Tips, Tools and Resources for world language teachers who want their students to rise in proficiency and communicate with confidence.
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Joshua Cabral Podcasts
A Mayo Clinic curated podcast sharing Mayo Clinic knowledge and advancements on the state of testing, science, and people who are making it happen behind the scenes.
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Whole Exome Sequencing Reflex Test Offers Cost-Effective Diagnosis: Cherisse Marcou, Ph.D., and Kristen Rasmussen, M.S., CGC
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22:13Cherisse Marcou, Ph.D., and Kristen Rasmussen, M.S., CGC, explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' WESPR whole exome sequencing reflex test provides cost-effective diagnosis of complex genetic conditions. Using samples and data from previous targeted gene panels, WESPR's wider net can identify undetected genetic variants. (00:32) Would each of you sha…
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#212 Are your goals for this year focused on what you’ll teach or what your students will be able to do with the language? In this episode, we’re talking about goal setting, for you and your students, in a way that’s centered on language proficiency, not just study habits or behavior. I’ll walk you through a practical framework to set meaningful go…
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Rabbits, Chikungunya, and More Viral News: Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D.
21:21
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21:21Published August 28, 2025 In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., a microbiologist and virologist and chief scientific officer of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss recent developments in viral infections. Together, they explore: S…
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A Simple Way For Students to Understand Language Proficiency
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16:28#211 Do your students know exactly what they can do in the target language? If you asked them right now, could they tell you their current proficiency level and the specific skills they’re working toward? In my experience, when students understand the proficiency path, they take ownership of their progress in a very meaningful and personal way. In …
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Revisit CI Activities and Planning for Proficiency
6:57
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6:57#210 This is episode 6 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning next week on August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at some activities that you c…
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The Promise, Challenges, and Global Impact of AI Tools: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
11:20
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11:20Published August 14, 2025 In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss recent news about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in healthcare. Together, they explore: …
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Revisit Calendar Talk and Special Person Interviews
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4:25#209 This is episode 5 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at a few CI strategies. In episode 170 I s…
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#208 This is episode 4 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at 3 Leveling Up Coaching episodes. Episod…
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New Tools for the Changing Landscape of Tick-Borne Diseases: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.
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15:33In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, for a timely discussion on tick-borne diseases. Topics covered include: Observations from this year’s tick season …
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#207 This is episode 3 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at episode 163 where I talked about workin…
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Revisit Authentic Texts and Products, Practices & Perspectives
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4:50#206 This is episode 2 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at 2 more of the high leverage teaching pr…
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How Investment Trends May Impact Clinical Diagnostics: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
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12:32In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss summertime illnesses and key insights from a recent diagnostic investment event. Together, they explore: Common summertime illnes…
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Expanded assay better identifies hereditary pancreatitis: Linda Hasadsri, M.D., Ph.D., and Huong Cabral, M.S., CGC
11:16
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11:16Linda Hasadsri, M.D., Ph.D., and Huong Cabral, M.S., CGC, explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' expanded test panel captures rarer as well as more common genetic causes of hereditary pancreatitis. That information is key to managing patients' enhanced risk for pancreatic cancer. (00:32) Could you both please tell us a little bit about yourself and …
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Revisit Confidence in Speaking and Making Language Comprehensible
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4:16#205 This is episode 1 in my 2025 summer headspace series. This is a chance to revisit episodes from the previous school year during the summer months when you may have a little extra time. Beginning August 26th, you will see new episodes with exciting new topics every Monday. For today we take a look back at 2 of the high leverage teaching practic…
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#204 Now that the school year is over hopefully you have a little less on your mind and have a little extra time. This is the perfect time to get into your summer headspace. What do I mean by that? You’ll soon understand. Let’s jump in. What do I mean by “Summer Headspace?” Time to reflect without other pressing priorities and issues. Clear head. O…
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How the Evolving Role of Diagnostics and Platforms Impact Healthcare: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
14:23
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14:23In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, share insights from industry news and recent conferences, including PlatforMed. They explore: The significant interest in diagnostics for…
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Labile Copper Test Enhances Evaluation for Wilson's Disease: Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D.
6:51
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6:51Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' labile copper assay (Mayo ID: LBCS) improves upon standard blood tests for Wilson's disease. The new test measures not just overall copper but also the fraction of copper that is bioavailable, or labile bound. (00:32) Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background? (01…
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Black History & Hispanic Heritage in Language Curriculum with Jenniffer Whyte
46:10
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46:10#203 What do we mean when we talk about representation in the classroom? More specifically representation in our language classrooms? How can we make sure that our students understand the variety of cultures and experiences that are part of the target language culture? In this episode, Jenniffer Whyte joins me to talk about bringing the Afro-Latinx…
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Assay Aids Diagnosis of Resistant Hypertension: John Lieske, M.D., and Sandra Taler, M.D.
