Don Read shares some thoughts from the Agen conference:
First, what a great conference and what a great time I had in Agen! Thank you for organizing this very special opportunity! Second, below are a few of the gems that jumped out at me (from among the many great ideas and resources presented):
From Sabrina Sebban-Janczak:
\When teaching a class that has both French 1 and French 2 students, it is the French 2 students who benefit the most. Why? Because the French 2 students are able to relax and feel pleased that they know so much French. They are reviewing and reinforcing in a very relaxed state. Of course the French 1 students are learning a great deal, but it is the French 2 students who get the most out of the class. (By extension, this makes me realize that when we check in with our barometer students, all the other students are able to relax and get a great review while we help our barometer students.)
- The structures are just an excuse for delivering high frequency language. (Everything is an excuse for delivering high frequency language.)
- Movie talk (Youtube talk) ? have a script prepared to work from (I had always just improvised.)
- Just hang out with the students. Show them that you care. They will be able to read it.
- The students are the curriculum.
- Add new vocabulary and new ideas when writing up the reading for a story (I always thought I had to stay exactly with the text created by the class.)
- Students need to listen/hear the language in order to speak, and they need to read the language in order to write. (The importance of reading was reinforced for me at the conference.
From Carol Hill:
- Circling of course helps the student with repetitions, but it also helps non-native teachers become stronger in the target language.
- Use “self-circling” when learning a new word (from Michele Whaley via Carol HIll.)
From Robert Harrell:
- Keep doing retakes of a Reader’s Theater scene in order to get more repetitions. Become a director – “Play it bigger! Add some fear! Where is the conviction here! Try it again! Overplay this scene – try it again!” Repetition, repetition, repetition
Best,
Don