We Love Deutsch
  • Home
    • About Frau Shechtman
    • FAQ
  • Why German?
    • Projects
    • Musik!
    • Sing & Tanz!
    • This is real!
  • Story listening
    • Experimente & Co
    • TEST
  • Reading
    • Story Reading
  • Sabine & Michael
    • Sabine und Michael 1
    • Sabine und Michael 2
    • Sabine und Michael 3
    • Sabine und Michael 4
  • Culture
    • Gebrüder Grimm
    • Sophie Scholl
    • Reunification Germany
  • Teachers
    • Great Websites
    • Downloads

Es war einmal....


Acquire German through Listening and Reading. Based on Stephen Krashen's Input Hypothesis and taught through Beniko Mason's Story Listening methodology.

We speak when we have something to say

14/11/2019

2 Comments

 
This school year I am using Story Listening and Reading exclusively.  No grammar drills. No vocabulary practice. No writing. No speaking exercises. In fact not once did I ask them to speak in German. Cue concerned feedback: "But how will they know how to speak?" - "But will they ever speak?" - "How can you speak if you don't practice it?"
The answer is always the same. They will speak when they are ready to. I don't discourage speaking, I just let them choose the timing. It emerges naturally.

Don't think that's true? Meet two of my students. The following videos were recorded at home in response to a voluntary challenge. The challenge was to watch a video from class and take some toys and stuffed animals, rebuild a scene from the story they chose and then take a photo of it. Notice: Again I did not ask for any speaking.

Here is a short description of the two students:
Age: 8yo/ 9yo
Grade: 4th
German: total beginner at start of school year with no prior German experience
School: International School in Germany, language: English
Outside German: no other German classes, little input from life in Germany as they are mostly surrounded by English and native language. Not involved in German teams, clubs, etc.
Home country: India

Here are the videos they recorded:
These videos show what these kids are able to produce after 21 hours of instructions that included 28 stories (535min). The stories the children are retelling can be found here:
  1. Ein Geräusch in der Nacht. (left)
  2. Das kleine Blau und das kleine Gelb (right)*
Of course not every student in class is able to produce the same amount of language, which is always the case, but more and more output is emerging from all students in class during the stories. Students recognize content overlap to other stories and are able to recall the German for it, they predict or simply repeat. And asides from all that as one student said today "We all love coming to your German class!"-- the students have no anxiety about class and love being there.

*Das kleine Blau und das kleine Gelb continued for another 2 minutes that were sent separately and not shown here.
2 Comments
Beniko Mason
16/11/2019 08:09:32

Wunderbar!
This is wonderful!!

Reply
Kline
16/12/2019 07:40:46

"They will speak when they are ready to. I don't discourage speaking, I just let them choose the timing. It emerges naturally." This is key.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    If you like my videos and materials, consider buying me a coffee. :)
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2022
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    March 2014
    May 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All
    Bullying
    Cornelia Funke
    Culture
    Diy
    Education
    Environment
    First 50 2019
    Frau Walter
    German Honor Society
    Holidays
    News
    Review
    Stereotypes
    Story Inspiration
    Story Listening
    Summer
    World News

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • About Frau Shechtman
    • FAQ
  • Why German?
    • Projects
    • Musik!
    • Sing & Tanz!
    • This is real!
  • Story listening
    • Experimente & Co
    • TEST
  • Reading
    • Story Reading
  • Sabine & Michael
    • Sabine und Michael 1
    • Sabine und Michael 2
    • Sabine und Michael 3
    • Sabine und Michael 4
  • Culture
    • Gebrüder Grimm
    • Sophie Scholl
    • Reunification Germany
  • Teachers
    • Great Websites
    • Downloads