If you are teaching a language class with a focus on language acquisition instead of language learning, DON'T start the school year reviewing material from the previous year.
Whether students were in a class last year that was taught with an implicit or explicit instructional model, what you want to tap into this year is the internal linguistic system that they began building in their heads.
Reviewing, in the traditional sense, will allow you to see what students have retained in their conscious knowledge. But language isn't conscious knowledge! Language is an internal system that we access unconsciously.
Traditional review will show you what students have retained in their conscious knowledge. But language isn't conscious knowledge! Language is an internal system that we access unconsciously.
To start the year and find out what is living in each student's internal linguistic system, you need to communicate!
Instead of reviewing, try communicating. Ask students questions, and see if they understand you. Give them opportunities to express themselves using the target language, in natural communicative exchanges, and see to what extent they are able to express their thinking and make themselves understood. This will give you a good idea of what kind of language you need to use with your class this year in order to be understood by everyone in the room!
A few communicative activities that you can use as a jumping off point for communication at the start of the school year are:
These are just a few, but the possibilities are endless! The goal is to get students engaging with the language in meaningful, community/connection-building ways from day one. By observing how students respond and participate in these activities, you'll gain insight into their current level of comprehension and production without relying on traditional review exercises. Plus, you’ll be setting the tone for a classroom environment that prioritizes communication and connection, rather than memorization and repetition.
So, as you begin this new school year, trust the process of acquisition. Dive into the conversation, explore the stories your students have to tell, and watch as their internal systems come to life in ways that a traditional review never could. Happy teaching!
