This application is for our world language teachers. The Directed Conversation is a training and evaluation tool for world language courses for conversational fluency. Notably, readers may recognize this format as that used in the AP French exam.
Innovation has two apps of note here. One is the generator, the other is the app to conduct a directed conversation.
The Generator
The generator lets teachers create, with optional assist from AI, a directed conversation at the level they need for their students. Innovation uses the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” (CEFR)) standard to define linguistic competence at various levels. The CEFR is widely used to assess and compare the language proficiency of learners across different languages and educational systems. To run the generator, teachers complete the basic form:
Once set, teachers can use the AI integration to generate a conversation according to the criteria they set. Once checking and editing, teachers can save the task to use with students.
Conversation Levels in Our App: What They Look Like
🌱 A Level – Beginner (Student-Directed Conversations)
- Conversations are simple and highly structured.
- The instructor’s lines are fully written out in the target language, like a script.
- The student sees step-by-step English instructions for what to do (e.g., “Ask for a drink”), but they are not given exact words to say.
- Focus: The student practices basic survival phrases and predictable interactions, like ordering food or asking for directions.
- Example format:
- Student – Ask for a table for two.
- Instructor – Bien sûr, par ici.
🔹 B Level – Intermediate (Improvised, Goal-Based Conversations)
At this level, conversations are more flexible and involve guided improvisation.
There are two conversation types:
- Instructor Starts:
The instructor follows prompts written in the target language to improvise their parts.
The student’s tasks remain in English as communicative goals (e.g., “Ask the price”). - Student Starts:
The student leads the conversation by following English prompts (e.g., “Explain your travel plans”).
The instructor follows prompts in the target language to guide the conversation, but now both participants are improvising. - Focus: Building the ability to navigate everyday situations and handle less predictable responses.
🔸 C Level – Advanced (Fully Improvised, High-Level Conversations)
These conversations are complex, nuanced, and resemble real-life discussions.
There are two conversation types:
- Instructor Starts:
Both student and instructor follow target-language prompts (e.g., “Express surprise”, “Invite the other person to develop an idea”).
No English is used in the conversation setup. - Student Starts:
The student leads using target-language prompts to achieve communicative goals.
The instructor follows improvisation cues also written in the target language. - Focus: Encouraging spontaneous, natural conversation with sophisticated language, similar to what’s expected in AP-level or advanced real-world exchanges.
The directed conversation app can be used with one or a group of students. This app has many tools to facilitate either interaction, presumably over a video conferencing app.
- As students complete their turn, the teacher can mark the line complete so that both can keep track of where they are in conversation.
- If it is an assessment, the teacher can score the student’s turn.
- If it is a practice and teachers enter new words or phrases that students request into the “useful words” text field, it is possible to make flashcards practice right away.
- If it is a class, students can be sent a join link and can be prompted to record something of what they hear in their classmates’ response.
Give our directed conversation (conversations dirigée) app a try today!
