Episode 54: Boosting Engagement: The Art of Asking Questions in the World Language Class
Episode description
Today, we're talking about asking questions. We all know that asking questions plays a significant role in our classes. But let's get real, when you've got a big class filled with students who are just starting out in the language or perhaps have only grasped the basics, asking questions can feel like an art form, right?
In this episode, we're sharing many strategies and ideas about the important art of questioning in our language class. Our guest, Paulino Brener, a Spanish teacher from Argentina, is here to share everything he's learned about asking questions throughout his many years of teaching, starting with an immersion summer camp and now teaching Level 2 and IB.
Paulino makes an important distinction between two crucial types of questions: the ones that help your students process the language (the processing questions), and the ones that keep the communication flowing (the referential questions). These two question types are vital for our classes, but maintaining a balance between them is essential to avoid merely drilling questions and instead genuinely fostering classroom discourse centered around communication.
But that's not all! Paulino also shares some fantastic strategies to ensure your questions are comprehensible to your students and that they can effectively respond in the target language.
Believe me, this conversation with Paulino is one you don't want to miss if you're looking to enhance your question-asking skills in class and get more of your students engaged. So, are you ready? Just click that link, and let's dive in!
Bio: Paulino Brener is an Argentinean who has been residing and working in the United States for over 20 years. He holds a Master's degree in Second Language Learning and Teaching from the University of Minnesota (USA). Paulino teaches Spanish both in-person and online to children and adults. He is passionate about social media and technology. He is a co-founder of Didactas, a platform for continuous professional development for language educators. Paulino has also received training as an actor and loves incorporating creativity and imagination into his classes. He's the tallest Spanish teacher you'll ever meet. Additionally, Paulino is a certified Google Educator at both Level 1 and Level 2.
Resources & Links
Paulino’s X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/paulinobrener
Blog: https://growingwithproficiency.com
IG & Twitter: @claudiamelliott
Las leyendas: www.growingwithproficiency.com/leyendas