SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone
Join Ben (he/him), Bryan (he/they), and Bill (he/him) as they Gaslight (reflect), Gatekeep (read research), and Girlboss (share successes) language teaching!
Episodes
Gaslight
Defining Dynamic Assessment
Examples from Language Teaching
Formative Assessment in the Classroom
How are we responsive in our assessments?
Dynamic Assessment
Girlboss
Successfully and Accountably Collecting Assessment Data
Taking Advantage of Opportunities to...
Gaslight
Isolated Vocabulary
Useful Vocabulary Lists
Idioms and Stock Phrases
Use Language in Context
Perceived Fluency and Proficiency Ratings
It’s Giving Library
Speaking to the Heart
What Even Is Fluency?
Lowering Cognitive Load for Spe...
Gaslight
Course-End Exams
Vertical Alignment - To University and Beyond
Understanding Ordered Development
Setting Realistic Goals
Gatekeep - Gombert, W., Keijzer, M., & Verspoor, M. (2024). Long-term effects of structure-based versus dynamic usage-based instructional programs for French. Journal of the European Second Language Association, 8(1), 18–33.
Dynamic Usage-Based Programs vs. Structure-Based Programs
Homework and Accountability
W...
Gaslight
Judge, Jury, Executioner
What Are Our Goals?
Time Investment
Gatekeep - Amanda Beck, Central States Languages for All Regional TOY 2024
How We Invest Our Time
Guessing Games
Games as Scaffolds for Learning and Social Interaction
Games Provide Structure for Listening and Reading
Have Backups
Girlboss
Level Your Games
Use Templates
Novelty Makes People Curious
Predictions
Winning!
B I N G O
References
Gaslight
Lack of Training and Preparation
Reading IEPs and 504s
Diagnosis - or No?
Gatekeep - Sara Lee, 2024 Southwest Conference on Language Teaching TOY
Formative Assessment to Evaluate Strengths and Needs
Teaching for Proficiency
What About Explicit Grammar Teaching?
Anxiety!
Theory: Mental-Graphemic Representation
Girlboss
Readable Fonts
Identify the “Easy” Spelling Rules
Differentiation
Alternatives to Writing
Pro Tip!
Equality and Equity: Ar...
Bertha Delgadillo, Southern Conference On Language Teaching (SCOLT) Regional Teacher of the Year 2024
Bertha’s Story
Staying Informed and Incorporating Authentic Voices
Abundance Mindset and Belonging
Engaging Students With Local Communities
Connecting Students to Needed Resources
Joy
References
Bertha’s Padlet: Advocating & standing with immigrant students
“A Multilingualism-as-a-Resource Orientation in Dual Language Education” by de Jong,...
Gaslight
Humor Doesn’t Always Work
Not Being Intentional
Some Things Don’t Work In YOUR Context
Thinking Expected Behaviors Are Obvious
Gatekeep - Kei Tsukamaki, ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year 2025
Dog Training Teaches Us About Classroom Environments
The ABCs
Taking Time for Reflection
Prioritizing Relationships and Routines
Girlboss
Understanding Students’ Responses to Questions
Hallway Conversations That Honor Student Agency
Valu...
Gaslight
Gradebook Categories
What is included in a grade?
Assessments
Gatekeep - Student Perceptions on Standards-Based Grading in the World Language Classroom by our own Bryan Smith!
History of SBG
SBG in Bryan’s Classes
What Kids Like, and What They Don’t
Girlboss
Clarity, Rubrics, Consistency
Helping Get Classwork and Homework Done
Change One Thing at a Time!
References
Webinar for Tumbao Bilingual Books’ newest book - We Celebrate Junetee...
GaslightDifferences Between Language Standards and Other Content Areas
Setting Expectations from a Textbook
Proficiency vs. Performance
Hours of Instruction
Gatekeep What proficiency levels do K-16 world language learners achieve? (van Gorp and Coss)
Document about AP and ACTFL Proficiency Levels
Don’t Beat Yourself Up, Girl
What Does Self-Assessment Look Like?
Girlboss
Course-End Expectations
Proficiency-Based Instruction, TL Usage, Motivat...
