Methods and Techniques in

Language Learning

A Discussion of Obstacles and Solutions to Language

Development in an ESL Classroom

There are many techniques of ESL teaching found ever since learning

started. The most important of them:-

The Communicative Method. The Direct MethodFVR - Free Voluntary Reading. The structural approach. Total Physical Response (TPR). The Silent Way.Use of musicStory-Telling 

The Communicative Method is

One of the methods in teaching that helps students to grasp their attentions which had been used ever since learning started till today .

In this method attempts are made to build strong personal links between the teacher and student so that there are no blocks to learning.

It provides a better learning environment in the classroom.

There is much talk in the mother tongue which is translated by the teacher for repetition by the student.

Direct Method :-most widely popular at the beginning of twenties

Lots of oral interaction –spontaneous use of language between first and second language .

Oral communication skills used.

Grammar structure was used indirectly.

Concrete vocabulary was taught through demonstration of objects or pictures.

No analysis of grammatical rules.

FVR - Free Voluntary Reading

FVR - Free Voluntary Reading is simply allowing students to read materials of their own choosing without the pressure of rewards, book reports or testing. FVR is the best way for the students to improve their

language skills. The pioneer of FVR and its research is Stephen D.

Krashen. Practicing FVR improves "reading competence, our

vocabulary, and our ability to handle complex grammatical constructions.

In this method a library should be accessible. We have to access reading materials for each level e.g.

Cambridge University Press, Oxford or Macmillan. Simplified novels out of the CLASSIC Ones Such as David

Copperfield, Robinson Crouse. Fairy tales reading such as Pinocchio or Hansel and Gretal

• The structural approach-This method sees language as a complex of grammatical rules which are to be learned one at a time in a set of order.

• Total Physical Response (TPR) TPR the learner responds to simple commands such as "Stand up", "Close your book", "Go to the window .”The instructor is the director of the stage where the students are actors. The method stresses the importance of aural comprehension.

• The Silent Way: The aim of the teacher is to say as little as possible. It was too harsh a method .The teacher is too distant to encourage a communicative atmosphere.

oUse of music: At a beginners level, songs can be used to teach basic vocabulary. Colors, body parts, simple actions(and phrases), clothes and names of people are only a few of the concepts that can be taught through music".

oStory-Telling A lesson plan that includes Story-Telling activities, allows students to be creative and fosters the natural approach to learning a second language. Tell a story of what has happened in the story they have read.

o Role Play can be reality or fantasy based. It provides the students to experience with real life situation.

There are obstacles facing ESL teachers even they are using these methods

Students can hardly string a sentence even though they have attended YEARS of language classes.

They don’t have confidence in speaking their second language as well as being able to read and write in it.

Students are not really motivated to pay attention in their classes and they are not motivated to do their assignments

Many teachers refer their difficulties to

do their jobs properly due to:

• High level of indiscipline in the

classroom.

• Students’ lack of commitment to their

subject-matter.

• students don't seem motivated

The best solution for the ESL teaching is in Computer as one of the effective multimedia

Kits for education

Communication in class is a must. But How do the teachers provide students with the adequate type of learning that satisfy their curiosity . In the High Institutes computers should be

available everywhere. There have to be Multimedia Kits-a collection of materials involving one type of medium and organized around a single topic. Kits include CD rooms ,slides, audiotapes ,video tapes, still pictures ,OHT, Maps and the teacher centered with the students.

 

With these materials the teacher could play his/her role with a high efficiency.

• Students can easily learn any topic through the audio –visual media.

• Listening to a new language will not be a barrier.

• Thus grasping a language from a native –speakers would be granted easily.

• Then after that we as teachers can use the previous methods of learning beside the modern methods like watching a video-Films and listening to songs

Through Computers two prime methods sought:-

Audio-lingual

Memorization of set of phrases. There is much practice of dialogues of everyday situations.

Much use of tapes ,language labs and visual aids.Great importance is attached to pronunciation. New language is first heard and extensively drilled before

being seen in its written form. Drilling is a central technique. Mother language usage is forbidden. Grammatical explanations are avoided. Communicative activities come after a long process of rigid

drills and exercises.

The Lexical Syllabus-This approach is based on a computer analysis of language which identifies the most common (and hence most useful) words in the language and their various uses. Your lessons will be topics focusing on

various issues from current affairs to everyday issues. The teacher will expand on lesson topics helping students to increase their vocabulary, work on grammar, improve sentence construction and allow them to express themselves in the correct way.

Games can help students learn more effectively than traditional teaching

methods. Here are some ESL Activities like fun

Reviewing Vocabulary`Last 15 minutes left at the end of class write

some vocabulary words recently learned.The first student must say a sentence using one

of the vocabulary words on the board, which you can then cross out. The second student must say what the first person said, plus a sentence of his/her own, using one of the remaining vocabulary words on the board. Each student will have to say everything that was said before them, and the last student will have to say the most.

The students may challenge you to say everyone’s sentences at the end!

Learning different tenses! on Monday, you can ask the students,

"What did you do this weekend?" Going around the circle, each student says a Past Tense sentence.

The second student must say what the first person said(using first pronoun and second

pronoun)“My name is Brian, and my favorite

color is orange.”). The second person must say what the first person said (“His name is Brian and his favorite color is orange.”) as well as a statement about him/herself (“My name is Jane, and I have a pet cat.”). Each student will have to say everything that was said before them, and the last student will have to say the most.

ESL Flashcard Game: Around the World

Directions: Starting at one side of the classroom, have two students stand up. Then, show them a flashcard, and the first student to say it correctly moves on to the next student (the losing student sits down). The goal is to go “around the world”, reading the flashcards without being beaten and thus returning to the desk where you started.

This is a good warm up or review exercise. You might find that one particular student wins all the time.

Don't Say the WordsDirections: Print and cut out the cards below. Have a student choose a card. The object is to get his/her classmates to say the boldface word at the top, but he/she cannot say the other words on the cards. In order to do this, students have to be creative with their English vocabulary speaking abilities. You'll be surprised with what they're able to come up with!

   

Nosefacesmellear

Tablechairdesk

school

Chairsit

table

Summerhot

winter

Dooropenclose

classroom

Computer

gameInternet

Dogpetcat

animal

Socksfeetfootshoe

Phone

calltalkcell

Money

dollarbuygive

Cloud

skywhit

e

Good teaching Is More giving of Right questions than giving of the Right answers

Josef Alberts

THANKS YOU ALL FOR ATTENDANCE

&Thanks FOR ALL THETEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN DEVELOPING THE TEACHING

PROGRAM