Conversations about Language Teaching
"Conversations about Language Teaching" is an unscripted podcast where hosts Diane Neubauer and Reed Riggs discuss language teaching topics, drawing on both research and classroom experience. They explore theoretical views of language acquisition and share their own experiences as teachers and learners. The show aims to build bridges between teachers and researchers, and also offers a video version on YouTube.
Episodes
When General Ed Teachers Become Language Teachers: Teaching Multilingual Learners
Send us Fan MailShow Notes: This is the online certificate Diane mentioned: https://catalog.louisville.edu/graduate/programs-study/graduate-certificate-teaching-english-intl-languge/Huynh, T., & Skelton, B. (2023). Long-term success for experienced multilinguals. Corwin Press. https://www.corwin.com/books/long-term-success-for-exp-multi-282896https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123216205-long-
Episode 53: Story Asking
Send us Fan MailEpisode 53: Story AskingShow Notes:Neubauer, D. & Riggs, R. (2026). Story-asking: Imaginative, co-created stories. Ludic Language Pedagogy Special Issue: The Ludic You Love, 69–74. https://doi.org/10.55853/llp_lyl09. Link to article: https://llpjournal.org/2026/07/01/ludic-you-love-09-story-askingIntro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the
Episode 52: Teacher Wellbeing & Learner Engagement
Send us Fan MailEpisode 52: Teacher Wellbeing & Learner Engagement Show Notes*Updated audio: Diane edited audio for Reed's part of this conversation because his recording was too faint to hear easily. Thank you, listeners, for noting the problem before we did & letting us know! The editing isn't perfect, but it's at least audible now*This episode was based around the short,
Episode 51: Vertical Alignment across Language Courses
Send us Fan Mail“Vertical Articulation” definitionsAcquah, B. Y. S., & Owusu, A. A. (2021). Vertical Articulation and Content Relevance of the Senior High School Economics Curriculum: Case of Ghana. Asian Journal of Education and Training, 7(3), 169-178, p. 170“…the interconnectedness of concepts within a curriculum (Kannan, 2016). There is vertical articulation when the lessons to be taken in
Episode 50: Summer break
Send us Fan MailEpisode 50: Summer break Show NotesSeveral language teaching conferences were mentioned:CI Reboot: June 20, 25-27 online https://fluencyfast.com/cireboot/Comprehensible Iowa: June 12 & 13, 2026 in Iowa https://comprehensibleiowa.wordpress.com/registration/CI Summit: July 15-17, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio -- Use code TEAM for $100 off registration https://cisummit.live/register.ph
Episode 49: Crossover podcast with SLAyyy
Send us Fan MailThanks to Karen Rowan and the online language teacher conference, CI Reboot 2026 https://fluencyfast.com/cireboot/ for bringing us together with a favorite podcast, SLAyyy! Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching&qu
Episode 48: Starting with a new group of language students
Send us Fan MailIntro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online language teaching. If you like thinking deeply about iss
Episode 47: Teacher evaluations
Send us Fan MailEpisode 47 - Teacher evaluationsBryce Hedstrom’s observation checklist: https://www.brycehedstrom.com/wp-content/uploads/Checklist-for-Observing-a-WL-Classroom-2.pdf Reed mentioned two books about use of translation in language teaching: Kerr, P. (2014). Translation and own-language activities. Cambridge University Press. https://a.co/d/0b4fjY57Cook, G. (2010). Translation in langu
Episode 46: Word Repetition
Send us Fan MailEpisode 46: Word Repetition -- Show NotesWe discussed TCI Oregon, June 29-July 1, 2026: https://cocc.edu/departments/community-ed/tciDiane mentioned several "button using" animal accounts on social media: ElsieWants, Flounder_Meatloaf, What about Bunny, and Pixel and FriendsDiane also mentioned: Glisan, E. W., & Donato, R. (2017). Enacting the Work of Language Instruc
Impactful Teacher Training
Send us Fan MailEpisode 45: Impactful Teacher TrainingShow notes: Diane mentioned this article:Neubauer, D., & Wesely, P. (2023). K-12 world language teachers’ use of conferences as professional development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 124, 104042. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0742051X23000306 The ACTFL Past President who spoke at ACTFL Convention 2025 is Milton A
Fools Rush In: Individual Pathways
Send us Fan MailEpisode 44: Fools Rush In: Individual PathwaysReed started the conversation with a quote from the book The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do by Judith Rich Harris https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Nurture-Assumption/Judith-Rich-Harris/9781439101650Diane mentioned the book Quiet by Susan Cain https://susancain.net/book/quiet/Intro & outro music s
Episode 43: Discussing a language teaching video
Send us Fan MailShow notes:The video clip we watched & discussed is on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/VlZESXSvi-QAdriana Ramírez's website: https://www.adrianaramirez.ca/Adriana has a podcast co-hosted with Margarita Pérez García, in Spanish: Armando Bochinche Diane mentioned Paul Seedhouse's work, & paraphrased from his book The Interactional Architecture of the Language Classro
Episode 42: Do different levels of learners need different things?
