The first couple days of school, you have to give your students an immersive environment—meaning under no circumstances should you use English. No matter what behavioral situation happens, do not use English. If there is a fire drill, do not use English. If you have to sub for another teacher, which I had to do one year, do not use English. If someone comes to talk to you, do not use English. Either communicate using gestures (i.e. nodding “yes” or “no” to their questions) or write down on a piece of paper what needs to be communicated and hand it to them. If the office calls you during class, whisper so your students won’t hear you. But under no circumstances should your students hear you use English the first couple days.

The only exception to this is, the very first day, when students come into my classroom (with me standing in the doorway blocking them from entering until they interact with me), I say “Bonjour. What’s your name?” Then, I check them off on my attendance sheet and let them into the classroom. The second and third day, though, I do not use English when taking attendance at the door. I indicate that I’m thinking by saying “Hmm” and looking at my list. I try to guess their name and if I am unsuccessful after a couple attempts, I put my hands up indicating that I don’t know and show them the list so they can point to their name if they haven’t said it already.

After the immersive experience in class, students typically do not remember that you used English with them when they walked in the door that first day, but this is something that I could eliminate—I could use gestures and point to my list like I do the second and third day.

Not only do you want students to be shocked when they hear you use English during your English week, but also an immersive experience has benefits that will be the building blocks for the rest of the school year.