Approach in Language Teaching By Maria Eugenia Navarro

I consider that the approach in language teaching is very essential in order to define the process of the classes and to implement the didactics and all the instructional materials necessaries in the teaching process of a second language. Besides, if we as a teacher have a clear approach and all the materials are designed following that approach so it will be easier to define the activities in order to achieve the goal. The importance of designing good materials according to the approach we are using in our classes is that they will help us to develop the best techniques, methods, extracurricular activities, reinforces and even assessments to complement our teaching process.

For example, if I am using the natural approach I would use real conversations or elements from the environment, I will also design flashcards, games, videos in order to make more comprehensible the target language. For the TPR approach I will use body gestures, movements, songs and pictures to make the students understand what I am trying to teach them. For the community approach I will focus more on interaction between teacher-students, students-students something like A,B dialogues, conversations, etc.

The implementation of teaching materials is a key element when it comes to make the learning process not only easier, but also enjoyable, unforgettable and lasting. Teaching materials are a great way to show in a practical manner the knowledge a teacher wants to convey, and also why it is important, how it can be used and when it is suitable and relevant. They also help students relate the reality with the knowledge they are acquiring so that they can use it in a specific context.

The English language teachers should be aware of the implementation of excellent materials according to the language ability and needs because students are not the same in terms of language backgrounds and learning abilities. It is usually necessary for the teacher to evaluate and adapt the materials according to the class and language ability to be worked.

Materials according to the language abilities to be taught or learned allow developing communicative skills needed to understand and communicate ideas of a subject in an easy way; also materials according to the language ability can develop the specialized language and vocabulary relevant to the subject.

Learner Needs Assessment By Willian Lemos

However, assessing the needs of your adult learners may have some difficulties. According to Grant & Shank:

Traditional questionnaires … may not be appropriate or effective for all learners, particularly those with limited literacy skills. In addition, the concept of participating in instructional goal-setting can be strange to adults from other cultural backgrounds where learners expect the teacher to set the course objectives.

Doing needs assessment in early lessons or first meetings will help foster the feeling that you, the teacher, and your learners are collaborators in the learning process. It will also give you a basis for planning future lessons.

✻✻Preference for learning alone, in small groups, or in large groups

✻✻ Ear/eye preference

✻✻ Preference for observation vs. participation

✻✻ Use of language analysis, rules, and explanations

✻✻ Preference for immersion

✻✻ Use of translation

✻✻ Use of visuals

✻✻ Uses of rote learning

Keep in mind that needs assessment is an ongoing process. As a student learns more and his or her life situation changes, his or her goals will also change. Therefore, his or her needs should bere-assessed periodically.

The Adult Learner. By Willian Lemos

There is some information to be in mind when you have to teach to an adult.

Malcolm Knowles’ principles of andragogy, the artand science of facilitating adult learning, are still seminal to many of today’s theories about learning and instruction for adults.

How adults should be most effectively taught?

✻✻ Adults are self-directed in their learning.

✻✻ Adults have reservoirs of experience that serve as resources as they learn.

✻✻ Adults are practical, problem-solving-oriented learners.

✻✻ Adults want their learning to be immediately applicable to their lives.

✻✻ Adults want to know why something needs to be learned.

How adults will be more motivated, and more successful at learning?

The literature additionally suggests that adults will be more motivated, and more successful at learning, when they have some say in what they are being taught. Therefore, it is frequently recommended that teachers of adults follow a learner-centered model of instruction, which is to say that the teacher should identify the learners’ needs and interests in learning and incorporate these into his or her lesson planning, and allow the learners to learn from each other as much as, or even more than, the teacher.

What else recommendation for the adult leaning?

Project-based learning is also often recommended, as it allows adults to pursue their own interests during the process of studying English. Furthermore, authentic material should be incorporated wherever possible, as this material relates more directly to the adult learner’s daily lives.

Interview with the teacher of the year in USA Curtis Chandlerd. By Iván Darío Barragán.

Adolescent Literacy

Why is literacy important?

- Literacy is constantly changing and involving. Many of his students are doing all kinds of speech on their own, often in collaboration. Our approach has to evolve . We can not think of preparing students for the future, but the future that is increasingly technological , collaborative and highly literate.

What is one thing you like about the class?

- When students take control of their own learning.

Book What I recommend developing a teacher?

