Gianfranco Conti and his influence on our teaching
“I love all your different activities - gap fill, listening bingo and the pyramid translation – this is particularly challenging but a great way to consolidate my knowledge through repetition. I can remember more this way too!”
Learner, Aspire Languages
Gianfranco Conti asked us to review his latest book on Amazon “Memory” that he co-authored with Steve Smith….and he also asked us to write a blog for him. Here is a link to that blog: Conti for Adults?
Why us? Why indeed! – we have both been Conti converts for a few years. I found Conti through his activities on TES and after attending a workshop in Newcastle a couple of years ago I decided to completely rework my resources and change over my teaching style because I was really convinced that he was talking sense. I knew this would take a lot of time and effort but I could see the real benefits to my adult learners.
The bases to his theory are:
that you need to review, review and review again the vocab you are teaching your learners.
that you need 95% comprehensible input in a reading/listening exercise to enable your learners to access the meaning.
that you should prioritise listening and speaking skills by using lots of different activities.
that you don’t ignore grammar rules, you just teach them in a different way.
Plus many others! (look at his blog for more information).
As a result, we have written a whole raft of worksheets that we have used to teach our adults that are underpinned by Conti principles and full of Conti activities. These are all available on the website in the membership area and in the shop . They include:
Sentence builders
Pyramid translations
Oral Ping Pong
No snakes, no ladders
Listening bingo
…and lots and lots more - including audio files that you can use with your learners
Sarah said in the original blog:
“It was certainly nerve racking to start with. We were fully aware that by introducing Conti activities into our lessons, we were introducing a very different way of working that almost all our learners were unfamiliar with and that was very different to the style and types of tasks that they had experienced before…”
However, the following quote from one of Sarah’s learners shows that these methods work and our learners love this method of learning.
“Most certainly I have made far more progress in the time I have attended your classes than in the whole of the five or six previous years at other French groups. I am so pleased I found you.”
Learner, Aspire Languages
We have so many French worksheets and audio resources on our website that we would love you to try out - if you’re not sure, we have samples for you to download free of charge from the shop - what’s not to like !
And if you’d like to keep in touch and get your hands on a free worksheet then why not sign up for the Grab & Go newsletter
Barbara Allen
