Tag Archives: Donato

160: Create a Classroom Where Students Use the Target Language Confidently


What is a discourse community? Essentially, it’s a learning environment where students actively engage in meaningful communication, using the target language to interact, collaborate, and build relationships. It’s a space where every student’s voice is valued and encouraged. Is that what you would like to see in your classroom? I’m guessing you’re thinking, Yes!  But, how do we create this space for our students? In this episode I’ll give you five key strategies for building a discourse community in your classroom.

Topics in this Episode:

  • High Leverage Teaching Practices from Enacting the Work of Language Instruction by Eileen Glisan and Richard Donato
  • A classroom discourse community is a learning environment where students actively engage in meaningful communication, using the target language to interact, collaborate, and build relationships. It’s a space where every student’s voice is valued and encouraged
  • 5 strategies to build a  discourse community in your classroom, each with tips and examples
    1. Establish Norms and Expectations
    2. Promote Student Interaction
    3. Use Authentic and Meaningful Tasks
    4. Encourage Reflective Practice
    5. Model Effective Communication

**Be sure to download the The CI Toolbox. 15 Comprehensible Input (CI) activities for your language classroom to support comprehension and authentic engagement. These suggestions are a compilation of ideas shared on the World Language Classroom Podcast by me and many guests. 

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