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Growing With Proficiency The Podcast
Welcome to Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast! Are you a World Language teacher who is looking for ideas, strategies, activities, and inspiration to create a World Language class where you and your students enjoy using the language to learn about the world and each other? Do you want to transform your class into an acquisition-driven instruction space where you intentionally provide a ton of comprehensible input?
If you are, you're in the right place.
Let's start this journey together. Head over to IG, and send me a DM @claudiamelliott to let me know what topics you would like me to cover in an upcoming episode.Join my free Facebook community, Growing With C. Also, check out my blog to start discovering some of these ideas and strategies at growingwithproficiency.com
Episodes
205 episodes
Episode 179: How to Tell Stories So Students Actually Listen: What the Brain Says About Engagement with Erica Peplinski-Burge
Why do some stories immediately capture students’ attention—while others lose them halfway through?In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, I sit down with Erica Peplinsky-Burge to explore what the brain tells us about storytelling, ...
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29:40
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Re-Release Episode 118: Low-Stress Assessments with AnneMarie Chase
So many teachers ask the same questions:"How do you assess in a proficiency-driven classroom?""How do you grade without overwhelming students—or yourself?"And, "How do you keep assessment sustainable?"That’s why this episode ...
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37:08
Re-release Episode 22: Making Interpersonal Communication Work: 5 Repeatable Activities That Build Real Conversation with Bethanie Drew
Interpersonal communication is what our students want most… and what many of us struggle to make happen without it turning into their common language in 10 seconds 😅In this re-released episode, I’m joined by a friend and outstan...
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48:40
Episode 178: Adjusting & Personalizing Instruction: The Core Skill That Makes It Possible
(Why one-size-fits-all lessons don’t work—and what to do instead)In this episode, I focus on what I consider the heart of acquisition-driven instruction: adjusting and personalizing what we do in class so all
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50:35
Episode 177: How to Ask Better Questions in the World Language Classroom (Using 5-Minute Blocks)
In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, we continue the series on how to build foundational skills for language acquisition in intentional 5-minute blocks.This episode focuses on one powerful — and often underestimated...
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27:46
Episodio 176: Las tres habilidades básicas para la adquisición de la lengua: Rutinas de 5 minutos para usar la lengua meta, hacer preguntas y personalizar
En este episodio de Growing With Proficiency, hablo de tres habilidades esenciales para la adquisición de la lengua que sostienen nuestras clases comunicativas: maximizar el uso de la lengua meta, hacer p...
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34:14
Episode 175: How to Stay in the Target Language 5 Minutes At A Time (3 Easy Routines)
Happy New Year, profe 🎉 If you’re setting classroom goals for 2026—this episode is for you.So many language teachers want the same thing: use more target language, keep students engaged, and support acquisition… but “90% in the TL...
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40:35
Re-Release Episode 14: 3 Strategies to Reclaim Your Time in the New Year From Lesson Planning to Taking Control of Your Inbox With Lisa Mchargue
Do you spend too much time lesson planning, searching for files, or managing your inbox—and still feel like you’re always behind?In this re-released episode of Growing With Proficiency, I’m joined by Lisa McCart to talk about ho...
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45:16
Re-Release Episode 126: Voice and Grow: Why End-of-Year Surveys Are a Must for Our Classes
As the school year wraps up, there’s no better time to reflect—not just on what we think worked, but on how students experienced our class. In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast...
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36:08
Episode 174 — Three Low-Stress December Activities That Still Give Students Input
In this episode, we talk about December. I’m sharing three low-stress activities that keep students engaged, help them revisit everything they’ve learned, and still give them meaningful input, even when their energy (and ours) is running...
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27:56
Episode 173: Why Curiosity is Key for Motivation in Language Class: ACTFL Takeaways + Easy CI Strategies for December
If you are exhausted this December and looking for simple, meaningful ways to keep your students engaged — this episode is your cafecito.I’m sharing what truly stood out at ACTFL this year, and spoiler alert: it wasn’t a new app...
