#39 - The Role of Grammar in Your Proficiency-Oriented Classroom

#39 - The Role of Grammar in Your Proficiency-Oriented Classroom

Author: Devon Gunning | La Libre Language Learning October 1, 2025 Duration: 33:30
Send us Fan Mail Grammar—the eternal battleground of language education. Is it the foundation of language learning or a distraction from real communication? In this eye-opening exploration, we cut through decades of misinformation to reveal what research actually shows about grammar's role in language acquisition. Drawing directly from ACTFL's guiding principles, we examine the surprising truth: "explicit teaching of grammar has little effect on people's language acquisition, comprehension o...

For educators who feel the shift toward proficiency and comprehensible input can be daunting, Practical Proficiency Podcast serves as a grounded, supportive companion. Host Devon Gunning from La Libre Language Learning understands the daily realities of the classroom, moving beyond theory to focus on what actually works. Each episode feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable colleague, unpacking practical, teacher-friendly strategies that prioritize student communication and make language teaching more sustainable and joyful. You’ll find honest discussions about implementing input-rich environments, assessing true proficiency, and designing lessons that resonate with learners. This isn't about adding more to your plate, but about refining your approach with actionable ideas you can use immediately. Tune into this podcast for a sense of community and clarity, where the journey toward proficiency-oriented instruction is broken down into manageable, real-world steps. It’s a resource built specifically for world language teachers seeking both inspiration and tangible methods to transform their teaching practice.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 48

Practical Proficiency Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#16 - Novice High | What Level is My Student? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
Send us Fan Mail This one is for novice high - the level you'll spend the most time with in your career! Listen to get in-depth examples for exactly what novice highs can do with language, in teacher-friendly language of…
#15 - Novice Mid: What Levels Are My Students? ACTFL Levels Deep Dive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:09
Send us Fan Mail We're continuing this series on the new 2024 ACTFL guidelines. This answers a common question I get - what level should my students be in and how do I know that? Let's talk about what Novice Mid actually…
#14 - What Level is My Student? Novice Low - ACTFL Levels Deep Dive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:30
Send us Fan Mail The new ACTFL Proficiency guidelines for 2024 are HERE! Our new series comes from a common listener question - what level should my students be in and how do I know that? Let's talk about what Novice Low…