Making Languages memorable: Classroom activities to improve students’ memory

For many students studying a foreign language, learning the vocabulary and grammar they need to communicate can be a challenge.  Yet research in linguistics has shown that a critical mass of vocabulary is necessary for development in grammar, and that lexical development precedes grammatical development.  How can we make use of the research to support the students in our classes?

This workshop will provide a brief overview of how memory works, and participants will explore activities and techniques that improve memory.  They will look at curriculum planning strategies which help to reactivate prior knowledge, and the merits of learning by heart in the age of Google.  In addition, they will explore practical ways they can use technology to improve their students’ vocabulary and grammar retention.

This is a hands-on workshop and participants will work with Rowena to enhance some of their existing classroom activities and practices.  They will come away with a host of new ideas to use with their students.  Although the examples given in this workshop will come from French, the ideas presented are general in nature and can be applied in most language classrooms, so teachers of all languages are encouraged to attend.