About the Course

How Will This Course Help You Teach Better?

Whether it's a textbook chapter, a novel, a test, a song, a film, or or even an isolated grammar topic, you have content to teach that you need to prepare students for linguistically. But how do you know where to start and how best to get students from A to B—and how do you make it interesting?

In these short video modules, Justin builds on Wiggins and McTighe's original Backward Design model to share an incredibly simple three-step approach to planning instruction full of the input and interactions students need in order to understand and enjoy any target-language topic or content.

Crazy Simple Backward Design for World Language is an adaptation of an online workshop Justin led in March 2020, during the second week of school closures in the United States due to COVID-19. The original workshop provided both much-needed peer support and much-requested professional development. The principles and techniques remain just as valuable, whether you are teaching in person or online, asynchronously or in real time.

To help you get the most of the training, Justin has streamlined and reorganized the workshop content into 8 short chapters that you can complete on your own schedule.

Crazy Simple Backward Design for World Language is available only as part of the Site-Wide Pass, which provides full access to all current and future content on this site. Right now, you can get the Pass at the Founding Member rate!

Course Chapters

  • 01

    3 Phases of BD + the Happy Paradox of BD

    • 3 Phases of BD + the Happy Paradox of BD

  • 02

    Desired Outcomes + Student Concerns

    • Desired Outcomes + Student Concerns

  • 03

    What's Different about Backward Planning for World Language

    • What's Different about Backward Planning for World Language

  • 04

    Demo + Brainstorm; Linguistic and Conceptual Priming

    • Demo + Brainstorm; Linguistic and Conceptual Priming

  • 05

    JSB's 3-Step Version of BD for World Language

    • JSB's 3-Step Version of BD for World Language

  • 06

    Demo with a Text, Essential Questions, and 5 Cs

    • Demo with a Text, Essential Questions, and 5 Cs

  • 07

    Hooks for When You Don't Know Prior Connections

    • Hooks for When You Don't Know Prior Connections

  • 08

    Q & A, Discussion, and Resources

    • Q & A, Discussion, and Resources

What People Say

Feedback on Justin's courses and training

One of the most inspiring teachers, and humans, I've had the pleasure of knowing.

Justin has astonishing vision for big-picture language-learning goals and how to achieve them through day-to-day, small-picture processes.

Justin Slocum Bailey is the ultimate educator.

JSB is my new hero. I mean, I really enjoyed watching him work and hearing him speak. He's authentic, intelligent, sincere. The real deal.

Justin’s enthusiasm and sense of humor were amazing!

Justin should be the keynote speaker at every conference!

I truly didn’t want today to end! This is the type of professional development that teachers crave.

One of the best speakers I have seen in my entire career!!

My new mantra is "Teach like JSB is watching!"

Awesome energy!

Justin's ease with students is pure magic.

Whenever I face a pedagogical decision, however big or small, I ask myself, "What would Justin do?"

Holy gifted batman! Justin's command of a classroom is amazing.

I learned a mountain of wonderful strategies!

He was so engaging and so entertaining. SUCH a great speaker and so inspirational!

I've never met a teacher more excited for or more skilled at teaching a language through whatever methods work for his students, whether they be formal and traditional or cutting-edge.

Justin was great. I like that he is animated, yet low-key. He inspired me to recommit to a focus on communication as the essential task in my classes.

Quería darte las gracias por la clase de hoy, en verdad fue muy divertido e inspirador. Estaré al pendiente de tu vuelta a México para volver a tomar otro taller. ¡Gracias!

Ausgezeichnet! Your energy and true caring shone through so beautifully.

Justin is an amazing presenter.

One of the greatest teachers I have ever encountered.

His enthusiasm and engagement model so well.

You treated everyone in the class like they mattered PERSONALLY to you. You looked them in the eyes, you remembered their names, you TOLD them they were interesting. You were laughing, they were laughing, and you let the mistakes be part of the fun. Their successes were yours - you were EXCITED by their success.

What I appreciated most was the specific activities I learned, combined with Justin’s willingness to engage with our questions and ideas.

An amazing experience.

Justin's presentation freed me up to do what I have long felt was best.

Your (Justin's) exemplary skills + empathy + humor. An inspiring model.

A totally accomplished and expert presenter! I will be studying this presentation in depth.

The kind of teacher/presenter I'd like to have a beer with.

I learned by experience that I really can do this!