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Mentoring New World Language Teachers Teaching isn’t an easy profession.  It’s no wonder so many teachers leave in their first few years of teaching.  What if they had a solid support system, experienced teachers ready with strategies, ideas, and a sympathetic ear?  In a recent langchat, world language teachers discussed how they might be that […]

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages – ACTFL – held its annual Convention and Expo in November of 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Although thousands of teachers attended the conference, many more, of course, were not able to.  On #langchat before the conference, teachers gathered to discuss their expectations for the event, and […]

In this discussion, #langchat teachers proposed many ways to make the beginning and ending of world language classes more engaging and effective. Participants also shared their transition techniques that allow them to optimize learning during their class times. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – Using the Beginning of Class to Spark Learner Enthusiasm #Langchat […]

This #langchat conversation looked at how to best assess interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes in a World Language Classroom. In the course of the discussion, participants also offered ideas on when to design assessments for each mode and worked to identify the important elements in a performance rubric. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – […]

How can a teacher learn from last semester and it’s failures and successes in the world language classroom? Guest #langchat moderator Heidi Trude (@htrude07) invited teachers to reflect on that question in a recent chat. After all, the #langchat community exists to be a place where world language teachers can collaborate and encourage each other […]

This langchat discussion focused on the benefits of teaching without a textbook. Although it may seem challenging to some, many #langchat teachers believe teaching without a textbook increases student engagement and allows proficiency in the target language to become more attainable. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – How to Begin to Transition Away from […]

Some call it “20% Time,” a concept borrowed from Google in which people spend one-fifth of their work time on a project of their choosing.  Others may call it “genius hour,” still referring to one hour out of five per week that students spend pursuing their own interests in learning.  Another term, “passion project,” is […]

Learning in general is often more successful with bold practice and a willingness to make mistakes. Overcorrection from teachers, however, can discourage learners.  In the September 21 #Langchat, teachers discussed how to correct student output while still encouraging them to put forth effort. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – Determining the Errors to Correct […]

Do students benefit from doing homework? In their September 14 chat, #Langchat teachers discussed how to get the most out of assigning homework for World Language students. Reasons to Assign Homework #Langchat teachers shared some of the reasons they assign homework for their world language students. @MmeFarab shared, “these days, homework [is given] to finish […]

Teaching individual goal setting can be a challenging, yet useful tactic to encourage growth in a World Language Classroom. This #langchat discussion looked at all of the possibilities, tools, and benefits to setting goals for world language students. Types of Student Goals World Language teachers want their students to succeed and aspire to gain proficiency […]