This article was written in an English speaking context. So in our context the target language would be Spanish. When it says that students would address you or talk to you in English, for us it would be in Spanish.
In this article in The Language Educator, New Jersey French teacher Douglass Crouse suggests ways that teachers can reach the goal of students using the target language 90 percent or more of each class:
- Start the year by explaining why
staying in the target language is so important to fluency and proficiency in
the language.
- Praise students individually and
collectively when they make the effort.
- When students address you in
English, give a quizzical look and say you don’t understand.
- Plan lessons to eliminate idle
time that allows students to chat in English.
- Use activities like inside-outside
circles to allow students to practice common expressions and structures in
rapid sequence. This also allows the teacher to listen for places where
communication is breaking down.
- Change seating plans often so
students can pair up with different classmates.
- Design activities that allow
students to use the language to get information they’re missing.
- Let students know they may be
asked to report their information to the class at any moment.
- Post commonly-used phrases around
the classroom so students can use them when they’re stuck.
- Try a reward system in which
students can earn points for maintaining the target language.
- Encourage students to come up with
silly stories as part of a survey.
Good article, it´s easy to read and very simple, i like the subject of the text, because all the points explains very well, as how to develop many tools to the proficiency language.
ReplyDeleteIn the bilingual education I can see and understand between the lines (with all the material that we have reviewed), that all the techniques to work with the students are very useful and easy to apply, althought the teachers conform with the minimum.
The funny part of the education, I think is the practical of the strategies, because most of the points that the author explain, are with ingenuity, its important to observe the dinamic of the group and, apply the strategies that work better with the students.
It´s only to commitment, the labor of the teacher is pay attention in the little details that seem irrelevant, because most of the time, this is the key to understand the students.
Irrelevant details make important changes.
DeleteI really like this article, first because it can be use for anyone who is teaching languages, it doesn't matter if it is English, Spanish, French, the suggestions are useful for any language.
ReplyDeleteThen I like that the article is really simple and easy to read and understand, of course the suggestion sounds easy to follow, but you have to be very straight, and discipline to use this points in your classroom, other way your students are going to be the ones who have the "power" in the classroom.
This suggestions can be also useful for a person who is not the teacher, but is a student, and know the implications of learning a new language.
Discipline is important, but you need to know how to administer it.
DeleteI think it's a very interesting article for this class, most bilingual schools use one of these points.
ReplyDeleteThere are schools where the english language is not mandatory and only offer used language as a subject in my own experience was so, the teacher never use any of the points, we explained in spanish and that's why I struggled with this language.
It is important to encourage students, as I said, praising them to be motivated to continue speaking the language not only in the classroom if not inside
You are right Iraida, you should always motivate your students so that they continue learning.
DeleteCant deny that this article is very useful for those teachers that are instructing a second language (no matter which one is). I say so, cause its common that in a "normal" school were english is just another subject more, teachers tend just to talk partially of the time in english contributing in the laziness of the students.
ReplyDeleteThese recommendations are understandable plus very easily to apply. We should share them and make notice both, students and teachers, that the process of learning and teaching a second language is not easy as it seems.
As teachers we need to be really involve with different methods and techniques; meanwhile, students should be receptive and active participants in the whole process.
The article was well written :)
Yes, the recommendations are easy to implement. Sometimes it is simple thing that make a big difference.
DeleteEven the article is so simply and easy to read and understand, author's tips are important and easy to do it. I think techniques like this are basic but many times the teachers try to innovate and use sophisticated techniques and sometimes aren't working because the students are afraid and don't speak the second language.
ReplyDeleteI like post commonly-used phrases and maybe this post can be replace after certain period of time.
Like I mentioned to Betty, many times it is simple things that make the difference.
DeleteI like the article, because there are simple rules and tips to follow. As the article say it doesn’t matter witch type of language are you teaching, the importance is to promote the students to switch and practice the new language.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher it’s a very important element for the knowledge, so the students doesn’t feel alone.
I can recognize these tips, because I have seem some of them in the observations that already made at CAT in early childhood.
I remember the reward system in kindergarten, the students obtains coins so they can buy little things like erasers, pencils, mini games, etc; also the posters and flash cards around the classroom about the days of the week, the months, names of the classmates, etc.
All of these things make the student remember better the basic vocabulary that they have to learn and also start participating in English.
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DeleteCristy, I am glad the observations are helping you see these points that are essential in language class.
DeleteI like this article because, each point its interesting, and easy to follow, i think this tips are very usefull, and I can practice in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis steps can make the students feel confortable with the class, and also will motivated them to learn.
I found this article very interesting.
Yes Mariana, these points will make them feel better within the classroom environment. When you feel good you want to learn.
ReplyDelete