students to receive feedback through individual conferences, peer review activities, and self-assessment exercises. This allows them to reflect on their strengths and consider actionable next steps to assist themselves in their language development. And, as a language educator, I actively seek feedback from my colleagues, administration, and my students to refine my teaching methods and ensure my lessons are engaging and effective.

    https://languageteachinglab.com

    Feedback for Teachers

    Teachers can welcome their students at different points in the year, to share their own (anonymous) comments about how the class is organized and running. Teachers can set up online surveys or a Google form, to have this feedback take place in an environment where students feel comfortable to share their honest opinions.

    Another idea that comes to mind is with a professional development model of teachers learning from teachers. Using whichever evaluation model a local district has put into place, teachers can observe each other’s lessons and provide realistic feedback as to what they feel went well during the lesson and what maybe did not go so well. Teachers can help each other by targeting specific goals that they may have for themselves. Teachers can also learn new strategies and techniques from each other, by watching model lessons and providing constructive criticism to one another. 

    When you create an environment that is structured around meaningful feedback it also involves self-reflection. As teachers begin to reflect on their own practices, they can provide feedback to themselves by taking a closer look at their lessons, assessments and techniques used to engage student learning. Posing a different question/comment each month for a teaching staff to consider, may be a good starting point. Then, allowing for the articulation of these self reflective ideas & practices during department meeting time, may allow for these professionals to really make meaning of what they do each day and realize whether or not it is deemed to be effective or how it can be improved. 

    *The TELL Project also offers an array of self-reflection tools for language educators. 

    Feedback for Students

    Providing one on one feedback to our students is so valuable to their learning and progress in language proficiency. In a world language classroom, rich feedback goes beyond simply correcting grammar mistakes. It offers specific and actionable guidance. When a teacher can pinpoint exactly where a student stumbles, they can provide targeted suggestions for improvement. This might involve recommending vocabulary that better expresses the student’s intended meaning, or suggesting alternative sentence structures for greater clarity.

    I often ask students to be self reflective in their study of the language at the beginning and at the end of a unit of study. Rich feedback also acknowledges strengths and celebrates progress. By highlighting areas where a student shines, the teacher fosters confidence and motivates continued effort. This well-rounded approach to feedback empowers students to become more strategic and self-aware language learners.

    AI Tools

    There are now several AI Tools that can assist language teachers provide rich feedback to students. 

    Briskteaching – Under the “Feedback” tab, teachers can use Targeted, Glow & Grow,  Rubric Criteria or Next Steps as different ways to provide feedback on written submissions 

    Curipod  – Check out the AI generated feedback & reflection components that can be added to slides

    Microsoft Immersive Reader or HelperBird Chrome Extension – Both tools provide students the opportunity to listen, practice reading out loud and gain feedback on their pronunciation skills

    Mizou – Generate a language tutor chatbot for your students to connect in real-time about any topic and further their understanding. The same chatbot can serve as a rich source of feedback. 

    Padlet – Students and teachers can use a tool like Padlet or Google Drive as a visual digital portfolio space for ongoing additions and collaborations throughout the school year. 

    Students can self-reflect at several points in the school year as well. I appreciate when students set goals for themselves at the start of the school year, we have a one on one mid-year check in meeting and an end of the year student reflection. A student slideshow, Google Form or creating a vision board as language learners are all great ways to gauge self-reflections. 

    Feedback acts as a personalized roadmap, guiding students towards fluency and accuracy. By offering specific suggestions, acknowledging strengths, and fostering self-reflection, teachers can empower their students to take ownership of their learning journey. A continuous cycle of feedback and improvement paves the way for students to confidently navigate the complexities of a new language. 

    LoLogramos – Get a $5 off discount when you use the code LTL5 at checkout, exceptions may apply

    Lo tuyo es puro teatro: expresiones útiles (in Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    By Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    El teatro nos ha dado gobernantes arbitrarios, criados sin escrúpulos, príncipes atormentados y amantes irracionales. Pero también nos ha dado expresiones con las que describir situaciones, valorar comportamientos o juzgar actitudes. Conocerlas les permitirá a tus alumnos incrementar su léxico y acercarse aún más a la lengua cotidiana, así que, ¿por qué no enseñárselas?

    Algunas de ellas se refieren a elementos escénicos. Pensemos, por ejemplo, en las bambalinas, lienzos entre los que se oculta al público el trasiego de personal durante la representación de una obra. Por ello, decimos que hacemos algo entre bambalinas cuando lo hacemos de forma discreta, para que no llegue a conocimiento de los demás 🤫.

