Embodied Cognition and Effective Questioning: Positive Learning Strategies for Second Language Acquisition

a pre-institute workshop by Christopher Sidner from OWL

“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” – Rita Mae Brown

Organic World Language strives to help teachers feel confident in keeping their students engaged and in the target language. In the two-part pre-institute workshop series, OWL demonstrated their core belief that combining a positive affect – being happy, amused, or helping another – with physical manifestations aids in second language acquisition. Throughout the afternoon, facilitators assisted educators in creating an environment that allows for and is open to kinesthetic elements. Along with movement, teachers saw how effectively using prompts and questions reinforces and grows students’ engagement and language skills.