Send us Fan MailEpisode 42: Do different levels of language learners need different things?Show NotesMitten CI language teaching conference April 17 & 18, 2026: https://mittenci.weebly.com/Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teachin
Episode 41: Doing Resets
Send us Fan MailEpisode 41 Show Notes:Diane mentioned this episode of the Mel Robbins podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHpFwHYDnKE Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of lang
Episode 40: Heritage Language Learners
Send us Fan MailThank you to our guest, Dan Call, who joined us for this episode! Information about Dan's award as Pacific Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year: https://www.actfl.org/career-development/actfl-awards/teacher-of-the-year-program/hall-of-fame-2026/dan-callDan's LinkedIn Profile is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-call-377256179Show notes: Funds of knowledge is a term
Episode 39: Target Language for Young Learners
Send us Fan MailShow Notes: Diane mentioned studies that have found children process language more slowly than adults. One such study is here: Nip, I. S. B., & Green, J. R. (2013). Increases in Cognitive and Linguistic Processing Primarily Account for Increases in Speaking Rate With Age. Child Development, 84(4), 1324–1337. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23469381 Intro & outro music selected
Episode 38: ACTFL Teacher Awards as Professional Development
Send us Fan MailEpisode 38: ACTFL Language Teacher Awards as Professional Development Show NotesGuest: Ngan-Ha Ta, PhD Ngan's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nganhataACTFL Convention & World Languages Expo information: https://www.actfl.org/convention-and-expoOur previous episode with Ngan: Episode 9: Teacher Traininghttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2325378/episodes/15292383Intro
Episode 37: "Listen & Do"
Send us Fan MailShow Notes: Episode 37: "Listen & Do" in language teachingReed mentioned: Ellis, R., & He, X. (1999). The roles of modified input and output in the incidental acquisition of word meanings. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 285-301. https://www.scribd.com/document/359925425/10-0000-www-cambridge-org-3B026C16F7E59E3458121D43E055741DWe also mentioned: Shintani,
Episode 36: Research & Assessment
Send us Fan MailIntro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online language teaching. If you like thinking deeply about iss
Episode 35: Language Policy in Classrooms
Send us Fan MailMenken & Garcia, 2010 ch. 16 Johnson, 2013ACTFL 90%+ TL use position statementIntro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research a
Episode 34: Trying New Teaching Strategies
Send us Fan MailIntro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online language teaching. If you like thinking deeply about iss
Episode 33: Introducing Vocabulary
Send us Fan MailEpisode 33: Introducing Vocabulary Show Notes Diane mentioned the book Vocabulary Myths by Keith Folse. Here is the publisher's site about it: https://press.umich.edu/Books/V/Vocabulary-Myths2Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations ab
Episode 32: Focus on Form
Send us Fan MailEpisode 32 Show notes - Focus on Form Michael Long’s thinking about “focus on meaning,” “focus on form,’ and “focus on forms” in language teaching, for example: Long, M. (2008). Focus on form in task-based language teaching. In Language policy and pedagogy (pp. 179-192). John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/82ddd5f2-57c
Episode 31: Child Language Development & Implications for Teachers
Send us Fan MailShow Notes: Episode 31 (season 4) show notes: Child language development & implications for teachersConversations about Language Teaching Episode 7 was about Conversation Analysis: YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zny0LLUh3TMAudio-only podcast episode https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2325378/episodes/15229325-episode-7-learning-about-language-classroom-interaction-
Episode 30: Purposes for Picture Talk
Send us Fan MailEpisode 30 Show Notes -- Purposes for Picture Talk Link to Cheng & Tsui webinar (mentioned by Diane as included Picture Talk): https://youtu.be/HinXS0n762g eBook (includes both ‘levels’ of Picture Talk Diane described) https://cheng-tsui.publishercart.com/product/comprehension-based-chinese-ebook/ Hawaii Department of Education https://learningdesign.hawaiipublicschools.org/sta