    Quien también permanece oculto al público es el apuntador, persona que, situada en una posición estratégica en el escenario, se encarga de dictar el texto a los actores cuando estos olvidan alguna de sus líneas. Su función suele pasar desapercibida 😶‍🌫️, de ahí que se emplee su figura para exagerar la ausencia o presencia de personas en una determinada situación; y así, decimos que a tal o cual acto no fue ni el apuntador o, al contrario, que fue hasta el apuntador.

    También podemos encontrar expresiones que hacen referencia a la actuación de los actores y actrices sobre el escenario. Así, por ejemplo, decimos que alguien hace mutis por el foro cuando abandona un lugar sin llamar la atención, en alusión a la salida que los actores hacen del escenario cuando así se lo exige el guión🚶‍♂️.

    Si alguien hace mutis por el foro, quizás lo haga para eludir responsabilidades. Otra manera de eludirlas es hacerse el sueco, en referencia a los cómicos del teatro romano, quienes calzaban unos zuecos llamados soccus, y de los que se dice que permanecían impertérritos cuando eran increpados por el público, de ahí que usemos esta expresión para hablar de alguien que trata de desentenderse de un asunto haciéndose el despistado 🤷‍♀️.

    Y ya que hablamos de actuaciones, cuando queremos censurar un comportamiento exagerado, falso, no creíble 🧐, podemos considerarlo una pantomima y calificar a quien lo realiza como una persona teatrera 👺.

    Por último, algunas de estas expresiones también contienen referencias a obras de teatro o a sus personajes. En este sentido, son perceptibles las alusiones teatrales en ser una celestina o ser un donjuán. Y a ellas podemos añadir al perro del hortelano 🐶, que ni come ni deja comer, o dicho de otra manera, ni disfruta de algo ni permite que otros lo hagan.

    Nosotros no vamos a terminar esta entrada haciendo mutis por el foro, sino que lo queremos hacer recordándote que más abajo incluimos una infografía que puede ser útil para tus clases 👇. Igualmente, te pedimos que no te hagas el sueco y no permitas que estas expresiones se queden entre bambalinas y que no las conozca ni el apuntador. ¡Enséñaselas a tus alumnos!

    Lo tuyo es puro teatro https://ifspanish.com/en/

    And the Stars Align… Combining AI + CI

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    By Noemí Rodríguez (LTL Contributor)  

    If you are a language teacher, then you are probably using comprehensible input teaching methods (repeat, recycle, repeat) or have heard about them – it is not a surprise that by adjusting language strategically and providing input (either spoken or written) that is tiered to only include words, phrases and structures that students comprehend – students will be able to make meaning of the language and in fact, acquire. Which is how and why Acquisition Driven Instruction works so well. Our goal as language educators is to fill our student’s minds with lots of useful language, so they can USE the language in the future in their presentational and interpersonal communication. This is also why I believe WE (the people who use languages) keep the languages alive- and languages do in fact change and evolve over time, thanks to all of us!

    As Generative AI begins to take over how we “do” our day to day tasks – let me attend that meeting but have my AI assistant take notes, let me figure out what is for dinner tonight or let me write that important letter of recommendation – it also makes sense to look at how this incredible technology can assist language teachers with designing resources and activities with comprehensible input at the heart of the design. And, in addition to a CI lens, can we also harness the power of Generative AI to focus on true intercultural aspects of the target language (products, perspectives & practices) AND design lessons that meet ALL of our student’s needs? My friends – the answer is YES!

    Let’s begin with THE PROMPT!

    The most important part of using any Generative AI tool is how descriptive you are with writing your prompt. Chat GPT is continuing to learn YOU and understand who you ARE – and as a result, you must specify with your language, level, proficiency target(s), students (general information*), content, delivery of content and potential modifications in mind.

    I’ve designed the below guide to assist language teachers create a well designed prompt, with the intentionality of having the “export” align with your expectations. I’ve also created a collaborative prompt library for language educators, which is one of the many perks in joining the AI Tools for Language Educators Institute community. When designing your prompt, consider all of the different important elements that you would like to include. A simple rule of thumb is understanding the better the prompt provided, the better the output. Chat GPT or other LLMs of preference can truly serve as your thought partner, brainstorming buddy, content creator or my favorite role- your new personal assistant. Consider the possibilities!

    AI @team_lologramos

    So, how do we merge the world of AI with CI?

