Pam Kaatz

Introduction: I believe in physical and visual learning. I pull the language up out of the book or off the computer and put you in imaginary situations that help you understand what things actually mean. These are called "Artificial Realities." It might be a situation in which we pretend to be from different countries. Within that context, we talk about where we are from, where we live, what we eat, on and on. Or we might be going to various places in the city. We talk about what we plan to do in a certain location; what we are doing while there; what we did when we were there. Unlimited situations that give context for communicative learning. Communication should be the tool for learning, not something practiced after you memorize meaningless grammar rules. I developed a love for the Spanish language while living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, MANY years ago. I had been teaching the language for two years BEFORE I went on my long visit. BUT I truly could NOT speak the language. I had what I now call LLBDS--Language Learner's Brain Damage Syndrome. I could not speak because I had been taught without the communicative approach--totally rote memorization. I had a revelation in a workshop in 1979, that started my poor brain thinking in a way that most other teachers do not understand. Those who do understand, and I have done workshops all over the US, constantly write me to tell me how much my methods changed their careers.