One of the things that we try to get our students to do is to let us know when they do not understand.   This early in the year though, my students don’t know me that well, nor can they predict the reaction of their classmates if they answer “I don’t know.”   I always try to build in a signal (like Time Out) so that they can let me know that I have gone too quickly or am being unclear.  Again…these students don’t know me well enough to feel comfortable telling me that I screwed up.  

First period this morning was a killer.  First full week of classes.  The honeymoon was obviously over.  I asked a question.  They did nothing.  I asked another question.  One of them shrugged.  I asked another question. They stared at me with glazed eyes that shouted, “Go ahead!  Make me!”    You see, in a language classroom based on interaction, the teacher had better find a way to get a reaction out of the crowd or things will go downhill  pretty quickly.    I could feel myself slipping down that slope and had a secret suspicion that a few of them were hoping that I’d go head first and they would get some sort of free day out of it.   Like I said.  They don’t know me that well yet. 

Monday mornings aren't always my best moment either, and I hadn't had coffee yet...but sometimes Desperation leads to Inspiration.  I had wanted to talk about the lunch menu of the day so I laid it out for them this way:

“I’m going to ask you three questions.  For each one I want you to answer, in English, HOT DOG.”

(OK This got their attention.  )

“¿Qué significa la palabra “coche” en ingles?” (What is the meaning of the word “coche”?)

(Class looks at each other but says, out loud) “HOT DOG!”

“Gracias clase.  ¿Qué significa la palabra “libro” en ingles?”

(Class begins to smile but says, out loud)  “HOT DOG!!”

“Muchas gracias.  ¿Qué significa la palabra “pollo” en ingles?”

(Class loudly yells)  “HOT DOG!!”

By now, one of the students can stand it no longer.  “Hey Profe…all of those are wrong!!!!”

“Yes!  Now look around the room.  All of your limbs are intact.  No heads have rolled on the floor. You can be totally wrong in this class and SURVIVE!” 

One student actually asked me , “Seriously?”. 

“Yes, seriously.  Whenever you don’t know an answer, or you don’t understand, just say HOT DOG!! And I’ll know that I need to make things clearer for you. Our code word is HOT DOG!”

“Um Profe…isn’t that a phrase?  And um…shouldn’t we say Perro Caliente?”

And that was that.  Our code phrase is now Perro Caliente.  And several kids used it today.  It went so well I tried it in the other two Spanish I classes and by golly it worked there too!! 

I should have figured that it was hard for kids to say, “I don’t know.”  Out loud.  In front of their peers.  Maybe next week it won’t be…but today it was.    

with love,
Laurie