    It all goes back to your well designed prompt! By specifying the type of language instruction model you are using, reference using cognates in your language (hopefully they exist!), frequently used words from the target language and specific targeted vocabulary (not sheltering grammar & treating expressions as vocabulary words) – the content created by Generative AI will align to your ADI expectations. And don’t forget to lead with culture in your CI lessons!

    Plug the following prompt into your LLM and see what it can do!

    Be sure to change the language and/or information that is underlined to make the prompt specific to you and your language class.

    You are an acquisition driven instruction teacher of Spanish, which means you focus on delivering comprehensible input and making language easy to understand and comprehend for beginning language learners. You teach a group of 7th grade students in a suburban middle school and they are currently discussing their school schedules and day to day activities using Novice Mid or A1 language. Can you write a paragraph (no more than 150 words each) in Spanish in comparing and contrasting a typical school day in Spain with a typical school day in the United States. Include information about schedules, subjects, and extracurricular activities. Repeat and reuse the following vocabulary expressions at least three times in this paragraph: tiene, empieza, termina, es aburrido, es interesante. In addition to cognates and the vocabulary provided, use ONLY the most frequently used vocabulary in the Spanish language. You can reference this website for the top 100 frequently used words in Spanish to assist you with your development of this reading passage: https://spanishforyourjob.com/commonwords/, use cognates frequently. For this paragraph, create at least five follow up comprehension questions based on this paragraph in Spanish and one open-ended prompt for beginning level language learners to respond. Create a simple table with a typical school schedule with start/end times using military time and specific classes at each time in both countries, in Spanish. And design a simple dialogue between a teenager from Spain and a teenager from U.S.A. discussing the key information from the paragraph about their school days.

    Tools to use AI

    I used Gemini (Google’s LLM) and it provided the following Google Doc ( *asked if I could export the schedule/table into a Google spreadsheet as well). The fascinating part is that designing this initial resource for me took a matter of seconds. And of course, I can look at this “School Life” reading as an initial draft and go in to make modifications to further customize it, understanding that my students should comprehend at least 90% of this reading. I can also have the LLM create “tiered” versions of this text, further simplifying it or making it a bit more challenging, to allow for students to read the text at their individual reading level. And – to take this reading passage and use an AI tool to design a slideshow export – head over to Diffit.me and copy/paste your text into the third section labeled “Any text or excerpt” and let the magic happen! Diffit.me can also export into Google Docs, Google Forms, pptx or PDF files.

    Another great way to merge the world of AI with CI is with chatbot design and providing a low-stakes environment for interpersonal practice! I had previously blogged about using chatbots in the language classroom as conversational partners. Remember, your chatbot can be ANYONE! So who would you like your students to chat with? Someone famous? An artist? A musician? An athlete? And the same goes with WHAT your students are chatting about with their chatbots – you can ask your chatbot to target specific vocabulary and adhere to the provided conversational rules. Similarly to those reading passages, you have to set the specific parameters with language use and level to ensure that the chatbot adheres to your expectations and truly becomes a great language practice partner for your students!

    One more tip considering how a CI-focused teacher can leverage the power of AI tools – Generative AI can also design images, change backgrounds and create videos for you! So, if you have a fun story that you were never really able to locate the right pictures to match the storyline – check out Canva, Magic Design and see what image(s) or video can be generated for you. Here are some neat images that I generated this afternoon while working with a fantastic group of language teachers!

    Canva also now has Dall-E (OpenAI’s Image Generator) and as teachers, we receive premium access to this incredible platform. Canva has so many neat capabilities, I continue to enjoy exploring and experimenting- check out their “AI-powered” apps!

    Looking to dive in deeper with AI?

    Here is where I would love to continue to help support your journey as a language teacher! I have designed an asynchronous course as mentioned before: The AI Tools Institute for Language Classrooms (with monthly support built in*), host free-virtual meetings often for the Team Lo Logramos FB community, and will present a two-part webinar series in May with the incredible Joe Dale (@joedale) ! Please also do follow @team_lologramos to stay connected!

    I hope this post has given you some great ideas on how to leverage Generative AI with a CI focus in the future

    LoLogramos – Get a $5 off discount when you use the code LTL5 at checkout, exceptions may apply

    Students Move Forward: Proficiency in the World Language Class

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    move forward
    students move forward: proficiency in the world language class

    Move forward, the theme for the month, was inspired by a question I have been pondering a lot lately; 

    How might a proficiency-based curriculum approach help students move forward in their language acquisition? 

    There is a huge difference in an educational setting between noticing language and acquiring language once students have time to process it. Acquiring language is making it yours to use when communicating. 

    This first question inspired other questions. 

