Here is a more complete answer to a question that Keri asked a few weeks ago here:
Q. I am certain that I won’t be using an 84 minute block class to create an image. So, I’m wondering what else to do with the kids for the rest of that period. I’m sure I will be reviewing the artist’s work but if you have any other ideas, they are welcome. I would rather not do the story the same day because I want to have time to process their L1 ideas…unless you think that maybe I should do a story the same day.
A. I would definitely do some Story Listening with them for the rest of the period, just telling stories from the culture and they learn about the culture and get input. Beniko Mason is coming out with an important book on SL soon and I when I asked her to write an appendix on Story Listening for this book she accepted and so we have that in the appendices section here.
Q. I don’t feel that strong with Story Listening.
A. Then exercise that muscle. It is the purest form of comprehensible input that I know. You are probably strong at it. You just don’t know it because your career path never went there. Develop your abilities in Story Listening by practicing. Story Listening is a very simple process. When you get to understand it you will see that it is a very deep way to reach kids in a language classroom.
Q. Why?
In my view it is because the kids don’t feel that they have to perform, as they do in targeted classes. Since they don’t have to suggest cute answers or anything (use the stop signal, lock their gaze onto the teacher, and basically perform, the affective filter goes down to almost zero, the cortisol readings go down, and they feel like paying attention because they are not forced to do so).
Q. When did you first hear about Story Listening being done in language classes?
It was in 2001 when observing Susan Gross in her classroom in Colorado Springs. She did a thing once a week called Kindergarten Day. It was different from all the stuff that she was doing the rest of the week which was so hard to understand. The kids all gathered around her on the floor and she held a big book and talked about the pictures. Some parents would sometimes come in with cookies and milk and the kids brought their “blankies”. Whenever I did this over the years, even with high school kids, they would amazingly become like small children and really enjoy it.