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RP on Latinteach had this to say about teacher preparation:
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You ABSOLUTELY must have them buy and use in your class a copy of Ommagio-Hadley's book, "Teaching Language in Context". It is a singularly valuable book. It is expensive and worth every penny IF students will work through the various methods it proposes, discuss and
TRY them out. Yes, even Latin teachers. I have come to the conclusion through personal trial and experience that there is NOTHING that any language teacher can do that Latin teacher cannot do.
Also, anything written by Stephen Krashen. Better, have them take a workshop from him if possible.
Likewise any workshops or materials on TPR--Total Physical Response.
Second, find and have them watch video of John Rassias in action. He is prof at Dartmouth who has evolved his own language teaching method. I attended a workshop in which Latin teachers were 8 of 32 present. Immediately useful for helping students acquire the language.
Third: have them review and test run all of the latest editions of current Latin texts, but do this AFTER they have worked through Omaggio-Hadley. Which ones fit which categories.
***
I have not yet been to a Rassias workshop, but know people who have and have seen their own presentations at workshops. In fact, next week (so she says) I'm going to try employing something I learned that's Rassias in my own classes and will detail this later.
If you want to be good at teaching, REALLY GOOD AT TEACHING, you need to get over any prejudices, any constraints on how Latin should be taught now and OPEN YOUR MIND to other ways of teaching. Think OUTSIDE the box. Don't just teach a noun chart because that's what everyone does. Decide for yourself if it is the best way to go. Maybe it is for you, but truly explore other possibilities. Don't decide that oral Latin isn't for you just because you didn't get much in your education or because it frightens you. Explore how Latin can be used orally in effective ways in the classroom.
And if your pronunciation is substandard (and you know it is if it is), TAKE CARE OF THAT NOW. Head over to the Wheelocks Latin website www.wheelockslatin.com and go through the marvelous audio files.
***
You ABSOLUTELY must have them buy and use in your class a copy of Ommagio-Hadley's book, "Teaching Language in Context". It is a singularly valuable book. It is expensive and worth every penny IF students will work through the various methods it proposes, discuss and
TRY them out. Yes, even Latin teachers. I have come to the conclusion through personal trial and experience that there is NOTHING that any language teacher can do that Latin teacher cannot do.
Also, anything written by Stephen Krashen. Better, have them take a workshop from him if possible.
Likewise any workshops or materials on TPR--Total Physical Response.
Second, find and have them watch video of John Rassias in action. He is prof at Dartmouth who has evolved his own language teaching method. I attended a workshop in which Latin teachers were 8 of 32 present. Immediately useful for helping students acquire the language.
Third: have them review and test run all of the latest editions of current Latin texts, but do this AFTER they have worked through Omaggio-Hadley. Which ones fit which categories.
***
I have not yet been to a Rassias workshop, but know people who have and have seen their own presentations at workshops. In fact, next week (so she says) I'm going to try employing something I learned that's Rassias in my own classes and will detail this later.
If you want to be good at teaching, REALLY GOOD AT TEACHING, you need to get over any prejudices, any constraints on how Latin should be taught now and OPEN YOUR MIND to other ways of teaching. Think OUTSIDE the box. Don't just teach a noun chart because that's what everyone does. Decide for yourself if it is the best way to go. Maybe it is for you, but truly explore other possibilities. Don't decide that oral Latin isn't for you just because you didn't get much in your education or because it frightens you. Explore how Latin can be used orally in effective ways in the classroom.
And if your pronunciation is substandard (and you know it is if it is), TAKE CARE OF THAT NOW. Head over to the Wheelocks Latin website www.wheelockslatin.com and go through the marvelous audio files.
