Communication is the goal
Traditionally, language is about grammar. However, one of the most important aspects of language is communication, one of the 5C proposed by the ACTFL, the governing body of World Language Education in the United States.
Like it or not, grammar is here to stay. But how do you learn grammar in a meaningful way? Do you give them the manual? Sure, they can figure out the rules, but they are not using them in context. Students can deduce the rules with a manual; they cannot use them in real-life scenarios!
Click here for a sample lesson plan where I taught students to use past-tense to write a Google Review for restaurants in French!
Developing engaging lesson during remote settings
How can language acquisition be both engaging and fruitful, especially under remote learning setting? During my assistantship at the Université de Paris Nanterre, in partnership with TAPIF—a program sponsored by the Ministry of Education in France—with the contribution of two fellow TAPIFers Erin and Lucas, we developed an innovative lesson that brings creativity to the forefront.
🎶 Introducing “Pose ton Flow!”
This dynamic lesson leverages music and artistic expression to explore the interplay between music and language. French learners are invited to consider how music influences vocabulary and language structure. To extend the experience, students even get the chance to create their own rap, making the process interactive, creative, and deeply engaging.
Engaging Students in Readings
Technology can make a huge difference in how we make readings both accessible and interactive! The rise of AI has undeniably changed the landscape. Reading in one’s native language is already becoming an increasingly daunting task—so how should we approach it in a second language?
Click here to check out samples of pre-reading learning station activities, where I use interactive tools (like Google Workspace apps or third-party platforms such as Genial.ly) to spark students’ curiosity about new texts.
For a traditional approach without technology usage in the classroom, the learning station works a bit different, but it can still invoke the desired target language usage. Click here for a twisted version that does not require the use of comptuer in the class.
Beyond communication
Another important of language learning is comparison.
By looking at contents and analyzing materials from different cultures, students will have an in-depth understanding of what may be deemed controversial in the U.S. Students will also gain a well-rounded knowledge about the world outside the U.S.
Global Warming has caused significant issues around the globe. Polar bears are losing their territory. Back home in the U.S., our government withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement. Deep dive into this lesson as we examine how Climate Change, a heated topic in the U.S., is viewed globally, focusing on how the Francophone world sees it.
Communicative World Language Educator 