How does AIM work?

The Gesture Approach

The Literacy- and Arts-based Approach

As part of the Accelerative Integrated Methodology we take a Content and Language Integrated Learning approach, with a literacy- and arts-based focus, so that students engage in authentic interactions, as they would in an Immersion classroom. The use of high-frequency vocabulary – introduced with gestures and contextualized in stories, drama, songs and dance – allows students to rapidly achieve levels of oral and written proficiency rarely seen with conventional methods

AIM and COMPREHENSIBLE INPUT

Every action and learning strategy of the AIM methodology is designed specifically to maximize Comprehensible Input at every stage of the learning process. AIM ensures that Comprehensible Input is achieved in the classroom through different strategies and techniques:

• The Gesture Approach
• Pared Down Language
• Teacher-led Self Expression to promote Comprehensible Output
• Deep learning and Scaffolding
• Pleasant repetition
• Total questions
• Sandwiching/Comprehension Checks
• Literacy Skills develop in a deeply context-embedded environment (delve into one story deeply over a 50-hour kit)

The AIM Environment

AIM uses gestures, drama, music, dance and storytelling to rapidly accelerate target language acquisition and create an environment where students:

• Express themselves in the target language from the first lesson, using high-frequency vocabulary
• Learn vocabulary in visual, auditory and kinesthetic ways
• Participate in all literacy- and arts-based activities in the target language
• Learn to think and write creatively, while practicing oral communication
• Are part of a “learning community” that emphasizes cooperative learning

Resources

Teacher Training

Teacher Training helps ensure the greatest level of success in your language classroom. Whether you’re new to AIM or have been using it in your classroom for years, we have the training option for wherever you are in your AIM journey.