A grant proposal to add noise canceling headphones with microphones to the Spanish classroom |
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Part II: Outlined Transformation
The hardest thing to replicate in the Spanish classroom is authentic conversations. Sure, students can practice conversations with a peer, but that is vastly different than a conversation with a native Spanish speaker. My goal is to prepare students to have conversations with native speakers around the world. There are twenty-one Spanish-speaking countries, many with different dialects and pronunciations. Students need ample practice in a safe environment (the classroom) to hear and grapple with these dialects.
Hearing Spanish speakers tell stories from their home countries and responding to these messages will deepen students understanding in Spanish language and culture. Although all six perspectives of understanding can be applied here, the ones that are most prominent and important are perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge. Students will gain a new perspective to see the different backgrounds of Spanish speakers. By responding to simulated conversations with these native speakers using the headsets, students will start to empathize with the speakers and relate to them. Finally, students will understand the whole world of Spanish speakers by being about to “talk” to people around the world.
My ultimate goal as a Spanish teacher is to prepare students to speak, experience, and be a part of Spanish culture in the United States and around the world. By giving students this aural and oral practice, they will be prepared to have conversations and live in the Spanish speaking world. With this communicative focus, my assessments would change to be more holistic. With individual headsets, I would be able to listen to students’ conversations or stories in Spanish and grade on their fluency without breakdown in communication. I would be able to see how well students understand aural language and how well they can respond. This assessment is the most practical means of determining how well students would function in a Spanish-speaking country.
Hearing Spanish speakers tell stories from their home countries and responding to these messages will deepen students understanding in Spanish language and culture. Although all six perspectives of understanding can be applied here, the ones that are most prominent and important are perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge. Students will gain a new perspective to see the different backgrounds of Spanish speakers. By responding to simulated conversations with these native speakers using the headsets, students will start to empathize with the speakers and relate to them. Finally, students will understand the whole world of Spanish speakers by being about to “talk” to people around the world.
My ultimate goal as a Spanish teacher is to prepare students to speak, experience, and be a part of Spanish culture in the United States and around the world. By giving students this aural and oral practice, they will be prepared to have conversations and live in the Spanish speaking world. With this communicative focus, my assessments would change to be more holistic. With individual headsets, I would be able to listen to students’ conversations or stories in Spanish and grade on their fluency without breakdown in communication. I would be able to see how well students understand aural language and how well they can respond. This assessment is the most practical means of determining how well students would function in a Spanish-speaking country.
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