Steve addresses two jobs, one new (the second one below called the L1 Translator) that I will immediately add to the jobs category. This new job that Steve suggests is not one of those minor funny jobs, but rather a very practical and important one that I suggest we all test in the fall. Thank you Steve.
…Two things that have helped me with [staying in L2]:
(1) the L2 timer job… when I know I have to speak English I stop the timer so everyone knows that the clock stops when a rule wasn’t followed or meaning needs to be established in English.
(2) have an L1 translator who writes translations (instead of saying them) on a dry erase board at their desk (better at front of room)…. I always saw Blaine use people in his sessions that would “represent” a word and when he pointed to that person they would quickly say the translation in L1. I loved the technique but realized other students could always use this as an excuse to speak English. So, I give a board to a slow-processor and if there’s a need for a translation I say the word in question and that student writes it on their little board in English. If it’s correct we show it to the class and move on. If it’s not then I need to use some other means of establishing meaning (love the gesture king/queen job!)….