Here at Sonrisas Spanish, we are big proponents of the power and value of reflection. In this blog we have written much about how teachers can use reflection as a strategy to improve teaching practices. Reflection encourages growth, fosters adaptability, and promotes excellence in teaching. Hopefully, you can take some time to do some reflection at this time of year. Check out this article if you would like some tips on the practice of reflection.
We have been doing some reflecting of our own, and we want to share with you some of our thoughts. We are grateful for our customers and the many dedicated Spanish teachers who invest their time and energy in the very important endeavor of teaching Spanish to children. We designed the Sonrisas elementary Spanish curriculum with teachers in mind, and it is our sincere hope that our lessons save you time and help you teach Spanish in a fun and effective way. Without further ado, our recent reflections include:
There seems to be a steady barrage of AI ads hitting teachers these days. Education companies are jumping on the bandwagon and trying to gain an advantage. On top of everything else, teachers are now being challenged with figuring out how AI will fit into their teaching.
It may seem new, it may seem like hype, it may seem like a pain in the rear, but the fact is that AI is here to stay. It will soon be as ubiquitous as using Google. The challenges that lay ahead regarding integration, boundaries, and impact will grow.
Last year at the ACTFL conference, there were very few sessions focused on AI. This year there were many. AI has the potential to enhance some aspects of language learning, but we are wary of quick and un-researched adoption of AI in language education and education in general. And that brings us to our next reflection.
We have been saying this for decades. In the late twenty-teens, you were starting to see a backlash against tech-based education solutions. This was across the board, not just in language learning. A lot of evidence pointed to sub-par outcomes and reduced learning when tech-based curriculum was used.
And then we know what happened in 2020. Covid caused online learning to become the norm, ed companies made a lot of money, and the concerns about learning were (mostly) forgotten. Prior to 2020, ACTFL developed a statement on the role of technology in language learning which concluded that the sole use of tech for language instruction is not appropriate. It suggested that language instruction is best guided by a teacher using effective curriculum. In other words, human-to-human is the best way to learn language.
It seems obvious right? But it needs to be shouted. It needs to be reinforced. And it needs to be practiced. Young learners especially benefit when language instruction is delivered by a human, and they have the opportunity to communicate with their teacher and their peers. Let’s stop messing around trying to use the latest tech “solution” and get back to basics—an immersion environment, using comprehensible input, with lots of opportunity for communication. That’s how children learn Spanish.
We know that the global economy is growing. The entire world is connected through seen and unseen economic forces. Knowing another language is a huge advantage to anyone, anywhere, in any sector of the economy.
We know that our country is more divided than ever. But no matter our politics, our socioeconomic status, or our culture we are all still connected by our common human experience. Empathy and understanding are required to overcome our divisions. Learning another language and learning about other cultures develop empathy and understanding.
So at this time of year which can be hectic and stressful, remember that what you do matters. Teaching Spanish really matters. And here at Sonrisas Spanish we are grateful that you are doing it.
One last thing, here are a couple of articles that may provide some inspiration for this time of year:
We hope you have a productive and fun end to your semester and a happy holiday season.
