Applying the “long term patient, short term impatient” mindset to second language acquisition
Austin Meusch
On a caffeine-fueled mission to make speaking assignments in world language classrooms as fast and easy as possible.
Trending Speakable Sets
View last weeks 10 most used speaking assignments.
How to Embed a Speakable Assignment in a Formative Assessment
Do you love bringing all kinds of content, activities, questions, and quizzes together using Formative assessments? We do too! That’s why Speakable is excited to offer an embed function that allows teachers to embed their Speakable assignments inside of Formative...
How to Support Students When and Where They Need it Most
Can you recall your first few months learning your second language? Maybe it's been so long ago you don't have a clear memory, or maybe, it was such a challenging experience, you couldn't forget it. In either case, if you're teaching entry level students, you get to...
How Difficult Should My Speaking Assignments Be?
This is a common question teachers ask themselves when creating their first assignments. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, there are a few guiding principles one can follow to ensure student’s are getting the most out of their Speaking assignments. Aim to...
Learn Pronunciation of the German UMLATE
In this Speakable students are introduced to the German Umlate. First, they’ll watch a 5 minute video lesson from the popular YouTube channel Learn German with Anja. Then, they’ll complete a speaking exercise that consists of 5 words, each containing an Umlate.
Learn What Not to Pronounce in French
In the video lesson, Alexa Polidoro gives learners great tips on the letters you should NOT pronounce at the end of a French words. The speaking exercise includes 10 words that are covered during the video lesson.
Dive deep into Haber (auxiliary verb)
This Speakable features a video created by Ana of Butterfly Spanish and speaking practice for 15 phrases. Some of the key takeaways from the video are 1) When to use haber (vs tener) 2) How haber and tener evolved from their Latin origins 3) Habers impersonal job and 4) Haber is there to enhance the meaning of the main verb.
Learn how to use “ya” in Spanish + speaking practice
This Speakable features a video created by Ana of Butterfly Spanish and speaking practice for 16 phrases. In the video Ana covers what the word “ya” means in Spanish, where to place it, and why it is used so often. First, she explains the Spanish grammatical point of view of the words “ya”. Then she teach you the scenarios..
Learn to Say Hello and Goodbye in Hindi
Video Lesson | 4 words/phrases | 2 minutes | Assignable | to use or assign this speakable, open the post and use the buttons below the video.
Should I Add Video Lessons to My Speaking Assignments?
https://youtu.be/N9-S6OVIcns In this video, we explore one of the biggest reasons world language teachers love adding videos to their Speakables.
How to Create a Safe Place to Practice Speaking
Speaking a new language can be daunting, especially in front of friends and classmates. Make your language students feel at ease practicing pronunciation. For many students, speaking during a world language class is their most anxiety-inducing classroom...
So You Want to Learn A New Language But Don’t Know Where to Start?
It’s impossible to become fluent in a language within only one month--anyone that promises to do so is lying to you! Trust me, I've tried to do this and failed three times. What I learned, is that it takes time and self-discipline to create a learning module, develop...
How to Create Your First Speakable Course
In this video, we walk through how to create a course on Speakable and add an auto-graded speaking assignment to it.
How to Turn a Quizlet Set into a Speaking Exercise or Assignment
In this video, we demonstrate how to a set you have on Quizlet, import it into Speakable, and turn in into a Speaking assignment.
Build Speaking Confidence with Daily Exercises
Daily speaking exercises help students become confident using their second language. The discover search makes it easy to find and share speaking exercises with your students. With a public library, it's easy to keep...
Warm students up for class with a speaking exercise
1. Upload new vocabulary for that day's lesson to a playlist. 2. Add playlist to course and copy assignment link to share with your class 3. Instruct students to open the assignment link, put in their headphones, and complete the assignment. 4. After...
Become a Speakable expert in less than 3 minutes
Create your custom course This is where things get really fun. 1. Get a jump start by adding shared playlists to your course - find playlists that include pronunciation hacks, common words & phrases, difficult words, lesson specific content...
Did you know students can create their own speakables?
Everyone's vocabulary is unique, in their native language or a second language. Language learners can embrace their personal communication styles by learning to speak L2 words that align with their likes and interests. There are four ways a student can create their...
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: November 4, 2021
This week in the STU: Student story: how learning Spanish impacted one student's life Teaching internationally: a path you could never have imagined Around the web: Florencia’s list of language teaching podcasts and more Student Story We asked...
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 21, 2021
Spanish Teacher’s Unite Newsletter October 21, 2021. In this issue you’ll find Día de Muertos content, an easy to share pronunciation activity, and more.
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 14, 2021
This week in STU: A PhD in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education answers common questions by unpacking research articles. Mar shares her tips for students that want to use music to learn pronunciation Download Kaneesha's music & pronunciation worksheet...
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 7, 2021
This week in STU: Panel Responses: Can teachers use music to help students learn new vocabulary? New on Youtube: Practicing the diphthong "IE" & Using “haber” to ask and answer questions Pronunciation Practice: A resource from Mar to help students learn correct...
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 1, 2021
We asked three teacher how they use music be to improve students reading skills. Read their responses here.
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: September 23, 2021
Teachers face an uphill for their student's attention in 2021. Competing with addictive social media platforms, video games, and, unfortunately, mental health challenges spurred on by COVID/lockdowns. That hasn't discouraged “Casa Spanish” from creating engaging video...
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: September 16, 2021
Forty-five years after Susan B. Anthony’s death, one women’s fight against the patriarchal establishment for legitimacy was reaching its peak. Hans shares how he uses famous speeches to inspire students.
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: September 9, 2021
Searching for ideas for your next lesson? Grab a guitar and indulge your students with some aceitunas and albaricoques, and settle down on an alfombra and set up an ajedrez tournament all the while knowing you might as well be in Al-Andalus.
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: August 26, 2021
Fortunately, many of Simon and Manuela’s love letters are preserved, which make for great reading activities for language and history students! Having taught history and occasionally ESL for over twenty years, I have learned that one of the essential starting points for effective teaching and learning is first to engage the student.
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: August 19, 2021
The Korean dictionary contains over 1.1 million words. Spanish? About 90,000 (with ~190,000 meanings). Aren’t you glad you’re teaching español? This week in STU: 🏰 The Kingdom of vocabulary 🚀 Approach strategies 🤓 Set & stats: Pronunciation 📓 Commonly used Spanish...
Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: August 12, 2021
Can you believe the biggest motivator driving 18-22-year-olds to travel is a desire to learn history and experience culture? That’s ahead of partying. Everyone else? Rest and relaxation. Does this reflect a growing trend amongst young Americans to seek out a more...
The Present Perfect Tense in Spanish
What Is The Present Perfect Tense in Spanish? The Spanish present perfect tense is generally used for descriptions of completed events or actions with a specific endpoint in time that are relevant or have taken place immediately before the present moment....
Introduction to Spanish Idioms with Links to Speakables
What is an Idiom? An idiom is a common phrase which means something different from its literal meaning but can be understood because of their popular use. Idioms are made of normal words that have a special meaning known to almost everyone." Source: Wikipedia...
How to Overcome Foreign Language Anxiety
You’ve probably heard other teachers, professors, and business professionals discuss the advantages of knowing a second language in the work world. Students are often advised that even if you’re not fluent, putting a second language on your resume will help you stand...