Piedmont, California TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

This unit was particularly enlightening for many reasons. I particularly appreciated the video in which I learnt a great deal about the different methodologies of language teaching in their historical contexts. I found it particularly interesting to learn about the Classical method – grammar translation. Having taught English in French classrooms I can see the influence this method has on the current English language curriculum in schools. Even today it is incredibly popular. I also found it fascinating to learn about the varying methodologies that came about during the late 1800’s and the 1900’s. For example, Audio-lingualism or the army method and its heavy reliance on repetitive drilling. The methodology entitled the silent way seemed rather complex in being able to link rods to phonemes. I particular enjoyed learning about the Total Physical Response method as having taught young learners English here in France I have first-hand witnessed how mobility reinforces learning and long term retention of vocabulary. It was interesting how all methods studied had positives that could be then implemented in the classroom. The ESA approach of Jeremy Harmer established in 1998 in his book “How to teach English” seems to combine all the positives from many methodologies into an interesting methodology of his own. I found the engage and activate stages interesting in their goa to encourage student talking and participation. This is something missing in French classrooms.