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
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 used to “right or wrong” answers. That’s why Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) can be such a game-changer.
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Claudia Fernández, one of the leading voices on TBLT, about how th...
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 can recycle (time frames, connectors, question stems), and layering authentic resources that stretch comprehension without overwhelming learners.
You’ll hear:
- What changes—and what doesn’t—a...
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 clases de herencia y de segunda lengua, y por qué es clave replantear nuestros objetivos, pilares y rutinas para apoyar a estos estudiantes de manera auténtica.
En este episodio descubrirás:
- Los 4 p...
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 remembered… this episode holds the solution.
In this powerful conversation with Annabelle Williamson (La Maestra Loca) and John Seifert, we dive deep into classroom jobs — not just what the...
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 and how teachers can use it to foster curiosity, lower risk, and create more meaningful engagement.
You’ll learn:
- The 3 main reasons students don’t respond to questions
- How to make your questio...
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 communities. Together, we’ll explore:
- Why the hidden goal of “sounding native” can get in the way of real communication.
- What research says about listening, comprehensibility, and sympathe...
Have you ever felt like getting your students to really use the target language with each other is the hardest thing? You want them to share ideas, agree or disagree, and ask questions. But when the moment comes, silence takes over—or worse, they switch to English.
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and incredible Spanish teacher, Chelsea Lawrence, to talk about a game-changing strategy: Silent Discussions.
✨ Wh...
As teachers, we’ve all been there—you’ve planned the lesson, you’ve given directions, and then… your students just don’t meet the expectations. Blank stares, missing homework, silence after a question. 😩
But here’s the thing: maybe unmet expectations aren’t really the problem. In this episode, I sit down with Becca Silver, founder of The Whole Educator, to explore how shifting our mindset can transform frustration int...
Seguro te ha pasado: das tu clase en español con toda la energía, pero hay un silencio total. Esa desconexión cansa y desmotiva, porque lo que más deseamos como profes es escuchar a nuestros estudiantes usar el español de manera auténtica.
En este episodio hablamos de cómo crear momentos auténticos en clase: oportunidades naturales y significativas para que los estudiantes reaccionen, escuchen y se comuniquen en españ...
Save time, reduce stress, and maximize target language use—because that’s how you create a sustainable school year, profe. 🌟
In this episode, we’re diving into routines: those small but powerful structures that keep your class running smoothly. I’ll walk you through why they matter, the key mindset shifts to make them stick, and practical examples you can start using right away.
Because here’s the truth—routines only w...
Open House isn’t just about sharing rules—it’s your chance to build trust with parents, spark curiosity, and show them how their students can thrive in your class.
In this episode, Claudia walks you through her 7–8 minute Open House plan, including what she skips, what she highlights, and how a simple Spanish “mini-lab” makes parents leave confident and excited about language learning.
✨ Takeaways:
- Why you should sk...
In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, I’m joined by my friends and fellow educators Annabelle Williamson (La Maestra Loca) and Elissa McLean to share our biggest takeaways from Conference in the Cloud.
We talk about simple, high-impact strategies to help you use more target language in your classroom without adding stress:
- Routines that make Spanish (or any language) the default from day one
- Playful moments th...
How do we move from teaching about a language to using it to communicate—authentically, meaningfully, and joyfully?
In this special live episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I sit down with two powerhouses in the world of language acquisition—Dr. Karen Lichtman and Jason Fritze—to answer a BIG question:
👉 What does it actually mean to teach for acquisition?
We explore what the research says, what this looks...
Planning for acquisition isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Diane Neubauer and Dr. Reed Riggs for one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had about lesson planning in the world language classroom.
We explore what it means to plan with purpose—centering curiosity, communication, and student connection instead of rigid structures or vocabulary lists.
✨ Key...
What happens when students expect grammar charts, parents want vocabulary lists, and administrators walk in asking, “Why are YOU doing all the talking?” If you’ve felt that tension, this episode is for you.
In this final episode of the Back to School Series, I share the exact lesson I use in the first week of school that changed a lot for me—how I shifted from feeling questioned and defensive to confidently leading my ...
The first week of school can feel like a whirlwind—there’s excitement, anticipation, and let’s be honest… pressure. What should you do first? What’s most important? And how can you make sure you’re setting up your students (and yourself!) for a successful, sustainable year?
In this episode, I’m opening up about what I actually prioritize during that first week of school in my Spanish classroom. I’m sharing what I focus...
Planning for a new school year can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to create a class centered on communication and proficiency, not grammar features. In this episode, I walk you through five intentional steps to help you map out your year with clarity and sustainability. You’ll learn how to prioritize compelling input, build a flexible curriculum map, and keep your students’ needs and your well-being ...
¿Tienes todo listo para un nuevo año escolar que no solo funcione, sino que se sienta bien? En este episodio te comparto las 5 claves esenciales para un regreso a clases intencional, humano y sostenible en tu clase de español.
En vez de empezar en modo “supervivencia”, este año te invito a comenzar con claridad, conexión y propósito. Estas estrategias están pensadas para adaptarse a tu contexto real y ayudarte a enseña...
As we step into a new school year, one word guides everything: sustainability.
In this first episode of a 4-part summer series, I’m breaking down the key to a successful and sustainable language class—one that doesn't run on exhaustion. You’ll learn about the 3 essential pillars that create a joyful, communicative, and manageable classroom experience—plus the one critical consideration teachers often overlook. Whe...
This episode is a different kind of conversation—one that goes beneath the surface and straight to the heart. 💛
In this episode of Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast, I’m joined by two great friends and incredible educators, Annabelle Williamson (La Maestra Loca) and Bertha Delgadillo. Together, we open up about a topic that many teachers live with, often silently: teaching with ADHD.
Annabelle and Bertha share thei...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.