Level Up Language Learning: Adding Audio Narration to Google Slides™
🎯 From Polyglot Adventures to Creative Language Resources
It’s been a while since I blogged about language learning! Back in the day, I ran The Polyglot Blog and shared my adventures learning a variety of languages. I was even part of the early YouTube polyglot community (yes, those were the days!). I still remember the joy of connecting with learners worldwide—and the heartbreak of losing Moses McCormick, one of the most beloved figures in that space.
Languages have always been a big part of my life. I majored in foreign languages decades ago, and I’ve studied at multiple colleges and universities. Over the years, I’ve tried it all—books, courses, programs I bought, and all the digital methods: podcasts, chat rooms, you name it. I even taught myself Swedish just for fun!
🎨 From AP Art History to Language Teaching Innovation
Recently, I spent six intense months developing AP Art History resources—a massive project that taught me so much about SEO, curriculum design, and helping students succeed on the exam. I loved it, but now I’m ready for a creative shift. So, I’m pressing pause on art for a little while to dive back into my first love: language learning.
This time, I’m approaching it differently. I’ve noticed that the way I learned French and Italian is worlds apart from how most high school classes teach languages today. Teachers have to stick to standards (I respect that!), but the real challenge? Helping students speak confidently and be understood. Because let’s be honest: fluency isn’t just grammar—it’s confidence, listening, and speaking.
🔍 Why Audio Narration Changes Everything
When I learned French, one of the hardest parts was understanding and using tenses like passé composé and imparfait together. Reading and conjugating verbs was fine, but hearing them naturally in sentences? That was the game-changer for me—and it didn’t happen until much later in college.
That’s why I created something different: Google Slides lessons with embedded native audio narration. Here’s how it works:
✔ Each slide has a short French paragraph with four fill-in-the-blank verbs.
✔ Students come to the board (or work digitally) to fill in the correct tense.
✔ Then, they click a button to hear a native speaker read the passage—instant audio feedback!
This method combines visual learning, grammar practice, and listening comprehension in one neat package. If you check out my French language line, i already have a couple of the digital narrated options in the category. I even used this method in my new film studies category, that show the old movie poster and a professional narration explaining the films to students. the strategy is challenge in that the narrations all take time and work to make, but they have a great adaptability to a variety of lessons.
✍ Bringing Back the Power of Dictée
Another favorite from my college days? Dictée (dictation). My professor used to read a paragraph, and we wrote down every word—spelling and accents had to be perfect! It trained my ear and improved my writing like nothing else.
So, I built dictation activities into these lessons. Teachers can play the narration while students write on paper or interact with a digital board. This flexibility means the activities work in any classroom setup.
✅ Easy for Teachers, Fun for Students
The best part? Teachers can easily upload the slides to Google Classroom. Students can replay the audio at home for extra practice. I even adapted the lessons into French, Spanish, and Italian, because those are the languages I know best.
Why did I create these? Because I’ve been in your students’ shoes. I know what worked for me—and now, I’m excited to share it with classrooms everywhere. Audio feedback, real listening practice, and hands-on engagement are what make these resources shine.
I hope your students love them as much as I loved creating them! 🌍✨