    How do you implement a proficiency-based approach in the language classroom? What type of questions should I/ we ask to develop students’ language proficiency to move forward?

    A proficiency-based language approach has the objective to help students think and communicate ideas. 

    When answering questions, students demonstrate specific understandings, knowledge, and language skills that over time, reflect progress and the transition from one proficiency level to the next.

    Teaching for proficiency starts by asking the right questions to help students develop communicative functions based on a context provided: describing, explaining, comparing, etc. It is about finding meaning and having a purpose to communicate what helps students to move forward in their language acquisition.

    What is the data on the topic? 

    There is an array of data on proficiency-based language instruction. These are some worth- exploring resources:

    What lesson plan works best for implementing a proficiency-based language learning that help students move forward?

    This is one lesson plan template I use for planning for proficiency. It helps to ask the right questions and plan accordingly. Use it and let me know if it helps.

    What rubrics best align with a proficiency-based approach to language instruction?

    Rubrics may be used for grading, giving feedback, self-assessment, and goal-setting. They can help students understand expectations and components of an assignment, become more aware of their learning process, and improve their work through timely and detailed feedback.

    One possibility is the ‘single-point rubric’ as explained in the Cult of Pedagogy. Teachers can create the criteria to meet expectations for the assignment, provide feedback on areas for improvement, and have evidence of exceeding standards. The rubrics for World Languages from the Ohio Department of Education show examples of rubrics for each mode of communication. Organic World Language (OWL) also offers great rubrics to assess student proficiency in the language. 

    What do you do if your innovative teaching methods are met with resistance from students or other stakeholders? 

    Don’t give up! 

    Students need an authentic purpose for learning, relevant learning experiences, and a real audience. They also need to have these questions answered,

    • Why is this important?
    • How will I use it?
    • How does this connect with something I already know? 

    When I read the book Innovate Inside the Box: Empowering Learners Through UDL and the Innovator’s Mindset it reminded me to center my teaching around those questions important to students. This book also inspired me to create and innovate within the constraints of the educational setting I am immersed in. 

    Other things that can be helpful if you feel there is resistance from students and other stakeholders are: 

    • Communicating the goals and benefits of using this approach 
    • Repeating the goals and benefits of a proficiency-based approach as needed and providing new ideas and examples
    • Explaining the proficiency levels to students and showing them what it looks like in terms of language use
    • Evaluating and re-evaluating students’ progress
    • Inviting teachers to the classroom 
    • Understanding the perspective of other stakeholders

    In the classroom, welcome questions, ask students for feedback, create a structure to support ambiguity, and help students become comfortable with the uncomfortable. 

    What would you recommend for a novice language teacher or anyone who would like to implement a proficiency-based approach to their language instruction? What workshops, classes, or online/onsite courses would help achieve their goals? 

    I highly recommend starting your journey by attending an Organic World Language training, either online or onsite, as a way of immersing yourself in the experience. 

    Other recommendations include becoming familiar with the Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning Framework and taking the Avant Advance online teaching training, 

    Of course, attend state, regional, and national conferences for world language educators such as GWATFL, NECTFL, and ACTFL. Get involved in your local professional learning communities! 

    Students and teachers alike will move forward in the proficiency-based teaching and learning continuum.

    students move forward: proficiency in the world language class

    Motivating and Inspiring Through Music in Language Lessons

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Maria Martinez (LTL Contributor)

    Looking back at what motivated me as a learner when I was a child and I started learning English, brings back memories from my primary school years in a small village in the south of Spain. Back then foreign languages were introduced in Year 6 (at age 12).

    Before that, I’ve had my first contact with English through music like most of us did back then, listening to Madonna, Michael Jackson and all the great singers from the 80s, (I’m showing my age now…🙃😊) musicals like Grease, etc. And of course, I loved singing their songs without having a clue about their content and mispronouncing every single word: “Wi ar de worl, wi ar de children!” or “Laik a berjen, tach for the beri ferst taim” 🤣

    One day, I remember that one of my sister’s friends heard me singing and started laughing at me (not only because of my singing, but more because of the words that I was saying… Well, not that she knew any better, as she was older than me and the older generations were learning French…). I must have been around 8 or 9 years old, but I remember it really annoyed me and that day I decided that one day I would speak English really well and that I would understand every single word from my favorite singers.

    Some years later, when I was about 12-13 and I was already learning English at the school, I remember that I had fallen in love with the boy band of that time “New Kids On The Block.” I used to spend hours and hours listening to their songs, rewinding my tapes (very 80s!) and writing down the lyrics that I could understand by decoding them on my own and using my Spanish/English dictionary to find out what they were singing about.

