This month, Classroom Voces® and Teacher's Discovery® are spotlighting authors who've turned their real classroom experience into comprehensible readers for World Language classrooms. These are stories born from real teaching experience—written to engage students, build language skills, and deliver results in the classroom.
Meet: Eric Richards
Eric Richards is a high school German teacher, author, and presenter. Eric is a 2021 ACTFL Teacher of Year Finalist and he is the author of a series of TPRS/CI readers and other books for the World Language classroom. He also authored the stories for Levels 1 and 2 for Voces' German curriculum, Unsere Geschichten. Eric regularly presents on topics that help educators facilitate language acquisition, engagement, and community in the classroom. His students enjoy a vibrant program, where they also have the opportunity to travel abroad and experience culture firsthand.
Author of: neue Schule, neue Freunde; neue Konversationen, neue Komplikationen; and neue Reise, neue Abenteuer
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Why did you decide to start writing comprehensible readers?
I started writing comprehensible readers because I wanted readers that were accessible to my students and led to language acquisition. I also wanted them to enjoy the story and have a sense of confidence in their abilities. In short, I wanted students to want to read in the target language.
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What inspired you to write neue Schule, neue Freunde;neue Konversationen, neue Komplikationen;neue Reise, neue Abenteuer, or your other titles?
The inspiration for the "neue" ("new") series really came straight from my students, their lives, and their experiences, both in and out of the classroom. I wanted to create a series where students could watch characters grow and face real, relatable challenges, and see their own lives reflected in the target language.
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How do you teach your own books?
I approach my own books using CI/ADI strategies, focusing on context and visual support to keep the story accessible. We move through the text together to build reading confidence and natural language acquisition. I also use a variety of activities to help keep reading fresh and engaging.
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Do you have a favorite activity or lesson you use when teaching them?
I actually don't have one favorite activity. I really try to incorporate many different activities and strategies. In the end, I try to make the reading an interactive, collaborative experience where students engage and build confidence in their abilities.
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How have your own students received the books?
I'll admit that I was nervous when I first introduced my books to my classes—wondering how they'd react, whether they'd like them, and what they'd ultimately say. Thankfully, my students have been remarkably receptive and excited, especially when they realize their own teacher wrote the story.
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What do your students love about reading them?
Students love that the language feels approachable and the characters are relatable, which makes them realize they can actually read and understand a whole book. What they seem to enjoy most is that "aha!" moment when they realize they're readily following the plot in the target language without having to "think" about it!
You can check out works by Eric Richards by clicking here.
