Unlock with PatreonThe Problem with CI
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An Honest Discussion
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7 thoughts on “An Honest Discussion”
Look at these three examples taken from above:
…when we play games I feel more connected and fluent because it’s more real….
…when we don’t read our [own] stories out loud I feel like I’m not learning as much because I’m not learning how to say the words….
…when we don’t write down vocabulary I feel like I’m not acquiring the language because I might forget the words….
Each of these comments by Steven’s students flies in the fact of what we know from the research. Games don’t work, reading stories out loud doesn’t work, and writing down vocabulary doesn’t work.
What we must learn to do is lovingly and politely explain to our students (and parents and administrators) exactly why those things don’t work, and then we must stand in front of them and state that we will not teach that way, because we are the professionals and we know what works and what doesn’t.
Tina is doing that right now in Oregon. She is NOT putting her tail between her legs and slouching away from the fight. She is stating EXACTLY WHAT HER POSITION IS clearly to anyone who asks. That is the way of strength.
So I applaud Steven for inviting this discussion into his classroom and I applaud anyone who lovingly refuses to cop to ignorance by stating their professional truth to others. We can and we will meet ignorance with a compassionate but firm response. Stephen is a teacher for the future. He is pointing the way to the new and happy foreign language classrooms of the future by going through, each day, the kind of stressful and uncomfortable mental confrontations described above. Steven is a real TEACHER.
Tina, in the same way, represents the future of our work. I just got an email this morning saying that her kids have heard that she is being taken to task by that one incredibly dense administrator who has been in her face lately. She told me that the kids are having none of it and are ready to go to war on her behalf. How cool is that?
Thanks ben for posting my findings of what is happening in my class. Yes. we need to stand lest we fall to the myths that have plagued the teaching of languages. Thank you Ben for your encouragment. The kids are loving their characters. I see that their tired eyes just want a break from the testing and work pressure by having some real talk to themselves while drawing some talking beef sauce or some vampire with umbre hair.
Tina is totally banging on that wicked beast daily! When has being an advocate for students been this political? We are at a turning point.
Tina has a hammer and she is using it.
I love that your students are loving their characters. Is there not at least a little room in our profession for that word – love?
Stephen, this is such a great conversation starter. I love this! Between this and making a portfolio like Tina did, I think all bases are covered if you get questioned.
In retrospect it was more important for students to be heard out about their concerns about the class rather than actually implementing any solutions.
I think that is quiet often the case, because generally the students are being talked at and not listened to. Just to know someone cares and listens is much more important.