Using REVISTA to Promote Communication in Spanish People talk! Indeed, human beings can find almost any reason at all to talk. We talk when we’re happy and when we’re upset. We talk to express agreement and disagreement, or to share our opinions and experiences. Regardless of the circumstances, one thing is always true: we talk about things we are interested in, be they aspects of everyday life or fascinating topics that we wish to share. The classroom setting is no different. How often do you walk into a classroom filled with groups of students engaged in conversation, only to find those same students strangely silent when the time comes to participate in class? REVISTA is designed to help conversation flow in the Spanish classroom by providing high-interest topics for students to talk about. By focusing on communication, REVISTA aims to provide students with the motivation to discuss, in Spanish, their experiences, opinions, plans, and dreams. REVISTA offers appealing content and a vibrant page layout, both designed to put students in a position where indifference and silence are unlikely. It is our goal that the films, readings, and discussions in REVISTA pique students’ interest, capture their imagination, and arouse a genuine desire to communicate. Of course, REVISTA also offers plenty of opportunities to practice the linguistic skills needed for oral and written communication: listening, writing, reading, and socio-cultural competence. Every lesson of REVISTA opens with a riveting short film, the Cortometraje, each by a different contemporary Hispanic filmmaker. These cortos are excellent vehicles for students to listen to spoken Spanish of several varieties. REVISTA provides a wealth of reading selections of various genres, including Ensayo, Cuento, Poema, Artículo, and Tira cómica. They are intended to stimulate students’ curiosity and stir their emotions with the ultimate goal of awakening a strong desire to express themselves in class. Furthermore, every lesson includes a Composición section in which students express themselves in writing on a topic closely tied to the lesson’s theme. Finally, all of the linguistic skills are presented in contexts that expose students to the cultural diversity of Spanish-speaking countries and steer students clear of stereotypes. When students are not in Spanish class, does anyone stop them in the middle of a conversation to correct their grammar? No: spontaneous conversation flows unhindered. When using REVISTA, allowing students to speak fluidly, without grammar correction, may be an interesting and effective approach. To help students use correct grammar in their conversations, try taking notes of common mistakes while listening to students speak, and make time later on in the class to offer grammar pointers. This technique may encourage more conversation, as students will focus more on their message and less on the fear of making mistakes. Communicating in a foreign language can make even the most outspoken students feel vulnerable. Encouraging students to work to overcome any fears they may have of speaking Spanish fluidly, in the moment, with less than 100% grammatical accuracy may prove to be an effective tool in promoting confident, natural conversation. IAE-19 INSTRUCTOR ORIENTATION S19
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