- Bilingual Profe Podcast
- Classnotes Podcast
- Think Bilingual Austin
- America the Bilingual
- Language Latte
The field of bilingual education is an engaging and fulfilling profession. Bilingual education is not just about second language acquisition. It is about intercultural understanding. Instructors in bilingual education often struggle to find resources for their classrooms or for their personal development. There is a lot of evolving research and new developments in second language learning. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for language teachers to find time to pour through scholarly articles or find the creative energy to develop unique activities. Having support from colleagues in the field can be irreplaceable. Podcasts are an excellent way to share ideas and best practices. Below are five podcasts for bilingual educators.
Bilingual Profe Podcast
Bilingual Profe Podcast is a podcast designed for bilingual, Spanish immersion, or dual language instructors. In this podcast, host Janet discusses the best practices for bilingual instruction. The podcast seeks to address the lack of resources within the field and provide tips on what to teach when to teach it, and how it should be taught to create an effective learning environment that will result in confident successful students. Episodes include titles such as “Organization and Collaboration for Bilingual Teachers,” “Bilingual Teacher Interview Process and Integrated Units,” and “Transitions and Fitting a lot into Your Literacy Block.”
Classnotes Podcast – IDRA
Classnotes Podcast is produced by the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) and is an award-winning series for teachers and administers. Classnotes focuses on the intercultural challenges of the contemporary classroom and provides strategies that will help teachers serve all of their students. Episodes include titles such as “Code-Switching as a School Strategy,” a podcast that focuses on how educators can create an inclusive curriculum.
Think Bilingual Austin
Think Bilingual Austin is a non-profit organization that is committed to helping communities develop “bilingualism, acquisition of a second language, bilingual educational and multicultural engagement.” The founders of Think Bilingual Austin promote the idea that language is closely tied to identity and that understanding a second language helps with intercultural understanding. Episodes include titles such as “Common Misconceptions Regarding Language Acquisition” with special guest Alejandra Mielke, Ph.D.
America the Bilingual
America the Bilingual is a podcast that is “dedicated to the pursuit of bilingualism in America as one path to a healthier, stronger nation.” America the Bilingual aims to increase bilingualism and biliteracy to promote interpersonal communication and multicultural understanding within a diverse national community. Episodes include titles such as “Top Tips from Teachers for Adult Language Learners,” “Buds of Bilingualism,” and “Summer Language Camps: A Short-Course on Six We Love.”
Language Latte
Language Latte is a podcast by a language teacher for language teachers. Host Becky discusses best practices, methodology, and fun activities to help students learn their target language faster. Topics featured in the podcast include educational technology, getting students to speak in the target language, teaching vocabulary, the role of grammar, using films or games in class, bringing in culture, and so much more.
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Master’s in English Language Learning Online
Stop reinventing the wheel. Relax a little and learn from your peers. Bilingual educators often use podcasts as a way to enhance their teaching repertoire and glean new ideas from experienced instructors. Taking time to regenerate with a helpful podcast can help teachers feel supported and understood.