Language-Learning Resources
General Language Learning Resources
Spanish Language Learning Resources
- Colby College – Practice Activities (Spanish)
- BBC Mundo
- BBC (Spanish)
- Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish
Technology
Canvas Support: Curt Pavia (Curt.Pavia@wwu.edu)
Teaching Guides
WWU Teaching Handbook: https://www.wwu.edu/teachinghandbook/index.shtml
Some Guidelines for Teaching a Foreign Language
- Context, context, context! Try to use real world situations in which to introduce grammar and vocabulary
- Try to remain in the target language and encourage students to do the same, even from day one
- Try to change activities every 7 minutes (people have short attention spans)
- Try to create lessons that integrate culture at every level (High and Low culture)
- Try to keep the classroom student centered, which means, in theory, they speak more than you
- Do lots of group work, paired up into groups of 2 or 3
- Try to create activities that get them out of their seats (TPR, Scavenger hunts, “circulate” activities, “jigsaw” activities).
- Focus on the 5 skills of language learning in every class meeting: reading, writing, listening, speaking, and cultural knowledge
- Use technology (Youtube, music, power points, etc.)
- When doing listening and reading exercises, do pre- and post- reading/listening activities. Get them to think about what they will be reading or listening to first by asking questions or looking at images, etc.
- Repetition, repetition, repetition! Recycle material. People usually have to hear something about 7 times in 7 different contexts before it usually sticks with them.
- Avoid translation as much as possible. It builds bad habits.
- Make communication the goal. Understanding and responding is what you’re aiming for, not perfection. Don’t overcorrect.
- Avoid lists of vocabulary. It doesn’t stick with people. Instead, integrate vocabulary naturally via reading or listening activities.
- Have fun! Play games! Laugh! Enjoy class time! Make it memorable for you and your students.
- Try to give homework and encourage them to do it. If they really want to learn the language, they need exposure outside of class.
Advice from Previous Facilitators
In General
- Introduce fun games that focus around your grammar point
- It’s okay not to know everything
- Professors can be as bad as students when it comes to doing homework
- Offer time at the beginning of class to go over the homework just in case they didn’t do it
- Relax, your “students”- participants won’t judge you. They want to learn.
Lesson Planning
- Be organized and do at least a weekly plan
- Use Google docs to collaborate and coordinate plans
- Canvas is great for organizing topics for the week
- Take the time you need, it’ll take less time over time!
- Try to lesson plan for the week on the weekends
- Keep your work organized so it’s easier to access later on if you teach the same level again
- Dedicate a day during the week to plan everything for the week so you’re not stressed out later.
Being in the Classroom
- Using Power Point/Google slides is key
- No errors! It’s unprofessional
- Be casual but not too casual
- Be prepared to give alternative explanations if the participants aren’t understanding a concept
- Provide lots of examples
- Make it easy for THEM to understand
- Arrange seats in a way that promotes conversation (circles, half circles, etc).
- Have fun while teaching 🙂