Blog / Author Archive

Austin Meusch
On a caffeine-fueled mission to make speaking assignments in world language classrooms as fast and easy as possible.
    Getting Started with Speakable: A Quick Guide

    Getting Started with Speakable: A Quick Guide

    Core Benefits of Using Speakable 1. Rapid Assignment Creation Create assignments in under 3 minutes Assign activities directly from the global library Utilize the Lightning Builder for quick setup Design custom activities with the AI card creator Import sets directly...

    Understanding How Repeat Card Auto-Grading Works

    Understanding How Repeat Card Auto-Grading Works

    Introduction Starting a journey with Speakable often brings forth a common question from our educator community: how does auto-grading on the repeat cards work? More specifically, many wonder if our auto-grading system might be too lenient. We recognize these concerns...

    Simple Arabic Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Arabic Pronunciation Guide

    Arabic's unique sounds and pronunciation may seem challenging at first, but understanding its key elements can significantly improve your speaking and listening skills. This guide provides an introduction to the essential aspects of Arabic pronunciation. Vowels In...

    Simple Portuguese Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Portuguese Pronunciation Guide

    To effectively speak and understand Portuguese, mastering pronunciation is essential. This guide provides an overview of key elements of Portuguese pronunciation. Vowels In Portuguese, vowels can be oral or nasal, and their pronunciation can change depending on accent...

    Simple Korean Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Korean Pronunciation Guide

    Mastering the sounds of Korean can have a significant impact on your speaking and listening abilities. This guide will introduce you to the key elements of Korean pronunciation. Vowels Korean has 10 basic vowel phonemes, which are: ㅏ: Like ‘a’ in “father”. ㅑ: Like...

    Simple Italian Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Italian Pronunciation Guide

    Accurately pronouncing the sounds of Italian can vastly improve your ability to communicate in the language. This guide will introduce you to the essential elements of Italian pronunciation. Vowels Italian has seven vowel sounds, each with a specific pronunciation. a:...

    Simple Russian Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Russian Pronunciation Guide

     ← all guides Understanding the sounds of Russian can significantly enhance your communication skills in the language. This guide introduces you to the key elements of Russian pronunciation. Vowels In Russian, there are six vowel sounds, each with a unique...

    How to Create a Conversation Activity with Short Respond Cards

    How to Create a Conversation Activity with Short Respond Cards

    Ready to whip up a conversation activity that'll have your students chatting away like lifelong pals at a reunion? With Speakable's Short Respond Cards, you can do just that in a few simple steps! Let's get down to it, shall we? Step 1: Start with the basics First...

    The New Speakable is Here!

    The New Speakable is Here!

    Overview Video [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://speakable.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Speakable-Features.mp4" id="28658" poster="https://speakable.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Speakabale.io-FEATURES-PROMO-VIDEO-Thumbnail.png" loop="false"...

    Simple Japanese Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Japanese Pronunciation Guide

    Japanese is known for its regularity and simplicity in pronunciation. This guide will introduce you to its key pronunciation features. Vowels In Japanese, there are five vowels. Each has only one way to be pronounced, and they are always voiced. a: Like 'a' in...

    Simple Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation Guide

    Mandarin Chinese may seem challenging due to the tonal nature of the language. This guide will walk you through its key pronunciation features. Tones Mandarin Chinese has four tones, and the tone of a syllable can change the meaning of a word. Here are the four tones:...

    Simple German Pronunciation Guide

    Simple German Pronunciation Guide

    Mastering the sounds of German can significantly improve your speaking and listening skills. This guide will introduce you to the key elements of German pronunciation. Vowels In German, vowels can have umlauts (ä, ö, ü), which change their pronunciation. a: Like 'a'...

    Simple French Pronunciation Guide

    Simple French Pronunciation Guide

    Mastering the sounds of French can significantly enhance your speaking and listening skills. This guide introduces the key elements of French pronunciation. Vowels In French, vowels can have accents, which slightly change their pronunciation. a: Similar to 'a' in...

    Simple Spanish Pronunciation Guide

    Simple Spanish Pronunciation Guide

    Understanding the pronunciation rules of Spanish can significantly enhance your speaking and listening skills. This guide will walk you through the key aspects of Spanish pronunciation. Vowels Spanish vowels are more consistent than English ones, and there are fewer...

