TEACHING ENGLISH
1. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, teaching English has many different approaches and methods and this is the reason why it’s quite difficult for a potential learner to choose which could be the best, or the most suitable one for him/her. And so it is for teachers. Even though, teachers mostly select techniques from various approaches according to the different needs of their learners.
Since English is spoken in so many different countries, there are thousands of schools around the world that offer programmes in English.
In Spain, for example, during the last 20-30 years we have been bombarded with so much different publicity about great methods to learn English, with all kinds of course books, audios, courses on TV or radio, methods with Cds, self-learning methods, methods for children, even for babies....
I personally have had my own English school for children for five years, and when I was thinking about opening it, my main trouble was what method was the best one to apply. That’s why I decided to contact a franchise, so that they could provide me with their know-how.
But, after five years, I am much more experienced in it, and now I could have better ideas about how to teach English, especially to Spanish children and adults.
2. MY APPROACH
I think the most important skill involved in learning a language is being able to understand (listen) and speak.
When we are little children, we learn our mother tongue without any books or study, just by listening and repeating. Using the mother tongue, we have learnt to think, learnt to communicate and acquired an intuitive understanding of grammar.
This means that listening is the first language skill we learn in our native language, one of the two natural language skills which are required by all natural spoken languages.
Second skill we acquire in our native language is speaking, as it requires using our vocal tract and our brains.
The third skill we may acquire is reading, it is an artificial one, as not all natural languages have a writing system.
And writing is the fourth language skill we may acquire.
This is why I think an effective method should concentrate on making learners able to hold a conversation, this means a lot of speaking and listening, and they should also think in the target language and stop translating in their head.
So my approach would be very communicative, interactive and inductive. I think learners must be very active. The most important tip is practice and practice, as often as possible.
3. METHOD:
A communicative approach to language teaching is based in practice, using it to communicate meaning to others. Language learners have to keep on talking. They have to keep on telling people their stories, jokes and opinions.
The classes must be 100% interactive, in order that learners have fun while learning.
The methodology must include many different objectives, with tasks such as:
- To learn speaking and listening skills:
- To practice reading and writing the method could include:
- To get better memorization:
- To improve pronunciation:
All the instructional materials included in the courses must be adapted and personalized regarding the student level, age and needs, so that they respond to their necessities and profile. For example, if it’s a kids class, all activities must be related to subjects they like, and songs and stories must be childish.
Students must always have access to the vocabulary of the course where they can find all the instructional materials and information from the workshops for future revision.
It’s sure that adapting material can positively influence students’ motivation when learning a foreign language.
4. SYLLABUS
I would structure the course in six different levels: Initial, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2.
The classes should take place at least two days a week, one hour a day, and should be completed with practice at home with materials like reading texts or watching short videos, which would be revised in the following class.
5. GOALS OF STUDENTS
As English is the most commonly spoken language in the world and it’s the language of science, computers, diplomacy, the internet, tourism.. students are surely surrounded by English and this must be a motivation and a reason to learn this language, because they feel it’s useful and it gives them a lot of satisfaction.
I think that, in order to motivate students and help them learning easily, their role must be totally communicative, and they should be encouraged to take learning responsibility.
Regarding to different levels, students’ objectives would be:
. Initial: Must be able to understand and communicate simple personal and workrelated messages.
. Pre-intermediate: Must understand and be able to communicate any important information both writing and orally.
. Intermediate 1: Must be able to understand, communicate and put into practice standard information both in everyday life and work situations.
. Intermediate 2: Must put complex information into practice both in everyday life and in work situations, presentations and meetings.
. Advanced 1: Almost native speaker level in everyday life and working situations, presentations, reports, instructions and explanations in details.
. Advanced 2: Native speaker level in everyday life and work situations.
6. EXAMPLE OF A LESSON PLAN : PRE-INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (for children)
. Welcome: Break the ice, welcome everybody and make sure students establish visual contact with the rest of the group and the teacher.
. Grammar:
First person singular of present simple of the verbs to be and to live.
Read the text “My name is Ted” in turns. Then the teacher asks everybody to introduce themselves with their name, age and place they live in.
. Complements and class supports:
Game called “Chinese whispers”: sitting in a circle, one student says a sentence in present perfect of the verb to be in the ear of the person who is sitting next to him or her, and so on. Until arriving to the last student, who has to say what he understood, and then compare it with what was said by the first student.
. Goodbye: Sing the “Bye,bye” song all together.
7. TEACHER’S ATTITUDE AND PREPARATION
. Teacher’s roles should be participant (taking part in class as an equal to improve the atmosphere) and assessor (providing a lot of feedback and gentle correction).
. The teacher should adopt a dynamic attitude and always positive strategies.
. Make the student feel like a part of the class, raise the students’ self-esteem
. Give them jobs to make them feel important and to show that they can do something.
. Make them believe they are capable of learning English.
. Every student in the class should be included in class discussions, regardless of their English level.
. Act in a way that, not only must be aiding the English language learners, but also building friendships and strengthening the feeling of a community of learners. This, in turn, will help to transform the classroom into a happier and more productive learning environment.
. Focus on fluency, prioritizing competent communication in the target language over rule-based grammar or translation to the native language.
Just to add a few words in conclusion, I would say that teachers have to keep training, reflect on practice, remain open to critique and simply want to do better and to continue to learn for themselves. I think that the most relevant contribution comes from the teacher’s own experience.
And it also true that if there is a single unifying characteristic then it is probably the ability of successful teachers to establish rapport with their students.
8. CONCLUSIONS
I believe my approach is consistent because the use of a communicative method, completed with audiovisual technology and peripherial materials, is a great contribution to help teaching and motivate learners. Understanding and communication are very important principles in all approaches. The reference to meaning and context, instead of focusing on grammar and translation, is a valuable advance in teaching English.
