No, I’m not fluent… I am just REALLY good at circumlocution!
A few weeks ago I did a two day in-service workshop for a school district in northern Louisiana. I have been doing demos of various CI strategies in Chinese. It is so important to experience language acquisition as our students do! There were a few Chinese immersion teachers walking by our space to one of their separate workshops and I had the opportunity to stop and chat with them for a while (in Chinese). Several of the attendees in my workshop overheard and said “wow! You really are fluent in Chinese aren’t you?!” While I love hearing this, it is SO far from the truth. My mandarin is composed of high frequency words like: want, have, go, live, like, eat, drink, give, look, etc. and bonus words like: thing, place, person, etc. I am far, far, FAR from fluent, but I am an expert with circumlocution.
Circumlocution is the single most valuable skill we can teach our scholars (in my opinion… remember, my blogs are always my opinion). Unfortunately, most colleges and Universities in the US only require 2 years of language in high school in order for students to be admitted to their programs. This means, more often than not, students get the credits they need and don’t continue language. (I do recognize that THIS IS CHANGING!!! We are seeing students all around the nation enrolling in language programs, and sticking around! Here is a blog that Grant Boulanger wrote about CI programs increasing enrollment and achievement.) However, for the kiddos who don’t continue the programs, or who start language in their junior year, we need to be equipping them with the skills they need to be successful communicators with the language they acquire over just two years. I want them to be able to go anywhere and communicate with anyone, and “sound” fluent when really, they may just be confident, brave, circumlocutors (is that a word?!!) We can accomplish a TON in two years!
Last year I wrote about how I take away my “¿cómo se dice?” poster after about 8 weeks of school. I am allowed to say it ALL year for comprehension checks but I really don’t want my students using it. I immediately start teaching circumlocution and I use it and point it out explicitly every day in my classes. I always ask students to use what they know, to communicate about the words that they DON’T know, before I give them the new vocab words they’re asking for. This helps keep my “out of bounds” words down and it continues to build our strong community feel in our classes as students push each other and help one another to circumlocute. They are always my favorite moments in class and definitely the most powerful for the students. They are in full control of their language, they are risk taking, and they are making meaning and communicating with whatever language they have. The pride in the room is tangible.
Colleen Britton of Teacher’s Discovery sat in a few of my sessions at CI in the Mitten this past year and she saw what I did with circumlocution and she asked to partner with me to publish my posters! THEY ARE MADE! It was one of the highlights of my summer!
They are also VERY “la Maestra Loca” which I absolutely adore! Very bright, cheerful and colorful! So, if you’re interested, and your school or department has a little extra “budget” check these out! 🙂 I am really proud of them and LOVE how they look my walls!
My room is all set up for the year! I can’t wait to film it all for you and give you a proper tour of the place! 🙂
Until next time,
HAPPY TEACHING!
Love,
La Maestra Loca
You’re my inspiration, these are great.
<3 Thank you! Much love!
They look amazing!! What an awesome tool!! Can you explain a bit more about how you help students use them? I have some ideas but want to hear your vision!! Xoxo
Do you have them in French????
Yes! The link is in the blog! 🙂
Yes! I will write another blog! I have about 10 emails about this! better just to write it! 🙂 xo Thanks Martina! xo
Give my love to my Ellis! (and all the kiddos)
They look great! How big is each sign?
The measurements are on the site. They are a good size, and visible from far across the room which is what I cared most about! 🙂
YAY! Congratulations!
Gracias! Te adoro!
Love the posters!!! You would be so proud of your older kiddos. I couldn’t remember how to say something last week and dramatically gave the class points. Then one of them said, “Profe, just say COSA!” I knew that was all YOU!!! 😉
YAYYY!!!! COSA IS MY FAVORITE WORD!!!! I love this… thank you! xo
Thank you. I attended your workshop 8/4/18. I’ve been teaching Spanish for 9 years now. However the last 3 years or so I have been wanting to change my heavy grammer spanish to something lighter and easier and more fun! I took my heavy grammar as far as I could to make it fun. Perhaps it might be my personality as I always got positive feedback from students, parents and high school teachers. I teach Jr High. Now I am desperately trying to switch over to CI. Its a challenge between all of the demands for specific lesson plans which I already have years of that and grades that need to be put in weekly. And tests. I am determined to win and transform my teaching. Thank you and all of your sharing of information! Im so grateful! ðŸ™ðŸ¼ðŸ’œâœŒðŸ¼ðŸŒ¸
Olivia, YOU are awesome and your students are SO lucky! Have a rockin’ year! I am doing another workshop here soon! xoxo
Love,
Annabelle
So so so awesome to have your posters published, Annabelle!!! You are an amazing burst of energy! I’m sorry that I did not take advantage of your classes last year. As scared as I am of speaking Spanish, you just make me want to learn from you! Love you! Margaret
Love you! You should never be scared to learn another language! We all acquire at different rates, and it should be as fun as it was to acquire English! That was pretty painless wasn’t it!? Much love to you my friend!
Thank you! I just bought the French signs now! Merci!
WAHOOO!!!!! Thank YOU!
I hope you love them!
Thank you for sharing such energy and insight. I am also looking to change up more this upcoming year. I’d like my kids to speak more confidently.
Thank You love the posters!
MY POSTERS ARRIVED TODAY! HOORAY! They are spectacular! And there are SO many of them, we should never have to use “Cómo se dice” again!!! They are going up this weekend, since I have an extra day with Labor Day!! YIPEEEEEE! Oh…these posters are so beautiful! I will send a pic when I get them on the walls.
Will you be making them in German?!?!
I will email Teacher’s Discovery about it!