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34:01
Episodio 171 en español: Cómo mantener clases de español activas sin pasar horas planeando
¿Te sientes que se te acabo la gasolina? ¿Tienes poco tiempo pero muchas ganas de que tus clases sigan vivas y activas? En este episodio te comparto 3 estrategias reales para que tus clases sean dinámicas, participativas y en español — s...
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28:30
Re-Release Episode 130 — Rediscovering Joy and Authenticity in the Language Classroom: Practical Steps to Engage and Inspire
Have you ever felt disconnected from your passion for teaching — like you’re doing all the things but nothing seems to spark joy anymore? You’re not alone. In this re-released episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Pod...
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54:50
Episode 171: Boost Comprehension and Engagement With ClipChat: A Guide for Language Teachers with Amy Marshall
If you’ve ever found yourself searching for an activity that is engaging, meaningful, and actually supports language acquisition, this episode is for you. Many of us want our students to feel confident understanding and...
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47:21
Re-released Episodio 3 En español: Tres cambios que transformaron mi clase de español
En este episodio, comparto uno de mis episodios favoritos en español sobre tres cambios fundamentales que transformaron mi clase y renovaron mi motivación como docente. Estos cambios surgieron a lo largo de 15 años en el aula y resp...
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27:49
Episode 170: How Do We Support Neurodivergent Learners in the World Language Classroom? Designing Inclusive Classrooms
A conversation with Wesley WoodWhat happens when we stop planning for the “average” learner and instead design our classrooms with neurodivergent students and students with disabilities in mind? In this episode of ...
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59:58
Episode 169: How to Use Songs in the World Language Classroom (and Make Them Comprehensible) with Kara Jacobs
Every world language teacher knows the power of music — but how do we move beyond karaoke Fridays and make songs truly comprehensible and meaningful for our learners? 🎵In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: Th...
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41:23
Episode 10 Re-Release: Games That Get Students Talking with Christina Margiore
There’s never a bad time of the year for a good game. Whether it’s November, May, or that wild week before a break — a well-chosen game can transform your classroom energy and boost your students’ confidence to use Spanish.In th...
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40:00
Re-Release Episode 89: Discover 5 Games to Boost Engagement & Community in Your World Language Class with Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez
Are you searching for low-prep games perfect for this busy time of year? Look no further! In this episode, join us as we welcome two incredible educators from Colombia, Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez. They're here to share five engaging, lo...
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52:28
Episode 168: How Can Task-Based Language Teaching Engage Students in Authentic Communication With Purpose? A conversation with Dr. Claudia Fernández
Have you ever noticed that some students struggle to see their progress in an acquisition-driven classroom?When your lessons focus on comprehensible input and communication, progress can feel invisible to students ...
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1:04:34
Episode 167: Rethinking Intermediate Classes with Comprehensible Input: A Conversation with Gary DiBianca
Does comprehensible input still matter at the intermediate level? Absolutely. In this conversation with Gary DiBianca, he shares how he “levels up” intermediate classes by centering CI, intentionally modeling structures students c...
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53:46
Episodio 166: Cómo Enseñar a Estudiantes de Herencia: Estrategias, Rutinas y Pilares para el Aula de Español
En este episodio en español de Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, converso con la Dra. Marta Silva sobre un tema esencial para profes de español: cómo enseñar a estudiantes de herencia. Exploramos la diferencia entre ...
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1:01:50
Re-Release of Episode 20: Class Jobs: Building Community, Boosting Engagement, and Saving Your Sanity
Why am I re-releasing this episode? Because after a few weeks back in the classroom, I felt it again — that weight of doing everything myself: picking up pencils, erasing the board, answering endless “what did I miss?” emails. And I re...
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46:57
Episode 165: Listening to Silence: How to Use It to Understand and Engage Your Students in the Language Classroom
Silence in the language classroom doesn’t mean students aren’t saying anything. Silence is information. In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, we explore why silence can be a valuable source of information a...
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38:32
Episode 164: Are We Listening? Rethinking Accents, Comprehensibility, and Communication in Our Classrooms and Communities
Are errors or strong accents really blocking communication—or is it about how we listen? 🎧In this episode, I share why comments about my accent made me reflect on how we approach communication in our classrooms and in our teacher communi...
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27:26