I've not finished grading all the tests, but so far it looks pretty good. Like any teacher, I get frustrated when some of my students don't practice what they learn at home, by doing their homework. A few of these students have the ability to still pass the test without practice, but they really miss out on getting a strong foundation and unfortunately it really bogs them down later. Plus, they just can't earn that "A" they are used to OR have the ability to earn.
First-time Foreign Language students who always have had the ability to pay attention in class, finish their homework quickly without much thought and make terrific grades without much effort, many times, do not do nearly as well as those who have had to work hard and study for every good grade they make. Our brains are "wired" a little differently and those who do not have neurons connecting areas of the brain where a second language is "stored," no matter how quick they are to pick up and store other knowledge, may find for the first time that they have to really study. Unfortunately, students that don't need to study, don't learn how until they are behind.
On the other side of that coin are students that either study because they know they must, or don't have any hope for themselves succeeding so they don't try. Every year, I have some of the latter who are "wired" for Spanish and don't realize it until they see how well they speak or how they can understand when others cannot. I've got a few in class this year that are extremely tuned-in to the language for the amount of content we've covered. It's funny how students seem surprised that I do NOT get angry with a student who keeps speaking to me during the class time, but if he/she is speaking and understanding Spanish in dialogue with me, it's a great thing and good for all of the students. She/he can't take up too much class time, the vocabulary "runs-out" too soon, at this stage of the game.
Outspoken students are usually not afraid to make a few mistakes, and usually learn to speak and understand quickly because they learn by speaking and hearing and that's what we are learning!
