Practical Proficiency Podcast

#48 - My Language Journey: I Studied French, Spoke Spanish, And Confused Them On Every Exam

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318898/fan_mail/new] I'm doing something different today and sharing my candid origin story as a language lover.  From early childhood immersion in Japan to a Dominican study abroad wake-up call, tracing how real-world input shaped my teaching style.  • early immersion in Japan shaping views on communication • choosing French to connect friends and stop exclusion • juggling French and Spanish and mixing systems • study abroad shock and the gap between grades and speech • differences between academic literacy and real-world fluency • discovering proficiency and comprehensible input • shifting assessments to what students can do • maintaining language outside the classroom with habits • the parenting choice to let go and protect joy • honoring strengths of native and non-native teachers Send me a text with your language question using the new feature below, or email me at Devon@LaLibreLanguageLearning.com!  Submit your question here [https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form] Download the free audio training "The Joyful CI Classroom System" [https://distance-learning-schedule-editable.kit.com/ad8a6ef47f]here  Find out more and join the Practical Proficiency Network here [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Let's connect: Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/toolkit-opt-in] Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/teachers-roadmap-to-proficiency] Website [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.com/] TPT [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/La-Libre-Language-Learning] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lalibrelanguagelearning/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ElWWkkOShpPG2A6eW05hg] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lalibrelanguagelearning] Love this episode? Get access to over 150+ trainings, instructional coaching, and an amazing peer community of proficiency-oriented teachers in the Practical Proficiency Network  [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Submit your questions about proficiency, grammar, or creating communicative classroom environments through this link: https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form and I'll answer them on the show!

#47 - 9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving from Grammar-Heavy to Proficiency Instruction

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318898/fan_mail/new] This episode breaks down why transitioning from legacy methods to proficiency feels so hard, then maps practical, low-prep moves that make it sustainable and joyful. I name the common traps—misaligned assessments, training gaps, immersion shock—and share tools to protect your energy while students grow. • reframing the class as a skill, not a subject • what novice mid can really do and how to aim there • why systems feel outdated and how to navigate them • colleague buy‑in and the realities of department culture • the training gap between theory and classroom routines • curriculum choices and the limits of story‑heavy approaches • easing students into higher target language use • setting expectations with parents and administrators • aligning assessments to instruction with IPAs and rubrics • sustainable, low‑prep CI strategies that reduce burnout • using AI to generate comprehensible input and save time Check out my ACTFL deep dives on the blog. Join the Practical Proficiency Network for scaffolded support. Grab the Joyful CI Classroom Systems free audio training linked below. Submit your question here [https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form] Download the free audio training "The Joyful CI Classroom System" [https://distance-learning-schedule-editable.kit.com/ad8a6ef47f]here  Find out more and join the Practical Proficiency Network here [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Let's connect: Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/toolkit-opt-in] Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/teachers-roadmap-to-proficiency] Website [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.com/] TPT [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/La-Libre-Language-Learning] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lalibrelanguagelearning/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ElWWkkOShpPG2A6eW05hg] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lalibrelanguagelearning] Love this episode? Get access to over 150+ trainings, instructional coaching, and an amazing peer community of proficiency-oriented teachers in the Practical Proficiency Network  [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Submit your questions about proficiency, grammar, or creating communicative classroom environments through this link: https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form and I'll answer them on the show!

#46 - AI In The World Language Classroom: Rethinking the Dynamic When A Bot Can Write Spanish in Seconds

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318898/fan_mail/new] What happens when a tool can write a passable Spanish 1 paragraph in six seconds? We took that provocation and built a practical roadmap for world language teachers who want less busywork and more human connection. From accent cleanup to comprehension‑friendly formatting, we walk through concrete AI prompts that shorten prep without flattening your voice. Then we go deeper into the CI engine: generating level‑right PQA and picture talk questions anchored to performance indicators, so you enter class with a rich menu instead of a blank page—and keep your energy for the live work only you can do. We also tackle the elephant in the staff room: cheating and assessment. If a bot can complete a take‑home essay, it’s not measuring growth. So we pivot to tasks AI struggles to mimic—live interpersonal checks, one‑take audio and video, annotated readings with visible thinking, and experiential homework that sends students into the world to notice language and report back. Along the way, we share differentiation prompts that surface fast, scaffold slow, and require zero extra copies, all tied to clear can‑do statements. The goal is simple: spend more minutes on communication and less on clerical churn. Underneath the tactics is a human reminder. Errors are not defects; they’re the gold seams that show where growth happens. AI won’t kill language. It will kill busywork and force us to design work that matters. We close with ethics and responsibility—citing assistance, watching environmental impact, and setting norms students can carry into college and careers. If you’re ready to keep your class target‑language rich, joyful, and sustainable, press play, steal the prompts, and tell us what you’ll hand to AI this week. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more language teachers can find these tools. What human‑only task will you double down on next? Submit your question here [https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form] Download the free audio training "The Joyful CI Classroom System" [https://distance-learning-schedule-editable.kit.com/ad8a6ef47f]here  Find out more and join the Practical Proficiency Network here [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Let's connect: Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/toolkit-opt-in] Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/teachers-roadmap-to-proficiency] Website [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.com/] TPT [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/La-Libre-Language-Learning] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lalibrelanguagelearning/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ElWWkkOShpPG2A6eW05hg] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lalibrelanguagelearning] Love this episode? Get access to over 150+ trainings, instructional coaching, and an amazing peer community of proficiency-oriented teachers in the Practical Proficiency Network  [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Submit your questions about proficiency, grammar, or creating communicative classroom environments through this link: https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form and I'll answer them on the show!

