TPR Spanish Words ¡ Ven! ¡muy bien! ¿Entiendes? ¿Enfermos? Siéntate
Dr. James J. Asher Total Physical Response TPR
What is TPR? It is a method of teaching language using physical movement. It lowers their affective filter. Reduces student anxiety and stress. Facilitates long term retention. Great for kinesthetic learners.
Lowering Stress and the Affective Filter When students are nervous or uncomfortable a mental barrier is raised and they begin to find it harder to understand, process, and remember information. TPR helps reduce the affective filter because it is less threatening. 1. Students do not have to produce language. 2. Mistakes are unimportant and easily corrected. 3. Language is remembered easily and long-term. 4. Students learn more when they are relaxed.
“Success can be assured if comprehension is developed before speaking.”Dr. James J. Asher Reason One : There is no instance of infants acquiring speaking before comprehension. Reason Two : Talking and comprehension are located in different parts of the brain.
Frontal Lobe of the Brain Temporal Lobe of the Brain Speaking Reading Writing Planning Motivation It is used when: Analyzing, talking, discussing. Memory Hearing Meaning Speech Language Production Comprehension The Frontal Lobe/Temporal Lobe
The Frontal Lobe When language is taught by lecturing or explaining, the cynical left brain is targeted and the information is kept in short term memory.
The Temporal Lobe When language is taught through movement, the right brain “believes” the information and retains it, in the same way that skills such as swimming or riding a bicycle are remembered long term.
TPR Has a Number of Advantages! Students enjoy getting out of their chairs and moving around. Simple TPR activities do not require a great deal of preparation on the part of the teacher. TPR works well with a mixed ability class, and with students having various disabilities. It is great for kinesthetic learners who need to be active in the class. Class size need not be a problem.
Questions?