Getting Students to Speak in the Target Language

Language Latte: A Podcast for World Language Teachers

Today we are talking about getting students to speak in the target language in our language classes. What should be the goal of our speaking exercises in class? How do you create an environment that encourages speaking? Is it possible to teach 100% in the target language? Treat yourself to a latte, settle in, and join our Language Latte facebook group to get in on the conversation!

Every episode, I examine issues that world language teachers face when trying to help our students’ achieve proficiency. This episode’s topic affects every language teacher around the world: getting students to speak in class. It’s not just “speaking,” it's communicating in the target language with each other. There are different ways and tricks to elicit this oral communication- but what does the research have to say? How can we get students to the point where they are comfortable trying out their new language? If we are meeting students where they are, can we expect beginners to actually speak? What kind of speaking activities are the most effective and engaging?

Let’s first look at what the research says about oral communication and best practices, and then I’ll interview Sherry Schermerhorn, a stellar Spanish and French teacher who teaches 100% in the target language. Sherry shares how she decided to switch to 100%, plus her best tips for teachers who want to increase speaking in class, and how she KEEPS students in the target language.