Strategy vs. functionality is my new motto!
In case you weren't aware, the system of when foreign language is taught to K-12 students is completely backwards in this country! Students should be introduced to Spanish in Kindergarten and have it as a class regularly and then taper as they get older. I do not understand why it is everyone agrees on today's research that the younger a child is, the better they can pick up a second, and even third language, YET the majority of public school students throughout the U.S. begin foreign language study when they are in Middle School or worse - in High School. The odds are against them from the get-go! No wonder I meet students every year that are just starting Spanish in the 8th grade, for example, and they are so anxious and nervous - not to mention, hormonal! For these reasons, I came up with "Strategy vs. Functionality". If they are "stuck" in Spanish class or French class because the school (or college they are headed to) requires certain credits, then they might as well take advantage and learn how to survive! If in the process of learning to survive, they actually learn to like it, then the learning goals change to becoming functional in the language. I find this approach less intimidating for my students who are just beginning Spanish at the ripe, old age of 13!
STRATEGY: this means learning how to do Q&A, how to use a dictionary well, knowing to stay away from translation sites (more on this later), & how to use a verb chart.
Learning these strategies enables a student to become self-sufficient in the class, but still far away from proficient. My theory is if a student develops strategies of this nature that in turn increases confidence levels, then perhaps the student will transition to a desire to become more functional in the language.
FUNCTIONAL: this means students take the strategy tools further and apply them! They try, they practice, they speak, read, & write with the goal of becoming functional in the language. Functional means they can do it with ease, but not necessarily perfection - which is what we want most high school graduates to walk away with - especially after 4-6 years of language study!
At the beginning of each class with my 8th graders, I ask them to pick their goal for the next 55 minutes: Do you want to learn strategy or do you want to take strategy and use it towards becoming functional? The choice is yours, but you have to choose.
