I was just trying to think of the most valuable aspect of the Invisibles and the Star Sequence, the single aspect that sets it apart from everything else I have ever done with comprehensible input instruction. After much reflection, I think it’s expressed here:
With the Invisibles the students are not asked personalized questions, which causes tension. Rather, questions are asked about images they have drawn, which process is far more interesting and less personally intimidating to them. They create these images individually or as a class and it is wonderful.
The students create images that become their own wonderful sources of non-targeted discussion. In that way, if a student does not know who a particular celebrity is, it doesn’t matter. I don’t know anything or care about celebrities either. I don’t want a section of the class – the cool kids who know the celebrities – running the class. Making up our own characters is so much more fun!