Language Glue: Why Your Students Can't Remember What You Taught Them
04/10/25 • 25 min
Language teachers everywhere face the same challenge: how do we create units that actually lead to acquisition instead of just memorization? The answer lies in understanding how our brains naturally process and store language.
In this eye-opening episode, I break down the six-phase structure that every successful proficiency-based unit must follow. Starting with context-rich input (the "glue" that makes language stick in students' brains), we explore how declarative versus procedural knowledge explains why students can sometimes recite grammar rules perfectly but freeze during conversations.
You'll discover why rushing through the comprehension phase is a critical mistake that prevents true acquisition, and why many teachers unwittingly sabotage their students' progress by skipping essential steps in the acquisition process. I share practical, classroom-tested strategies for each phase - from input introduction through comprehension, gradual output release, authentic contexts, presentational practice, and finally to meaningful interpersonal communication.
Using comparisons as our example structure, I demonstrate how to adapt this framework for both brand-new concepts and reviewing previously introduced language. You'll learn how to determine appropriate timing for each phase based on your specific teaching context and student needs, rather than arbitrary pacing guides.
Whether you're teaching novice learners or advanced students, this structural framework provides the scaffold your proficiency-oriented units need. Stop wondering why your students struggle to use language they've "learned" and start designing units that follow the brain's natural pathways to language acquisition.
Have you tried structuring your units this way? Share your experiences in the comments or on social media using #PracticalProficiency. And if this episode helped you, please leave a review to help other teachers discover these strategies!
Let's connect:
Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit
Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency
Website
TPT
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Language teachers everywhere face the same challenge: how do we create units that actually lead to acquisition instead of just memorization? The answer lies in understanding how our brains naturally process and store language.
In this eye-opening episode, I break down the six-phase structure that every successful proficiency-based unit must follow. Starting with context-rich input (the "glue" that makes language stick in students' brains), we explore how declarative versus procedural knowledge explains why students can sometimes recite grammar rules perfectly but freeze during conversations.
You'll discover why rushing through the comprehension phase is a critical mistake that prevents true acquisition, and why many teachers unwittingly sabotage their students' progress by skipping essential steps in the acquisition process. I share practical, classroom-tested strategies for each phase - from input introduction through comprehension, gradual output release, authentic contexts, presentational practice, and finally to meaningful interpersonal communication.
Using comparisons as our example structure, I demonstrate how to adapt this framework for both brand-new concepts and reviewing previously introduced language. You'll learn how to determine appropriate timing for each phase based on your specific teaching context and student needs, rather than arbitrary pacing guides.
Whether you're teaching novice learners or advanced students, this structural framework provides the scaffold your proficiency-oriented units need. Stop wondering why your students struggle to use language they've "learned" and start designing units that follow the brain's natural pathways to language acquisition.
Have you tried structuring your units this way? Share your experiences in the comments or on social media using #PracticalProficiency. And if this episode helped you, please leave a review to help other teachers discover these strategies!
Let's connect:
Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit
Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency
Website
TPT
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Previous Episode
Guest Kia London on Patience in Proficiency & 90% Target Language : A Teacher's Journey
Patience trumps perfection when transitioning to proficiency-based language instruction, as veteran Spanish teacher Kia London reveals in this enlightening conversation about her journey teaching at a new school. With 19 years of experience across all grade levels K-12, Kia brings genuine wisdom about adjusting instructional pace to meet students where they are—without compromising high expectations for target language use.
Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/eknSSQBX4xA
Connect with Kia London:
bit.ly/klondon
trailblazeintolanguagelearning.com https://www.instagram.com/clases_de_london/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/groups/culturallydiverseequitablecurriculum https://twitter.com/MaestraLondon https://www.tiktok.com/@kdl_trailblaze https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf2Rcb0xkR7R8_lLbt5dB4g
When Kia moved to her current high school (coincidentally her alma mater), she faced a significant challenge: students unaccustomed to the 90%+ target language environment she cultivates. Rather than lowering expectations, she embraced a semester-long process of scaffolding, repetition, and strategic classroom design to bring students along. Her detailed approach to creating visual supports, recognizing student feedback cues, and building a classroom culture where "I don't understand" is welcomed rather than feared provides practical takeaways for teachers at any stage of their proficiency journey.
The conversation explores the delicate balance of pushing students beyond their comfort zone while being responsive to their needs. Kia shares specific strategies that transformed initial resistance into engagement—like reducing homework load to improve quality, modeling activities before practice, and using station work to foster peer support. Most inspiring is her celebration of student growth beyond language acquisition itself, as she witnesses learners developing confidence, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
For teachers struggling with the messy middle of proficiency implementation, Kia's mantra that "consistency beats perfect" offers refreshing permission to embrace the journey rather than expect overnight transformation. Connect with Kia's wealth of resources at bitly.com/KLondon and implement her practical wisdom in your own language classroom tomorrow.
Let's connect:
Get the Free World Language Teacher Toolkit
Get the Free Roadmap to Proficiency
Website
TPT
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Practical Proficiency Podcast - Language Glue: Why Your Students Can't Remember What You Taught Them
Transcript
What's up , keloke Et salut world language teachers . Welcome to the Practical Proficiency Podcast , where we make the transition to proficiency-oriented instruction in your world language class in a way that works for you , your unique context and teaching style , and doesn't sacrifice your well-being along the way . I'm your host , devin Gunning , the teacher author , conference host , c
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