- Tends to recommend the book you are reading now. The Anti- Age Education: Creating smarter students through digital learning. With the emergence of all these cutting edge - like social media - we need to harness the power of human creativity. This is a book that can help you consider how reform which focuses on “skill - and -drill “standardized tests and college education as the state or the mere vocational training. In the book, Gee laments that we have lost the true meaning of education in the service of personal enlightenment and comprehensive social welfare.

What is one thing a teacher can do outside of class you can afford in the classroom?

- He gave a series of lectures and workshops on non - class. Learning takes place both outside the classroom as much as it does on the inside. Educators need to be in contact with the learning process. One way to do this is to continually force you to learn to do something new. It is difficult to do this. We got to remember the frustration of trying something difficult, because that's what our students may be going through.

Is there an online resource that you can recommend that will help teachers to grow professionally?

- Curtis tries to read as much as possible in their own discipline . In addition , Twitter allows you to participate in conversations about education. This forces you to think more and say less. Curtis also subscribe to podcasts advancing talks on education.

Provide a writing practice that is effective?

- He enjoys writing and likes to create writing assignments that allow students to see the importance of writing to their own lives. Writing helps to channel their thinking. The script should do what videogames do, keep children pleasantly frustrating.

Update the canyon. What book, written in the last 10-15 years, is in a group ?

- To Curtis is hard to say. He has his favorites, but he does not like overlapping preferences about their students. By keeping a finger on the pulse of pop culture that we can have a better understanding of what they recommend to students. Lately he has had great success with The Kite Runner (10th Anniversary). But he believes that we must also take into account all forms of media, movies , podcasts , graphics, and other because we are living in a world full of multifaceted media and various forms of media literacy .

http://talkswithteachers.com/curtischandler/

TEACHING MATERIALS IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE . By Eduardo Mario Mestre.

he teaching material is often used as a connecting element between the teaching and reality. Ideally, all teaching and learning is held in contact with real life, but it is not always possible or desirable and therefore resort to a number of means, resources or materials that serve as a bridge between what is taught and learned and the real world . So the teaching material replaces reality and tries to represent it in the best way possible, facilitating its objectification.

Specialists in this area varied terminology often used to refer to the materials. Some people talk about "media" or " teaching resources ", " teaching aids ", " educational media", " teaching material " or " curricular material." In general, when we speak of teaching materials or resources , we refer to a number of means or instruments that favor the process of teaching and learning.

 Prats To the right is the curricular material that " facilitates learning of intellectual skills , mastery of the techniques used in the disciplines and the prototyping approach to simulate the construction of knowledge (methodology ) of the different knowledge ." In classroom contexts , it means teaching resources and employing teachers and students for teaching and learning are vitally important because they determine the effectiveness of the educational program and the student learning experience .

According Blázquez ( 1989:381 ) also create materials " conditions for teachers and students to interact as human beings in a climate where men dominate the environment. " In these situations, the teaching material plays a crucial role :

- Approaching the students to the reality of what you want to teach.

- Motiva teaching and learning, if the material is suitable and is used appropriately.

- Facilitates the learning of concepts , development of procedures and

strategies , and the formation of attitudes and values, which are related taught and learned .

- Represent and illustrates , intuitively, what is verbally explained to facilitate teaching and learning.

- Contribute to a better fixation of learning.

According Nerici ( 1973:331 ) , educational material "is intended to lead to student work , to investigate, to discover and build. Thus takes on an aspect functional and dynamic , leading to the opportunity to enrich the student experience,it closer to reality and offering opportunity to act. "

 As we know, there are various types of facilities and resources for teaching and all they play an important role in certain situations. Most employees They are :

- The board or waxed

- The overhead transparencies, digital projector ( " barrel " )

- Textbooks , consultation , exercise , etc. .

- The language laboratory , computer room and media room : recordings , films , radio , TV , videos , computer programs , internet.

- Magazines and newspaper articles , " abstracts" , news, reports , announcements,

- The franelograma and plastigrama ; the " flashcard " and mobile labels

- Organizational , posters , murals, film etc. .

- Real or miniature objects

- " Realia " coupons , tickets , flyers , brochures , forms, consulting , advertising, photo posters , clippings, etc. .

- Slides , slides , photos, postcards

- Travel the country , visits and tours : visits to museums , monuments , contacts, native .