The best tips & ideas for your classroom

Hi educators,

Revisit some of our most popular blog posts from this past year and get tips & ideas that will help you refresh and renew your teaching practice in 2020. 

4 steps for refreshing your teaching & starting strong in 2020
By Elena Spathis
Teaching often seems like running a marathon—we train and prepare, we push ourselves, and we keep going no matter what the circumstances. Reaching the end-of-year “finish line” to winter break gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge.

The power of authentic resources
By Ed Weiss
When there is a real task involving real materials for a real purpose, students discover the purpose and need for learning a language and subsequently staying with that language throughout their secondary years. 

Helping students overcome their fear of mistakes
By Elena Spathis
In order to see our students really use the language successfully and authentically, we must encourage risk-taking in our world language classrooms. 

Activities that help create a safe classroom space
By Angelika Becker
Investing the time early in the school year fosters a sense of community that helps with partner and group activities throughout the school year.

How fewer, intentional goals will make you a happier, better language teacher
By Meredith White
Less guilt, less stress, less sense of imposter syndrome, less to keep track of —fewer goals that are more specific and intentional end up being less to keep track of and think about.


Happy New Year and Happy Teaching,

Ya sabes

Bold ideas and practical resources for your Spanish classroom

 

Welcome to the latest issue of Ya sabes, your go-to source for everything you need to take your Spanish instruction to the next level. In this issue: 

• Get ideas for new holiday activities from Diego Ojeda
• Watch our Teachers' Lounge series
• Download our presentation slides and handouts from ACTFL, along with our Classroom Expressions poster and free lesson plan

What would you like to read about? We'd love to hear from you!

¡Felicidades!

Holiday activities with a twist

Diego Ojeda is back on the blog this month with a rich well of resources for the last few weeks of school before the holiday break. Browse his ideas for classroom activities that help your students expand their cultural knowledge and deepen their vocabulary. 


 

New YouTube series: Teachers' Lounge

In our new YouTube playlist Teachers' Lounge, we talk to classroom teachers, thought-leaders, and trailblazers in the world of language education to get quick insights and fresh ideas. 

In our first few episodes we talk to Wayside digital specialist Jen Cornell about how a global perspective is crucial to language learning, and to Spanish teacher Lynette Williams who discusses how proficiency-based authentic communication can take the pressure off students to speak with perfection.

Free proficiency resources

We are always expanding our free resources that make your life in the classroom easier. Browse what's available: 

• Classroom expressions handout to help keep your students in the target language
• Free lesson plan
• ICYMI: Handouts and slides from our ACTFL presentations

Ya sabes

Bold ideas and practical resources for your Spanish classroom

• Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with authentic activities
• Explore a new resource for your pre-AP® students
• Speak up for languages
• Get the latest news about Spanish culture and language
• Watch a video about our new proficiency trackers

What would you like to read about? We'd love to hear from you! 

Beyond the piñatas

A new resource for your pre-AP® students

The latest addition to our popular Spanish series, EntreCulturas 4 is filled with AP®-style tasks, practice exams, and simulated conversations for practicing interpersonal communications—all designed for the intermediate-mid to intermediate-high level learner.

EntreCulturas 4 will be available in 2020, but you can sample the first unit now! 

Your story matters

You can help make a difference in language education! We are collecting stories from teachers like you who are on the front lines of teaching the next generation of global citizens. Tell us how and why you became a language teacher, or about the role languages play in your life, and become a part of community of language advocates.

Últimas noticias

OPINION: Foreign languages should be respected not feared 

With over 350 languages spoken in the United States alone, Lauren Briggs makes the case for bilingualism as a means of connecting and understanding.  

Spanish edition of ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ out next month 

Delia Owens’ highly acclaimed coming-of-age story, “Where the Crawdads Sing”, hits shelves next month in a Spanish-language edition. 

A good Spanish teacher will help kids lean into a rich culture 

Columnist Emily Parnell reflects on how Spanish class took her on a voyage to new cultures.  

Proficiency trackers

Help your students track their growth and their performance toward proficiency with our new proficiency trackers, now available on the Learning Site. Download and print from the Learning Site or assign online for each unit and for the entire year. 

If you are an EntreCulturas pro, find these under the Content tab in the Proficiency Resources folder on the Learning Site. Here's a quick tutorial to walk you through the steps. 


 

Haven’t implemented EntreCulturas yet? Request a sample now and see everything our Learning Site has to offer. 

A propos

Bold ideas and practical resources for your French classroom

Hi educators,

Welcome to the latest issue of A propos, your go-to source for everything you need to take your French instruction to the next level. In this issue: 

• Reflect on the power of authentic resources
• Speak up for languages
• Get the latest tidbits about French language and culture
• Watch a video about our new proficiency trackers

What would you like to read about? We'd love to hear from you!

Bon cours,

The power of authentic resources

French teacher and EntreCultures author Ed Weiss reflects on his experience learning French without access to authentic resources and makes the case for real materials, real tasks, real purpose.

Your story matters

Share your story: how did you become a language teacher? How did languages change your life? Submit your video or written testimonial to join a community of language advocates who can make an impact on policies around access to language education.

Les actualités

The latest news about French language and culture

The Success of French Dual-Language Programs in the U.S. 
Multilingual candidates are increasingly important in today’s economy with French now being the third most sought-after language amongst US employers.   

Why the future of French is African 
African nations are changing the French language and carrying it into the future. 

Film blog: The 20 best French back-to-school movies 
Whether you are looking for a rainy day in-class activity or a Friday night film for yourself at home, check out this list of French back-to-school movies.

Proficiency trackers

Help your students track their growth and their performance towards proficiency with these new proficiency trackers, now available on our Learning Site. Download from the Learning Site or assign online for each unit and for the entire year. 

If you are an EntreCultures pro, find these under the Content tab in the Proficiency Resources folder on the Learning Site.

Watch a brief tutorial with digital specialist Jen Cornell on how to find and use the trackers. 

Haven’t implemented EntreCultures yet?  Request a sample now and see everything our Learning Site has to offer.