Paws-itive Partners

Third grade students welcomed some cuddly new classmates to their world language classes this month! To build confidence in their speaking skills, students are practicing their target language of French or Spanish this year with a dedicated partner: a stuffed animal who will serve as a patient, judgment-free listener.

Often, when students practice new vocabulary or phrases, World Language Teachers Julie Tamer and Rachana Sudhaman will ask third graders to “turn and talk” to each other. However, this can be challenging for students who are self-conscious or worried about making a mistake in front of a peer. “This stuffed animal will be a speaking partner throughout the year, making it a fun and low-stakes mechanism to build students’ comfort and confidence in the target language,” says World Languages Chair Kara Mertz.

Last week, students in Julie’s Spanish class selected their peluches, named them, and formally adopted them in a ceremony, signing an adoption certificate and promising to take care of them and, most importantly, speak to them in Spanish. Then they put their pledge into practice by having a brief conversation in Spanish, greeting them and asking how they are, with the student carrying on both sides of the conversation. The celebration ended on a joyful note with a marching rendition of a Spanish ABC song and a dance party, officially welcoming the newest members into the classroom community.