Teaching in the Target Language

1. Teaching in the Target Language Sara Blanco 1-6 Spanish Instructor Malcolm Price Laboratory School College of Education University of Northern Iowa

2. Reflection of Current Practice • What strategies do you use to help you teach and your students use the target language in the classroom? • What questions do you have about using the target language in your teaching?

3. How Much Target Language? • ACTFL – target language should be used a minimum of 90% of the time • For me this means 36 min. of 40 min. class in target language

4. Personal Experience • The most important things in language development are exposure and need. If children are exposed to a language in a variety of circumstances with many different people from the time they are born, and if they feel they need the language to interact with the world around them, they will learn it. Linguistic Society of America Raising Bilingual Children AntonellaSorace and Bob Ladd http://www.lsadc.org/info/pdf_files/Bilingual_Child.pdf

5. Separate Native Language from the Target Language • If the students know that the teacher is going to use both languages, they will not engage with the target language and will patiently wait for the English. • If the teacher plans to repeat or clarify in English, he or she may not expend as much effort to make the target language comprehensible. • Sometimes students who have understood directions or new vocabulary may call out the English, either as a way to help their classmates or to show the teacher that they have understood. It is important not to encourage or reinforce this practice because if it becomes a habit, the language lesson can turn into a translation game. Teaching in the Target Language Helena Curtain Associate Professor, Emerita University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/topics/PDFs/FeatureCurtain-TeachingintheTargetLanguageFINAL.pdf

6. Comprehensible Input • Rephrase, repeat, use cognates, high frequency words, synonyms -Teach instrucciones de la clase at the beginning of the school year, practice! -High frequency words posted, recorded in notebook - If a beginning teacher, write out your directions when planning lessons, make cognate list…develop your “teacher talk” in the target language

7. Visuals, Gestures, Demonstrations • Demonstrate: Act out directions, SHOW with actions and words! • Props/Pictures: Draw or show pictures, show actual item with prop Example – Song: Las mananitas • Gestures Use same gestures when giving directions, sign language is useful, body language is very powerful

8. Anchor Charts/Print Rich Environment • Frasesutiles Student generated list of phrases they need to use target language in class • Strategies Be explicit about strategies for understanding target language, keep posted in class • Unit vocabulary, posted on bulletin board or posters in room for quick reference

9. Routines • Opening song, goodbye/line up song -Students learn songs quickly, -They begin using the target language as soon as they enter the classroom -Great transition technique • Calendar routine For my students who only have Spanish 30 min. /week it gives us a routine we can do entirely in the target language https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2GjKESgp6w

10. Projects, Performances • Children’s books La OrugaMuyHambrienta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVJfpfKEJNE • Skits Practicing conversational Spanish, ordering in a restaurant • Book making Cuadro de mi familia, Thumbprint books

11. Instructional Pacing • Lessons may take longer than expected, due to need for more repetition, demonstration, rephrasing. • Be prepared to slow down! Remember that the value of the learning time is not only the planned lesson for the day, but the immersion experience itself.

12. Classroom Management • Advertencias: -Stop light system -“No, gracias” -Gestures • Habloespanol tickets Students receive 3 tickets at beginning of class, take ticket away for speaking English, give more if they use Spanish • Whisper to student in English if it’s a severe situation

13. Choosing English for a Lesson Segment • Can I find a way to communicate the new idea in the new language with visuals, gestures? • Can I simplify? • Can I substitute a different concept? • Can I delay this topic until we can deal with it in the target language? • Could this be part of the lessons I leave for a substitute teacher? • Could this be a homework assignment using English language resources? • Is an English explanation essential to further progress toward my goals for this lesson? Teaching in the Target Language Helena Curtain Associate Professor, Emerita University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/topics/PDFs/FeatureCurtain-TeachingintheTargetLanguageFINAL.pdf

14. In Conclusion • There will be ups and downs, some students will show resistance, high frustration • Persevere, try new strategies, add humor, games, music to keep affect of classroom positive and fun • Don’t give up!

15. Resources Increasing Use of the Target Language in Classroom Interaction Constance K. Knop www.oomroom.ca/resources/knop_article.pdf Using the Target Language in the Classroom www.languageswithoutlimits.co.uk/targetlanguage.html Target Language Use in the Second Language Classroom www2.education.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.bilash/Best%20of%20Bilash/targetlanguage.html Teaching in the Target Language Helena Curtain, Associate Professor, Emerita, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/topics/PDFs/FeatureCurtain-TeachingintheTargetLanguageFINAL.pdf

16. Resources Blog-MisMusicuentos 9 ways to increase students’ TL use http://musicuentos.blogspot.com/2010/12/9-ways-to-increase-students-tl-use.html Calico Spanish Increase Your Students Usage of the Target Language in Class http://blog.calicospanish.com/2011/02/21/increase-your-students-usage-of-target-language-in-class.html