When developing a unit to teach language, my primary focus is how to recycle language for multiple repetitions. I rely on some techniques that come from the Comprehensible Input movement, like Card Talk, Story Listening, Picture Talk, Map Talk, Movie Talk and Write and Discuss. In addition, students ask each other questions and then synthesize…

A most basic conversation is one about preferences. We tell another person what we like and it helps them to get to know us better. In this unit there are many opportunities for students to speak to each other, to be playful and to repeat a small set of vocabulary over the course of about…

For dynamic instruction, I design my language classes to be active. I ask students to participate frequently, engaging in conversation with their peers for multiple repetitions of the target phrases. When planning lessons, I prepare visual support on slides for the limited amount of language that I am going to introduce. I also try different…