Teaching methods

The chance to learn a language is equal, for everyone but some people have to work harder than others.  What you have to do is find the technique that works for you and use this, as everyone learns different.  If you do this then the playing field is virtually level for all language learners.

This being said, here are some teaching techniques, which are helpful in teaching languages
Controlled techniques
Language warm-up: preparation of songs, jokes, and word- games
Explanation: Brings the students attention to what is important in learning - grammar, words
Translation: helps to remember words by constant repeating, old fashion but effective method
Repeating: preparation of exercises needed the most difficult for students and sometimes boring, but effective.
Tests: are useful to reinforce and improve recall via a writing exercise

Semi-controlled techniques
Relation and narration: helps to check what things are not 100% in pronunciation and comprehension.
Short text preparation: variety of texts, books promote interest of the language and culture
Rapid questioning, involves text preparation on the teachers part or going by a script.  Helps to use the languages in concrete situations, develops logical thinking, Popular with courses like Callan or Berlitz.  An out growth of the audio-lingual method.
Low or no controlled techniques
Dialogues: trains accent, pronunciation and language communication. Conversation, as long as the teacher corrects the mistakes. Corrected conversation is the basis for a lot of ESL tutoring.
Stage technique: preparation of lines and scripts, it is excellent for shy people and quiet – talkers. Take lines from movies or films or plays.
Interviews: good organization is needed, but similar to the rapid question technique, but less stressful, unless the interview is real.

Why did I talk about learning and teaching technques in the same breath? Becasue the above was written by Kasia. She is Polish and never studied English, but is fluent in the language. How? Listening to music and teaching the language. She started with beginners and moved up from there.  Teaching is one of the best ways to learn.

Tags: How to learn a language