Unit 1: Why language educator should maximize target language usages

Unit 1: Overview

Target language only please!

Do you think that the target language only be use in the world language classroom? If so, how to get language learners to stay in the target language and avoid speaking the native language in class? American Council on the on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) recommends that languages educators, at all levels, should stay in the target language 90% during instructional time.

When language educators use only target language in the classroom, and learners only speak in the target language; students enhance their speaking and listening skills; students enhance their self-correction, and they are encourage to speak and think in the target language as much as possible.

Ultimately, the goal of learning a foreign language is to promote learner’s ability to communicate in the target language.

Unit Objectives

At the end of this unit learners will be able to:

1 Participants will be able to reflect on prior knowledge

2. Participants will be able to develop a logic argument on the benefit of staying in the target language recommended by ACTFL.

3. Participants will be able to become more aware of the need for reaching the 90% plus target.

4. Participants will be able to view videos about the use of the target language.

Pre-Lesson Reflection

Before we start the mini-lesson, take a moment to consider what you already know about the topic of the use of the 90% plus target language. Write down your answers in File:KWL Chart.pdf. When you are finished, share your answers

What I already know?

What I want to know?

What I have learned?

Read and Discuss

Learn more about the use of the target language from these videos and readings. Analyze and evaluate the different strategies that are presented in the videos. Share with your classmates the following questions: Why language educator should maximize target language usages?

1. ACTFL Use of the Target Language in Language Learning

2. Teaching and Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices

3. Going for 90% Plus: How to Stay in the Target Language

Post-Lesson Reflection

The readings and the videos have shown us that it is possible to keep our world languages classroom 90% plus in the target language. Now, that you know more about the benefit of using the target language, what are you thought? Why language educator should maximize target language usages?

Reference

ACTFL. (2012). ACTFL Use of the Target Language in Language Learning. Retrieved from https://www.actfl.org/guiding-principles/use-target-language-language-learning

Crouse, Douglass. (2012,October). Going for 90% Plus: How to Stay in the Target Language. Retrieve from https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/TLE_pdf/TLE_Oct12_Article.pdf

WGBH Education Foundation with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (2016). Teaching and Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices. Retrieved from http://www.learner.org/resources/series185.html

Getting Around

Continue on to: Unit 2:How can language educator be in the target language for at least 90% plus?

Go back to Mini-Course: Naicy Pretill Mini-Course