Designing a beginner course from scratch using TPRS

The speaker advises language beginners to start speaking from day one, using “baby talk,” rather than waiting to master grammar. Initial lessons should focus on oral communication, basic vocabulary, simple questions, and Total Physical Response (TPR). Learning should prioritize vocabulary (declarative memory) over explicit grammar (procedural memory), mirroring how babies learn. Beginner courses need basic vocabulary, easy reading (children’s books, graded readers), and simple listening (e.g., Super Simple Songs). TPRS (Total Physical Response Storytelling) is an effective, input-rich, story-based method that gets students communicating immediately, with research supporting its advantages over traditional grammar methods.