What is TPR
Storytelling®?
TPRS®
stands for Teaching
Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling. It is a
method for teaching all languages to all ages from novice
to advanced. TPRS has a record of proven success. It is
based on sound research from the fields of SLA, brain
research, and educational research. Because both theory and
classroom experience are instructive, the method
continually adapts to new discoveries based on field
research conducted by interested teachers around the world.
TPRS employs tools that are familiar to language teachers
everywhere, but the change in emphasis from output to
comprehensible input is what makes a TPR Storytelling®
classroom look different from a non-TPRS classroom.
Additionally, the focus on students and their interests
gives a TPRS classroom a different atmosphere.
Teaching with TPR Storytelling® means teaching every lesson
in three important steps. The first step requires that the
focus terms be clearly and perfectly understood. The second
step requires that the focus terms be used in a narration
that is perfectly understood and that interests the
learners. The third step involves reading passages that
contain the focus terms. There are many activities that can
enhance each step. Teachers find that the freedom to vary
procedures and activities while providing an abundance of
comprehensible input is an exciting way to teach! For a
fuller understanding of the method and the many activities
that support the method, read the following books and join
the moretprs.net bulletin board.
•
Fluency through TPR Storytelling® Blaine Ray’s book fully explains the
method and the theory behind it. Available at
www.blaineraytprs.com
• TPRS in a
year! Ben Slavic
suggests a different skill to work on each week of the
academic year. Available at www.benslavic.com
• PQA in a
Wink! Ben Slavic
explains how to develop abundant comprehensible input
that is truly interesting to your students… because the
topic IS your students! Available at www.benslavic.com
