Proven Pedagogy…Online

powerspeaK¹² focuses on the five key areas of language acquisition and introduces students to progressively more difficult lessons  

 

Listening

  • Listening Comprehension Practices – These practices were carefully designed to integrate new and previously learned vocabulary and grammar concepts.  The use of context and cognates further facilitates a student’s understanding of the listening segment.  A short assessment then challenges the student to identify the main ideas and significant details found in each segment.
  • Interactive Games and Activities – Multiple interactive games and activities allow students to hear and speak the target language frequently throughout the week.  Both listening and speaking skills are continually reinforced.
  • Focused Listening Exercises (available in Spanish only) — These carefully designed exercises allow students to literally eavesdrop on a conversation.  Students are then asked questions to determine their understanding of the conversation or situation.
  • Simulated Conversation Practices (available in Spanish only) – Students listen to a series of everyday conversational prompts and are guided to respond to each prompt and/or to ask further questions to continue the conversation.  In a very simplified way, this activity is intended to introduce beginning students to activities found on the AP Spanish test.

 

Speaking

  • Oral Practices and Oral Assessments — These activities give students a chance to become more familiar with the speaking patterns of the target language by applying them in communicative situations. 
  • Explore Activities – In addition to providing students with opportunities to explore target language cultures, these standards-based activities also provide students a chance to use the language in a meaningful and communicative way.
  • Animations – These short “videos” help students understand the similarities and differences in pronunciation patterns between the target language and English.
  • Interactive Games and Activities – Multiple interactive games and activities allow students to hear and speak the target language frequently throughout the week.  Both listening and speaking skills are continually reinforced.

 

Reading

  • Reading Comprehension Practices — These practices were carefully designed to integrate new and previously learned vocabulary and grammar concepts.  The use of context and cognates further facilitates a student’s understanding of the reading passage.  A short assessment then challenges the student to identify the main ideas and significant details found in each segment.
  • Realia – These activities give students an opportunity to put their knowledge to the test by applying what they have learned to a more real-life situation.  Students are not expected to know the meaning of each word but rather to use what they know and cognates to figure out each Realia. 
  • Explore Activities – Students are encouraged to find and use target language resources to research information to complete Explore assignments.

 

Writing

  • Interactive Games and Activities – The games throughout the week prepare students to be able to write the words and phrases they are learning.
  • Writing Practices and Assessments — These activities give students a chance to become more familiar with the writing patterns of the target language.
  • Explore Activities – In addition to providing students with opportunities to explore target language cultures, these standards-based activities also provide students a chance to use the language in a meaningful and communicative way.

 

Culture

  • Each week students learn about various cultural aspects (e.g., practices, products, and perspectives) of the countries that speak the target language.
  • CultureGrams™ — These multi-media cultural presentations cover a wide range of topics such as gestures, etiquette, history, food, and more.
  • Culture videos — These video clips present students with short explanations about different cultural aspects of various countries.
  • Explore Activities – Explore activities provide interesting opportunities for students to become more aware of and involved in the target language culture.  Topics include Greetings, Food, Recipes, Flags, Famous People, Participating in the Culture, Becoming a Lifelong Learner, Cultural Products, and Personal Interest Topics.
  • Culture Reports – Twice a year students prepare for and submit a report comparing their own culture with that of a target language culture.
  • Culture Montages – These video slideshows walk students through various countries or cultural situations.  They allow students to see examples and pictures of other countries and cultures.