NOTE: This is from a unit that teaches the subjunctive with a story-based approach and compelling comprehensible input. You can get the entire unit here. The example in from a Spanish 3 class, but the principles apply to any language and any level. FOCUS STRUCTURE: quiere que vaya [...]
A teacher I am coaching sent this series of messages the other day: Hi Bryce, Today I had a student that rushed in the room and did not say the password. Has this ever happened to you? I was standing at my door and she just walked in without saying it. [...]
Language is more than mere vocabulary and grammar. Authentic cultural stories like this one can help students to communicate. Students need to know the background information that these kinds of stories provide to understand the metaphor-laden speech and imagery that every native speaker uses all the time—up to six [...]
I submitted this to the blog of C.I. author Andrew Snider in September. In case you missed it, here is my response. See Andrew's books on our website here. What is your reaction? What did you wish you had known when started teaching with C.I.? WHAT DID YOU WISH [...]
In a Professional Coaching session with a friend and veteran Spanish teacher last week, she mentioned an issue that was troubling her regarding curriculum and instruction at her school: Some colleagues are spending a lot of class time promoting politics that are tangentially related to Spanish-speaking countries and populations [...]
A coaching client asks: How to handle a kid wanting to go to the bathroom/nurse to avoid a game or interactive activity in class? FVR- How do you manage to keep the books organized so that kids can find their books the next time they go to read them? [...]