Just as I was thinking that something was lacking in typical language classroom teaching methods, I came across the website for Blaine Ray and his method of teaching. His method of teaching - Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling is a method of teaching that really gets students to speak Spanish. Rather than focus primarily on grammar, the TPRS method is a process of acquiring a second language much like we learned our first language - which is learning to speak, then learning about the rules of the language. From the moment that I found out about Blaine Ray and his programs, books, and seminars I was hooked. So it was really a no-brainer that I should attend the National TPRS conference just recently held in Minneapolis.

While all of the teachers there spent a majority of their time learning how to teach in the TPRS style, there was one really interesting twist of the seminar that really showed that their system was powerfully effective…

To prove that this method of teaching really works in the foreign language classroom, we were required to take a Fluency Fast class in a language that we do not teach and have never had any experience with. This process, while challenging, really showed me how difficult it is to attempt a new language, and how fast it really can be done using the natural learning methods of TPRS.

I decided to take Mandarin Chinese - one of the most difficult languages to learn. I wanted and needed to believe that teaching using the TPRS method would really get students comprehending and speaking the language. After only three days of intense Mandarin, I was rehearsing an 11 sentence story in Chinese with a partner and comprehending like I never thought I would be able to. It really was a great experience. I really feel inspired to put the methodology to the test in my own classroom this year.

For more information on Blaine Ray’s incredible TPRS method of teaching foreign language, or to glance at the products available for sale, visit: http://www.blaineraytprs.com/

For more information on taking a Fluency Fast class, visit http://www.fluencyfast.com/

I am in no way affiliated with Blaine Ray or Fluency Fast other than being a raving fan and student of their work. I don’t make a dime by recommending that you check out these resources and I look forward to maybe seeing at next year’s TPRS Conference in Dallas.