Here's tonight's #earlylang topic. We'll follow a Q1/A1 format: I'll include Q1, Q2 etc. when announcing questions, you answer beginning with A1, A2, etc.
Hey #earlylang friends! Marissa from NY, I teach k and first grade Spanish. Looking forward to meeting/seeing some of you @NECTFL1#nectfl19 in a couple weeks!
Hi, I'm Kaytie in Upstate NY . I teach Russian/Spanish/French grades K-6 district wide (rotating between three schools one year, three others the next. First time trying to chat live! đ #earlylang
Here's tonight's #earlylang topic. We'll follow a Q1/A1 format: I'll include Q1, Q2 etc. when announcing questions, you answer beginning with A1, A2, etc.
A1: We need to show our Ss the real-life connection and relevancy of the TL. They're more invested if they know HOW and WHEN they can use it IRL. #EarlyLang
A1: 1) It is about giving them a real-life, authentic purpose for the language. 2) I like to believe that they will come to see the language as a tool for supporting their role in a 21st C globalized society. #earlylang
A1: The goal of seeking TL experiences outside the classroom walls is to encourage a language connection with real life situations. It gives language learners a real purpose to use their skills to communicate.
#earlylang
A1 Given my hopes & dreams for my program are that my kiddos will gain a wider perspective & appreciation for the world & it's people, taking that learning beyond the classroom builds the connections between the classroom & that larger world #EarlyLang
A1 letâs get real! language is meant to be used outside a classroom and not as a fixed, routine way to communicate within four walls of a school building. it is our job to open the doors to show students the possibilities... #earlylang
A1: Ss need to be able to make connections and find what they are learning meaningful and purposeful. It also motivates them to continue to learn more of the target language. #earlylang
A1: I feel like they need to know that there is more than just "words" to learning a language. It is about understanding the culture and their humor and history in a deeper way. #earlylang
A1 THIS - if learners can see themselves needing/wanting skills in a real situation, they will keep going! Let's create/foster those real situations! #earlylang
A1: Ss need to be able to make connections and find what they are learning meaningful and purposeful. It also motivates them to continue to learn more of the target language. #earlylang
A1 letâs get real! language is meant to be used outside a classroom and not as a fixed, routine way to communicate within four walls of a school building. it is our job to open the doors to show students the possibilities... #earlylang
A1 I also hope that part of their taking the language/culture beyond the classroom includes sharing w family what they are learning, & bringing them into the learning & experiences, & therefore growing the "circle of influence" #EarlyLang
Precisely! Some of my favorite moments are when kiddos tell me they ate a particular food or made a craft w grandma, or read a folktale they found at the library. Bringing the target culture into THEIR culture, that's the holy grail for me! #earlylang
A1 I would hope that the cultural ones would lead to language ones, but if not, I'm good with that- love for the culture can inspire lifelong pursuit of the language #earlylang
I believe there should be both. You can not have one without the other. Cultural experiences promote and foster respect, tolerance and appreciation and language is the bridge to learn and communicate with others. #earlylang
A2: I honestly struggle with this. I direct them towards authentic restaurants, museum exhibits, books, sharing with their family ... interested to learn from others on this one! #earlylang
A2 I really encourage my students to share what we are doing w family (including pets!)-read our mini book to your dog, or share the project we did w parents, make a recipe w family at home, sing a song w sibs etc #EarlyLang
A2 their classmates do a better job than I ever could, sharing at morning meeting and then taking questions and comments that I then hear about during my time! #EarlyLang
A2 I think many of us share links w families so kids can do more exploring at home, or share songs, etc we are doing in class. I really appreciate when families tell me they looked at a website link I posted on our school site! #EarlyLang
Here's an example of a video I played for my students recently. Some went home and recreated the cake themselves. They had to do the grams to ounces conversion, and were proud they could do it!https://t.co/XWj19VOUxZ
A2: It can be something as simple as looking at everyday household items that are labeled in different languages. As for culture, my students like to share their own family traditions. #earlylang
A2 I definitely do NOT do enough if this. We always celebrate when a student talks about something they did/said in Spanish with a family member or a travel experience or even with someone in their life who speaks the language. But itâs typically superficial in nature #earlylang
A2 follow-up: Check your local AATs. We're really fortunate here in CT to have the @aatfct and @aatsp maintain databases with cultural opportunities galore. #earlylang
A few years ago I started sending stick puppets w my students who were traveling over vacation w the option of mom/dad sending me a few photos via email w puppet, kid & location. It's been so cool-I put the photos up on whitebrd & kid gives super simple narration #earlylang
That's definitely a challenging situation! I should clarify-I never send it home as homework, but rather as a 'Wouldn't it be great if you______?" or 'If you have time...'. :) #earlylang
A3: Even though I use tons of #authres, I know I could do more. I wish I had a partnership with another school where kids could speak to each other online. Privacy is always a concern. #EarlyLang
Sounds like also an answer to Q3!
