One of the hallmarks of New Hope’s Spanish program is our use of a methodology called TPRS: Total Physical Response and Storytelling. For years, mixing movement, acting, and storytelling with more conventional methods has given students an outstanding foundation in Spanish. So at the beginning of the ‘20-’21 academic year, with some students in the classroom and others Zooming in, it was clear that parts of this methodology would have to be re-imagined.
Students act out a skit using TPRS methodology in 2018.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and adapting to challenges meant adopting fresh new platforms for practicing Spanish.
One such adaptation was the use of StoryboardThat, a platform that allows students and instructors to easily create a corresponding “comic strip” for their stories and skits. When acting out a story was made difficult due to the fact that not everyone was in the same room, storyboards allowed students to see the actions and expressions of the characters. Students on Zoom could even annotate the screen, further illustrating the plot of the story. It led to a lot of fun and silliness--and learning!
A Spanish I student uses StoryboardThat to illustrate her story.
Students also utilized budding technological skills to make videos, including cooking instructional videos, videos where students “presented a patient” as though they were doctors, and videos about their interview with a native Spanish speaker. Though in “normal” years we do these things live in class, making videos allowed the students to incorporate creativity and imagination in really interesting, visual ways.
Spanish II students practiced commands and food vocabulary by making cooking videos.
Students were also able to collaborate on slideshows. For example, students were directed to act as “travel agents”, recommending trips to the Spanish-speaking destinations of their choice, in order to practice travel vocabulary and the subjunctive mood. I was blown away by their humor and creativity! Beyond simply recommending hotels and planning day trips, they also did things like suggesting playlists for the airplane trip and making recommendations for truly unique experiences, way off the beaten path!
Students present on a proposed trip to Puerto Rico, rich with humor, imagination, and great Spanish!
This year, we will regain the ability to do much or all of what we were able to do before. This is great news! But as I plan, I am glad to be able to keep the best elements that came from the innovation of this past year. Qué bueno, ¿no?