Here is a blog from a week ago but with some additional insights from the writer below in italics. This is chill’s mentor and a career professional of 38 years who is just now finding out about TPRS:
If I were still teaching, I would feel all re-inspired and energized from all your ideas. I watched Ben’s class on You Tube and read his blog. Wow. Language in action. I heartily agree with you that this method seems more fun, practical, effective and meaningful than the traditional way. Society changes, and our teaching methods need to evolve too. I truly commend you for re-training yourself and being open to a new way of teaching. Kudos to you. I am decidedly impressed – impressed by your enthusiasm, by your professional commitment to keep growing, by your desire to instill a love of learning and by your political astuteness RE the future of your program. I will be most eager to learn how it all unfolds, enrollment-wise etc. Do keep me posted!
I felt frustrated that after 38 years of teaching, I still never really got my kids to speak. It seems like I tried every second language acquisition theory and method that came along since my first job in 1965. I was tired at the end of my career. I wonder if I could have adapted yet again. Would I ultimately have been more like your Spanish teachers – frozen and too stuck to change? I would like to think not, but it does become exhausting to have to re-learn and re-do.
TPRS reminds me a little of Capretz’ French in Action. I used it in the 1990s. I found that my students did use the language more, but it was still less interactive than Ben’s lesson. For example, each lesson began with a 30 minute video with the language and story all done in French. But it was something one had to sit and watch and pay attention to before practicing anything. Not too effective if a student fell asleep, which happened more than once.
Here is the new stuff. She adds:
I must have been excited by what you are doing (TPRS) because I woke up in the middle of the night with a dream that I was in a classroom using TPRS! I got to thinking this morning that even if I had the emotional energy to change my teaching methods yet again, it would be very difficult logistically. In a public school, I would have to have board approval for the materials and then re-write the curriculum. Right away, this would remove my ability to experiment for a year. My high school now also requires daily lesson plans, which would hamper spontaneity. Also, they have to cross-reference workplace readiness and the core content standards. Administrators (not a colleague) come to class and would note if one were following the required program. Oh la la! You are indeed fortunate to be in a private school with so much freedom and control.