If I’m teaching kids who are new to comprehensible input, I typically make four posters out of the facts below to help them understand how they should feel in a CI class. They deserve as much. My concept of rigor does not include more worksheets, more onerous, mind-numbing work, more memorization, etc. My concept of rigor is as defined by the United States Dep’t. of State. I will post an article on that later. Here are the posters I make:
WHAT DOES RIGOR (HARD WORK) LOOK LIKE IN THIS CLASS?
Language acquisition only happens when written and spoken messages are actually being understood. In this class “hard work” means that ON THE INSIDE you need to:
– Stay focused on the message being delivered.
– Observe what is happening.
– Listen with intent to comprehend.
– Read with intent to comprehend.
HARD WORK (RIGOR) is when you are actively engaged with the language, which means that ON THE OUTSIDE you will:
– Respond with body language.
– Show the teacher when you do not understand.
– Respond with short answers.
– Read and show that you understand.
RIGOR means that you will FEEL:
– Confident.
– Aware of the stream of the conversation.
– Like you understand, but you may not feel as if you are learning.
– You don’t feel lost, confused, defeated or frustrated.
You will KNOW you are learning when:
– You understand what the teacher says or what you are reading.
– French starts to fall out of your mouth in class without you thinking about it too much.
– French comes out naturally and makes sense (even with errors).
– You notice you can write more in French than you did before.
– You are not translating from English to French when you speak or write.