As language teachers we are in a unique position to foster dispositions of curiosity towards difference, helping to connect people across cultures.
Naira Jansen
Language teaching that’s about using the language to learn about the rich diversity of our world, the people who inhabit it, their customs, rituals and histories, the art they’ve created, the magnificent places they call home that hold their stories, that’s what takes me to the classroom every day with excitement. That and the promise of intriguing conversations with my students around how they perceive and experience the world. Learning a new language is a privileged peek into the way of thinking of others and a whole new way for us to think about ourselves.
After many years of teaching Spanish with the aim of teaching the language as an entity in itself, and not really how to use it to learn and communicate about things that matter in the world, I found and completed ACTFL’s Teaching Methods course. It transformed how I teach, and, I discovered that my creativity lies in developing teaching materials from scratch around interesting, worthwhile content. I love finding an article or podcast and putting my mind to work to build a unit of study around it. I’m sharing my work here with you, hoping that you’ll enjoy teaching it as much as I love teaching it and creating it myself.
ACTFL’s Connections standard speaks to me in many different ways
Connection to content
Language learning becomes compelling when the language is used as a tool to explore content. The vast amount of intriguing authentic resources available help you design your curriculum to suit the needs and interests of students.
Connection to language
When grammar is not the central piece of the learning, but embedded and emphasized within the content, then a focus on form within meaningful contexts allows students to make linguistic connections to how language really functions in order to communicate.
Connection to ideas
Choosing cultural topics and themes of relevance and creating an inquiry stance helps students think about things from varied points of view as they find similarities and differences in ways of being in the world.
Connection to each other
Meaningful communication through interpersonal activities helps create community and collaboration in the classroom.
Connection across boundaries
Connect to target language communities outside of the classroom in the place that you live and out in the world and blur the boundaries that divide us.
Because we know that learning that comes from a place of emotional connection is the best way to learn.
Let’s connect
I would love to connect with you if you have any questions, feedback or comments. Please feel free to submit the form below with your message.