Gaslight
“Do you understand?”
Nobody Wants to Tell You They Don’t Get It
Adapting/Preparing Questions
Cold Calling
Ask Lots of Questions!
Creating a Classroom Culture of Error and Learning
Gatekeep - Checking for Understanding by Peps McCrea (at Evidence Snacks)
Validity and Efficiency
Loaded assumptions, skewed sampling, whole class questioning
Girlboss
Nearpod / Peardeck
Four Corners
Plickers
Choral Responses
Hand Signals for Question Types
Chal...
Gaslight
Not Moderating Rate of Speech
Establishing Meaning
Out of Bounds
“How do you say…?”
Planning for Comprehensibility
Use of #authres
Gatekeep - "How does lexical coverage affect the processing of L2 texts?" by Ana Pellicer-Sánchez, Stuart Webb, Andi Wang (Applied Linguistics)
“How easy is easy?”
Reading Speed and Motivation #saccade
Neurodiversity and Reading
Girlboss
Park and Pause
Using Frequency Dictionaries
Write and Discuss
References
...
Gaslight
Management of Student Ideas
Dealing with Inappropriate Responses
True Interpersonal Communication
What do we hope to get out of this?
Sharing the Purpose of the Activities
Gatekeep - "Positive emotions and intrinsic motivation: A self-determination theory perspective on using co-created stories in the language acquisition classroom" - Liam Printer (Language Teaching Research)
Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
Motivated Students =...
Gaslight: When have observations not been ideal?
Gatekeep: Bernhard, R., McDermott, T., Hasenhüttl, C., Burn, K., & Sammons, P. (2024). A focus on quality of teaching in schools increases students’ progress of attainment. Evidence from English secondary schools. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2024.2398601
Girlboss: Peer observation and coaching.
Other references:
Jon Cowart "Rigor"...
In this episode of 'SLA: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone', the hosts discuss the challenges and successes they've experienced in teaching over the current school year. Amidst the pressures of 'Devolson' and the search for suitable teaching materials, the discussion pivots from a planned talk on cognitive load theory to a candid check-in. The hosts share personal anecdotes about adjusting teaching strategies, student engage...
Gaslight How often should we do oral corrective feedback, who is it useful to, and is it always a positive experience for students?
Gatekeep Corrective Feedback and Learner Uptake: Negotiation of Form in Communicative Classrooms (Lyster, Ranta, 1997)
Girlboss How can we give feedback while maintaining a low affective filter, and what should we expect from using CF?
Comprehensible Midwest - Discount code CISLAYYYS15
Gaslight: What NOT to do when attending a conference.
Gatekeep: K-12 world language teachers’ use of conferences as professional
development (Neubauer, Wesley 2023)
Girlboss: First/Best conference experiences.
CI Midwest Discount Code: CISLAYYYS15
Text us about how you’ve Gaslit, or Girlbossed your language classroom.
Email us at info@slayyypod.com
Gaslight: Pitfalls in Free Voluntary Reading Programs
Gatekeep: The Effects of Extensive Reading on Reading Comprehension, Reading Rate, and Vocabulary Acquisition (Suk, 2016)
Girlboss: Successes in FVR and extensive in-class reading.
The World Language Bookshelf
Language Learner Literature Advisory Board (LLLAB)
The Game of Quotes by Annemarie Chase
Gaslight: Troubleshooting asking questions to support comprehension.
Gatekeep: The impact of questioning strategies on target language production and learner confidence
Girlboss: Successes in asking questions
References:
Training teachers: Fluency Matters (Michelle Kindt), CI Summit (Teri Wiechart, JJ Morgan)
Super Seven (Terry Waltz) and Sweet Sixteen Verbs (Mike Peto), blog post by Martina Bex
Gaslight: What did we try last year and how did it go?
Gatekeep: Reconnecting to Second Language Acquisition for Innovative Language Pedagogy
Girlboss: What have we done in the classroom that we will continue to do?
- Key Questions in Language Teaching | Higher Education from Cambridge Alessandro Benati
- Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition | Higher Education from Cambridge Bill VanPatten, Megan Smith (not Jessica, sorry!), Al...
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
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
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
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.