Scaffolded Comprehension Checks in the French Classroom

Study Notes

Lisa from Lessonsiel French Resources discusses the importance of scaffolded comprehension checks to avoid translations and re-explanations in English in the French classroom.
She emphasizes the use of three steps: yes-no questions, either-or questions, and open-ended questions to scaffold questioning techniques.
Yes-no questions help students understand and build confidence without needing to pronounce words, making it easier for struggling students.
Yes-no questions also provide instant feedback on student understanding and aid in keeping the lesson in the target language.
Different levels of students can benefit from yes-no questions, from beginners to advanced, helping them grasp vocabulary and concepts.
Either-or questions provide more choice and expectation for students to produce spoken French, gradually increasing the complexity of their responses.
The progression from yes-no to either-or to open-ended questions helps in assessing student proficiency levels and adjusting questioning techniques accordingly.
Open-ended questions require students to recall information from long-term memory without any scaffolding, testing their comprehension and language production skills.
Using a combination of these questioning techniques can help teachers differentiate instruction based on individual student needs and keep the classroom engaged in French.
By mastering scaffolded comprehension checks, teachers can effectively stay in the target language, promote student success, and build confidence in their language learning journey.