    Ahhh the 80s! No Google Translate back then to help me, all manual… But you know what? There was something about that process that really helped those words and sentences stick better in my head and allow them to stay in the long-term memory and embed themselves as part of my vocabulary. 

    Don’t get me wrong, I am really in love with technology and all the advantages that it brings; however, I am seeing how relying too much on technology is making us all slowly less sharp… Faster for some things, but in terms of independent learning and reasoning, I think that the abuse of technology could make us lose some of our intellectual capacities gradually, so I believe that keeping a balance is very important. The key thing is to find the balance, like with everything else in life.

    Music in Language Lessons

    Going back to the motivation and inspiration when learning languages, I believe that Music is without a doubt a tool to be used in lessons as frequently as possible. I invite you to the section in my channel called  MUSIC & ACTIVITIES IN SPANISH & ENGLISH LESSONS, where I post and recommend songs and activities related to them.

    I try to choose songs that have great messages, key structures, verb tenses that need to be revised (subjuntivo, pretéritos, etc.) Also, I try to give ideas of activities that you can do in Spanish and English lessons. I hope you find them helpful and include music in your lessons to motivate and inspire students. Be on the look as I will be uploading many more soon.

    Check that section of the channel and let me know!

    ♡ Website: www.bilingualcerebros.com

    ♡ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bilingualcerebros

    ♡ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/languages_sra_martinez/

    ♡ tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bilingualcerebros

    ♡ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LanguagesResourcesSraMartinez

    ♡ twitter: https://twitter.com/LanguagesSra

    ♡ linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-martinez-5bb94a1a5/

    Con las cosas serias no se juega… ¿o sí? (in Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson
    Vamos a jugar

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    El diccionario de la RAE define serio/-a como real, verdadero y sincero, sin engaño o burla, doblez o disimulo. Teniendo en cuenta esta definición, no nos equivocamos si decimos que la enseñanza del español es una cosa muy seria. Nosotros nos la tomamos muy en serio y estamos seguros de que tú también lo haces.

    Pero eso no significa que siempre debas ser un profe serio ni que siempre tengas que estar seria en tus clases 🤨❌️. Y es que también podemos hacer que el español sea real, verdadero y sincero con juegos 🎲🃏.

    En esta entrada te presentamos algunos juegos con los que conseguirás que tus alumnos se lo tomen muy en serio pasando un momento realmente divertido. Vamos con ellos:

    👉 4 en letras: se trata de un juego ideal para que tus estudiantes puedan rescatar de su memoria palabras cortas y sencillas que seguramente ya hayan visto y conozcan. No importa si son plurales, formas verbales o topónimos; cualquier combinación que resulte en una palabra correcta en español dará un punto a quien la consiga. 4️⃣

    👉 Mim Too: juego idóneo para que tus alumnos pierdan la vergüenza y eliminen el estrés. Deberán hacer mímica 🫶 para representar a un personaje 🥸, objeto 🫖 o animal 🐶 que haga una determinada acción. ¿Te imaginas a un guardaespaldas regando plantas carnívoras? ¿O a una tetera haciendo patinaje sobre hielo? ¡Pues estamos seguros de que tus estudiantes sabrán representarlo!

    👉 Sospechosos inhabituales: juego colaborativo que reproduce una rueda de reconocimiento policial y que sirve para que tus alumnos, a partir de un nivel A2, puedan practicar el vocabulario relativo a hábitos, gustos y personalidad de una manera original. ¡Deberán ponerse de acuerdo para encontrar al culpable! 👮‍♀️👮🏽‍♂️

    👉 Dixit: las imágenes de sus cartas lo convierten en un juego atractivo en clases de español. Tus estudiantes deberán asociar una carta determinada a un concepto concreto (puedes proponer ideas como “subjuntivo”, “las clases de español”, etc.), en función de lo que les evoque el dibujo, y luego tendrán que adivinar la imagen elegida por sus compañeros. ¡La inclusión de este juego en niveles intermedios y avanzados es una apuesta segura! 🖼✅️❌️

    Esta pequeña selección no es más que una muestra del uso que se les puede dar a los juegos en nuestras clases. Juguemos con nuestros estudiantes, sin importar su edad, y conseguiremos que se tomen el español muy en serio.

    Juegos en la clase de ELE

    Make it Happen! #GoalsProject in Spanish Class

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    It has been great to focus on one goal a month since the beginning of 2024. So many times we start school strong to find ourselves drifting as the months go bye. So far, in 2024, we have concentrated in collecting moments and doing more of what we love. So, in March, we will continue with … Make it Happen!