Episode 29: Rethinking Authenticity
Send us Fan MailEpisode 29 Show Notes - Rethinking Authenticity Hasegawa, A. (2018). Understanding task‐in‐process through the lens of laughter: Activity designs, instructional materials, learner orientations, and interpersonal relationships. The Modern Language Journal, 102(1), 142-161. https://doi.org/10.1111/modl.12448Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Suppor
Bonus Episode 28: 当非母语中文老师
Send us Fan MailThis episode is in Mandarin Chinese. Reed & Diane talk about their experiences as non-native learners, users, and teachers of Mandarin Chinese. Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscr
Episode 27: A Story about Student Production
Send us Fan MailNo show notes this time! Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online language teaching. If you like
Episode 26: Children’s Books & Reading for Vocabulary Growth
Send us Fan MailEpisode 26: Children’s Books & Reading for Vocabulary Growth Show NotesThe Mandarin Companion blog has concise & helpful information about Extensive reading (ER) and 98% known language. This post also describes why children’s books are not necessarily suitable for second language learners: https://mandarincompanion.com/7-mistakes-about-extensive-reading/ Intensive reading &
Episode 25: There Is No Best Method--Why?
Send us Fan MailEpisode 25: There Is No Best Method–Why? Discussing Prabhu (1990)Show NotesWe discussed this article: Prabhu, N. S. (1990). There is no best method—Why?. TESOL Quarterly, 24(2), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586897It is freely available online at the link above. Diane missed the number of times it has been cited – “only” 1666 citations as of Feb. 28, 2025. That is still quite a
Episode 24: Pronunciation Development
Send us Fan MailEpisode 24 - Pronunciation developmentReed’s grad school classmate's study:https://www.hawaii.edu/sls/phd-student-wenyi-ling-2018-research-award/ The full dissertation:Ling, W. (2021). The Perception, Processing and Learning of Mandarin Lexical Tone by Second Language Speakers. University of Hawai'i at Manoa. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstream
Episode 23: AI Chatbots
Send us Fan MailEpisode 23: AI Chatbots Show NotesDr. Rachel Mamiya Hernandez-relevant link about using AI chatbots for language learning: https://clt.manoa.hawaii.edu/blog/event/ai-chatbots-2/Billie Eilish AI interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0c94ghBS4AMagic School AI tool, where Reed & Diane have both prompted chatbots to work with Chinese language learners: https://www.magicschool
Episode 22: Issues with Frequency Lists
Send us Fan MailEpisode 22 Show NotesMichael Long quote is on pp. 6-7 of the following, available freely online at the link: Long, M. H. (2016). In defense of tasks and TBLT: Nonissues and real issues. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 36, 5-33. https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/ED5590DB727AE82E0A98AC05264B83E1/S0267190515000057a.pdf/div-class-title-in-def
Episode 21: Viewers' Questions & Answers
Send us Fan MailShow Notes: Video examples of comprehension-based communicative language teaching:Hawai`i Association of Language Teacher (HALT) conference presentation recording: Overview of CCLT (descriptive rather than a demo): https://youtu.be/h0Xd6zVSlxU?si=dIdenoWArOmYlW-q Teachers from Hawai`i developed a website including descriptions of different teaching strategies, including video clips
Episode 20: The Silent Period
Send us Fan MailConversations about Language Teaching Episode 20: The Silent Period Show NotesSearch results on Google Scholar for “silent period second language acquisition” https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C15&q=silent+period+second+language+acquisition&oq=%22silent+period%22+Diane quoted from this document: Krashen, S. (1981). Second language acquisition. Second La
Episode 19: Listening comprehension as a goal
Send us Fan MailConversations about Language Teaching Episode 19: Listening comprehension as a goalShow NotesWe welcome questions and topics to address! We're aiming for episode 21 to be responding to questions. Write to us at conversationsaboutlanguage@gmail.com.Lichtman, K. (2019). Research on TPR Storytelling (TPRS). Fluency through TPR storytelling, 299-323. https://www.researchgate.net/p
Episode 18: Complexity in Instructional Activities
