I still remember my high school German class, where English was the language of choice. I learned German in spite of, not because of, the teacher, who was altogether too eager to revert to her (and my) native language.
When I got ELL learners in my middle school (core subject) English classes, I'd allow a little more chatter than usual -- the boys talked about sports, and cars, and girls and the girls talked about doing hair, and boys, and how to say, "I love you" in the foreign language. THAT's how they learned English --
When I got ELL students placed into my (core subject) English classes in the middle school, put everybody in small groups and allowed a little more chatter than usual. The boys talked about the work, but also about sports and girls. The girls talked about doing hair and boys and how to say, "I love you" in teh foreign language. I'd ask for someone to show the ELL kids about lunch, and friendships were born and THAT's how English was learned.
I had the same Spanish teacher.
I hate that Spanish teacher. I'm afraid that sometimes I AM that Spanish teacher.
My middle-school Spanish teacher was also the French teacher. Aside from teaching half the class in English, she regularly reverted to French midway through counting to ten.
I did luck out senior year in high school when I was the *only* student in my Spanish Lit. class whose native language was not Spanish.
As much as I'm shy about speaking the language sometimes, I respect the professors that force us to interact in the language.
You're lucky that you have the option of mixing up by native language. ALL 28 students in my beginner ESL class are Spanish-speakers. It's a losing battle to get them not to speak to each other in Spanish. I've tried simply giving them fewer opportunities for talking, such as listening centers, independent reading, etc., but they still will need to talk to each other, and unless it's something as simple as borrowing a pencil, English will be virtually impossible. Any ideas? (Note: I don't have superhuman hearing to detect if they're whispering in Spanish from across the room.)
My blazing memories of middle school Spanish include:
* acting out bullfights -- I had to be the bull in my group
* converting back and forth between dollars and pesos
* cobbling together phrases like "raton con gas con queso" and using them as often as possible
I hated it. I'm amazed that I loved learning languages so much once I got to high school.
I think "teaching English in English" is a vulgarity in public education, at least here in texas. if you mention it, they'll look at you like you farted.
Last year and this year, I have had classes made up entirely of Spanish-speaking students at the bare beginner to advanced beginner level. Getting them to speak English in class is a challenge. And yet various "specialists" have told us to encourage use of the native language in ESL class--supposedly to avoid traumatizing the kids and to facilitate the L1-L2 transition.
There's some validity to that argument. On the other hand, we do the students no favor by diminishing their English-language practice time, which is so scarce already. Ironically, many Spanish-speaking parents are shocked to learn that teachers allow Spanish in ESL class. The parents know how hard it is to learn English without intensive practice, and expect the teachers to provide such practice. So, what to do?
I have the kids divided into two teams. Over the course of the week, they accumulate points (for homework, class participation, etc.) At the end of the week, the winning team gets a little prize.
Now, in the final 10 minutes of class, I have an "English only" competition. If someone says something in Spanish, that team loses a point. Next week I'll stretch it out to 15 minutes, and then to 20, and so forth. They love it and have been spewing out all sorts of unprecedented English in response. They get so excited about games that even the most reticent kids will speak up. The funniest part is when one claims another has said something in Spanish. They are figuring out how to report this to me without using Spanish themselves.
Many who speak Spanish in ESL class actually want the teacher (me) to make them speak English. But many do not respond to "Speak English, please." They do respond to a game, especially a team game. This might not mesh with every class, or with every teacher's style. But as long as it's working for me and my students, I'll do it!
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