Ben,
Jeff here. I’ve been reading mostly and not commenting. Although I have not commented much as of late, I have been enjoying the reading. This past summer I was working on my Italian in Italy. Nothing has convinced me more about the power of CI than trying to improve my abilities. I could see the power of CI as I worked to improve my Italian. My advice to convince people the power of CI, remind them what it is like to learn a new language while trying to focus on meaning and not grammar.
As for the beginning of the year, I have started out happily with my Latin I and II students. We have been CWB and making little stories or extended PQA. I wouldn’t say that I am a pro yet, but I improve each day. I try to get to know my students better. I squash any old attitudes of putting them to the test. I want to enjoy them and let myself laugh. I have been less exhausted these days even though I have been up teaching all the more. I got rid of crappy worksheets and workbooks and worthless homework. I am invigorated. I am also a bit worried because I don’t know where this CI thing will take me, especially in years 3,4,and 5.
My Latin III class learned their first 1 2/3 year with my old methods. Last year, I joined your blog and got in contact with some others who are on your blog to retrain myself. I began the retraining at the end of last year. The Latin II students, who are now my Latin III students, have bought into it somewhat. However, they don’t have the ability to play the game very well because the don’t really know what Latin sounds like. That’s my fault. I take that on the chin. However, I’m not sure what to do with them. I am a bit confused. Many are disenchanted because they learned to play the old game and now the rules have changed. In fact, I even lost a few for this reason.
Latin IV/V I am still teaching them the old way because that is what they know. I constantly ask myself what to do and I blame myself for their inadequacies. I need to let that crap go. It’s never gonna do me any good. It’s not easy.
I’m still having difficulty letting go. I feel like I have to introduce certain grammar topics and I know that this is not what CI is about. I fear that they won’t get all the information. Maybe I should focus on teaching them and not the material. Gotta remember that. I love kids and enjoy them immensely, but I always have this nagging feeling to show results, get data….blah, blah….blah. All bullshit……bad training. Still working on that.
All in all, I’m happy to be on this voyage. Thank you very much. I am sure my kids thank you even though that don’t know why or how.
Jeff