Send us Fan MailEpisode 18: Instructional ActivitiesSeedhouse, P. (2010). Locusts, snowflakes and recasts: complexity theory and spoken interaction. Classroom Discourse, 1(1), 4–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463011003750624 Neubauer, D. (2022). Chinese Language Instruction with Novice Learners: Target Language Topic Development, Engagement, and Comprehension in Online and Hybrid Classrooms. In: Th
Episode 17: Comparing language teaching settings
Send us Fan MailEpisode 17 Show notesLichtman, K., & VanPatten, B. (2021). Was Krashen right? Forty years later. Foreign Language Annals, 54(2), 283-305. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/flan.12552 Note: ACTFL members have access to that full article through your membership after logging in. There are also several response articles, and a final response from Lichtman & Van
Season 3 Episode 16: Using Authentic Texts
Send us Fan MailSeason 3 Episode 16: Using Authentic TextsShow Notes: Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online la
Episode 15: Language Learner Strategies
Send us Fan MailSeason 2 Episode 15: Language Learner StrategiesShow NotesThe chapter is chapter 34 in this book: Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D., & Snow, M. A., Eds. (2014). Teaching English as a Second Or Foreign Language. National Geographic Learning. 4th edition.A free PDF of the 3rd edition (the 2001 edition) is available free here. You can browse parts of the most recent edition (the 2013
Episode 14: Being a New Teacher at a School
Send us Fan MailEpisode 14 Being a New Teacher at a SchoolShow NotesNgan-Ha Ta https://www.linkedin.com/in/nganhata GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) https://begladtraining.com/about Our trainer in GLAD pedagogy was Luis Pelayo Zepeda.Diane’s PowerPoint with quotes from research and about language is shared freely (and you may use it with students and/or others, crediting your source): htt
Episode 13: Culture and Language Teaching
Send us Fan MailEpisode 13: Culture and Language TeachingShow NotesClaire Kramsch: https://german.berkeley.edu/people/claire-kramsch/ A book chapter she co-authored, including interculturality and “third space”: Kramsch, C., & Uryu, M. (2020). Intercultural contact, hybridity, and third space. In The Routledge handbook of language and intercultural communication (pp. 204-218). Routledge. https
Episode 12: Communicative Purpose
Send us Fan MailShow Notes: Things mentioned in the podcast with links when available:SLAyyy podcast (Ben Fisher-Rodriguez, Bill Langley, and Bryan Smith) https://slayyy.buzzsprout.com/VanPatten, B. (2017). While We're on the Topic: BVP on Language, Acquisition, and Classroom Practice. ACTFL.VanPatten, B. (2019). The Nature of Language: A Short Guide to What's in Our Heads. ACTFL.VanPatt
Episode 11: Growing from Tough Teaching Situations
Send us Fan MailIntro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online language teaching. If you like thinking deeply about iss
Episode 10: Instructional Language Play
Send us Fan MailEpisode 10: Instructional Language Play No Show Notes this episode! Send us a message if you have a question about anything we referred to in the episode.Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of
Episode 9: Teacher training
Send us Fan MailEpisode 9: Teacher trainingShow NotesNgan Ta, PhD Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching, drawing on both research and classroom & online langua
Episode 8: Reducing workload by establishing classroom routines
Send us Fan MailEpisode 8: Reducing workload by establishing classroom routinesShow notes:Some of the opening of class routines mentioned: Free Writes / Fluency WritingMap Talk How Are You? / Social-emotional check-insCalendar TalkDiane's classroom tour videos showing word posters are in this YouTube playlist.Diane's blog posts about reducing lesson preparation time when teaching five di
Episode 7: Learning about language classroom interaction through Conversation Analysis
Send us Fan MailEpisode 7: Carefully observing language classroom interaction through Conversation AnalysisShow notes: Harvey Sacks and Emmanuel Schlegoff Their 1973 study, which more or less became a standard for Conversation Analysis as a research approach and methodology: Schegloff, E. A., & Sacks, H. (1973). Opening up closings. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/semi.
