As world language teachers, we are our students’ most important source of target-language input. In the limited time we have with them—whether that’s 20 minutes a few times a week or an hour each day—our voices become the immersive experience that fuels language acquisition. And while we rightly aim for student-centered classrooms, it’s essential not to underestimate the role of teacher talk. After all, as second language acquisition research consistently affirms: input is essential.
ACTFL recommends that 90% or more of class time be conducted in the target language, even from the very first day of class. That number can feel daunting, especially with Novice learners. But it’s not about overwhelming students with rapid-fire speech. It’s about using the target language in strategic, comprehensible, and intentional ways.
In our book Proficiency-Based Instruction: Input & Interaction in World Language Education, Christina Toro and I outline ten practical strategies that make staying in the target language not only possible, but effective and engaging. These tips, drawn from research and classroom experience, will help you stay in the target language while making your instruction meaningful and accessible for students at all levels.
1. Start Early, Start Strong
Establish target-language use as the classroom norm from day one. Students form habits quickly, and if English feels like the default at the start, they’ll expect it later on. Starting with full target-language use helps students see the language as something they can use, not just something they study.
2. Adjust for the Proficiency Level
Talking to Novices the same way you talk to Advanced learners is a recipe for confusion. Modify your speech to match your students’ current level to provide comprehensible input. Slow down, enunciate clearly, pause often, and use simpler vocabulary with lots of repetition and elaboration. You’re not dumbing it down—you’re opening a door.
3. Leverage Cognates (When You Can)
Cognates are a powerful bridge between English and the target language—especially when written. If your language has them, use them! Just be cautious: what’s clear in print isn’t always clear when spoken, especially with false friends or unexpected pronunciations.
4. Establish Routines
Classroom routines create predictability, which lowers the cognitive load for learners. From greeting activities to how students turn in homework or transition between tasks, routines help students anticipate what’s coming and understand instructions—all in the target language.
5. Use Body Language and Gestures
When in doubt, act it out. Pointing, facial expressions, and gestures (especially culturally appropriate ones or those drawn from sign languages) are key to making input comprehensible. Whether you mime “money” or show surprise, your physicality brings meaning to your words.
6. Bring in Visuals
Project images, embed emojis, hold up realia—visuals support comprehension across all levels. They work best for concrete vocabulary, but they can also bring abstract ideas to life. Visuals reduce the need for translation while making your classroom more engaging.
7. Practice Circumlocution
If students don’t understand a word, don’t default to English. Instead, talk around it—describe it, give examples, connect it to something familiar. This not only keeps you in the target language, it also models a vital skill students will need when they find themselves at a loss for words.
8. Model Everything
Don’t just give directions—show what you want students to do. Act out an activity with a student, display an example, or build steps into a visual guide. Modeling helps clarify expectations and minimizes the need for English explanations.
9. Circle with Questions
Circling is a structured way of reinforcing meaning through targeted questions. When learners get stuck on a particular word or expression, you pause to ask questions to help clarify meaning while remaining in the target language. Start with yes/no, move to either/or, and then ask open-ended questions. This strategy provides repetition with variety, keeps learners engaged, and ensures understanding—all without translation.
10. Check for Understanding Often
It’s not enough to ask “Do you understand?” Use thumbs-up/thumbs-down, color-coded signs, quick response activities, and exit tickets. These formative checks help you assess whether students are with you—and help them develop metacognitive awareness of their learning.
Reminder: Don’t Just Translate
It’s tempting to translate a tough word or quickly explain something in English. But resist. Translation undermines long-term language growth, reinforces habits that depend on English, and erodes tolerance for ambiguity—an important trait in language learners. True comprehension builds over time, through repeated, meaningful exposure—not one-to-one word swaps.
No One Right Way
As with most things in teaching, there’s no single “right” strategy. The key is to use a combination of approaches based on your learners, their level, and the moment. Staying in the target language isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence, creativity, and thoughtful decision-making. By embracing strategies to provide comprehensible input, you can create a classroom environment where your students are surrounded by rich, engaging, and comprehensible target-language input—right from the start.
For more details and to see how these strategies play out in real classroom contexts, including sample lesson plans, check out our book Proficiency-Based Instruction: Input & Interaction in World Language Education.
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