Send us Fan Mail
Have you ever looked at your students and wondered:
"Why aren't they communicating in the language?"
In this special episode of Growing With Proficiency, the tables are turned as my friend and fellow educator, Bethanie Carlson Drew, steps in as host and interviews me about my journey from lawyer to language teacher, the challenges that transformed my classroom, and the lessons I've learned along the way.
Together, we explore what happened when I realized that despite teaching vocabulary, grammar, and textbook lessons, my students still weren't communicating in Spanish the way I hoped they would.
That realization led me down a path of professional growth, curiosity, and discovery that completely changed how I think about language teaching, comprehensible input, and second language acquisition.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
✨ The powerful teaching advice my mother gave me that still shapes my classroom today
✨ Why following the textbook wasn't producing the communication outcomes I wanted
✨ The moment I discovered second language acquisition research and how it transformed my practice
✨ How comprehensible input and meaningful communication support language acquisition
✨ Why asking one personal question every day can strengthen relationships and increase student engagement
✨ The importance of professional learning and finding a community that supports your growth
✨ Three practical ways to begin creating a more communicative and comprehension-based language classroom
Whether you're new to proficiency-based teaching or you've been teaching world languages for years, this conversation will encourage you to reflect on your practice, embrace growth, and focus on what truly helps students acquire language.
If you've ever felt frustrated that your students know about the language but struggle to use it, this episode is for you.
So grab your cafecito and join us for an honest conversation about language acquisition, communicative language teaching, comprehensible input, professional growth, and the courage to change.
🎧 Press play and let's grow together.
Resources
📌 Student reflection survey.
📌 Download the free Teacher Guide:
https://growingwithproficiency.com/teacherguide
📌 Join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy:
https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy
📌 Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudiamelliott
📌 Growing With CI FB Community
📌Blog
📌 Teacher Pay Teachers Store
The Spanish Teacher Academy supports Spanish teachers in building effective and sustainable classrooms. Inside the Academy, teachers gain clarity about language acquisition, access ready-to-use units and monthly resources, and receive ongoing support—so they can use more Spanish in class without burning out.
👉 Learn more and join the Academy at growingwithproficiency.com
