Learning Another Language Through Actions

by James J. Asher

Learning Another Language Through Actions

Genres: Education, Teaching, Language, Nonfiction

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Joseph]

Practical (quite--since I currently teach ESL), but also interesting, especially concerning my desire in learning a second language and originally having little idea as to how it might occur in my brain. This book helped me see and use more direct methods to solidify the adoption of a second language.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

197: 2022
There's definitely some dated things and a WHOLE LOT of self-aggrandizement going on here. That said, also lots of good nuggets and research to back up the value of movement and play in a language classroom.

[Asl4u · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is okay -its just hard to read because it seems to be three chapters of FAQ-hard to find actual content (unless the FAQ is the content.
its okay -glad I picked it up but not sure how useful it is because you cant really find any one thing for all the tidbit information being thrown around

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight to the point, very clear, and comes with ready to use ideas for the classroom.

[Leila Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thoroughly impressed with the idea of the TPR method. I have some experience teaching French and ESL to adults, and I took a master's course in foreign language teaching, but when it came to teaching my own children, I was stumped. Especially since they don't read yet. And I knew enough about language teaching to know that simple vocab memorization (as I did all throughout primary and secondary school) is inadequate for actually teaching a language and getting your students to speak it. But if I just start speaking in French all the time to my kids, they won't understand a word I'm saying.
Then I discovered TPR and it makes so much sense, because it is the natural way that babies and toddlers acquire language. I have started implementing it with my kids and they love it. We call it "French Game", and they think it's hilarious when I yell at them to go to their room.
I actually skipped over a lot of this book because there was a lot of in-depth material about the theory and research behind TPR. The most crucial part of the book is the last bit, with 53 full TPR lesson plans that start simple and go all the way up to complex grammar. That alone is worth the cost of the book, because it shows you how exactly how to proceed in using TPR. There are a lot of good ideas, like teaching numbers by telling the students to go write them on the chalkboard or by giving and taking physical numbers among each other. It also gave me other ideas, such as using a paper doll and telling the kids to dress and undress it with specific clothing vocab. A lot of golden ideas in here!
I gave four stars instead of five because I haven't implemented TPR long enough to say if it deserves five stars. I may come back later and update it.

[John Mccarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adults can learn as good as children which Asher proves. It's the way of learning not the age.

[Anthon Palamba' · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Sasha]

Excellent book that gives lots of tips on how to teach English in the fun way. :)

[Alifa Syafitri]

this is good book for TPR