Current+Seniors

__WHAT CURRENT EDUCATION SENIORS OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY HAD TO SAY ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH TARGET LANGUAGE USE, BOTH AS A STUDENT AND IN THEIR FIELD PLACEMENTS.__ user:KathrynHin

//*Please feel free to post your own experiences with target language teaching to the discussion board!//

The general feeling in this case is that the more a professor uses a target language, the more students feel comfortable hearing the language in other scenarios (movies, native speakers, etc.). Students' listening comprehension improves and builds confidence in his/her language skills.
 * 1.) In your personal experience with learning a foreign language, how do you think your professors' usage of the target language affected your learning?**
 * I feel that I learn and take in much, much more do to the fact that my professors only speak in Spanish. I learn phrases, conjugations, different accents, keep up with my language skills that I still have, as well as learn new vocabulary every single day, and I only have 1 SPN class this semester; I still feel like my language improves with those 4 hours a week.
 * It is great because it gives you multiple opportunities to you to improve your listening comprehension. It makes me feel like interacting in French is a task that I can take on.
 * Professors ONLY using the target language isn't that great ... some English is always good, but when necessary, to help keep the students feeling comfortable. Depending on the level of the students, I think my learning was best with a lot of English still as a beginning, and mostly all French as an advanced student in High School other than really quick translations once in a while.
 * I noticed that my understanding and ability to use the target language DRASTICALLY improved once my professors started to solely use the target language.
 * It made me more comfortable in speaking in the language myself since everyone was so used to hearing it. It also gave me more support in terms of being afraid of making mistakes because I realized that everyone makes mistakes sometimes even in our native language!
 * I think that before I had professors who used the target language, listening to a movie or something completely in French was really intimidating and hard to comprehend. But, now that I am in classes that professors only speak French, I can sit in class and I hear what the professor is saying and understand it without having to translate anything in my head; it just comes naturally.

Most of the field placement teachers use the target language very little in the classroom. As a result, the students feel less inclined to learn the language and resort to waiting for English translations.
 * 2.) In reference to your field placement teacher's use/avoidance of the target language, how do you think this affects the students?**
 * It affects my students tremendously when my teacher does not use the TL all the time. I asked a student, 'Que te gusta?' and the student did not only NOT understand me, but also couldn't answer me in the TL or give me any answer in general. In all of my classes I speak to my students in Spanish, however, I use very comprehensible input, but still only in the TL. They still talk back to me in English, which means they understand. I know my teacher teaches (supposedly) in TPRS which calls for waiting until the students are ready to speak the TL, but I think that sometimes students need a little initiative and push to speak, which the teacher not only doesn't give through her speaking in English to the students, but also not through her teaching either, when she takes students answers in English instead of SPN. It's really sad - these are SPN 2 students, for pete's sake!
 * My field placement teacher rarely uses the target language and I think that it makes the students feel that speaking French is not a reality, that it is too hard. They do not even put in the effort because it seems like too much of a challenge.
 * She does a great job using both - English when necessary, French with a lot of gestures, too, and she counts "un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq" when she switches between languages. The students really accept her use of either language, but DO still get good use out of the English because they can't understand all of the French she gives them.
 * My placement teacher uses the target language on occasion but only does so with commonly used phrases or translates into English immediately afterward. I think that this gives the students the impression that they can be lazy and just wait for the English translation and that they are unable to communicate in the target language.
 * My field teacher uses the target language a good amount. The students are definitely used to hearing the language and are comfortable with that. This is especially important for students wishing to travel abroad so that they are comfortable and confident in their own pronunciation/skills.
 * My field placement teachers speaks very little in the target language, and consequently the students have a very hard time speaking and also they struggle with listening. The students are proficient with reading and writing because they are practice French using mainly these forms.

Although teaching in the target language can be challenging, most seniors feel it is necessary in order for their students to be able to not only learn the language, but stay motivated to do so. > I think that teaching in the target language it essential, however very difficult. I think that many teachers either become lazy or just find it too hard to teach primarily in the target language, so they just stick to English without realizing how much it hurts and affects students.
 * 3.) How do you feel personally about teaching in the target language?**
 * Even though I know it's going to be harder than I ever imagined (and I've really come to realize this!), I know my students will benefit so much from my TL input, which I plan to use at every moment. My students will not know if I speak English or Spanish, because I really plan to never talk to them in English at all. Even if I saw them outside of the classroom with their parents, I would either talk in English to their parents and SPN to the student, or ask the student to translate to their parents what I say, depending on their level. Either way, I think this will help the parents understand that their students are learning a lot in the world language classroom, even if they are first year speakers, and how important it is to teach how I teach - using only the TL.
 * I think that teaching in the target language is a great idea. I definitely plan on using it as much as possible because I think that it is the best way to promote authentic use.
 * I think teaching in the target language is necessary for advanced learners, but less necessary for beginners, yet should still be used with beginners a lot with a lot of L1 use as well.
 * I think that teaching in the target language is a daunting task but well worth it in the end. I think students will surprise themselves with how much they are able to do which will further motivate them to learn the language. I do, however, think there are necessary moments to switch into English to conserve time and to make directions or concepts extremely clear.
 * I want to teach in the target language 99% of the time. I have been able to do so in my field placement and students definitely understand! I realize that sometimes English explanation is necessary, but I want my students to enter into a little part of Germany when they come into my classroom. Having the pressure to speak the target language I think is a good stress for them to be encouraged to speak with their peers.