    To me, to ‘make it happen’ is to accomplish what you dream of or desire by doing what is best for you and your students. It does not mean that it is easy or that it is a quick fix. It will probably require effort to solve problems and face different challenges. Thus, I want to encourage you to take the first step, take action, and make it happen!

    It was the end of January and I remember thinking: What do I want to accomplish? How am I going to do it? Then, I learned about the #GoalsProject through social media and I signed up as soon as I got the green light from my school.

    #GoalsProject – Make it Happen!

    The #GoalsProject is done by students all around the world based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (I wrote about the SDGs in What Do You Do When You Learn Something New?). The UN SDGs are the solutions to world problems and a call to action to make it happen.

    The #GoalsProject is a richly infused 6-week global collaboration project based on the SDGs to promote taking action in the classroom. It requires students to practice 21st century skills: learning skills, literacy skills, and life skills, which are essential for students to succeed in life. As a world language educator, this was exactly what I envisioned for my students!

    The #GoalsProject also encompasses most of the principles of Powerful Learning. And what better way to provide voice and agency to my students than through taking action for the SDGs.

    To introduce the project, students talked about the SDGs and learned about their importance and how crucial it is to help in achieving these goals by 2030. This year, students dug deeper into SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. 

    Middle school was given 3 SDGs to choose from, and SDG 12 was the one we picked for sixth grade Spanish. I chose SDG 12 because it relates directly to the work we do at school with TerraCycle ‘to recycle the unrecyclable.’ 

    Activities and Tasks: Make it Happen!

    Some of the activities we did and some tasks my 6th-graders performed in Spanish class during their participation in this program are these:

    • Participating in a Virtual School Assembly  
    • Responding to Youth Ambassadors 
    • Having a video-conference with students in the Dominican Republic 
    • Completing a KWHLAQ graphic organizer 
    • Listening to videos about the ‘Circular Economy’ 
    • Completing a Systems Thinking Compass 
    • Creating a poster for Fact-ivist! 
    • Brainstorming solutions to problems related to SDG 12 

    Let me share a little bit about these tasks below. There are links to the sources used as well. 

    Participating in a Virtual School Assembly

    The Virtual School Assembly was a webinar in which my students participated with thousands of other students in the world. It showed students the scope of the project and gave purpose to what they were doing.

    Responding to Youth Ambassadors 

    After listening to what Youth Ambassadors from all over the world did towards the SDGs and why, my students found inspiration to start their contribution to helping achieve the SDGs. Their responses in the Padlet showed how impacted students were by the Youth Ambassadors speeches/ presentations to a personal level. 

    Having a video conference with students in the Dominican Republic 

    Connecting with students their age from another country in Spanish and learning about their projects was a highlight for most of my students. 

    Completing a KWHLAQ graphic organizer 

    To show students’ thinking we used the KWHLAQ graphic organizer which is based on six questions:

    • K – What do we think we know about this topic? 
    • W – What do we need to find out? 
    • H – How will we find out the answers to our questions? 
    • L – What are we learning and what have we learned? 
    • A – What action will we take? 
    • Q – What new questions do we have? 

    Using the KWHLAQ helped me see what students learned and what their interests were.

    Listening to videos about the ‘Circular Economy’ 

    The Ellen MaCarthur Foundation is all about the circular economy, which is key in achieving SDG12, Responsible Consumption and Production. We listened to some videos on this topic and discussed them. 

    Completing a Systems Thinking Compass 

    I loved having students complete the Systems Thinking Compass because it is a tool that helps students see the interdependence of any system.

    The Systems Thinking Compass is easy to understand as it uses the four points of the regular compass but renaming them. So the N for North, becomes the N for Nature. The E for  East becomes the E for Economy. The S for South becomes the S for Society, and the  W for West becomes the W for Wellbeing. 

    For example, having the SDG 12 in the center and thinking about the impact of consumption and production from the lens of Nature, Economy, Society, and Wellbeing helped students identify the issues and then connect their commonalities.  It was probably the most difficult activity we did as it required them to think in systems, make connections, and then present their ideas to the class.

    Creating a poster for Fact-ivist!  

    Researching data related to the SDG12 in Latin America was challenging as they had to find reliable sources. Students did their research starting from a simple Google or Bing search and narrowed it down to relevant sources like the World Bank, UN.org, Paho, Agenda2030lac, IDB, etc. In the end, students were able to identify data related to the SDG 12 that was interesting to them and complete their assignment of creating a poster using data.

