From Steven:
Hi Ben,
I’ve noticed in a story you wrote that you use “inversion” to ask questions. My experience, which is narrow, is that not very many people use inversion when speaking. Is this because you want to students to become familiar in more academic or formal writing styles?
My circling involves adding the question words “est-ce que” (is it that?) to the beginning of a statement or simply raising my tone with a statement. To me it feels more conversational. However, maybe they are the questions words that I have acquired through my exposure to French.
This raises the question: do we use more common or “familier” language when teaching TPRS or using CI strategies? What kind of criteria do we use to say yes to some expressions and no to others? I ask because some expressions in textbooks (which i don’t use) are so antiquated and uncommon in everyday (and authentic) speech.
One example I remember is the use of “nous” or “we” instead of the more common “on” (the collective we). I was in shock when I kept hearing the “on” form in France and not knowing what it was.
Of course, some teachers who need to prepare students for the AP may want to expose students to more academic or formal registers and structures. However, can this focus make input less compelling and personal?
I would like to know everyone’s opinion on this.
Steven
The Problem with CI
Jeffrey Sachs was asked what the difference between people in Norway and in the U.S. was. He responded that people in Norway are happy and
