I wonder, from those who have taught Greek class in the traditional method, how many hours of class instruction do you have? 1,2,3,4,5 days a week? How many and how long? How much time does the student need to spend outside of classroom by the student doing schoolwork in preparation for the class? I wonder if the same amount is asked/required by teachers using the TPRS method?
Sebastianos Carnazzo wrote:
Since the conversation method is based upon interaction, and of course is best taught in an immersive environment, how does pulling it out of the immersive environment affect teaching? What types of writing/reading/speaking/audio (γαλα) activities provide the best bang for the buck? I assume that the homework has to mimic the content and structures spoken in the class. Do those who do this method make their students do any writing in class? If so, in what manner? Blaine Ray said that for his TPRS students (ages 13-18), the only writing homework he had was to have the students write a small story about themselves - what they did, etc. I think for Koine, we would want more than that. There is the swapping out form exercies and translation into Greek that the traditional approach has used. Is that a part of people's curriculum who teach via living language?I was asked to comment on this discussion so here is what I have to say. I had used Buth's materials to teach Greek in to different settings. Both attempts were agatha, compared to the years of teaching Greek using the 'traditional method.' However, the Fresno seminar changed everything. I walked away with the confidence to dive into the this method headfirst. I am now teaching Greek using a combination of Buth volume one as outside of class homework, and in class I simply teach Greek in Greek telling stories and giving commands (TPRS). The other day we went for a walk outside and I was able to add a massive amount of outdoor vocabulary to their toolbox. For example, after we encountered a pile of sand and talked about it for a while, I then walked them over to a large boulder and talked about how different it was from sand. I then told the the parable about the man who built his house on sand/rock. Not only did they understand what I told them, but they answered questions all in Greek. You have to see it to believe it. I have and I believe.
So again I ask from those who have taught a dead language by using living language methods (the communicative approach, TPR, TPRS, etc.), How many hours to teach Greek in this manner?