11:49
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11:49John Lieske, M.D., and Sandra Taler, M.D., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' mass spectrometry assay helps evaluate patients for resistant hypertension. The test detects antihypertensive medications in urine, providing evidence of whether patients are absorbing their medications or whether a new treatment approach might be needed. Speaker 3: (0…
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#202 I want to make sure that you start your new school in the fall with a clear framework for planning and teaching for proficiency. I created a free reflection and planning tool that will guide you as you create a classroom that prioritizes what students can do with language. In this episode I will tell you all about it and point you to where you…
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Advancing Neuropathy Diagnosis With Laboratory Testing and Algorithms: Div Dubey, M.B.B.S
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16:20In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and Div Dubey, M.B.B.S., a neurologist and co-director of the Clinical Neuroimmunology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, explore the topic of peripheral neuropathy. Their discussion covers: The high prevalence of peripheral neu…
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Quantitative Adenovirus Assay Better Informs Post-Transplant Care: Joseph Yao, M.D.
12:21
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12:21Joseph Yao, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new quantitative assay (Mayo ID: ADVQU) goes beyond qualitative testing to evaluate transplant patients for adenovirus infection. Adenovirus can cause life-threatening disease in immunocompromised transplant patients, especially children. (01:14) Could you give us a brief overview of this ass…
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Ideas to Get Students Speaking More with Sherry Sebesta
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19:46#204 Do you have some go-to activities to motivate your students to speak and engage with the target language in your classroom? Are you always on the lookout for activities and routines to add to your list of possibilities? In this episode, I speak with Sherry Sebesta, a French and Spanish teacher in New York. Sherry shares suggestions for getting…
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Tips for Common Challenges in Proficiency-Based Classrooms
23:35
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23:35#200 How do you feel about the CI strategies, proficiency-based procedures or communicative language teaching that you do in your classroom? You hear a lot about it, either on this podcast, from colleagues or on social media. Lots of good stuff. But, do you sometimes feel like it seems like it's always smooth sailing with no challenges in other cla…
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Global Diagnostic Trends and What They Mean for Laboratories: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
14:32
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14:32In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss global trends in diagnostic manufacturing and their implications for laboratory professionals. Topics include: Emerging innovatio…
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Celebrating Identity and Dialects in Heritage Classes with Courtney Nygaard
31:58
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31:58#199 How can celebrating identity and dialects transform the experience of language learners? In this episode I'm joined by Courtney Nygaard, a teacher of heritage Spanish speakers in Minnesota. Courtney shares how she honors and values her students' identities as a way to build confidence, connection, and community in the classroom. We talk about …
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Engaging Routines in the Language Classroom with Tia Parnell
33:51
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33:51#198 How can simple, consistent routines create a classroom where students communicate confidently in the target language every day? In this episode we look at how effective routines lead to successful classrooms. I’m joined by Tia Parnell, a French teacher in Ontario, Canada. Tia shares practical insight into how routines can create structure, boo…
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Five Ways Laboratories Maximize Health System Success: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
22:05
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22:05In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the value laboratories deliver for their entire health system. They cover how laboratories impact: Growth in revenue …
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#197 Have you heard of a Write and Discuss or have you tried it in your classroom? If you've done it, you know how useful and beneficial it is for students and yourself as the teacher. If this is new to you, in this episode you’ll hear about an incredibly useful collaborative writing activity that you can do with your students right away. No prepar…
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Immerse Your Students in Arts and Culture with Heidi Trude
28:03
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28:03#196 What if your students could step inside the Louvre Museum, explore Frida Kahlo’s studio, or walk through the streets of ancient cities, all without leaving your classroom? In this episode, we explore the Google Arts & Culture app with French teacher and tech integration specialist Heidi Trude. From boosting cultural understanding to sparking m…
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Laboratory Medicine Central to Tick-Borne Disease Response: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
13:40
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13:40In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss tick-borne diseases. They cover: Different diseases patients can get from ticks. Disease prevention, including Dr. Pr…
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Teaching Grammar For Proficiency with Catherine Ritz and Mike Travers
49:38
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49:38#195 There are lots of misconceptions about teaching grammar. There are also opinions about whether or not there is a place for teaching grammar in a proficiency-based classroom. In this episode, Catherine Ritz and Mike Travers, authors of Proficiency-Based Instruction: Teaching GRAMMAR for Proficiency, join me to talk about the place of grammar in…
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Global Connections and Service Learning with Chris Howell from the Pulsera Project
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29:40#194 Where do you find opportunities for exploring language and culture beyond the classroom? Have you found ways to involve your students in service learning projects? In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Chris Howell who is the co-founder of the Pulsera Project. This is an organization that supports artisans in Guatemala and Nic…
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Revolutionary Technology Advances Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
22:09
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22:09In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by Russ Lebovitz, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Amprion. They discuss their strategic collaboration and the innovative SAAmplify™–αSYN (CSF) test. They covered: Details about how the cerebrospinal fluid biomarker …
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15 Ways to Engage Students with Task Cards
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25:24#193 Do you use task cards? How can we get the most out of them in our language classrooms? Task cards are useful tools for building engagement, supporting proficiency, and adding variety to your routines. In this episode, we’re looking at 15 creative ways to use task cards. You might already have a few that you like to use, and after this episode …
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Reflex Test Guides Precise Care for Arsenic Exposure: Paul Jannetto, Ph.D.
