Not every day in the CI classroom goes precisely according to plan, but in the big picture it can still be working.

I asked a student to stay after class the other day to talk with him about his blurting out in class. We hadn’t talked long when he stunned me with his insight.

He said, “I get what you are trying to do. You are using our social energy and interest to get us to learn Spanish.” My jaw must have hit the floor. He explained the idea behind the “Special Person” interviews as well anyone could.

So I asked him since he understood what we were trying to do, why was he blurting out so much lately? He said, “No other teacher teaches like you do, where we can talk and express ourselves, and sometimes I just get carried away.”

He gets it. I get him. It’s working (and he hasn’t been a problem since).

Stay strong, my friends.