


Motivation low? Try this for a quick pick-me-up!
January and February can be tough months to teach. It’s cold, the holiday fun is over, then mix in a few snow-days (or worse yet – a day you THOUGHT they would call off) to get everybody off schedule… sometimes you need something different to get...Teaching that “Health” unit? Remember, it’s MORE than what we eat!
This is the time of year when you hear a lot of talk about being healthy. 21-day cleanses, juicing, whole foods, OH MY! You’ll see resolutions about less fast food or soda, more whole foods or protein. There’s a lot of focus on what we eat… but there...3 Trendy & Timely Expressions to teach ASAP!
I’ve always looked for ways to incorporate new target language sayings and idiomatic expressions in class. They feel more fun than the higher function phrases we use more regularly and students love the reaction they get from using them with native speakers. In fact, according to ACTFL performance descriptors, the ability to recognize and use some idiomatic expressions is a sign of an Intermediate language learner. Advanced learners would be able to handle even less common expressions. So, when considering a new phrase… I like to look to current culture to find out what’s trending in music or social media or any other current source. Here are three I’ve seen a lot of lately that you may want to use right away in class!
7 new holiday commercials (about more than just gifts)
Here are our favorite Spanish-language ads from the 2018 holiday season. Whether you show them all at once or one-a-day until break… they show a different perspective, a new culture, and a strong message that this time of year is about more than just gifts....Play that holiday music… (and I’m not talking Mariah Carey)
Music is a big part of holiday traditions and I love how each culture has unique songs that connect to the season. There’s nothing wrong with “All I want for Christmas is you” feat. Justin Beiber, but I like to expose students to music that is really...‘Tis the season… celebrate and advocate! #worldlanguages
I’ve seen and heard of a lot of great things WL teachers are doing in their own classrooms, but what really gets my attention is when I hear about great things happening throughout a WL department. Teachers need space to teach and connect with students in their...
Have a bad day? Think again.
You’ve made it through the busy days of the first weeks of school. You’ve learned names, set procedures, and are inspiring students about a new year of language learning. Everything is going great… until one day, it isn’t. As teachers, we tend...
Ditch the “Review Unit” and try this instead!
Here it is. I’m openly against a “review unit” in the world language class (or any class actually). (If you love them, keep reading. You might change your mind. If not, we can still be friends even if we disagree.) I’ve tried starting the year with a review, and...