Building conversation skills through listening
Yes, being a good listener is part of being a good conversational partner, even in…
The role of vocabulary in building fluency: Making students aware
Do you remember those days when you were a beginning language learner and you became…
What's For Dinner?: Paired Dialogue Task Ideas
A few months ago, we posted about the benefits of student-centered paired speaking activities on…
The Challenges of Assessing Cultural Competency in the World Languages
We all know the importance of the 4 big skills in a world language class:…
Extempore, Backward Design, and Exit Outcomes for Students
Most educators have come across the concept of backward design in the past few years.…
The Problems with World Language Presentations and How to Fix Them-Part 2
Hopefully you read our post last time about the problems that many students encounter with…
The Problems with World Language Presentations and How to Fix Them--Part 1
You've probably had to walk the plank before. Uh oh. Presentation time. You know, where…
Dear Diary: the Preterite and the Imperfect on Extempore
If you teach Spanish (or French, for that matter), you know how mighty the battle…
Spice up the Classroom with a Cooking Competition on Extempore!
These days you can't turn on the TV without seeing a cooking show. Some of…
The Best of the Best: A Speaking Activity on Extempore
When I was growing up, my hometown newspaper ran an informal column in which the…
Speaking Self-Reflection: It's Not Just For Writing Anymore
If you're a teacher, you probably already know that one of the big pushes in…
Let's Go to the Mall Today: Paired Dialogue Task Ideas
A few weeks ago, we posted about student-centered paired activities meant to develop speaking skills…