#48 - My Language Journey: I Studied French, Spoke Spanish, And Confused Them On Every Exam

#48 - My Language Journey: I Studied French, Spoke Spanish, And Confused Them On Every Exam

Author: Devon Gunning | La Libre Language Learning March 17, 2026 Duration: 1:03:02
Send us Fan Mail I'm doing something different today and sharing my candid origin story as a language lover. From early childhood immersion in Japan to a Dominican study abroad wake-up call, tracing how real-world input shaped my teaching style. • early immersion in Japan shaping views on communication • choosing French to connect friends and stop exclusion • juggling French and Spanish and mixing systems • study abroad shock and the gap between grades and speech • differences be...

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
#40 - 8 Ways to Lower Student Anxiety in World Language Class [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:35
Send us Fan Mail Asking students to speak in a new language can feel like asking them to step on stage without a script. We dig into why anxiety hits world language classrooms harder than most, then share nine practical…
#39 - The Role of Grammar in Your Proficiency-Oriented Classroom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 misi…