Total Physical Response

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a method developed by James Asher, a professor of Psychology at San Jose State University, California, to aid learning foreign languages. The method relies on the assumption that when learning a second or additional language, that language is internalized through a process of codebreaking similar to first language development and that the process allows for a long period of listening and developing comprehension prior to production. Students respond to commands that require physical movement. TPR is an ESL/EAL behaviorist minded teacher's main tool.

The method was popularized by Blaine Ray, a Spanish teacher who saw how well interactive movements and stories helped his students learn. Since then, he has created the foundation of a method called Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS), which adds fun stories to Asher's methods.