First blog post- Journey into TPRS/TCI (from April 2014)

(From older blog account)-  originally published on 4/14/14

Well, I'm new to this whole blogging thing.  I had created a blog back in November 2013, but can't seem to locate it now.  I think it was on a different Google Account.  Oh well, here we go again.

I've been on Twitter for about 2 years now, and have learned so much from some amazing teachers.  I've also collaborated with people I've met on Twitter and presented workshops at two difference conferences last fall.  Some of the things I've learned about are using authentic resources in the classroom, TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) and CI (Comprehensible Input).  There is so much more too, but I'll keep it limited for now.

I began following teachers that share great ideas or ask great questions in relation to these themes.  Every Thursday night there is a #langchat where many many Language teachers share ideas and answer questions around a different theme.  There have been many dedicated to TPRS/CI versus teaching with a textbook, and also how to do TPRS/CI and still follow a textbook.

One of the teachers I met on twitter also offers workshops.  I was able to attend one in January of 2013 in Waltham.  Carol Gaab presented an introductory TPRS workshop, and also promoted her TPRS Publishing short novels and TPRS curriculum.  I was hooked.  Another teacher that I follow on Twitter, Martina Bex, has a wonderful blog where she shares her journey to TPRS/CI teaching and the curriculum she has created in her journey.  There are many other teachers that I've found on twitter who have their blogs full of resources.  It can get overwhelming sometimes!!

After attending the workshop with Carol Gaab, I ordered some books from TPRS Publishing and I am trying to see how to fit them into the current curriculum.  I also searched high and low for more workshops to take, and found one in Providence in September 2013.  I attended that workshop, led by Blaine Ray.  Blaine Ray was a leader in the TPR development back in the 1980s, when TPR stood for Total Physical Response.  That idea was to get kids moving as they learned the language.

TPRS now is Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling.  It encourages stories to be created in class, or short novels to be read by the class.  The key to this method is all about repetition.  You use a low new word count, and try to repeat the word 100+ times in the class period.  The more the students hear the word, they more likely they are to pick it up and use it on their own.  Most teachers focus on 3 new structures per lesson.  CI is Comprehensible Input.  The idea of CI is that students need the input (what they hear/read) to be comprehensible to them.  This can be accomplished by using simple sentences, and repetition.  Many authentic texts and videos can be used, even in a low level class, by making it comprehensible to the students.

This post is long enough for now!! I'll continue my rambling thoughts later.  I'm hoping to really get going on my new curriculum over April vacation.

Hasta Luego,

Alison