#45 - You Don’t Need A Theater Degree to Use CI: Common Misconceptions About CI Teaching

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318898/fan_mail/new] We push back on the myth that comprehensible input only works for charismatic teachers, and we reframe proficiency as a guiding philosophy rather than a single method. Practical, low-lift strategies take center stage to show how any teacher can build high-impact, student-centered classes. • defining proficiency as a north star for outcomes  • separating CI philosophy from specific branded methods  • why social media highlight reels skew expectations  • examples of low-lift, high-yield CI routines  • student-centered interaction over grammar-first planning  • assessment focused on what learners can do  • inclusive paths for different teacher personalities  • invitation to share experiences and questions Blog post on CI terms: https://lalibrelanguagelearning.com/what-is-ci-teaching-proficiency-vs-legacy-for-world-language-teachers/ Submit your question here [https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form] Find out more and join the Practical Proficiency Network here [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Let's connect: Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/toolkit-opt-in] Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/teachers-roadmap-to-proficiency] Website [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.com/] TPT [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/La-Libre-Language-Learning] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lalibrelanguagelearning/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ElWWkkOShpPG2A6eW05hg] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lalibrelanguagelearning] Love this episode? Get access to over 150+ trainings, instructional coaching, and an amazing peer community of proficiency-oriented teachers in the Practical Proficiency Network  [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Submit your questions about proficiency, grammar, or creating communicative classroom environments through this link: https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form and I'll answer them on the show!

#44 - Making 25 Minutes Count: Elementary Language Teaching With Cognitive Load Theory

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318898/fan_mail/new] Feeling stuck on the same unit while your elementary learners still “haven’t mastered it”? Let’s flip the script. We take a clear-eyed look at short, 25–30 minute language classes and show how cognitive load theory can make those minutes add up to real, joyful progress—without grinding through endless repetitions of the same theme. We break down intrinsic, extraneous, and germane load in plain language and apply them to young learners’ brains. You’ll hear why rituals shrink mental friction, how to craft compelling input with a tiny set of high-value phrases, and how to recycle language through new contexts so kids actually remember. We share a simple four-part lesson arc—ritual, input, spiral, high‑energy exit—that works whether you see students daily or once a week. Along the way, we challenge the myth of “mastery” in language learning and offer a practical 70–75% rule to decide when to move on. You’ll also get concrete ideas you can run tomorrow: use songs and stories to boost comprehensible input, lean into parroting and rhyme to lower barriers, and anchor a term with a class play or storybook project that naturally spirals vocabulary and structures over time. We talk schema building vs memorizing lists, how to balance nouns with high-frequency verbs and connectors, and why trimming English instructions can supercharge focus in the target language. By the end, you’ll have a blueprint for making short lessons memorable, sustainable, and fun—for you and your students. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more teachers can find it. Got a question you want us to dig into next? Send it our way—we’d love to feature it. Submit your question here [https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form] Download the free audio training "The Joyful CI Classroom System" [https://distance-learning-schedule-editable.kit.com/ad8a6ef47f]here  Find out more and join the Practical Proficiency Network here [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Let's connect: Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/toolkit-opt-in] Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/teachers-roadmap-to-proficiency] Website [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.com/] TPT [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/La-Libre-Language-Learning] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lalibrelanguagelearning/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ElWWkkOShpPG2A6eW05hg] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lalibrelanguagelearning] Love this episode? Get access to over 150+ trainings, instructional coaching, and an amazing peer community of proficiency-oriented teachers in the Practical Proficiency Network  [https://lalibrelanguagelearning.mykajabi.com/join-practical-proficiency-network] Submit your questions about proficiency, grammar, or creating communicative classroom environments through this link: https://airtable.com/appOp9IY7Ah77oYup/pagpRzuEqAVZgBnrk/form and I'll answer them on the show!