1st Canadian National TPRS Conference
August 13-16, 2019
West Vancouver Secondary School
1750 Mathers Ave
West Vancouver, BC V7V2G, Canada
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ComprehensiblyCanadian/
Welcome to Canada’s first National TPRS Conference website! Here you will find everything you need to know about the conference, what is offered and how to register. Use the tabs above to explore how this Conference can, as many others have said before, change forever the way you teach languages!
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
If you would like to present on an aspect of TPRS during the conference, we are in need of 8 sessions that are 50 minutes in length. As a presenter, you should plan to share information about TPRS skills and concepts in an engaging and interactive format. Sessions will be presented on Friday.
Click on the following link to sign up! NTPRS Canada Call for Proposals
Welcome to NTPRS 2019 – Canada!
In Canada, we have many languages and language programs that are offered at different levels including, French immersion (early and late), Intensive French and Core French (FSL). In addition, we have many heritage language programs, Indigenous/First Nations language programs, and other languages such as Punjabi, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, etc. TPRS is a method that will help any teacher at any level to achieve their goals of speaking and writing proficiency.
To take advantage of this incredible method, the NTPRS Canada Conference will provide two main tracks consisting of sessions that can help you right where you need it! Check out the following TRACKS to determine which one would benefit you the most. With few exceptions, the tracks will run Monday through Wednesday while Thursday will be jam-packed with a variety of presentations and innovations from the TPRS world! Before you finish registration, you will need to PICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TRACKS.
Beginner
- The BEGINNER TRACK is designed for teachers that are new to teaching with methods that implement Comprehensible Input. Generally, if teachers have been to less than 1 or 2 workshops, the Beginner Track is a perfect start. This track starts on Tuesday and ends on Thursday with open sessions on Friday.
- This workshop is for teachers who are new to TPR Storytelling® or for teachers who feel that they need to revisit and practice the fundamentals of the method. In this workshop you will:
Develop TPRS® skills with step-by-step training,
Be a Chinese student in a language classroom,
Practice with an experienced team of coaches,
See how to align TPRS to the Core Competencies found in the new BC Curriculum,
Discover ways to assess for proficiency that translate to higher scores.
Non-Beginner
- The NON-BEGINNER TRACK will highlight the following topics:
- managing the class during stories to maximize student engagement,
- taking suggestions and story details from students,
- moving beyond basic circling,
- adding variety to spice up your teaching,
- and finding your TPRS style in the classroom.
The NON-BEGINNER Track is designed for teachers that have been to a handful of workshops, are proficient in conducting lessons using storytelling strategies and have been a language teacher for more than 3 years. This track starts on Tuesday and ends on Thursday with open sessions on Friday.
Conference Schedule
Tuesday
8:00-9:00 Registration
9:00-9:30 Welcome – Adriana Ramírez and Michelle Metcalfe
9:30-11:45 Workshops
Beginner workshop: led by Von Ray and Linda Li
Non-beginner workshop: led by Adriana Ramírez, Craig Sheehy and Michelle Metcalfe
12:00-1:00 Catered lunch (provided with registration) and Exhibitor time
1:00-3:00 Workshops continue
Coaching will be embedded in the session
3:10-4:00 Flexible time (teacher talk time or open coaching or demo time) and Exhibitor Time
Wednesday
9:00-11:45 Workshops
12:00-1:00 Catered lunch (provided with registration) and Exhibitor Time
1:00-3:00 Workshops continue
Coaching will be embedded in the session
3:10-4:00 Flexible time (teacher talk time or open coaching or demo time) and Exhibitor Time
Thursday
9:00-11:45 Workshops
12:00-1:00 Catered lunch (provided with registration) and Exhibitor Time
1:00-3:00 Workshops continue
Coaching will be embedded in the session
3:10-4:00 Flexible time (teacher talk time or open coaching or demo time) and Exhibitor Time
Friday
9:00-9:50 Non-track Session 1
10:00-10:50 Non-track session 2
11:00-12:00 Closing Speaker – Blaine Ray
One PRE-CONFERENCE Workshop is available for this year’s conference: COACHING FOR COACHES, Check out the description below.
Coaching for Coaches
Pre-conference full-day Workshop ($70 CAD)
August 12, 2018 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
This workshop is great for those who are or aspiring to be mentors, cooperating teachers, department chairs, or PLC leaders who already have a strong understanding of the steps of TPRS and/or TCI teaching.
The Coaching for Coaches full-day workshop takes participants through a series of activities to unleash their inner-coach while preparing them to return to their communities to support others on their TPRS journeys. Using the coaching team’s model, participants will not only reflect on their own skills but will also develop the language and demeanor needed to help others grow in a not threatening way. This workshop is great for those who are or aspiring to be mentors, cooperating teachers, department chairs, or PLC leaders who already have a strong understanding of the steps of TPRS and/or TCI teaching.
Lodging options
or you can try others by clicking the following link: bit.ly/ntprscanadahotels
Keynote Speaker
Beginner Track

Non-Beginner Track
Daily Behavior Log Example
First Day Nickname activity (To edit, make a copy and edit your own version)
Michelle is a passionate TPRS/CI language teacher who teaches Spanish 9 to 12 IB at West Vancouver Secondary School in West Vancouver, B.C. Michelle has been using TPRS as her primary teaching methodology with tremendous success at all levels of her teaching since 2011. She is a well-known TPRS Presenter and Trainer not only in her own school district of West Vancouver, but at the provincial and national level as well. Last year Michelle worked as part of the Coaching Team at NTPRS in Boston and will again be part of the Coaching Team at NTPRS this summer in Chicago.
Michelle has also worked in the area of Curriculum and Assessment with the Ministry of Education in many different roles. Most recently she was one of the writers of the new B.C. Core French Curriculum.
Michelle welcomes visitors to her classroom where she can share with them first hand the power and magic of TPRS!
INFORMATION
The registration of $269 USD ($350 CAD) includes daily lunches, and access to all NTPRS workshops and sessions August 13-16, 2019.
The Coaching for Coaches Pre-Conference session on August 12, 9-4 is $50 USD ($70 CAD).
To determine which level of training you need, click on the PROGRAM INFO tab.