Stand & Deliver: Teaching in the Target Language

SILL 2009Melissa Ruder

Bellevue Middle School

Memphis, Tennessee

Presentation Outline

•Action Research Topic

•My Students & School

•Action Research Plan

•Results of my Project

•Personal Reflection

•If I had to do it again

Action Research Topic:

Study effects of immersion Style Teaching

What is immersion style teaching?

Honors Spanish Period 3Meet my students…

Honors Spanish Period 4

Honors Spanish Period 7

Action Research Data Analysis Tools

• Surveys• Performance Based Assessments• Personal journal of reflections• Student Interviews• Memphis City Schools End of Course

Test• STAMP Test

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Obstacles

• Lack of technology • New school• Short class periods with large class

sizes• My comfort level• Extra school responsibilities

Overcoming the Obstacles

Results of my Action Research

I discovered that teaching in the target language will increase the oral proficiency level and the comfort level of the student in the target language.

Student Opinions

• “I like the challenge of trying to figure out everything you say in class”

• “I felt nervous at first when you spoke in Spanish the entire class period but after a while I felt excited because I could understand”

• “It helps me use my Spanish in Memphis”• “I zone out and stop paying attention when I

don’t understand what you are saying”

Reading Comprehension

STAMP Test Reading Results

1% 10%

19%

70%

Intermediate-Low

Novice-High

Novice-Mid

Novice-Low

Writing Proficiency

STAMP Test Writing Results

1%

72%

24%

3%

Intermediate-Low

Novice-High

Novice-Mid

Novice-Low

Speaking Proficiency

STAMP Test Speaking Results

2%

46%

47%

5%

Intermediate-Low

Novice-High

Novice-Mid

Novice-Low

Personal Reflection…..• Total Immersion• Classroom Management• Future goals