I have taught at UPrep, Redding, CA for seven years (French) and five years (Russian). I have always taught with TPRS/CI, originally using the LICT series and sticking fairly closely to the stories, but gradually over the years realizing that PQA could take up more and more time and that just talking with students, using ideas like “circling with props” actually enabled them to make great gains in comprehension and comprehensibility. I am privileged as the only French and Russian teacher in the school, to get to know my students for three or more years. I am very aware how my relationship with them all affects how well they acquire language.
I now teach French levels 1-4, with levels 2-4 all blended, and Russian 1-3, again with the 2s and 3s together. For two years I’ve also had a sixth grade Intro to Russian class.
As a starting point, I use chapters from Carol Gaab’s French materials, plus songs, movies and novels. In Russian I begin with stories shared by Katya Paukova at previous national conferences and I keep in mind the list of 200 most used Russian vocab, compiled by Michele Whaley.
This year, for the level2 and 3 Russians I plan to pre-teach Houdini, using embedded readings and parallel stories. Because of the wide range of acquisition in the French 2-4 classes, I begin each year with a different chapter from a level 2 book, and progress to more complex material gradually during the year.
Up to now I have not had to routinely submit lesson plans in advance. I have sometimes had class secretaries record what new vocabulary and structures emerge during conversations and stories, but I wouldn’t want that record to become cast in stone. Two weeks out from the start of the new school year, it stresses me out but also excites me to know that it’ll be different students, different schedule, (admin have got me switching languages back and forth each hour again) different personal, local and world events to talk about. I do lots of teaching by the seat of my pants. I think that involvement and creativity really helps.