Goal #7:  Effective Communication

The beginning teacher models effective communication techniques (verbal, non-verbal, media, etc.) and facilitates student communication, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom.

To demonstrate my abilities as outlines in program goal 7, I am submitting a novice level unit plan entitled Entre Familia. 

In order for a teacher to be effective, he or she must be able to communicate clearly with the students both verbally and non-verbally.  A teacher's body language is as strong as a teacher's words.  The physical classroom environment needs to be one that encourages communication between students and the teacher. 

In my unit plan Entre Familia, students engaged in verbal and written learning experiences.  The most important part of learning a foreign language is spoken words and communication in the target language.  Collaborative work was an important part of this unit.  Students worked together on communicative activities. This collaborative work encouraged students to communicate with each other in the target language.  Furthermore, it allowed students to communicate both verbally and non-verbally with other students in the classroom.  In a communicative activity, each pair of students had two different sets of information.  Students asked each other questions in order to fill in the missing information from the sheet.  While working together in pairs, students were able to informally teach other.  Students were also engaged in listening activities using a CD player.  These listening activities were a means of self-assessment for the students.  Students would listen to a script, then fill in their worksheets based on the information they heard.  Students used context clues as well as key guide words to help them in their understanding.  The better students are able to communicate with one another, the better they will understand the language.