The Rational of Using Total Physical Response with Second Language Learners

Total Physical Response (TPR) was developed in 1969 by James Asher (Valdès 2011). TPR involves an instructor of a desired language to issue bodily kinesthetic commands to language learners and order the learners demonstrate the command.
According Asher (2009), an experiment that he conducted demonstrated that a people who learned a language through TPR out performed a group that learned the same language through traditional instruction (reading textbooks, listening to lectures and homework). One stunning finding of Asher experiments is that “there is no significant difference in retention for the Act-Act group and the Observe-Act groups” (Asher, 2009, p. 9), meaning that a subject that mimics a model’s movements while learning the commands in a second language has no difference of retention than if a subject observed a model act while giving commands and the subject did not mimic the actions.
Traditionally it is believed that children have a higher retention rate of second languages than older children do, however results of another experiment by Asher denies this theory. According to Asher (2009), when incorporating TPR into the study of a second language, older children have a higher retention than younger children. Amazingly, Asher also noted that when children and adults learn a second language in the exact same method, adults surpass children of all ages (Asher, 2009).
How is all of this possible? Neuroscientists have determined that the left side of the brain is the critical and analytical side of the brain, and is not comfortable with things that are unfamiliar, such as learning a second language through traditional methods. There is no evaluation and analyzing on the right side of the brain, making it more comfortable for TPR to be used.

Asher, J.J. (May 2009). The total physical response (TPR): review of the evidence. Retrieved from: http://www.tpr-world.com/review_evidence.pdf

Valdes, G., Capitelli, S. & Alvarez, L. (2011). Latino children learning English: Steps in the journey. New York: Teachers College Press.