Acquiring Language through Mindfulness, Brain Breaks, and Purposeful Play

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Why are breaks, mindfulness, and play beneficial and necessary to acquisition in a world language classroom?


Explore effective strategies to enhance language acquisition through mindfulness, brain breaks, and purposeful play in this engaging online course tailored for world language educators.

Learners will delve into the benefits of breaks and self-reflection in language instruction, gaining practical skills for integrating brain breaks and mindfulness exercises. They will also reassess the impact of intentional play and games on language acquisition across all learner ages, with a focus on promoting neuroinclusion.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize the benefits of mindfulness practices and implement them consistently to support diverse learners in language acquisition.
  • Explore and practice a variety of brain breaks suitable both in and out of the target language
  • Reevaluate the role of purposeful play in the world language classroom to enhance neuroinclusion and optimize learning outcomes for all students.

Take the Course

This course emphasizes the critical role of breaks, mindfulness practices, and structured play in supporting neurodivergent learners and fostering an inclusive classroom environment.

About our instructor

Wesley Wood

Wesley Wood is a disability specialist at a private, four-year university and a former K-12 Latin and French teacher. In 2022, he was named Teacher of the Year by the Greater Washington, D.C. Association of World Language Teachers (GWATFL). Wesley is also a Mead Innovation Fellow of the Northwest Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL) for his work advocating for neurodivergent learners and supporting educators to create more accessible language classrooms and programs.

As an educator, Wesley believes that the best language learning occurs when students are seen as individuals and respected for who they are, when lessons follow the principles of universal design, and when teachers are in partnership with their students to create a fun, safe, and inclusive classroom environment.