    Teachers: The Product Managers of Education

    Teachers: The Product Managers of Education

    In my role overseeing product at Speakable, I have had numerous experiences that have shaped my understanding of the edtech industry. However, one insight that continually resurfaces is the significant overlap between my job and that of a world language teacher. The...

    Bridging the Feedback Gap in Language Education

    Bridging the Feedback Gap in Language Education

    Language teaching, in essence, has always been a venture that demands a high degree of personalization. By nature, it's a complex process, shaped by an array of variables from the learner's linguistic background to their individual learning preferences. This...

    Unleashing the Potential of Your Language Learners

    Unleashing the Potential of Your Language Learners

    The initial phase of learning a second language is a fascinating odyssey that often merges triumphs, challenges, and occasional frustrations into an unforgettable experience. As an instructor of novice learners, you occupy the unique vantage point of witnessing these...

    Using Assignments on Desktop / Laptop Computers

    Using Assignments on Desktop / Laptop Computers

    This guide will walk you through how to utilize Speakable on your desktop or laptop computer, focusing on three primary steps: accessing Speakable via the Chrome browser, granting microphone permissions, and completing the speaking assignment. By adhering to this...

    Using Speakable Assignments on an iPhone or iPad

    Using Speakable Assignments on an iPhone or iPad

    When it comes to using Speakable on your iPhone or iPad, Safari is your trusted companion. The relationship between Safari and Speakable represents a well-constructed interplay of software design, providing users with a seamless journey through the language-learning...

    Trending Speakable Sets

    Preview the set, then use the assign button to share with your students.    1. Autentico 1 Tema 1B Spanish - 48 cards 251 plays last week 2. être verbs! French - 23 cards 184 plays last week 3. décrire le futur French - 11 cards 116 plays last week  4. Petit...

    Learn Pronunciation of the German UMLATE

    Learn Pronunciation of the German UMLATE

    Target Language: German | Video Lesson: 5 minutes | Speaking Exercise: 5 words https://youtu.be/j3SWdwOXxsE   Click here to try this speaking activity.   German English ähnlich similar die Äpfel the apples öffnen to open das Öl the oil üben to practice...

    Learn What Not to Pronounce in French

    Learn What Not to Pronounce in French

    Target Language: French | Video Lesson: 6 minutes | Speaking Exercise: 10 words https://youtu.be/NTU-2zvJ92U Click here to practice this Speaking activity!   For more Learn French With Alexa visit her youtube channel.

    Songs in Spanish Vol. 3

    Songs in Spanish Vol. 3

    https://youtu.be/WBBCZ7Hin5A Here's a song in Spanish about love, or rather broken-hearted 💔 with English translation! 🎶 Name: Nadie sabe (No one knows) 🎤 Artist: Los Elefantes Listen to and look at the lyrics, then pronounce and get instant feedback here!  ...

    How to Create a Safe Place to Practice Speaking

    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 experience. ...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: November 4, 2021

    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 non-native Spanish...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 21, 2021

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 21, 2021

    This week in the STU:  Around the web: Día de los Muertos, free Spanish classes, and some research From reddit with love: what to do next time you're in Mexico City   Around the Web Spanish teachers are creating lots of fun content for day of the dead. These are a few...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 14, 2021

    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

    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

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: October 1, 2021

    PANEL Using music to improve reading skills Can music be used to improve student's reading skills in their target language? How do you music with your class to improve reading skills? Karen Music can be a wonderful tool for practicing reading in a new language. I have...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: September 23, 2021

    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

    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. History Hans explores the impact of that influential Argentinian along with one of the greatest speeches of her time. This...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: September 9, 2021

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: September 9, 2021

    History Hans The Moors Got the Last Word A romantic rendition of the dramatic events of the late 15th century that culminated in the fall of the last Muslim King of Iberia claims that a young Emir Muhammad XII, upon leaving his beloved Granada, released such a...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: August 26, 2021

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: August 26, 2021

    As the liberator of South America, Simón Bolívar might have went to the grave with the same level of respect and admiration as his northern counterpart George Washington. Unfortunately, that’s not how things shook out.. Not for Bolívar or his brave lover Manuela...

    Spanish Teachers Unite Newsletter: August 19, 2021

    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

    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...

    How to Overcome Foreign Language Anxiety

    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...