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Language Through Content

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Language and content go together.  We cannot learn language first and then learn content; nor can we learn content if we do not have the language.  Learning to teach in this way is truly worth your while.  I have compiled some resources for your continuing education.

How do we best teach language through content? We

  • show the movie first
  • pre-teach the vocabulary
  • use visuals
  • make timelines
  • use graphic organizers
  • act it out
  • create podcasts and videos
  • interact using the content and the vocabulary
  • use realia

Here is a link to many more resources for learning language through content from CAL: http://www.cal.org/twi/rgos/content.html

This link is to a chapter on Teaching Content Through a Second Language that is on the CARLA website and don’t forget about CoBaLTT.

If you or your program need assistance in the area of content instruction in a second (or third…) language please let me know.

The Basics

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I have been volunteering at a wonderful school in Lima, Peru and am reminded of some universal basics in education:

  • Have an objective;
  • Teach to the objective- use a text, activity, … to teach the objective remembering that the text is not the objective;
  • Evaluate whether or not the objective was met;
  • Reteach or move forward depending on the assessment.

When teaching I need to let the students do the work- talk, write, create, use the information- so they can show what they know and are able to do.  I love the workshop model where I give some input for no more than 15 minutes and then have the students use the information.  Then, I can provide more input.  Build up scaffolding and then remove it when it is no longer necessary.

I also like to backwards plan my units where I decide what I want the students to know and be able to do by what date.  Then, I backwards plan the lessons necessary to get them there.  And of course, relationships are key.

¡Feliz día del maestro amigos peruanos!  Happy Teacher’s Day to my Peruvian friends!