As summer break approaches, many instructors are concerned with the long pause students will face in their language instruction. What can we do to mitigate the reality that is summer language loss? In this episode, Brent and Ixchell discuss several implications for language attrition and offer some ways to help our students take charge of their own learning before the summer vacations start.
Articles
The Faucet Learning Theory: Summer learning loss: What is it, and what can we do about it? (Quinn & Polikoff, 2017)
Language Attrition: ELL Students Fall Behind After Summer of Limited English In the border town of Douglas, teachers have a hard time bringing students back to English proficiency (Echavarri, 2012)
UC Irvine Research: English vocabulary trajectories of students whose parents speak a language other than English: Steep trajectories and sharp summer setback (Lawrence, 2012)
Tips & Tools
- Futureme.org to send yourself reminders or messages to your future self! (Basic version is free; Pro teacher version for $19 a year)
- Newsela
- ReadTheory.org
- NoRedInk
- KnoWord (basic = free / $45 a yr)
- Vocabulary.com
- Rivet (for younger learners)
- Libby (online libraries)
- Podcasts
- Netflix Party Chrome Extension
Fun Finds
Ixchell – Lewis Capaldi (Scottish singer)
Brent – IG @FlipsideFiction