NTI and Language Learning: How I Keep my Students (and Myself!) Above Water & MOTIVATED!

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be trying to teach Spanish through a computer screen for weeks at a time (AGAIN!), I probably would have laughed nervously. Language learning thrives on conversation, interaction, and those lightbulb moments that happen when students are fully engaged in the classroom. NTI strips away so many of those elements, leaving both teachers and students treading water, trying to stay afloat.

And yet, here we are.

So far this school year (here in beautiful Kentucky), we’ve had 13 missed school days—thanks to two temperamental winter storms (including the biggest snowfall we’ve had in two decades), widespread illness, and even a freak hurricane-like storm back in September. On a personal level, I’ve been juggling my own family’s health struggles, including multiple surgeries for my husband. It’s been exhausting to say the least.

NTI will never replace in-person instruction, especially for language learners. But in a year where everything has felt like a whirlwind, it’s been the thing keeping me afloat. Without it, I don’t know how I would have managed everything life has thrown my way so far this year.

The Unique Struggles of NTI for Language Learners

Teaching a language through NTI is like trying to learn how to swim without ever touching the water. Spanish isn’t just about memorizing words—it’s about using them in meaningful ways, hearing the nuances, reacting in real conversation. Here’s why NTI makes that so much harder:

• The Loss of Real-Time Interaction – In class, we talk. A lot. My students ask questions, I correct their pronunciation, we joke around using new vocabulary. That’s how they learn. But NTI removes those organic, real-time moments and makes language feel more like a series of isolated tasks.
• Delayed (or No…yikes) Feedback – Normally, I can hear when a student says Me gusta mi perro porque es muy divertida instead of divertido and correct it on the spot. With NTI, I don’t always catch those errors until they’ve become habits.
• Motivation Takes a Hit – Some of my students thrive in an independent learning environment. Others completely shut down. It’s hard to keep them engaged when they don’t have the same accountability and energy of a classroom.
• Equity Challenges – Some students have perfect home setups with excellent connection and connected, supportive parents. Others are babysitting siblings, working jobs, or struggling with spotty Wi-Fi. For some, NTI feels like an inconvenience—for others, it’s an impossible ask.

How I’ve Kept My Kids’ Heads Above Water

With all these challenges, my biggest goal has been keeping my students afloat—making sure they don’t just disengage completely. Here’s what has helped:

• Flexibility Over Perfection – I’ve let go of the idea that everything has to be structured and perfect. Some days, all I can do is check in and let them know I’m still here, still rooting for them. That consistency matters.
• Making It Personal – I try to incorporate things that connect to their real lives, like voice recordings instead of essays or allowing them to talk about things that matter to them. Language is meant to be used, not just memorized.
• Giving Them Choices – Not every student learns the same way. Some prefer writing, some prefer speaking, and some love games like Gimkit or Quizlet Live. Giving them options has helped keep more of them engaged!

The Unexpected Wins

For all its struggles, NTI has brought some surprising positives, too.

• It’s Given Me (and Them) Breathing Room – As selfish as it may sound, with everything going on in my own life, NTI has been a necessary pause. It’s allowed me to balance teaching with the challenges of home life. And for some (I know not all) students, that same flexibility has been a blessing.
• More Student Ownership – Some of my kids have stepped up in ways I didn’t expect. They’re taking more responsibility for their learning, asking better questions, and exploring the language independently.
• Reassurance — A lot of my courses are self-paced and this has demonstrated two wins: 1.) I haven’t had to create new on the fly digitally accessible content, because it’s already there and 2.) my students are well-versed in how to access everything they need! (Thinking about restructuring your classroom into a student-centered environment? Be sure to check out my post about 5 simple steps (HERE) to get you started that includes a FREE resource from my TPT to help you successfully get started!)
• New Teaching Strategies – I’ve had time to get more creative, creating even more digital tools and asynchronous activities that I might not have otherwise explored. Some of those strategies will stick around even when we’re back in the classroom.

NTI Will Never Replace the Classroom—But It’s Been a Lifeline

At the end of the day, NTI is no substitute for in-person learning. No app, worksheet, or pre-recorded lesson can replace the connection of being in a classroom together. Language is meant to be spoken, heard, and lived.

But in a year where the storms—literal and figurative—keep coming, I’m grateful for the way NTI has helped me keep my kids’ heads above water. It hasn’t been perfect. Some days, it feels like just barely keeping them afloat. But we’re still moving forward, and right now, that’s enough.

Check out my NTI Survival Guide for Language Teachers HERE for more practical strategies, digital tools, and time-saving tips to keep your students engaged—and yourself sane—during remote learning days!