As a language teacher my responsibility is to motivate and encourage students from the very beginning of the course. It is important that they feel comfortable exploring a second language. The only way to learn any subject is through making mistakes.
Our class is considered a workshop where the students will speak, read and write in a second language. However, it is imperative to make a commitment in order to be successful in learning any subject. Such a commitment requires that students practice outside of the actual lesson, since learning a language requires frequent practice, just like learning to play an instrument.
Our approach is based on learning through experience. Students will learn basic grammar; they will also develop listening and speaking skills from the beginning. This can be challenging for some students but, with the help of pictures or surrounding objects as well as the use of cognates (similar words in English), the students will be able to master the first steps.
Total Physical Response (TPR) is one of the methods that we use in our classes. This method does not require grammar because it imitates the way young kids learned their primary language. This is done by modeling and practicing language specific strategies for communicating, using various sensory prompts such as flash cards, objects in the room, and mimics.
We want to make sure that the students feel comfortable and motivated learning a second language. That's why the cultural aspect has an important role during the process of learning a language. Exposure to art, literature, films, food or music will create the perfect atmosphere to immerse the student in the cultures of Latin America and Spain if Spanish is the target language. If English is the second language, becoming a part of the community in several programs or activities will reinforce our lessons.