Idioma usado en clase
For it to be effective, it is recommended that learning takes place through the target language. Learners, in order to acquire (internalise) it and develop proficiency, need as much exposure as possible to Spanish at all levels of instruction (and also beyond the classroom).
For many of our students, time spent in class is the only opportunity in their day to experience the language: maximising it by providing an immersion environment prepares them for success in the real-world. Just like learning to ride a bike, drive or cook, learning to use Spanish is best achieved by doing with proper guidance: in our case, from highly trained, experienced, qualified and dedicated professionals.
Teachers ensure that students are able to understand what is being said, read, heard or viewed and what they are doing, for which they use a variety of strategies to facilitate comprehension and support meaning making:
_Provide comprehensible input that is directed toward communicative goals
_Focus on meaning before details
_Provide a language-rich environment
_Make meaning clear through body language, gestures, and visual support
_Conduct comprehension checks to ensure understanding
_Negotiate meaning with students and encourage it among them
_Elicit talk that increases in fluency, accuracy, and complexity over time
_Encourage self-expression and spontaneous use of language
_Teach students strategies for requesting clarification and assistance when faced with comprehension difficulties _Offer feedback to assist and improve students’ ability to interact orally in the target language
As a result of classes being taught in a language other than the target one, you may often see students who have textbook knowledge of Spanish but who are unable to communicate in it. Learners can only acquire language when they are exposed to significant levels of meaningful communication and interactive feedback which is achieved in class through the input that teachers provide.
It goes without saying that, although we advise against it, if students still prefer to have classes taught in another language (we have teachers who are fluent in English, German, Italian, French and Russian), that is perfectly fine and we can adjust to their requests, but only when doing private classes (very limited availability, though).