We know that reading is essential for language students. First and foremost, reading helps students become better readers. As Frank Smith has said, “We learn to read by reading.” Reading also helps students increase their vocabulary, acquire grammar implicitly, and learn how to write. Plus, it’s enjoyable! Time and time again, research evidence has demonstrated …
Using Children’s Picture Books with Adults
Children’s picture books are great resources in the language classroom. The stories are usually fairly short and simple, and the pictures can help increase students’ comprehension of the story. They’re also a good way to introduce students to books and to the idea of reading for fun and enjoyment. The main drawback, however, is that, …
Using Students’ Photos in Class
With my Level 3 class this summer, I’ve asked them to bring in 2-3 photos of themselves that they want to show the class, and we all look at the photos together and talk about them as a class. I got this idea from Adriana Ramirez, a Spanish teacher, who posted the idea online and …
Reflections from My Students on Story Listening, Whole-Class Novel Reading, and FVR
At one of the two programs where I teach, we just finished a term, and I gave my students a survey to help me know what kind of class activities they liked the most and found the most helpful. I think it’s really important to do these kinds of surveys because it’s a way of …
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Reading the Book “Felipe Alou”
I know that a lot of teachers are winding things down or are already out of school for the summer, but for me, our summer semester is just getting started! I started teaching a new class this semester, a Level 3 class. I decided to start out the semester by reading the book Felipe Alou: …
Allison Lewis 