Catherina went to a conference yesterday and here is her candid report:
Hi Ben!
Today I went to the NNELL Conference – specifically for elementary FL teachers. One of the organizers had seen Liam O’Neill’s presentation in Boston at NECTFL, and was sold on TCI. He couldn’t talk highly enough about Liam.
Mr. Organizer actually teaches with TPRS and believes in Krashen, yet everyone invited to talk was a “traditional” output teacher. Disappointing.
He was by far the best presenter, somewhat heavy on output, but he’ll come around. Smart, charismatic and inspiring in his own way. Took that edge away from spending a beautiful Saturday listening to communicative teachers take themselves so seriously.
At lunch I managed to corner the keynote speaker Mrs. Beenteachingmywholelife : “But, but, but…it’s thanks to me that Helena Curtain even mentions TPRS in her book!…”
Ben, not a s.i.n.g.l.e word about the importance of Input, Personalization, Repetitions, Comprehensible, Affective Filter, Krashen.
When I challenged a presenter, everyone huffed and puffed. But I kept my chin high.
On a good note I was able to convince Achille from Cameroon -who drove 8 hours!- to look into TPRS. We spoke French, as if no one understood, and I did not hold back.
The only presence of TPRS were in the hundreds of pens Carol Gaab had donated. Isn’t she clever??
Catharina
PS I have so much more to say, but I’ll share it on the forum. I must get it off my chest.
Related: https://benslavic.com/blog/category/helena-curtain/