Episode 6: Planning: "Communication for language" versus "language for communication"
Send us Fan MailEpisode 6: Planning: "Communication for language" versus "language for communication" Show Notes: Reed mentioned a research study we did related to language play at the Agen Workshop. That is here:Neubauer, D., & Riggs, R. (2024). Chapter 5 Pedagogical language play in a beginning L2 Chinese classroom. In L. Darren & T. Elaine (Eds.), Heteroglossia and L
Episode 5: What can language teachers get from research?
Send us Fan MailEpisode 5 of Conversations about Language Teaching: What can language teachers get from research? Show Notes:Video (8m 31s) by Mango Languages, What is Second Language Acquisition (SLA)? | Science Behind Language Learning https://youtu.be/WZZUCykPQWEDiane mentioned this article as an example of how a research article is structured, and what the early sections of the article aims to
Episode 4: Personal teaching histories from Diane & Reed
Send us Fan MailEpisode 4 Conversations about Language Teaching: Personal teaching histories from Diane & ReedShow notes:Intro & outro music selected from "23 Light Years" by CavalloPazzo Support the showConversations about Language TeachingDiane Neubauer, PhD & Reed Riggs, PhD"Conversations about Language Teaching" is a podcast of unscripted discussions of language teaching,
Episode 3: Seating and physical classroom set up
Send us Fan MailEpisode 3 Conversations about Language Teaching: Seating and physical classroom set up and how that affects teaching & learning Show notes:STARTALK is a US-funded program for critical languages teacher and student training. More info: The "I do, we do, you do" model is mentioned in this STARTALK publication. Schwab, G. (2011). From dialogue to multilogue: A different
Episode 2: Planning lessons for beginning language learners
Send us Fan MailEpisode 2 of Conversations about Language Teaching: Planning Lessons for Beginning Language LearnersShow Notes: The Agen Workshop https://theagenworkshop.com/ Swanson, P. B. (2010). Teacher efficacy and attrition: Helping students at introductory levels of language instruction appears critical. Hispania, 305-321. Read/download the article here: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/view
Episode 0: Bonus episode deciding the podcast scope & title
Send us Fan MailBonus episode 0 of Conversations about Language Teaching.SHOW NOTES: Our actual notes for planning this podcast episode & the podcast overall.1. Deciding on a title for the show: Conversations about language teaching with Diane Neubauer and Reed Riggs2. Blurbs about us:- Diane came from being a language learner, then a language teacher, then PhD program in teacher education, th
Episode 1: Comprehensive Comprehensible Input
Send us Fan MailEpisode 1 of Conversations about Language Teaching. Show notes: Items mentioned in the episode:Reed’s HI TESOL article (see pp. 22-24): https://hawaiitesol.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_May.pdf The Krashen video (a classic clip from a talk by Dr. Stephen Krashen in the 1970s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnUc_W3xE1w Michael Long, interaction hypothesis: “The idea that wha
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