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I enjoyed this unit because I was able to take a more in-depth look at the different teaching methods and techniques. There are nine listed teaching methods discussed. Personally, I learned about some of them not through books or courses but through experience. Understanding them is essential to for becoming an effective teacher.
The grammar-translation method is where learning is largely through translation from the students’ native language to the target language.
The Audio Lingualism states that learning a language means acquiring habits through conditioning (long repetition drills).
In the PPP (Presentation, Practice,Production) method, the teacher presents the context/situation, explains and demonstrates the meaning and form of the language. The students then practice in a controlled manner until they are able to be free and creative in the production stage.
The task-based language learning focuses more on the completion of a task than the language. The teacher can only provide language help study to clear up some problems after the task is completely.
The Communicative Language teaching stresses the importance of language functions such as inviting, suggesting,etc. It enables the learner to communicate effectively in thr various real life situations.
In the Community Language Learning, the learners have the freedom to choose and discuss the topic and language. The teacher helps only if necessary.
Likewise, in the Silent Way the teacher aims to say as little as possible. The students ‘discover’ the language for themselves.
Suggestopaedia emphasizes the need for the learner to be comfortable,confident and relaxed in order to effectively learn.
Lastly, the Lexical Approach argues that words and phrases are better than grammatical structures as bulding blocks of language.
It is said that the Engage, Study, Activate Approach is the most effective and logical of all methodologies and I agree. This is basically what most teachers right now are observing. Warm up and engage the students fully. Provide for controlled practice in Study; see if they understood and can construct language accurately. Then Activate by giving them a chance to use the language fluently along with the rest of their language knowledge.
The straight ESA is useful when the teacher knows wthat the learner needs and guides them until they can use the language. The Boomerang ESA allows the teacher to see what the learner needs before teaching the language.
The Patchwork ESA, however, is good for learners in Intermediate level and above as it gives them more challenge.
Deciding on which method is best depends on the teacher’s personality, the learners’ culture and needs. It is important to note that learners need as much exposure to the language as possible. They need certain amount of input from the teacher and should be encouraged to discover language by themselves.
Giving feedback is as important as teaching the language itself. It encourages self-awareness and improvement and helps the learner evaluate his/her success and progress. Always remember to use positive words instead of negative.
This unit made me reflect and assess my own teaching ways and also recollect all the wonderful memories I had with my students.
