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SCOLT is definitely one of my favorite conferences, and 2023 was a highlight. That is why I decided to re-release this and because you can get amazing activities you can do tomorrow in your class.

Are you feeling bored and uninspired in your own language classroom? I'm not talking about your students, I'm talking about you. The truth is, we all need new ideas and fresh perspectives to keep us engaged and motivated in our teaching practice. That's why I love attending conferences like SCOLT.

In this episode of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, I'll be sharing 5 of my favorite strategies and activities that I learned at SCOLT 23. All of the 5 strategies and activities have one thing in common: they not only have the potential to engage my students and promote proficiency, but they also excite me to use them. When I'm excited, that energy transfers right back to my students.

So, if you're looking for ways to shake things up in your class and get excited, hit play and join me for this exciting episode of Growing With Proficiency.

👉 Resources & Links

Growing With CI FB Community

GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Blog

Teacher Pay Teachers Store

IG & Twitter: @claudiamelliott

5EModel Explain

QFT Video

Guess the Movie

Challenge Brain Break

Hexagon Strategy by Bertha Delgadillo

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Interpersonal communication can feel like one of the hardest modes to teach. You plan the activity, set expectations… and then students give one-word answers, switch to their common language, or disengage altogether.

But what if the problem isn’t your activity?

In this second part of my conversation with Chelsea Lawrence, we build on our previous conversation in episode 163 and take a deeper look at what actually makes interpersonal communication work—especially through silent discussion.

After presenting this strategy at SCOLT and trying it in our own classrooms, we saw firsthand how powerful it can be when students have a clear goal and the right scaffolds in place.

In this episode, we unpack what true interpersonal communication requires, how to structure a silent discussion for success, and how to support students so they can stay in the target language and engage meaningfully with each other.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated with interpersonal activities, this conversation will give you a new way to think about them—and practical ways to implement them right away.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Why interpersonal communication often falls flat—and what’s really missing
• The two essential elements of true interpersonal communication: an information gap and a clear purpose
• How silent discussion lowers the affective filter and increases participation
• Different communicative goals you can use (jigsaw, interview, prediction, and problem-solving)
• How to scaffold student questions instead of giving them all the language
• Simple ways to support responses, reactions, and negotiation of meaning
• How to help students stay in the target language without forcing it
• Why this strategy works across levels—from novice to AP

📚 Resources & Links

• 🎧 Listen to Part 1 (Episode 163: Silent Discussion with Chelsea Lawrence)
• 📄 Read the full blog post: How to Build Interpersonal Communication with Purpose in the Target Language
• Website: https://growingwithproficiency.com
• GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
• Growing With CI FB Community
• Blog
• Teacher Pay Teachers Store

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Have you ever felt like you are doing everything, you’re running out of energy, and somehow, it still doesn’t feel like enough?

In this episode of Growing With Proficiency The Podcast, I sit down with Meredith White, Bethanie Drew, and Maris Hawkins to have a real and honest conversation about something we don’t talk about enough: How do we decide what to stop caring about as teachers?

Because the truth is… we cannot do it all. And trying to do it all is what leads to burnout.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to identify what is actually worth your time and energy
• Why comparison is one of the biggest drains on teachers
• How to stop reinventing the wheel with every lesson
• The power of using high-impact templates like sentence starters and roving paragraph frames
• A simple, repeatable lesson cycle you can use with any reading or video
• How to protect your time, your boundaries, and your joy

This is not about doing less just to do less. This is about doing what matters—with intention.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you take a step back and ask:
What do I actually need to keep… and what can I finally let go of?

🎧 Listen now and start making small shifts that will make your teaching more sustainable.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

• Roving Paragraph Frames & Sentence Starters (Bethanie Drew)
• Episode with Sally Barnes

📬 Stay connected:

• Website: https://growingwithproficiency.com
• GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
• Growing With CI FB Community
• Blog
• Teacher Pay Teachers Store