Let’s not have another 2021. I mean not just in society in general, but also in our classrooms. How? Let’s stop making language gains our primary focus. Let’s make the kids our primary focus. When we focus on language gains, we invariably end up favoring the few. This divides classes. Instead, we should focus on […]
Here is an updated version of the syllabus for the first class for those attending the new April 2nd training on the Ultimate CI Book 1. Note that the six-week training is $189.95, but is free to patrons: Class 1 – Saturday – 04.02.22 (12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time) Read the section in the
I really do believe that people who are language teachers have been handed – or rather had dumped on them – a unique set of challenges. Before, a few years ago, change was not obligatory, but now it is. Not to say that others in other professions aren’t in the same situation. It’s all gnarly
The focus here has always been on good teaching. However, the protection of our mental health and our own personal happiness (so related to our jobs!) are of the greatest importance. Sometimes I teach old-style grammar. Some get it and some don’t. I don’t care. I am not always in the mood to do a
I defend the right of teachers to teach as they think best, except when it is at the expense of children. The confidence of children, their well-being, their mental health and their self-image as capable life-long language learners, all of these things depend on whether the teacher uses CI or not. The fact is that
I listened to a podcast about CI. The speaker was saying that there are many CI “fanatics” out there talking about how comprehensible input is the only way to teach a language. He explained that there are many other ways to teach a language that work perfectly well, and that CI is only one of
Noam Chomsky has said: “…[Language] is acquired by virtually everyone, effortlessly, rapidly, in a uniform manner, merely by living in a community under minimal conditions of interaction, exposure, and care.” The message here is ever so simple! People acquire languages by being in community with people who speak the language. Put simply, they hang out
Merely Focusing on the CI Skills and Activities is Not Enough Read More »
Sean Lawler once wrote here: “We all have our moments during class where we speak in English at length about whatever comes up . We do so because sometimes topics that come up are just too interesting to not talk about in English.” I really like this. I see the extended us of English as
I don’t know if the terms “teacher abuse” is a term, but it’s a thing. It usually is due to a narcissist type of administrator, or some whack job of a department chair or colleague. I used to stay in those schools even though I knew that “something was wrong”. In one case, I stayed
The next Ultimate CI Book 1 training is Jan. 8 – Feb. 12 on Saturdays from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. The next family reunion is Sat. Feb. 19th from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Q. What do I do with my fast processors who are always trying to get me to speed up? A. Don’t acquiesce to their demands. Tell them that you will not speed up to the level they want in your instruction until all the kids in the classroom understand. Tell them that you are doing
Many of us think that if we just master the set of skills that we need to get through a story, then our kids will show the proficiency gains that we want and so test well and everything will be fine with our jobs. But in order to find real professional satisfaction in our jobs,
