The ability to communicate verbally in English is an extremely useful tool that will open doors for any kinds of jobs, adventures and other opportunities around the world. Being able to understand what people are speaking around you and communicate with them abroad widens all perspectives and possibilities throughout your life.
Although, it will require with time an advanced knowledge and understanding of all relevant language foundations, expressions, Vocabulary and Grammar, it is really worth learning such a useful language.
Most teachers may teach under a theoretical manner using dictatorial methods through memorizing Grammar and Vocabulary throughout all lessons without emphasising on expressions, role plays, theatre or art and music activities.
I believe that a creative and communicative approach for learning English is the key factor to motivate and fully increase all students´ attention as well as to demonstrate the pedagogical efficiency and results created throughout a course.
Lessons are focused on a Situation and Function-based syllabus followed by a Structured-based syllabus that will complete all needed learning aspects. Using these methods students have the opportunity to act and actively participate in first person through the acting, reading and speaking in an active class environment.
My personal teaching approach to English is based on a Communicative method, where students while listening and reading role plays and situation based topics, are able to learn the meaning of every word acquiring vocabulary as well as verb conjugation. All language knowledge follows an interactive and dynamic approach, where students will be able to learn expressions, vocabulary and visual syntax under the same activity.
Students must feel comfortable, confident and free to express all their doubts and actively learn throughout several class topics and activities, leaving behind all feelings of shyness and self-limitation behaviours, seeking full participation from both the teacher and all students.
The aims of this method are connected with communication and great emphasis is placed on training students to communicate in different situations met daily. Hence, students learn from their errors, improve their syntax, vocabulary and verb conjugations, developing step by step strong micro and macro skills, reflecting their usage in real life situations. The idea lays on an overall language approach using functional methods where they start learning relevant overall macro-skills adapted to the topics being taught, followed by all associated micro-skills. Once all concepts are learned, students will be situated in another similar topic, where they will have the opportunity to test their language abilities and demonstrate themselves what they have previously learned, being able to correct any possible new errors that may appear.
My personal approach as a teacher is to acquire a conversationalist teaching role, together with a guide, a facilitator, an assessor and a needs analyst, adding a touch of playmaker. These roles interchange depending on student needs and planned activities being held during lessons. Following this manner students not only learn English but also retain the language more effciciently as they enjoy their lessons from beginning to end.
Lesson planning is crucial as well as daily teaching targets. In general lessons will be taught under the following manner;
The idea behind this method is that people learn languages in order to communicate and not to simply know the rules of grammar without being able to use them practically. Adults and children learning English are given the chance to use ‘day to day real English’ in a classroom setting through role-playing, language games, discussions, technology-based activities and other activities. Lessons will also include newspaper reading and understanding, watching films as well as taking part in tandems with other native English students, where they will be able to practice their fluency in speaking. Involving the students physically in all the lessons via group work and student presentations while practicing grammar drills in groups, or learning verbs or idioms through acting out the meanings. I believe group work is very effective, mixing up class members of the group often so that students are able to interact with different accents and ways of speaking, create friendly relationships all together and challenge their language skills in person.
I believe learning by doing is one of the most effective methods for teaching English stimulating both auditorial, physical and visual senses simultaneously. Having the opportunity to experience real life situations as much as possible by incorporating actions and activities that support meaning. Whatever the content may be, relevant items will be included and handed in for the students to interact with as they learn.
And as a MUST objective and goal, students MUST have FUN during lessons. A fun and positive attitude is the key to effectively teach English. Most exercises and functional aspects would focus on setting up English language games using challenges and competitions among students. Playing games that help students increase their vocabulary and expand their thinking while having fun and interacting with one another.
The most effective approach for teaching English is a well-balanced combination of diverse activities, use of real life scenarios and visual aids, group work, native English language samples and a fun, positive attitude. All these components need to be a part of every lesson and every teacher’s basic approach to teaching English.