    At the beginning, data such as the amount of food that is wasted, was surprising to them, but it made this SDG real! Then, they created a poster to represent the data found using a digital art tool like Canva. The cherry on top was publishing their poster for the world to see. You can check them out in the Fact-ivist Gallery. 

    Brainstorming solutions to problems related to SDG 12 

    Using a storyboard, students sketched their possible solutions to problems related to SDG 12, from recycling to creating innovative ways to wasting less food. They came up with such great solutions! Then, they wrote a sentence or two about their sketches. 

    Make it Happen!

    In a fun way, students learned about the SDGs while having the opportunity to think about the world’s needs and contribute with their different perspectives to make a change. This experience was very powerful as it showed students what they can do to help the Earth and that they can do it.

    I am happy to have made it happen for my students!

    Una lengua con cuerpo (in Spanish)

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    by Ramón Clavijo (LTL Contributor)

    Cuando un estudiante está con el agua al cuello 👤💧🔝, necesita que le eches una mano 🫳❤️. Si confía en tu capacidad como profesor o profesora, si entre vosotros se establece una relación de lealtad, estamos seguros de que acabará poniendo la mano en el fuego por ti 🫳🔥. Y no porque tú te creas el ombligo del mundo 🌎, sino porque habéis llegado a ser uña y carne 🫶.

    Pero no solo nuestros estudiantes necesitan ayuda. También nosotros necesitamos sentirnos arropados. Cuando tenemos la sensación de que nos hemos levantado con el pie izquierdo 🦶😞, cuando sentimos que no somos capaces de dar la cara 🫣, cuando estamos irascibles y sacamos las uñas 💅 a la menor adversidad… siempre viene bien sentir el apoyo de una sonrisa amiga 😄. Sobre todo en nuestra profesión: somos lo que transmitimos, y si expresamos optimismo, nuestros alumnos aprenderán mejor👨🏾‍🎓👩‍🎓🥰.

    Estamos seguros de que cuando te encuentras en una situación así, hay alguien a tu lado en disposición de ayudarte 😊, alguien que, sin pelos en la lengua 👅, te aconseja de manera sincera. Nosotros, por nuestra parte, tal vez no podamos hacer mucho desde estas líneas, pero lo que tenemos claro es que, si algún profe necesita recursos para sus clases, no vamos a quedarnos de brazos cruzados 🙆🏻‍♀️.

    Por eso, te dejamos una infografía con unas cuantas expresiones idiomáticas relacionadas con las partes del cuerpo, por si la encuentras útil para llevarla al aula. Y es que el español, como un buen vino, es una lengua «con cuerpo» 🍷🤭.

    Modismos con partes del cuerpo I

    Academia Iria Flavia

    Teaching and Celebrating International Days in World Language Classes

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    Teaching and celebrating international days in World Language classes helps students see the power of learning languages. The International Days in September are particularly special to me. They help me set the tone of what is important in class, they help expand students’ global views, and they help me see how (un)comfortable students are in an immersion-style class. We celebrate International Literacy Day, September 8 and International Dot Day, September 15. In this post, we will only talk about International Literacy Day.

    International Literacy Day (ILD) has been recognized on September 8 since 1967, when UNESCO chose this day as a reminder of the importance of literacy as a human right. Each year, UNESCO adopts a theme and the one for this year is “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.” I wondered if my students would grasp this theme, and  I was pleasantly surprised when they surpassed my expectations. 

    I presented  UNESCO’s theme, an image, a poster, and a book to my students, and used thinking routines to help go deeper into comprehending the concept of “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.”

    First, students found cognates, such as,  ‘promoting’ ‘transition’ ‘foundation’ ‘sustainable’ and ‘societies’. and familiar words, within the theme for the year. 

    Then, students studied and described the image from the ILD concept note to go deeper in their understanding. It was developed by UNESCO and showed the relationship between literacy and the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The image I used is the following:

    There are posters with the Sustainable Development Goals icons in my classroom, so my  students are very familiarized with them. They observed the symbols in the image, and started making connections. Here, they ‘got’ the word ‘peaceful’.

    The second visual was the poster created by UNESCO to celebrate ILD. Students worked with a peer and in small groups to describe the poster and then discussed it as a class. The poster I used is the following:

    International Literacy Day

    Students loved the poster! It brought the words ‘literacy’ and ‘world’ to the forefront. I had to explain with gestures the word ‘building’ as it is not a cognate or a familiar word to my students. After I helped them figure out the meaning of “building”, they got what “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies” meant. It was one of those ‘Aha’ moments in learning.

