Why I Started Blogging: My Journey to Comprehensible Input (CI)

I’m Jade, the face behind La Secundaria on Teachers Pay Teachers. As I embark on my 6th year of teaching Spanish, I’ve taught a range of levels from Spanish 1 to Spanish IB Year 2. This year, I’m thrilled to return to teaching Spanish 1, one of my favorite courses!

Journey to Comprehensible Input (CI) in the Spanish Classroom lasecundaria.org

For a while now, I’ve been thinking about starting a blog, but I kept putting it off. However, this year is all about embracing new things, so I’ve decided to take the plunge—not only into blogging but also into a new teaching method for my classroom.

This year, I’m diving into using comprehensible input (CI) in my teaching. Comprehensible input is teaching style where the emphasis is for students learn the language through natural communication, focusing on understanding messages rather than memorizing grammar rules. It’s a teaching approach that immerses students in the language through listening, visuals, and meaningful communication. The goal is to help students acquire the language naturally, just as we do with our first language. CI emphasizes understanding the message over focusing on perfect grammar.

As the well-known linguist Stephen Krashen states, “Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the target language – natural communication – in which speakers are concerned not with the form of their utterances but with the messages they are conveying and understanding.”

I know many Spanish teachers are curious or hesitant about making the switch to comprehensible input, just as I was. That’s why I’m starting this blog—to document my journey with CI and to share helpful tips, activities, and resources that have worked in my classroom. If you’re also thinking about transitioning to CI, I hope this blog can point you in the right direction!

What to Expect from My Blog
On my blog, you’ll find:

Practical tips for making the shift to comprehensible input
Fun games and engaging activities that support CI in the Spanish classroom
Resources to help your students succeed in acquiring the language

This year is full of exciting changes for me: new state, new school, and new teaching methods. I’m eager to explore all the possibilities CI has to offer and share my experiences with you along the way.

If you’ve been contemplating “taking the plunge” into CI, follow along with me on this journey! I’d love to connect with fellow Spanish teachers and offer support, answer questions, and share ideas. Let’s learn and grow together!

Connect with Me!
You can find me on Instagram and Facebook, where I frequently share insights and classroom ideas. Stay tuned for my first blog post, “Taking the Plunge: How I’m Shifting to CI This Year,” and “Reflections of a year of Comprehensible Input,” over at Secondary Spanish Space.

Gracias for reading, and I look forward to embarking on this CI journey together!

Jade 😊