In Module 4 of the PPP, we looked at how language teaching has been viewed in the past and how it is currently viewed. The five articles from six PDF files give us the ample information on the topic: "English Teaching Today".
1. What is English Teaching?
2. Principles of Language Learning
3a. Developing Learner Autonomy
3b. How do We Recognize an Autonomous Classroom – Revised
4. Learner-Centered TESOL
5. Where can I Get my Shoe Fixed? Authentic Tasks for Students in EFL Settings
I looked through the first article and posted my reflection on it.
Terminology: The terms used to talk about what happens in a language classroom are – (a) approach: broadest term, a set of beliefs about teaching and learning languages, (b) methods: general ways of organizing what takes place in the classroom for a certain approach, (c) techniques: the activities chosen by teacher and done by the students for a method. It's known as strategy too.
Historical Methods: Since early 1900s foreign languages began to viewed as school subjects, and various methods have been emerged in different time span. Some prominent methods in the language teaching history are – Grammar Translation (GT) method, Direct Method, Audiolingual Method (ALM), in the latter half of the 20th century, Community Language Learning (CLL), Suggestopedia, The Silent Way, Total Physical Response (TPR),
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT): Best method, however it's a modern approach to language teaching that prioritizes real communicative ability.
How is English teaching viewed now?: It's the era of postmethods now. Language teaching is considered primarily about, not methodology, but other aspects of teaching (Kumaravadivelu – 2006). The other aspects are: Postmethods: focuses on principles and strategies rather than with specific methods or approaches. Principles are foundational understandings about SLA, and strategies are broad guideline.
Beyond EFL and ESL: New models for language acquisition: Content-Based Instruction (CBI) or Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) emphasizes learning other content, such as math, science, cooking, or golf, through the medium of the target language. Immersion Education can be thought of as full-time CBI. Bilingual Education model is the fusion of some immersion and some native language instruction in an academic context.
What should English teachers know and be able to do?: Effective language teachers possess two skill sets: 1) language skill – communicative competence and linguistic knowledge, 2) teaching skill – theoretical knowledge and methodological competence.
Finally, teacher's personal qualities – positive characters, attitudes, beliefs, and values are also another most important thing. Teaching a language = Enabling someone to acquire a language. After reading this article, I got very clear and precise knowledge of all the ways of teaching foreign language. I have been using most of the ways in my classes. Some are new for me though they were emerged many years back. Now I realized that an effective language teacher should have sound theoretical and practical knowledge and skill of teaching methodology, as well as possess good personal characters.
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