10:34
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10:34Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' SPAS test identifies the form of arsenic present in patients with arsenic exposure. That information is important for determining the potential level of harm and for removing the patient from the arsenic source to ease symptoms and prevent cancer risk. (00:33) Do you mind telling us a lit…
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CI When Required to Use a Textbook with Ashley Mikkelsen
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27:58#192 How much flexibility or autonomy do you have over your curriculum? Are you able to integrate CI techniques and procedures? This can be a bit challenging if our curriculum is aligned with chapters in a textbook or prescribed units. Today I speak with Ashley Mikkelsen, a Spanish teacher in North Dakota. Ashley talks us through her personal journ…
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What Happens Next? Lab-Developed Test Rule Vacated: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
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12:05In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the recent court judgment on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight of lab-developed tests (LDT). Th…
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Comprehensive Genetic Test Guides Prescribing of a Transplant Anti-Rejection Drug: Jessica Wright, Pharm.D., BCACP
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15:20Jessica Wright, Pharm.D., BCACP, explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' 3A5Q test helps determine initial tacrolimus doses for individuals after non-liver organ transplants. Optimal tacrolimus levels are one of the important factors in survival of the transplanted organ. (00:32) Could you provide us a with little bit about your background and yours…
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Pre-Speaking and Writing Routines That Build Confidence
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23:12#191 Do you have effective routines that support your students’ language proficiency and communication skills? We often think of the communication modes, proficiency levels and 90+% target language as the routines that we foster in the classroom. In this episode you’ll hear about another type of routine, student-created graphic organizers. These ar…
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Liquid Biopsy Enables Precision Cancer Care: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
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11:09In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, invited Min-Han Tan, M.B.B.S., FRCP, Ph.D., founding CEO and medical director of Lucence, to discuss liquid biopsy cancer testing. Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Lucence recently announced a collaboration to expand access to this …
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Using Podcast Episodes as Departmental PD with Andrea Caulfield
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29:16#190 A few weeks back I posted on LinkIn and Andrea Caulfield left a comment. Andrea is the World Language Curriculum Specialist in Denver Public Schools. She commented that she uses podcast episodes as a way of bringing professional development and coaching to the 100+ teachers in her district. I was intrigued to learn more about how she managed t…
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The Emergence of Retail Health: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
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14:15In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the evolution of retail health. They cover several key topics, including: The emergence of retail health locations. T…
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Project That Engages Students in Story Details
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26:22#189 We are all well aware of the importance of comprehensible input in our classrooms, and to support this many of us use stories as the way to do it. Do you use short stories, novels or graphic novels or comprehensible (CI) readers with your students? I’m excited to see that many teachers are using and leveraging texts with their students. I want…
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Speaking Activities for Any Grammar or Vocabulary with Jessica Hall
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26:43#188 We are always taking on new vocabulary themes and language structures in our language classroom. How do you make sure that your students are engaging with these new topics, particularly when it comes to speaking? In this episode, I speak with Jessica Hall, AKA Miss Señorita, who is a Spanish teacher in Connecticut. Jessica shares 3 speaking ac…
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Significant Infectious Disease Activity Continues: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.
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14:00In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss infectious disease activity around the nation. They cover: The high prevalence of influenza A, avian influenza, measl…
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Standards-Based Grading In Proficiency-Based Instruction with Jude Krushnowski
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30:18#187 What do your grades look like? Do the grades that your students earn reflect their mastery and what they can do with and in the target language? In this episode, I speak with Jude Krushnowski, the Director of the World Language Teacher Education Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He walks us through a framework for compete…
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#186 How do we ensure our students know exactly what they’re working toward in their language learning journey? In this episode, we’re diving into Writing Can Do Statements—how to make them concrete, student-friendly, and aligned with proficiency levels and ACTFL’s communication modes. We’ll explore both yearly and unit-specific Can Do Statements, …
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The Impacts of STI Testing Innovation: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.
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14:07In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, for a conversation about innovation in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Topics include: The adva…
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Universal Truths about Teaching with Carmen Scoggins
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31:05#185 What have you learned about your teaching throughout your years of experience? Do you take time to look introspectively at what works well for you and why so that you can replicate it? In this episode, Carmen Scoggins, a Spanish teacher in North Carolina, joins me to talk us through her 5 universal truths about teaching. Though our personal ex…
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