Thursday, April 30, 2020

Setting Appropriate Priorities

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What do you mean Spanish isn't your top priority?

What could possibly matter more?

I jest.

Of course, study of Spanish is a valuable endeavor, and I love teaching it. Helping people access more language and communication options is a delight of a way to make a living. For me, it's very high priority.

But for the 12-14 year old people I teach?

 Even under "normal" (non-COVID) circumstances (like anyone in middle school knows anything about "normal"), Spanish is probably not in the top ten list of daily priorities.

It's something they do if there's time. It's something that might be nice.

It's not a state tested subject, like ELA or Math. No one will hold you back a grade if you don't show progress in Spanish. You can still graduate even if you never take it at all.

And if you *do* take the course, you might be in it with the lofty goal of becoming fully conversant in another language, or you might just want to check it off your college prep list. So, students invest at many levels. It's just realistic to acknowledge that and plan accordingly, working on ways to help every kid move forward.

Spanish also isn't a one-shot deal. You will have many opportunities in your life to learn it--they offer intro level courses in high school
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and college, and through community centers. You could literally decide to learn it at any point in your life. So, it doesn't have the urgency behind it for some students that other things do.

Now that I'm teaching Spanish as a school-from-home course, I find that the coursework has taken an even further backseat for a lot of students. We're no longer in the middle seat of the minivan, but in the last row on the school bus.

My students are trying to figure out managing their work for six courses while navigating all this in their homes with whatever challenges and distractions that change in environment comes with.

And they're absolutely right.

In the face of health and safety worries, financial family stress, and complete disruption of all their regular patterns? Yes, this may not be your moment for learning Spanish. Spanish will still be here waiting for them when the timing is better.

So, here's your periodic gentle reminder not to take it personally when a student seems to devalue your course's content. There's a lot of reasons for a student to choose where they invest their biggest commitment and energy. Provide the opportunity. Support them in their efforts. Strive to inspire greater interest.

But if they don't bite? Or if they bite, but only nibble? Remember that is not a judgement on you or your work.


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