    I chose a book that showed a concrete example related to the ILD theme for 2023. I read “El violín de Ada” written by Susan Wood and translated by Shelley McConnell. It is based on the story of the “Cateura Orchestra” in Paraguay that made its instruments with recycled materials. Students immediately connected the story to ‘building sustainable and peaceful societies’. Many of my students play instruments so they made a personal connection to the story.

    Moment of truth! It was time to put ideas together. I asked them to connect the theme, the book, the image, and the poster to see how much they really understood. For this, students used the Project Zero Thinking Routines “10×2” in 5th grade and Hexagonal Thinking in 6th grade.

    I loved how my 5th graders stretched their thinking and completed the thinking routine using a limited number of words. They wrote words familiar to them and then they asked me if words like ‘creative’ ‘talented’ ‘curiosity’ were cognates and tried to figure them out in Spanish. Students felt so proud of their work, and I was proud too.

    I gave each of my 6th graders a printed sheet of paper full of hexagons. They had to individually write a word connecting the resources in each hexagon. Afterwards, in groups of 3, they glued their cut hexagons by grouping them by themes. In the end, they had to write a phrase that described the groupings. It was my first time using hexagonal thinking and I loved how students worked individually and in small groups, and what they created. All groups concluded that education is fundamental for building strong communities. ‘Wow!’ I thought, ‘they got it.’

    Have you integrated international day celebrations into your world language classes? How do you think teaching and celebrating international days in world language classes might impact your curriculum? If you have not started celebrating international days yet, start by choosing one that you want to share with your students. Then, think of one or two activities that you can include in your class. Next year you will revisit your plan and I am sure that you will be adding a spin to it. This is one way of starting integrating international days into your world language classes. International day celebrations set the tone for what is important. 

    Wonder.me in a World Language Class

    Posted on by Vicky Masson

    “EdTech” is a column of Language Teaching Lab where we highlight the use of educational technology in the world language class

    by Vicky Masson

    Wonder.me is the next Zoom/Teams?

    I had the opportunity to attend the #HPTeachingFellow Summer Convening where I experienced Wonder.me first hand. I loved how I could easily navigate this site, forever changing the way I saw online meetings. I am looking forward to using Wonder.me in my language classes.

    What is Wonder.me?

    Wonder.me is a platform to connect with other people. This connection can take the form of virtual networking, virtual gatherings, and virtual spaces.This platform is simple to navigate and it gives you the freedom to move from one space to another by moving your avatar to another area or circle. Does it sound complicated? Watch this short video to see how Wonder.me works and what it looks like

    Wonder.me Introduction

    How does it differ from Zoom/Teams?

    Zoom and Teams are great and they have their own purpose. I have used both of them when teaching, and depending on what I am planning to do I would choose one or the other.  My premise is to choose the best edtech tool for my students to thrive, and Wonder.me gives me another option to connect my students among themselves and to the world.

    What do you need to do?

    To use Wonder.me in a language class, you need to create an account with Wonder.me, which is free, and you need to become a host – you can also have co-hosts. That way you can invite guests to join your students and you to Wonder.me.

    As a host, you set up different areas, decide the content for each area, and plan how students will interact. You decide how much autonomy you want to give your students and you also have the option of talking to all the groups/circles/areas by making announcements when needed. You can decide what background to choose depending on the unit of study. As a host you can include a question that everybody has to answer to join your Wonder.me space and much more!

    This 5 minute video gives you an idea of what a host can do and how it is done.

    When can Wonder.me be used in language teaching and learning?

    Wonder.me’s mission, “to give the world a space where groups can meet and talk” goes hand in hand with the nature of a language class: to have students think in another language and communicate their ideas orally and in writing with others –the chat feature works great for this. 

    As you can see, there are many possibilities to be explored in a language class using Wonder.me. Here are two examples of how I would use Wonder.me in a language class:

    Book circles:

    This applies when reading books in your own class or with a classroom partner 

    • When reading the same novel, have students choose or assign students to join different circles for each character in a book
    • When reading different books, each circle hosts students that are reading the same book

    Collaboration Spaces:

    This applies to groups in your own class or with groups between your class and a classroom partner. Students navigate to a circle in order to…

    • discuss topics
    • solve a problem 
    • provide definitions of their own
    • create a story
    • analyze an image using a PZ Thinking Routine
    • investigate and research 
    • prepare for an interview
    • Interview other students

    One of the features that I like the most about Wonder.me is that you can see where every student is at any given time. That, to me, is precious!.

    Do you have a favorite edtech tool to use in your language classes?