Shopping websites are a great tool. Everything from build-your-shoe to build-your-sports-car to build-your-pizza, there's something for every kiddo! #earlylang
Just learned about Google Expeditions at a PD Day last week and it is a fabulous way for students to travel the world through VR! #hollistoninnovates#earlylang
A3 @Boomalang is SUPER helpful here! Our third graders are using it to connect (video chat) with native speakers around the Spanish-speaking world. They are trained to work with language learners and you can frontload some questions to steer the conversation! #earlylang
A3: I started to use EdPuzzle this year and assign a lot of authentic videos for students to watch/listen to. I like it a lot, but it is not a two-way street. I would like to try that one that connects classrooms. I have skyped around the world with my Ss #earlylang
A3: Although there isnât much TL, I would like to use Google Expediton. Give students the chance to use VR and explore different Spanish speaking countries. #earlylang
Just learned about Google Expeditions at a PD Day last week and it is a fabulous way for students to travel the world through VR! #hollistoninnovates#earlylang
A3: Will have to check out Google Expeditions. I like to use Google Earth, too. I'll drop the pin in, say, Buenos Aires, and the kids can walk through La Boca or watch a Boca Juniors game at the Bonbonera. #earlylang
A3: I started to use EdPuzzle this year and assign a lot of authentic videos for students to watch/listen to. I like it a lot, but it is not a two-way street. I would like to try that one that connects classrooms. I have skyped around the world with my Ss #earlylang
I am forever grateful to YouTube/Netflix as a language instructor. Endless possibilities. I like to send an email to parents with suggestions of what to watch as a family in the TL and pre and post viewing activities they can do together at home. #earlylang
A4 I'm going to blog this but in a startling turn of events @amazon lured me from @apple this year and my kids got Kindle Fire Kids Ed 8 for Christmas - TONS of Spanish books/content with FreeTime! #earlylang
Challenging! If they are young, parents are more open to taking suggestions for field trips to restaurants, museums, etc. The older Ss can go and share with the class somehow for extra credit which is motivating to them. #earlylang
Yes! Blogged in '17- 5 steps to making a video viewing guide, link near the bottom for my guide to a Lola Aventuras clip https://t.co/pRBNzmP25d#earlylang
Ahh yes! Have to love Masha and the Bear in Russian!đ The kids love seeing their shows with the TL audio and English subtitles for comprehension! #earlylang
I am forever grateful to YouTube/Netflix as a language instructor. Endless possibilities. I like to send an email to parents with suggestions of what to watch as a family in the TL and pre and post viewing activities they can do together at home. #earlylang
I think this brings up such an important point-above & beyond travel, learning another language opens up lots of enjoyable, fun experiences in our lives, a great reason to learn one! #earlylang
A4: Much of the work we do is about deeper awareness - both of the TL/TC, & their own language & culture. I donât assign reading outside of class, but I love when Ss come back & share something they read that they were able to connect back to learning from our class. #earlylang
A4: Honestly, I have to work more on this with my older students. Sometimes I have to remind them not to read words in English like the month âmayoâ and not like mayo (mayonnaise). Definitely open for any ideas/feedback. #earlylang
Iâm showing Masha y el Oso tomorrow to first graders! Our thematic year is all about school. Check out this adorable episode about Masha wanting to go to school! And itâs funny lol. I laughed out loud A LOT while previewing! #earlylanghttps://t.co/8FDeM0Hl06
Our Community Life & Diversity team did an incredible PD day on cultural competency & I think my answer has shifted to culture first. We can turn ANYTHING into a language experience! Go ahead of time and create a QR code hunt in TL, have Ss show their knowledge in TL. #earlylang
A4 Well.....my curriculum is based on a set of mini books so..... lots of encouragement & support to share and read at home, even when the reading is more from memory than actual decoding-early steps in literacy that build towards greater ones :)))) #EarlyLang
I always find this funny to see Masha y Oso in Spanish, I'm too used to seeing it in Russian. Kinda the flip, like seeing Peppa in English after I only ever see it in Spanish-just weird! lololol #earlylang
A5: I think one of the biggest issues is the very fact that they are young, and we canât encourage them to go out about the community engaging with diverse people independently. They require adult support for that. #earlylang
A5 obviously our #earlylang students are too young to seek out these experiences on their own. I struggle with this because there are families who donât have the time or means to travel. That being said, I think finding ways for them to connect with community/family members!
A5: I think that I am hesitant because they are so little and their families don't really always understand the structure of our program, so it is hard to encourage reinforcement that isn't able to be self directed/at home #earlylang
A5: Middle schoolers tend to think within their own bubble. Some will choose to seek out experiences on their own, others won't. But it's interesting to see where opportunities pop up...(1/2) #earlylang
A5 obviously our #earlylang students are too young to seek out these experiences on their own. I struggle with this because there are families who donât have the time or means to travel. That being said, I think finding ways for them to connect with community/family members!
A5 I like to think of out of classroom experiences not just out of school, but in school (just not in our classrm), such as assemblies, Open House Night, special events, etc. There are tons of ways to incorporate our content in those events #EarlyLang
A5: I think that I am hesitant because they are so little and their families don't really always understand the structure of our program, so it is hard to encourage reinforcement that isn't able to be self directed/at home #earlylang
A5 obviously, reading/website activities are a problem with the younger ones. Also, parents have real concerns about more screen/internet but that's often a main route to these experiences. #earlylang
A5: Many of my Ss are very fortunate to go away for vacations. When they go to a Spanish-speaking country like Colombia, DR, Mexico, etc., they love to share pictures and souvenirs from their trip. #earlylang
Q5 I think itâs important to remember that these little ones will be our future, so we need to frame all experiences in a positive light, and help them see the other personâs perspective as valid, not just different #EarlyLang
A1: I think itâs essential for us to show the real-world relevancy of our language. It becomes so much more important to them when itâs something the world uses and not just something we use in the classroom. #earlylang
A5: whatever we encourage them to do has be accessible both in terms of acquiring it (financially or just based on availability) but also interesting for them #earlylang
A5: Iâve had kids tell me theyâve spoken Spanish to students from other schools on ski club trips. Iâve had gamers tell me they use their French on Xbox. (2/2) #EarlyLang
