Total+Physical+Response+(TPR)

**Total Physical Response (TPR)**  By: Julia Wehsener

**What is it?**  Total Physical Response (TPR) is a language learning method based on the coordination of speech and action. Developed by James Asher, a professor of psychology at San Jose State University, California.

**Underlying Premises:**  One of the assumptions behind TPR is that "the human brain has a biological program for acquiring any natural language on earth - including the sign language of the deaf" (Asher, n.d.a). Asher therefore believes that, similar to children picking up their native language, foreign language students should not "learn" but "acquire" the target language. TPR aims for an unconscious process of language acquisition in the same manner that children learn their first language without any conscious effort.

**In the Classroom:**

Before reading a children's story, select some action words and ask the students to perform these actions as you encounter them in the pages. List them on the chalkboard.After reading the story, ask children to summarize the story by acting out the words you have demonstrated. After reading the story, ask the children to select some words or phrases that they would like to turn into actions.media type="custom" key="9460294" Video Response: "Julia you did a great job showing us the SDAIE Strategy of Total Physical Response. As a future teacher, I need to remember to use this teaching technique in my classroom, as it is extremely useful!"  References: []  http://teflpedia.com/Total_Physical_Response