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Flowers Growing in Maine
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9 thoughts on “Flowers Growing in Maine”
Zoe welcome to the group. In fact, we have been discussing these very topics throughout the spring as some of our group members get ready to find new digs.
I would suggest that you read in the category (link given below this paragraph) for starters. It has articles on the job interview process, what to say when one embraces net theory, etc. especially if the school still has teachers in it who may be on the interview committee who are not aware, in the real way, of Krashen’s research, and who still teach in the old way. These articles also include two detailed descriptions of demo lessons, which you requested as well, by teachers who have landed jobs in the past few months. There are demo lessons for block and non-block schedules. Can you imagine having to teach an 85 minute class to get a job? Angie Dodd did and the results were not only that she got the job but also that we now have a detailed lesson plan here for anyone else to use that is gold. It is a marvelous lesson targeting seasons and weather expressions. Here is the link to those articles:
https://benslavic.com/blog/category/interview-suggestions/
In addition, Robert Harrell in Los Angeles has written a very concise summary of what teaching based on comprehensible input is all about. It, along with other articles contributed by group members, provide all the information one might need to make convincing arguments in favor of the way we have chosen to teach languages. They are intended for printing and sharing with colleagues who are looking for hard facts about our work. For that link just click on the “Primers” hard link at the top of this page.
This will get you started.
Good to have you join the tribe, Zoe!
While interviewing for a job, if you are talking to true educators, then everything you say about comprehensible input will spark their interest. It is like learning the target language like a baby learns their first language, through messages and stories, not through grammar and linguistic puzzles. We personalize instruction and we bring the humanity back into the classroom.
For the others; the opportunistic, the cynical, the ego-maniacs, and the narrow-minded, I suggest showing that you are flexible to adapt to whatever method or strategy they like. Also, try throwing out some catchy terms, like MovieTalk, Readers’ Theater, Dictations, personalized stories, novels, embedded readings, and embedded culture.
In reflecting upon my last interview with 3 Spanish teachers, I know I could have avoided getting into the details of CI and showed more of a broad repertoire of tools. They turned me down probably because I sounded like I had a particular way of teaching that wouldn’t fit within their department.
…I know I could have avoided getting into the details of CI and showed more of a broad repertoire of tools….
Yes Sean that is why they turned you down. They didn’t want to hear what you said. Few hiring teams are familiar with current research and are actively seeking teachers like us, as per this recent post:
https://benslavic.com/blog/dps-french-positions/
But look what you did. You stated your truth. It’s just that you stated it to people who have no interest in hearing it, and for whom it is important to continue to do things in the old way in spite of all the new research and the statements coming from ACTFL for decades now, which they haven’t read.
Odd that in our district we don’t even want to interview a teacher with feet still stuck in the concrete of the last century and yet really wonderful teachers like you get turned down for jobs in even in major metro areas where so much money is spent on “reform”.
We have already discussed here what to say in an interview, and more importantly what not to say:
https://benslavic.com/blog/the-interview-process/
Just wanted to thank you guys for these super helpful resources. I really appreciate it- all of the links and tips have been so useful. I just modeled a demo lesson after Angie’s example!
Zoe – I am so glad. I’m sure working with Annemarie set things up for your success and then Angie’s detailed description of her demo class brought the results you got. We make gains and grow in our work by sharing – that’s pretty much the way I like to think this group works.
Zoe – I live in Sanford, but teach in Biddeford. If you need any help, please give me a shout!! mbt719@yahoo.com. Where do you live, because the jobs are starting to pop up like crazy!! 🙂
It is with great pride that I bring this news….our very own Skip Crosby has been named Foreign Language Teacher of the Year for the state of Maine by our state organization, FLAME. I can think of no one more deserving of Skip in our state, as he works so tirelessly to help teachers make acquiring a L2 easier for students. Congratulations SKIP!!!!
That’s great news! Congratulations, Skip!
I could NOT BE HAPPIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to you!!!!
with love,
Laurie