Author Archives: bryankandel

How well do you know your friend? (Adapting the newlywed game for WL class)

Posted on May 8, 2014 by bryankandel

Here’s another simple game that students tend to enjoy and provides opportunities for many reps of a few target structures.   The game is played in pairs.  The object is to know as much about your partner as possible. Each student … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Games, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Text message reading

Posted on April 30, 2014 by bryankandel

Here’s a fun way to add a bit of spark to reading, especially dialogue/conversation.  Use the website iphonetextgenerator.com to create fake text message conversations.  The site is pretty easy to learn and use.  Each “screenshot” can be downloaded and added to … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading | 6 Comments

The one-sided phone conversation

Posted on April 25, 2014 by bryankandel

Have you ever listened to someone talk on the phone to someone else?  As you listen to half of the conversation, do you wonder what the voice on the other end of the line is saying?  Do you ever try … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Communicative Activities | Leave a comment

Storytelling Resource

Posted on April 22, 2014 by bryankandel

Donald Miller recently released a short (34 pages), free ($0) ebook called How to Tell a Story.  The book starts with some good thoughts about why stories work – why they are so effective in holding attention and communicating.  He … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Stories/Storytelling | Leave a comment

El Tenedor (The Fork Game)

Posted on April 17, 2014 by bryankandel

I can’t remember where I first heard of this game.  It is typically played with a pencil and called something like the “True or False Game.”  I use plastic forks and call it “El Tenedor.”  Here’s how it is played: … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Games | 10 Comments

Another authentic listening example

Posted on April 14, 2014 by bryankandel

I stumbled across this beautiful clip recently and had to transcribe it to be used as an authentic listening activity in the future.  In the clip, Jorge Luis Borges discusses art and the restless task of artists and writers.  I … Continue reading →

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Authentic Listening Ideas

Posted on April 7, 2014 by bryankandel

I start most classes with music.  We listen to songs, complete cloze activities and complete many activities with the lyrics.  We spend about 5 minutes on it at the beginning of class before moving onto the activities for the day. … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Resources, Listening | 3 Comments

Yet another analogy

Posted on March 31, 2014 by bryankandel

TPRS is a lot like cheese sticks. My mother was watching our kids a few weeks ago.  My daughter, who just turned three, asked for a cheese stick as a snack.  She tends to be very specific in her requests. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

El corazón de la madre / La Coeur de Ma Mère

Posted on March 27, 2014 by bryankandel

Here’s a story based on an authentic song in French.  Christy Miller, the French teacher at our school was teaching a unit based on the song.  I liked the story so much that I decided to create a Spanish version. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Stories/Storytelling, Story Scripts | 1 Comment

OFLA Workshop

Posted on March 21, 2014 by bryankandel

If you are a language teacher in Ohio or will be visiting our state for the OFLA conference in April, please consider attending my workshop on Thursday April 10 at 5:30pm. The title of the workshop is Creating Materials for an … Continue reading →

Posted in Professional Development | Leave a comment