Flash Cards as a Drill Device in the Teaching of Numbers in Spanish

Abstract

THE shift of emphasis from reading ability to conversational ability in foreign languages is bringing about changes in our methods of teaching. Particularly is this apparent in the initial presentation of a foreign language to a class of beginners. Most teachers now avoid the use of text or readers as far as possible in this first presentation. The development of good pronunciation is the primary purpose, and the teacher's voiced model of the expressions is the text. Good pronunciation is an important objective throughout the learning of a language, but it is particularly important when the new sounds make their way to the brain for the first time to be associated with old concepts. Through aural comprehension, the foundation is laid for good pronunciation which must be taught from the start. To meet the aural-oral approach, a vocabulary must therefore be selected for the initial presentation which will be interesting and stimulating, and within the experience of the entire class. In Pittaro and Green's El Primer Curso de Espafiol we find numbers in the very first lesson. Herman Barnstorffl and Ruth Jackson2 in two separate articles describe the first lesson in a beginning class using the same material. And indeed it seems logical to present numbers first, for they are almost universally understood in their symbol form. If one decides to present numbers in the first lesson, the use of flash cards provides at once a motivation for the activity and the opportunity for a variety of drill. We must keep in mind that the numbers are not to be written out in the foreign language. They appear upon the flash cards only in their symbol form. They are pronounced by the class after the vocal model of the teacher until they are mastered by most of the students. Then simple problems of arithmetic are pronounced by the teacher,first in addition, later in subtraction, multiplication, and division. For example, he says, Cuintos son dos y cinco? He holds up the flash card for all to see and gives the model of the answer in a complete sentence. Dos y cinco son siete.