Recently, I decided to go ahead and apply for a graduate program that starts in the fall. I'm super excited to be learning again, and I hope to find a mentor that will support my personal and professional growth. I submitted my application a couple of nights ago, and I'm trying to wait patiently to hear back. If all goes well, I'll have my M. Ed. in two years with an emphasis in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. Woo! Then it's onward to my PhD. I'm hoping that I'll eventually be able to conduct research on the outcomes of a TPRS/CI curriculum to a traditional curriculum and to have an impact on the profession of teaching a world language. Here's Profa. P to save the WL teaching world!
In other news, I was catching up on Ben Slavic's blog today and found an interesting post. I was stunned and shocked but not really surprised at all to read that the ACTFL along with the NEA and the ADFL recommend a maximum class size of no more than 15 students. FIFTEEN! I have 35 in most of my classes. Wow. Now I realize that because of the budget constraints that my state is going through, it is likely that in the near future we won't be able to attain these small classes. I'm able to rest easy though, because when I was talking with Blaine Ray during a workshop earlier this year, he told me that the TPRS method goes over very well with larger classes because it's more like a show is being put on with an actual audience. I'll take his word for it as I go into my first year as a TRPS teacher in a non-TPRS district.
I'm going to be relaxing for the next few days; but when I get back, it'll be time to get down to work for the new year! Woo!
