What exactly is “Survivor”?
• “Survivor” is a “game” that is used to assist
in facilitating a simulated immersion
atmosphere.
• Students compete in the “game” by
exclusively speaking the target language.
• Students receive classroom perks and
rewards for participation in the “game”.
Examples of actual game
boards used in classrooms.
Game boards are simply student names
displayed in the classroom. They can be grouped
by class or grouped in “tribes” for competitions.
Why should I use “Survivor”?
• Maximize time students spend negotiating
meaning!
• Make students comfortable hearing and
using L2!
• Spend more time using higher level
thinking and problem solving skills!
• Increase rigor and student achievement!
• Create a fun and enjoyable classroom
atmosphere!
Rules and Procedures for
Implementing “Survivor”:
1. What students need to do:
• Do not under any circumstance, use English while in the
classroom (even before or after the bell). Students may
ask to speak English by using the target language, but the
teacher must agree to allow the student before he or she
speak English.
• Students will be given one warning per week, after the
warning they will be eliminated from the game for speaking
anything other than the target language.
• Students may not under any circumstance use what is
considered “Spanglish” (or its equivalent) if it is not in
the target language he or she will be eliminated.
• Students must keep their participation grade at a passing
level. Anything below a passing level is forfeiting
participation in the game which is subject for elimination.
2. What perks and rewards
the students will receive:
• I will consider any grade that they have for a one letter
grade upgrade at the end of the nine weeks.
(homework and participation grades must be at an A for an upgrade)
• Any student can eliminate any two questions off any
test while they are still in the game, even the final exam.
• Students will be eligible to play in competitions in tribes.
The points earned in these competitions can be used for
classroom passes. (homework pass, quiz pass, etc…)
• Most importantly, if students quit relying on translation to
learn the target language, they will learn the target
language!
3. What happens to students if they
are eliminated from Survivor:
• Class goes on as normal and students are required to
participate and or complete assignments as usual.
• Eliminated students will not get to take two questions off
of the exams.
• Eliminated students will not be eligible for certain tribal
competitions. (at the instructors discretion)
• Eliminated students will not be eligible to use points
earned from the competitions to “purchase” classroom
perks and rewards.
4. What happens when students
continue to speak English after
they are eliminated:
• They will receive a check for every instance.
• They will lose 1% off of their total grade for every check.
• For every check, they may have to do an extra negative
point assignment during the competitions, games
and/or classroom activities. This assignment is graded
as a zero for completing the assignment, and negative
points for not completing the assignment. These
assignments can also be used to remove checks from a
students’ name at the teachers discretion.
• Completely ignoring the classroom rules and procedures
for the game is subject for disciplinary action.
Answers to common questions:
1. Can I get checks taken off and/or get back in the game?
– Yes, you can earn opportunities to lose checks during
competitions and games!
– No, you can’t get back in the game!
2. How can we just “speak” the language when we don’t know it
yet?
– We will practice the game and learn some common phrases
and expressions needed to “Survive”. After that you will just
“pick up” the language just as you did with your first language.
3. Why do we have to do this?
-There is no better way to simulate an immersion atmosphere in
the target language.
-If you give true effort in this game you will succeed and you will
learn to speak the target language.
-I know for a fact that everyone can do it, because you all learned
your first language in this manner!!
-If you can learn one language, you can learn the target language
as well. It is as simple as that.
Contract for Survivor
I _______________________________, of sound body and mind completely
understand not only the rules of the survivor competition but also the
consequences for breaking said rules. I also am aware and completely
understand the reasons for conducting a Spanish class in Spanish.
I hereby agree that Survivor in Spanish is necessary for fully understanding the
ethnosemantics and constructions of that language. I also hereby agree to
participate and conduct myself in a manner that is conducive to the learning
environment. Non-conducive behavior can be, but shall not be limited to,
speaking in English to the instructor when not permitted, speaking or
whispering to neighbors or friends at any time in English when not permitted;
and/or not participating in compliance with classroom rules.
Again, I restate that I am fully aware of the reasons, rules and consequences of
Survivor in Spanish and hereby agree in writing to accept the terms of this
contract.
Signed:
______________________________________
Please Print Name Below:
______________________________________
Date__________________________
Actual Student Comments:
•
“It gave you a chance to see what Spanish you would need in the real world.”
–
•
“The way Señor teaches works very well. I have also taken up to French IV and
can’t put a sentence together because we translated. I know more in Spanish II than
I did in French IV”
–
•
Student D (Spanish IV, eleventh grade Greensburg Salem High School, )
“I have learned more in my Spanish classes than any other class or teacher I have
ever had. I have gone from not speaking any Spanish to being fluent in four years.”
–
•
Student C (Spanish III, tenth grade Greensburg Salem High School)
“Language was always the subject I struggled in most, and this method has really
helped me to improve my learning ability and push me forward.”
–
•
Student B (Spanish II, eleventh grade Greensburg Salem High School)
“The only way you can learn Spanish is by listening, speaking and writing. Spanish
and English are not equal so you shouldn’t try to learn Spanish with English.”
–
•
Student A (Spanish I, eighth grade Greensburg Salem Middle School)
Student E (Spanish V, eleventh grade Greensburg Salem High School )
“In this class I don’t just learn about how to speak a language, I learned that words
can’t be translated directly and that they (Spanish speakers) say things differently,
and that is the mentality that goes with the language.”
–
Student F (Spanish VI, twelfth grade Greensburg Salem High School)
Recent Survey Results:
over 200 Greensburg Salem students surveyed.
1. Was your overall experience in playing “Survivor” in your language class positive,
neutral or negative?
95.6% positive
4.4% neutral
0% negative
2. What percentage of your class was conducted in L2?
80% of students responded “99% or more”
20% of students responded “between 95% and 98%”
0% of students responded below 95%
3. Comment on the rigor of the class and the amount of material you think you learned.
(open ended question)
67% of students said “I learned a lot more than other classes”
4. What did your teacher do to help you understand the material? (open ended question)
41% of students said “illustrated/ acted out”
47% of students said “explained in multiple ways using the target
language”
29% of students said “used a context and examples”
5. How did “Survivor” affect your learning? (open ended question)
33% of students said “it forced us to think in L2”
63% of students said “it made me want to learn the target language”
Academic Results at Our District
Since Implementing “Survivor”:
-Retention of students is greater from level to level.
-This year’s enrollment in Spanish IV/AP:
• Up to 3 sections of 25 students. Previously 2 sections of 15-20 students.
-An average of 75% of students taking AP Spanish Language Exam receive a 4
or 5.
(before “Survivor” 75% of students scored a 2 or 3.)
-New classes and events have been added:
• Spanish 6 enrollment 15 students.
• Spanish Independent Study 10 students. (Class taken by student to
be completed on his or her own time with teacher direction)
• Spanish Department Drama of “Blood Wedding” in its entirety in
Spanish with a cast of over 40 Spanish students.
(a DVD of this drama can be purchased at our website for a minimal cost)
Contact Information:
Website:
KevinandTammyLyons.googlepages.com
Email:
tlyons@wiu.k12.pa.us – Tammy Lyons
klyons@wiu.k12.pa.us – Kevin Lyons
District:
Greensburg Salem School District
1 Academy Hill Place
Greensburg, PA 15601
724-832-2960