Characteristics of Quality Second Language Instruction
- All activities are related to the Five Cs (communication, connections, cultures, comparisons and communities) that are the basis for national and state standards for second language instruction.
- Connections to and from English in the target language
- Efforts to lower the affective filter (e.g. to make the learning environment as friendly and stress free as possible to aid students in comprehension and language production)
- Opportunities for students to practice all four skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking
- High energy, enthusiasm and movement by the teacher and students at a higher level than may be experienced in other classrooms
- Multiple examples of the written language displayed throughout the classroom
- English usage by the teacher and students declines as the level increases (e.g. Less English is heard in Spanish III than in Spanish II, etc.)
- English usage is limited to grammatical explanations and school related announcements
- Choral repetition of target vocabulary and expressions
- Use of multimedia such as music, art work, video clips, and other technology
- "Realia" (authentic items from the target culture) is incorporated into lessons
- Communicative activities through cooperative learning
- The use of cues, gestures, body language, and images to aid students in comprehension of unfamiliar vocabulary and expressions