Listen to the Chatter
Published on Aug 05, 2016
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MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Historically in the language classroom...
- Instructors have been at the center of teaching and learning.
- The focus was on 'what the student knew' about the language, not on 'what the student could do' with it.
- Students sat in rows taking notes and working on worksheets.
- The textbook and the grammar within it were key to transferring knowledge.
Photo by profcarlos
Our students today
and the multi-media tools in their hands
Make this approach seem archaic because it is. It is not necessary for us to stand at the front of the classroom and spout facts.
Photo by flickingerbrad
Today's students are...
- multi-taskers
- impatient
- frustrated easily when not hyper-connected or engaged.
- innately curious
- collaborative
- adaptable
Photo by angermann
The language classroom of today...
- Should be learner-centered.
- Should facilitate inquiry, exploration, and collaboration.
- Should focus on what the learner "can do" with the language.
- Should be focused around proficiency-based instruction.
Photo by University of Saskatchewan
And, on what learners want!
Photo by HowardLake
They must achieve their objective.
There is a reason the rate of attrition is high in WL classes. Language instructors are not giving learners what they want. They want to leave their years of language studies with the ability to speak the language they are studying so that they can communicate with those in the target culture.
Photo by alubavin
The more your students will.
The less you speak,
This leads to the student-centered aspect of this presentation.
Photo by BES Photos
A proficiency-based classroom is key!
Gut your classroom of a grammar-focused methodology.
Photo by bmward_2000
The keys
- Once grammar doesn't reign, communication can.
- Spend time on all 3 modes of communication.
- But, spend the most time on INTERPERSONAL SPEAKING.
Photo by horrigans
For this to happen,
the teacher MUST get out of the way during classtime.
Photo by University of Saskatchewan
How do you get started?
Photo by mckinney75402
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- Begin each day with an interpersonal speaking activity.
To immediately send a clear message early in the school year, establish that students do the talking during class time by
talk about what you do to get ready each morning
the people in your family
what you did last weekend or as a child
the differences between American and Mexican culture
Set a timer and let the magic happen.
talk about what you do to get ready each morning
the people in your family
what you did last weekend or as a child
the differences between American and Mexican culture
Set a timer and let the magic happen.
Photo by kevin dooley
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- Have students sign a contract.
promising to use the target language within your classroom walls so that they feel a sense of buy in/commitment to the endeavor.
This will be harder with novice learners.
This will be harder with novice learners.
Photo by jenny downing
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- Eliminate activities in which you individually ask questions and seek responses.
How many students are speaking at any given time during these activities? Too many students, once they have been called upon, are able to mentally check out during this exercise.
Photo by Luz Adriana Villa A.
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- Promote pair work.
Larger group activities mean that individual students speak and negotiate meaning less. One student can disengage if not forced to participate.
Photo by zbigphotography (1M+ views)
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- Broach interesting topics.
These should be based on backward-designed units that allow students to use the vocabulary they are learning or have learned previously.
Also, always take into consideration the target proficiency level of your students when choosing themes.
Choose themes, topics and scenarios to which students can relate. Buying tickets at the train station vs. cell phone addiction.
Also, always take into consideration the target proficiency level of your students when choosing themes.
Choose themes, topics and scenarios to which students can relate. Buying tickets at the train station vs. cell phone addiction.
Photo by StuartWebster
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- Carefully consider with whom you partner students.
For example, putting an A student with a D student will frustrate them both, and putting close friends together will likely cause a distraction.
Photo by *Psyche Delia*
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- Make your presence known!
Student-centered does not mean that the teacher gains time to grade papers or pin holiday decorations on Pinterest. Teachers must constantly walk around the classroom monitoring student exchanges and mentoring as they go. "Anything goes" is not a teaching philosophy.
Photo by Joshua Daniel O.
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- Spend time modeling what you want your students to do, but be careful not to overdo it.
For example, pointing out specific verb tenses and vocabulary that must be used during their exchanges will quickly make an authentic activity inauthentic.
Don't correct every error. Only stop to point out patterns of errors.
Don't correct every error. Only stop to point out patterns of errors.
Photo by Jeff Kubina
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- Become comfortable with organized chaos.
Students may not use the tenses you had hoped, they may make up words, or they may even throw in English words here and there, but this is perfectly normal and part of the language acquisition process.
Do not correct every error they make. I like to pause activities only to point out patterns of errors.
Do not correct every error they make. I like to pause activities only to point out patterns of errors.
Photo by kevin dooley
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- Mix up the activities!
There are many great ways to get students talking. Start by observing colleagues at your school and by researching online.
Speed Dating
It sounds risqué, but it only entails lining up desks across the room facing each other. Use a website like Wheel Decide to change topics every 2-5 minutes, depending on the level. The students on one side will move down every time the time expires, while the students on the other side will stay seated. Every few minutes, they will have a conversation with a different student on a new topic.
Photo by MikeCrane83
Poster Making
Throw out a question for the day related to your unit, such as, “What do you do to get ready for school?” or “What are the different ways you feel?” Have students use a website such as Canva or Easelly to create posters in pairs answering the question of the day. Next, have them go around and present their posters to other pairs and vice versa.
Graphic design skills
Creativity
Learn to connect with their audience.
Graphic design skills
Creativity
Learn to connect with their audience.
Photo by Arlo Bates
Pail of Prompts
Make slips of papers with different scenarios related to your unit. Have students draw them out of a pail and practice a conversation on the topic. Next, have each group go to the front of the room and talk about it for 1-2 minutes. Set a timer so that they talk until the time runs out.
Photo by cocoate.com
Silent Exchanges
Interpersonal does not have to represent a spoken exchange. Give students a topic or scenario to discuss related to the current unit theme. Have them create a Google document that they share with a partner seated in another area of the classroom and with you. Each student should choose a different font color and have a written conversation on a topic you have broached. The teacher can monitor these conversations and give feedback via the Google doc the students originally shared. This allows students valuable interpersonal writing practice before they move on to the more high-pressure exercise of interpersonal speaking. Once they have practiced the conversation in silence, have them have it out loud, rotating between their original partner and other classmates.
Photo by Anaïs Nannini
First Five Fridays
Assign each student in your class a Friday (or two) during the school year when he or she has to direct a conversation for the first five minutes of class. During this time, they can broach any (appropriate) topic that is of interest to them. Encourage them to choose a topic that they know their peers can discuss in the TL. They are responsible for making sure the conversation stays alive for the entire five minutes. You will often find that five minutes is not enough!
Photo by Marc Wathieu
