a Professional Learning Workshop for
World Language Teachers
with Linda Li
Facilitating Language Acquisition with Comprehensible Input
Workshop Overview
Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research has shown language cannot be taught explicitly.
We can only facilitate language acquisition by providing learners with “Comprehensible Input”
(CI). How does this finding inform classroom practice? This workshop combines current Second
Language Acquisition (SLA) research, a highly engaging Mandarin demo with Comprehensible
Input based instruction and practical strategies to support teachers as they facilitate language
acquisition and guide learners to develop higher proficiency.
This workshop is highly interactive. There will be ample opportunities for participants to learn a
variety of different strategies to facilitate language acquisition, practice the core skills, play with
the activities and leave with better skills to sustain target language communication in class and
gain a deeper understanding of the importance of “Comprehensible Input” in language
acquisition.
Participants will:
1. have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of Language Acquisition and its
implication in classroom practice
2. experience and engage CI-based language teaching instruction, such as: Total Physical
Response, Story-creating and MovieTalk
3. learn strategies and techniques to sustain meaningful target language communication
during 90% or more of the instructional time
4. take away strategies that make reading more comprehensible and engaging
5. practice and get coached on the core CI language teaching skills, such as: Levels of
questioning, Personalized Questions and Answers, Embedded reading
6. develop a toolbox of a variety of activities that increases students’ engagement