Communicative versus Grammar?
Zev bar-Lev expressed the concern that if students are taught using TPR, they will not learn the appropriate forms of the verb for first person (and I assume third person) but will generalize and use the imperative form across the board. I am a French teacher, but understand this would be even more of a problem in Spanish because the subjunctive is used for imperative. It should not be a problem because all tenses and persons can be introduced using TPR methods. When you say “John, go to the board and write your name. Mary, while John is writing his name, you stand up and count to 10. Paul, when Mary has finished counting, tell her to sit down,”the students are expose to various tenses and forms. These are silly examples that I made up quickly and of course, you need to organized and introduce forms in appropriate sequence. TPR is much more complex and does so much more than teach the imperative! My two cents… Jo Benn Harpeth Hall School ====================== 95/03 From-> Joyce L Sz
