Robert expresses something that has been about two years in the making. I feel it is true:
…I think there is a trend forming. I, too, used to stress over “bell-to-bell instruction”, making every minute count, and getting “enough” CI in. Now that I understand the time frame of acquisition better, I understand that “losing” a few minutes of CI to rapport building can ultimately lead to far greater gains in important areas including language acquisition. (Though we have to guard against allowing this to crowd out CI.)….