Is It Comprehensible?

2 thoughts on “Is It Comprehensible?”

1. Diane N.

   November 7, 2012 at 8:31 am

   I like this post.

   I talked with my 8th grade class last school year – a group I was trying CI instruction on more & more as I prepared for this school year. I told them that their textbook was trying to “protect them” from “hard” language structures and concepts, even when they were really common, everyday forms. They felt insulted. I told them because I was already introducing normal, everyday language to them and they were wondering about the difference from the textbook.

   Glad not to be bound to a textbook.

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2. Darren Drago

   November 7, 2012 at 2:16 pm

   Yes Ben, I think sometimes we get caught up in the being an entertainer stuff when really if we just be ourselves it will emerge or it won’t emerge. But if we stick to the jgr then it doesn’t matter if it is funny or not the students will have to stay in the target language, not blurt out and listen with the intent to understand by interacting in a non chaotic way. I used to have very chaotic classes. And it was because I couldn’t get the kids to stay in the language or just listen and negotiate meaning. When we are in that state we feel we need to be funny to get kids attention. It can work, but not for long. Because if you don’t continue to have something funnier and funnier then they tune out again. It is draining. The jgr has made life easier. I am by no means perfect but I now try to look at my teaching as someone who is in my class observing and doesn’t know any Spanish or very little. Would they be able to understand? would the class be in control enough for their brain to negotiate the meaning? Would I go slow enough so they could have the chance to interact? When I do that even during my teaching I do better. It is almost as if I am watching myself, kind of a weird out of body experience but it works for me. But none of that could work if it wasn’t for the jgr. It is a game changer.

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