3 Steps to Get Started with Comprehensible Input in your Classes

Have you been hearing about comprehensible input for language learning? Maybe you’ve been following some discussions in Facebook groups or on different Instagram and you want to give it a shot. If you are feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start, let’s dig in. Here’s 3 steps to get started with comprehensible input in your classes!

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What is Comprehensible Input?

First, remember CI is NOT a method. There are methods and strategies we use to deliver comprehensible input to our students. Confused? Check out my post “What is Comprehensible Input in Language Acquisition?”  for a quick walkthrough!

3 Steps to Get Started with Comprehensible Input in your Classes

Step 1

Reflect on your teaching style, likes, and dislikes. What are things you enjoy in your classroom? What sorts of things do you NOT enjoy?

Hear more about this in my Lesson Planning Tips for World Language Teachers where I share about how we can balance and protect our energy levels between high energy lessons that take a lot out of us to lesson plans that are a little more laid back in what they take from us. 

Once you know what you like and enjoy, finding the right activity to deliver comprehensible input is a little easier and won’t be so scary.

Step 2

Choose your activity. Here are my personal favorite activities to get started delivering comprehensible input:

• Movie talk – I have several resources for you to get started with this one on my Youtube channel. Check them out here!
• Weekend chat – If you can talk to your students, you can do this. I promise!
• Gallery walks – Perfect for low energy for you, while your students get to be up and moving.
• A comprehensible story + reading activities
  • Tabata Timeline
  • True & False
  • Mi Lápiz
  • Pareja mentirosa
  • Speed Date Translate
  • Here is my playlist of reading activities – but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by all the options!

The most important thing with this step is to just choose one thing. Try it and evaluate how it went, then either try it again or try something else.

Step 3

Continue this process. When you feel comfortable, add in another activity. Try something from the list above, or maybe another list – like this one!

Reflect on what you want to keep in your rotation, and what maybe has had its time to rotate out as you’re making shifts. DO NOT feel like you have to start from scratch 100% immediately!

Get Started with Comprehensible Input in your Classes

Again, please do not feel like you have to do this all at once. It’s totally fine to dip your toes in, rather than feel like you’re diving head first!

I do have a few more posts to support you, but I think the one you pick will depend on where you are in your journey, and the expectations around you in your school. Check these out:

If you’re part of a department using a textbook, and wondering, “How do I use CI and TPRS with my students?” this post is for you!

Have more freedom, and feel overwhelmed by your choices? Dig into how you can create a unit around a story in your world language classes.

Maybe you feel pretty good about the big picture, but get bogged down in the day-to-day plan. Let’s look at these tips for how to lesson plan for Spanish class!