Total+Physical+Response


 * Total Physical Response**
 * By Brie Varni**

** What is Total Physical Response? ** Total Physical Response (TPR) is a method of teaching language using physical movement to react to verbal input in order to reduce student inhibitions and lower their affective filter. It allows students to react to language without thinking too much, facilitates long-term retention, and reduces student anxiety and stress. In order to implement TPR effectively, it is necessary to plan regular sessions that progress in a logical order, and to keep several principles in mind. ** What is the idea behind TPR? **  TPR is based on the idea that the human brain has a biological program for acquiring any natural language on earth-including sign language. The process is visible when we observe how infants internalize their first language. It looks to the way that children learn their native language. Communication between parents and their children combines both verbal and physical aspects. The child responds physically to the speech of their parent. The responses of the child are in turn positively reinforced by the speech of the parent. For many months the child absorbs the language without being able to speak. It is during this period that the internalization and code breaking occurs. After this stage the child is able to reproduce the language spontaneously. With TPR the language teacher tries to mimic this process in class. The method also promises double efficiency in terms of rate of learning, according to several studies in the literature and referenced in the above book.

** How do you teach using TPR? **  ● ** Prepare a script ** It is essential to prepare a script for what you want to do, as it is extremely important not to change the language half way through. It is also important to recombine previously learned language in new ways. These factors, combined with the pace necessary for successful TPR instruction, mean that it is extremely difficult to improvise the commands. ● ** Build on what has gone before ** TPR instruction should be seen as a progression, with new language being added to and combined with the old every session. ● ** Recycle language and review extensively ** On a similar note, previously learned language should be reviewed and cycled into lessons constantly in order to reinforce it. ● ** Don't change the target language ** While it can be useful to introduce synonyms, it is extremely important that the language not be changed half-way through a session. This is extremely confusing for students. ● ** Be good-natured and positive ** In order for students to relax and feel comfortable, during TPR practice the teacher should project a friendly and positive manner. ● ** Introduce limited number of new items and manipulate them extensively ** It is very important to limit the number of new items in order to avoid student overload and to allow students to process and absorb the language. New and old language should be manipulated in a variety of ways in order to give students a large amount of practice. ● ** Incorporate some humor ** Once students are used to TPR practice, introducing a limited amount of humor into the class can greatly increase students interest and enjoyment. ● ** Students don't speak ** Students should not be forced to repeat the commands or otherwise speak until they are ready. ● ** Students don't “help” each other ** Students should not need help with the TPR commands, as the meaning should be obvious from context/the teachers' explanation/previously learned language. Translating commands into Japanese reverts to left-brain input, and the benefits of TPR are lost. Student listening abilities are also not improved.

Shearon, B. (n.d.). //Total Physical Response//. Retrieved from [|www.c-english.com/files/tpr.pdf]

// Total physical response //. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.c-english.com/files/tpr.pdf

media type="youtube" key="ETA2xvmCivE" height="315" width="420"