These are some good questions that Alex, the lead teacher of a school I am working with, has asked: What habits have you observed in excellent Spanish programs? This is what has worked for me and what I have observed: • Routines. Regular, well though-out routines and rituals. - [...]
Teachers often ask me why I feature verbs so prominently in my training and materials for beginning students. It's because that's where the action is! And using verbs over adjectives can make for compelling storytelling. I try to follow the storytelling advice from the creators of South Park: the [...]
Ojalá que llueva café is a classic—an oldie, but a goodie. There are many ways this song is helpful for Spanish teachers. Here is a complete lesson, an example of how to teach and use music in Spanish class. My Spanish students have always enjoyed this song because it's [...]
In-person attendance at world language conferences is down. There are many reasons for this, but instead of worrying and wondering, we can proactively implement ideas to bring people back. Because in-person conferences are valuable. They connect people in ways that virtual training cannot. Even if you are not a [...]
Lee, a teacher I coached for 15 sessions last year, now has a new job. Here's what he's dealing with: I have a new a job teaching at a relatively small school. The curriculum is grammar-based, but the principal is open to modifications. My question is—how does a teacher [...]
"Passwords" stick with students long term. Check this out: I ran into a couple of students the other night. Both were boys that were in my Latin class last year and will be entering sixth grade this fall. They excitedly asked me if I had seen the presidential debate. [...]