Episode 110 Notes and Links to Bryce Hedstrom’s Work
On Episode 110 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Bryce Hedstrom, and the two discuss, among other topics, Bryce’s introduction to Spanish immersion in Chile, formative experiences in his professional and personal lives that have shaped the way he stresses independent and pleasure reading, comprehensible input in the foreign language classroom, and practical ways in which teachers can put his strategies on La Persona Especial, Rejoinders, etc. into their daily lessons.
Bryce Hedstrom is El Padrino of Comprehensible Input in the foreign language classroom, and widely recognized as an outstanding world language teacher with more than 30 years of experience at all levels. A frequent regional, state and national presenter, he is known for helping world language teachers to enhance their existing programs by incorporating many strategies that emphasize social awareness, interpersonal communication and varied reading techniques in the classroom.
Bryce is the author of Hi-Impact Reading Strategies. In addition, he is the author of many world language instructional materials, teacher resources and fiction and non-fiction for students.
Bryce Hedstrom’s Website
Buy Hi-Impact Reading Strategies
An Article about Comprehensible Input in the Classroom
“La Persona Especial” Resources from Bryce
At about 2:10, Pete references the power of language and etymology, and the two discuss the word “acatamiento” and its implications
At about 3:40, Bryce responds to Pete’s questions about Bryce’s early experiences with reading and with Spanish
At about 8:30, Bryce describes the intricacies of Chilean Spanish
At about 9:50, Bryce discusses what he was reading in college and beyond, including James Michener’s influence
At about 12:15, the two discuss The Godfather, cuz, DUH, and why the book is (maybe?) better than the movie
At about 13:00, Pete asks Bryce about inspirational teachers and how Bryce was compelled to get into teaching
At about 15:00, Pete asks about the importance of reading, especially about “pleasure reading” and independent reading
At about 18:23-23:53, Bryce tells of an incredible epiphany and real-life scenario of promoting reading
At about 24:00, Pete wonders about Bryce’s teaching experience at different levels, and Pete shouts out a hero, his uncle
At about 24:40, Pete and Bryce discuss “old-school,” grammar-heavy Spanish teaching and Comprehensible Input, and Bryce talks about transitioning into CI
At about 30:15, Bryce responds to Pete wondering if the transition to CI/TPRS was difficult for Bryce
At about 32:50, Bryce defines “comprehensible input” and talks about Stephen Krashen’s seminal Natural Approach: Language Acquisition in the Classroom
At about 36:00, Pete asks some practical questions about the best ways to teach a book/story in the classroom setting; Bryce highlights the need to differentiate the levels of questions and the need to keep Bloom’s Taxonomy in mind
At about 39:00, Pete wonders if a student saying something in English is permissible in keeping the target language as a priority
At about 40:15, Pete shouts out the incredibly useful word “agarrar”
At about 40:45, Bryce explains the connections between CI and classroom management, including info on the importance of daily “passwords” and “sponge activities”
At about 44:30, Bryce shouts out The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle and its stressing the importance of a structured ending of class
At about 46:00, Pete highlights his wonderful colleagues and their success with passwords
At about 46:50, Pete wonders about gaining back the students’ attentions and its link to the target language; Bryce explains call-and-response and its essentialness
At about 49:00, In order to illustrate the importance of the essential “La Persona Especial”
At about 57:00, Bryce highlights an example of the power of La Persona Esp
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