Last week I wrote that I plan to study methods for improving oral proficiency with a focus on a near native accent. In my lit review I will research techniques created by linguists to develop a Hispanic accent and in my field research I will interview and observe teachers to discover which methods are feasible and effective.
To narrow this topic even further, I would like to concentrate on secondary education specifically in high schools. My reasoning for this is that while there are some programs that start foreign language in elementary or middle schools, the bulk of students start learning a second language in high school. Also, I plan on teaching only in high schools so to study high schools would be the most applicable for me.
I will focus on proficiency-oriented instruction and strategies that support oral proficiency development. Such strategies could include basic linguistic instruction of phonetics (as Robbie mentioned he might research) and the amount of native speaker speech the students are hearing. One technique I would like to implement in my own classroom is to occasionally bring in native Spanish speakers to give short talks on issues surrounding the local Hispanic community in order to give the students exposure to a native accent and gain a cultural awareness at the same time. In my research I would be interested to see the creative ways that teachers integrate native accents into their classrooms.
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4 comments:
Ana, your general topic is good. I'm not sure you want to exclude teachers at elementary and middle school levels. If you are interviewing teachers, you probably will want all levels.
I am not sure if your focus is oral proficiency or more specifically native speakers? Or maybe different media for presenting native speakers...real life, technology, video, etc.
Your topic sounds fascinating. I love the idea of examining how non native speakers learn to speak with or without an accent and what could facilitate the adoption of a native accent. I think the incorporation of native speakers into the classroom is a large factor. I am sure that Winston Salem has a nice blend of Spanish teachers...some native and some non-native speakers. You could examine the different teachers and the impact that their own accent has on the students.
Ana, I think this topic has lots of potential, and your findings would likely be very useful in your own teaching later on. I'm worried, however, that you might have difficulty finding classes or teachers to help you complete the study. One of our problems may be the lack of control we'd be able to exert over the students we'd be studying, so just keep that in mind. Overall though, you seem much more concrete in your idea that I am, and for that I'm jealous!
Ana,
It seems like your topic, based on what you want to do in your classroom, is shifting just a little bit, to what I think may be even more exciting than oral proficiency and students gaining a native accent. The inclusion of native speakers in the classroom is an excellent idea. And so many other tools could be used to insert this native tongue into the instruction. I realize that you may not want to go this specific but I just go so excited about your goals for your classroom. Sounds great!
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