TPRTPRTotal Physical Response Total Physical Response

and Brainswitchingand Brainswitching

Michelle Makus Michelle Makus Shory Shory

April 12, 2006April 12, 2006

James J. AsherJames J. Asher

Originator of TPRProfessor of Psychology, San Jose State University

A New Way of Thinking About L2 A New Way of Thinking About L2 LearningLearning

"Babies don't learn "Babies don't learn by memorizing by memorizing lists; why should lists; why should children or adults?"children or adults?"

-Dr. Asher at -Dr. Asher at Cambridge Cambridge

Traditional InstructionTraditional Instruction

96% of students who study a foreign language do not acquire a basic or survival level of proficiency.

“the most difficult subject in school” (Asher, 1988)

Left Brain v. Right BrainLeft Brain v. Right Brain

Left BrainLeft Brain

LogicalLogicalSequentialSequentialRationalRationalAnalyticalAnalyticalObjectiveObjectiveLooks at parts Looks at parts

Right BrainRight Brain

RandomRandomIntuitiveIntuitiveHolisticHolisticSynthesizingSynthesizingSubjectiveSubjectiveLooks at wholes Looks at wholes

Brainswitching!Brainswitching!

Humans are not Humans are not wired to an acquire wired to an acquire a language through a language through the left brain.the left brain.

Brainswitching is the Brainswitching is the answer!answer!

TPR and the Right BrainTPR and the Right Brain

TPR utilizes the right brain TPR utilizes the right brain by mimicking the way by mimicking the way children acquire their L1.children acquire their L1.

Children are often told to, Children are often told to, “look, point,” etc.“look, point,” etc.

Step One Step One

Students are given Students are given a command.a command.

They respond by They respond by performing the performing the appropriate appropriate gesture.gesture.

Step TwoStep Two

Students are given novel or unexpected commands.

Chomsky believes that this is real fluency.

Step ThreeStep Three

After ten hours of instruction,the students are welcome to give commands to the teacher.

Also, reading activities can be introduced at this point.

Do NOT call this reading!!

AdaptationAdaptation

Adaptation occurs Adaptation occurs when students tire when students tire of the process.of the process.

At this point, newer At this point, newer forms of TPR can forms of TPR can be introduced.be introduced.

In the ESL ClassroomIn the ESL Classroom

The approach naturally The approach naturally focuses on BICS instead focuses on BICS instead of CALP.of CALP.

Find a way to incorporate Find a way to incorporate academic English.academic English.

Strengths of TPRStrengths of TPR

Fun! Fun! Low affective filterLow affective filter FastFast Long-term retentionLong-term retention Students are Students are

motivated to studies.motivated to studies.

Weaknesses of TPRWeaknesses of TPR

Adaptation!Adaptation! Reading Reading WritingWriting It looks like “play”It looks like “play”

In Summary…In Summary…

““Tell me, and I’ll remember Tell me, and I’ll remember for a day. for a day.

Show me, and I’ll remember Show me, and I’ll remember for a week. for a week.

Involve me, and I’ll remember Involve me, and I’ll remember for a lifetime.”for a lifetime.”

ReferencesReferences

Asher, J.J. (2005). Asher, J.J. (2005). TPR: After forty years, still a TPR: After forty years, still a very good idvery good idea. Retrieved March ea. Retrieved March

25, 2006, from 25, 2006, from www.tpr-world.com/japan-www.tpr-world.com/japan-article.html article.html

Asher, J.J. (2003). Asher, J.J. (2003). Learning another language Learning another language through actions. through actions. Los Gatos:Sky Oaks Los Gatos:Sky Oaks Productions, Inc.Productions, Inc.

Asher, J.J., & Silvers, S. (2002-2003). How to Asher, J.J., & Silvers, S. (2002-2003). How to TPR abstractions: The critical role of TPR abstractions: The critical role of imagination. imagination. The Journal of the Imagination The Journal of the Imagination in in Language Learning and Teaching, Language Learning and Teaching, 7, 60-64.7, 60-64.

ReferencesReferences

Asher, J.J. (1993). Imagination in second Asher, J.J. (1993). Imagination in second language acquisition. language acquisition. The Journal ofThe Journal of

the Imagination in Language Learning and the Imagination in Language Learning and Teaching, Teaching, 1. Retrieved April 1, 2006, from 1. Retrieved April 1, 2006, from www.njcu.edu/cill/vil1.asher.html.www.njcu.edu/cill/vil1.asher.html.

Asher, J. J. (1988). Asher, J. J. (1988). Brainswitching: A skill for the Brainswitching: A skill for the 21st century21st century. Los Gatos: Sky Oaks . Los Gatos: Sky Oaks

Productions, Inc.Productions, Inc. Conroy, P. (1999). Total physical response: An Conroy, P. (1999). Total physical response: An

instructional strategy for second-instructional strategy for second-language learners who are visually language learners who are visually

impaired. impaired. Journal of Visual Impairment and Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness,Blindness, 93(5). 145-148.93(5). 145-148.

ReferencesReferences

Cummins, J. (1980). Psychological Cummins, J. (1980). Psychological assessment of assessment of immigrant children: immigrant children: Logic or Logic or institution? institution? Journal of Multilingual and Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Multicultural Development, Development, 1(2), 97-111.1(2), 97-111.

Hadley, A.O. (1993). Hadley, A.O. (1993). Teaching language in Teaching language in context.context. Boston: Heinle and Heinle. Boston: Heinle and Heinle.

Krashen, S. (2003). Krashen, S. (2003). Explorations in language Explorations in language acquisition and use. acquisition and use. Portsmouth: Portsmouth: Heinemann.Heinemann.

ReferencesReferences

Krashen, S. (1998). TPR: Still a very good idea. Krashen, S. (1998). TPR: Still a very good idea. NovELTy, NovELTy, 5(4). Retrieved March 25, 2006, 5(4). Retrieved March 25, 2006, www.languageimpact.com/articles/other/kraswww.languageimpact.com/articles/other/krashentpr.htmhentpr.htm

Ray, B., & Seely, C. (1998).Ray, B., & Seely, C. (1998). Fluency through TPR Fluency through TPR storytelling. storytelling. Berkley: Command Berkley: Command

Performance Performance Language Institute.Language Institute. Seely, C., & Romijn, E,. (1995). Seely, C., & Romijn, E,. (1995). TPR is more than TPR is more than

commands- at all levels.commands- at all levels. Berkley: Command Berkley: Command Performance Language Institute.Performance Language Institute.