Tell me what you think of my class idea please.?

Question

I will be a Spanish teacher in about a year. I'm taking my education classes right now, and we always talk about teacher-efficacy (the idea that a teacher can get ALL students to learn). Here's my idea..tell me if it is good, will it work?, or is it too juvenile for the highschool level???: since 1st year Spanish is basically like kindergarten...but in Spanish, would it be a good idea to have my class (within limits) think of it as kindergarten? I don't mean that we will be coloring and having nap time, but if I tell them that it is like kindergarten..learning to read, knowing the abc's, #'s, etc I think it will trigger them to think "well kindergarten was easy, I CAN do this" I want them to know that they CAN do well in my class, but I'm affraid that if I make this analogy of kindergarten that they will take it lightly or in a childish way. Any feedback..suggestions?

Answer 1

I do teach Spanish I, and while you're on the right track, I think you're overthinking things (as the best of us do, of course). I seriously doubt that high schoolers will connect kindergarten's ease to making Spanish I easy, and the fact is that Spanish is NOT easy for them. It's a whole new paradigm. They have to not only learn from square one, but make their new ideas for the same or similar concepts coexist with the ones they DID get in kindergarten.

You are thinking in the right vein, but I wouldn't try to put it across as easy. Then the ones who don't get it immediately will think they're dumb--and almost none of them get it immediately.

On the otherhand, I'm all for coloring and games (have not found a way to justify siestas). It is almost easier in a second language classroom to appeal to all styles of learners, since they CAN'T do anything terribly complicated at that level--all you can do is present the same stuff different ways to get it in their head.

Answer 2

That is a good idea in theory. However, I am afraid that high school students will be put off by it.

1) You are a first year teacher. That means you are "fresh meat" for them to try and chew up. You are going to have to present yourself at a much higher level to gain their respect.

2) In the real world high school students will perform up to your requirements or down to your expectations. They do as little as possible. I am worried that telling them it is like kindergarten will only encourage them to not take the class seriously.

3) You idea is great, but how about presenting it in another way? Present the class as a "hands-on immersion in the Spanish language and culture." Then you can make it seem challenging while exposing them to all of the ideas you mentioned above.

I have found that my high school students enjoy the coloring and pasting of materials. So just tie all of that into holiday celebrations, or maybe tell them that they must write a children's book of ABC's for a Spanish child. As long as they think there is a good re son for the activity (and not just a kindergarten exercise) you should be able to get a good response.

Answer 3

I wasn't in high school as recently as Amy (above), but I'm young enough to remember it vividly, and I agree with a lot of what she said. Also, I teach at the high school level now. Combining my own memories with my current experience, I think students would be insulted. They're going to be insulted enough at the idea that they have to learn those seemingly simple concepts when what they want to do is be able to have a conversation with someone who speaks Spanish.

It sounds like what you want to do is help them understand why a person has to start at the beginning when learning a new language. So how do you do that? Compromise; divide your time each day between teaching them how to converse (immersion theory) and the basic foundations. Start out by teaching them simple greetings, small-talk (how are you, what's your name, how's the weather, etc.), and survival Spanish (where's the bathroom, how much does that cost, etc.). Those are phrases they can immediately use in conversation and can practice daily to build a feeling of competence.

Talk to them about how literacy (in any language) is not only reading, but also speaking, listening, writing (which includes spelling, grammar, sentence formation, etc.). Tell them that in order for Spanish to actually be useful to them in their lives, they need to not only speak it, they need to be literate in this new language. That justifies the teaching of the alphabet (so they can ask & answer how Spanish words are spelled), and also justifies the need to understand all the other basics of the language.

I think it's okay draw parallels between how they acquired language as a small child -- simple words first, learning to count, learning the alphabet, etc. -- and how they will acquire Spanish but don't make it feel like you're teaching them the Kindergarten curriculum in Espanol. That won't help them see the immediate, practical, fun applications of the language for their age-level. The faster they develop the ability to converse naturally, the more competent and confident they will feel that, like you said, they CAN do well in your class.

Answer 4

It's not a bad idea, but a lot will depend on your students. I probably wouldn't recommend it, and here is why: I can group high school students into two basic groups: those who care, and those who don't. The kids who care, and want to learn, are going to try, and may be motivated by the kindergarten idea, but many of the ones who want to learn, are going to be snotty and think they're too smart for that. As for those who don't care, they probably won't be motivated by the idea because they don't care.
Now I'm sure that this could benefit some students, but probably not all of them. I would suggest just mentioning it to your students who come to you for help if they are having problems.
You may want to ask your professors, they have a lot of experience, and will probably have some good advice for you.

Answer 5

As a high-school student, I started with Spanish I two years ago. I don't think you want them to think of it as a kindergarten class because they might decide that it is less important than their other classes and ignore your class. Believe me, it is not hard for a high-school student to figure out that he/she is learning the basics in Span I. Instead, teach it as if it were as important as rocket science, and stress the importance of communication. Also, let them ask you how to say certain things, even if the words aren't in the lesson plans. Sometimes the best way to get through to a teenager is to make him or her extremely interested and if they are learning how to say what they need to be able to say(to pass the tests) and what they want to say(to talk with their friends) it is a win-win situation for you and them.
Best of luck next year in your classroom. You will be fine, don't worry!!!