Read about Pam's advice for beginning language teachers
Pam considers Ashland, KY home, graduating from Paul G. Blazer High School. Continuing her education by majoring in German and minoring in French at the University of Kentucky, Pam studied for 1 year at Universität Heidelberg, honing her German skills. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in German, Pam continued her German studies by beginning a Master’s Program, also at UK. She not only took master’s classes, but also taught beginning level German classes. She enjoyed teaching so much that she went abroad for one more year, to Austria to teach English for 8 months. After that, she pursued teaching credentials, and, upon completing that program, she began teaching at Scott High School and has been there ever since (28 years).
Pam Caudill also instructs beginning German courses at Thomas More University. She arranges travel trips to German-speaking countries every other year with students and parents from Scott High School. These trips, and teaching another language, help Pam convey to her students an appreciation of another culture, but also an awareness of the uniqueness of their own country and culture.
Pam has been a member of AATG and KWLA for over 30 years. She has presented at local and state-wide conferences. In 2013, Pam was selected by the Ky-AATG as German Teacher of the Year, which nominated her for KWLA World Language Teacher of the Year. In September of 2013, Pam Caudill was selected as KWLA’s Teacher of the Year.
Techniques
“I literally threw the book away and focused on teaching structures and communication instead of grammar.”
When I first began teaching, I used a textbook. But in 2000, at the KWLA yearly conference, I learned of a new technique at the time - TPRS - which, at the time, stood for Total Physical Response Storytelling. I literally threw the book away and focused on teaching structures and communication instead of Grammar points. It revolutionized my teaching and I never looked back. Over the years, this method improved and changed the name to Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling, which described the method much better! I attended local, state and national conferences to learn as much as I could about the method and how to improve my own techniques. Focusing on what to say and NOT why was the key to attracting students to German and retaining them. I even encouraged my colleagues to use the method, which they liked and incorporated into their own lessons.
Activities
As the title of the method suggests, TPRS deals with Storytelling. I choose 3-5 structures for students to focus on and ASK a story using those structures. I have students act out the stories and use props as I’m able. This keeps students engaged and enthusiastic. We also complete readings together and write about what we’ve read. Students also circle up and partner up to use the structures to talk about themselves. Most vocabulary that they can relate to, especially to their lives, they retain and can use over and over - working toward mastery and proficiency.
Final Advice
Get involved with your state Language Association!! You will never find a more encouraging, motivating, and helpful group of language teachers than they!!