TPRS = an answer to: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got

Quote from Microsoft Dynamics GP Community “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got – Many people attribute this quote to Anthony Robbins and before him Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, and even Mark Twain. Regardless of the origin, what matters is the point it makes. If you want to change the end result, you need to change the way you do things.” End quote

Lots of world/second language teachers are disappointed by what there students are finally able to perform after several or lots of years of learning the language they teach; or even worse, they think a lot of students just don’t have the talent to learn a language. And even worse than that: those students start thinking it of themselves too…

Although TPRS is a Comprehensible Input method, the ultimate goal is fluent language use i.e. using the language with confidence and without hesitation, orally, but also in writing. At the moment there is a lively conversation at Twitter between TPRS teachers who show what their students are able to write in a speed write after an x period of time of CI/TPRS input. They use the hashtag: #showumine. Magister P. (Lance Piantaggini) followed the initiative of Chris Stolz, Mike Peto, and Mike Coxon, (who show Spanish examples) and shows examples of student work of his students Latin. Results from students of the Chinese masterteacher Terry Waltz can be seen (also videos) at “TPRS Success! Real students, real classes. Real results.” It looks like Terry is the only woman joining the ‘competition’ until now. And until now mainly Spanish teachers are showing (off?) 🙂

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got”

Do you always do what you’ve always done? Do you really care for (your) students? Are you listening to your fear of administrators, the inspection etc? Do you really want your students to really acquire the language you like to teach? What are you prepared to do in order to really do what’s necessary for your students?