I have been spending the past 3 days asking my students to think about their own goals, so it seems only fair that I should do the same!
Because I have redesigned my teaching around 6-week themes, rather than working chronologically through a textbook, my number one goal is to stay on track! I want the themes to allow students to take their learning in a more personal and useful direction, and I expect this to get messy at times. I have students with interests in music, Formula 1 race cars, arts & crafts and criminal justice. My upper level students are preparing for post-secondary studies in aerospace engineering, the military, and literature. So, for every learning experience I must ask myself, "Does this relate to the theme?" and, "Can I demonstrate that relationship to my students?"
Our first theme is "L'enquête de soi" (In search of self; Self-discovery; Personal identity). This first week of classes 2014-15 I have created opportunities for students to think about their own learning and explain to me how I can help them express their personal identities in French. They have done their I Can... inventories; upper level classes have interviewed and written about their partners; in English (newer language learners) and in French, students have answered the questions, "Who are you?" and, "What do you want?"
I purposely led off the year with these questions and activities. Each learning experience this first week can be connected back to the theme of self-discovery, and I am looking forward to watching my language learners blossom.
Pictured here: French III interviews
