Staying in the Target Language: Student Self Reflection Rubric

Language teacher struggle with the challenge: How do we keep our students talking in the target language (TL)? Many of my students are intrinsically motivated, they are excited to become fluent Hebrew speakers,  they see the results in their Torah learning, and they understand that the way to learn a new language is by speaking it. Not all elementary school students are there yet,
 and I have tried many different incentives to encourage my students to overcome the impulse to revert back to English. With the help of Becky Katz, a specialist in Blended Learning, we created this student self assessment rubric where students can reflect on their participation in Hebrew conversation. Students can earn points to be redeemed each Friday.

 Self reflection rubric

Hebrew Immersion at home: Call a friend!

As a Meaningful Immersive Hebrew homework activity, my students have been calling their friends at home to converse and connect in Hebrew. Here is the worksheet  I created to help guide the conversation. Many new play-dates have been initiated as a result of this homework!
Here is how it works:

• In school students are paired up with a partner (students receive a new partner each time they are assigned this homework)
•  At home, Student's call their assigned partner taking turns asking each other the questions and filling in the answers their partner gives.
•  Students continue talking in Hebrew and record how long they continued conversing
• Students fill out the short reflection on the experience.