Second and Foreign Language Teaching Methods

           

            This module provides a description of the basic principles and procedures of the most recognized and commonly used approaches and methods for teaching a second or foreign language. Each approach or method has an articulated theoretical orientation and a collection of strategies and learning activities designed to reach the specified goals and achieve the learning outcomes of the teaching and learning processes.

Method	Focus	Characteristics
Grammar Translation	Written literary texts	Translate from English into your native language
Direct Method (also called Natural Method)	Everyday spoken language	Student learns by associating meaning directly in English
Audio-Lingual Method	Sentence and sound patterns	Listening and speaking drills and pattern practice only in English
Cognitive Code Approach	Grammar rules	English grammar rules deduced and then understood in context
The Silent Way	Student interaction rather than teacher	Teacher is silent to allow student awareness of how English Works
- Suggestopedia	Meaningful texts and vocabulary	Relaxed atmosphere, with music; encourages subliminal learning of English
- Community Language Learning	Student interaction	Understanding of English through active student interaction
- Comprehension Approach (Natural Approach, the Learnables, and Total Physical Response)	Listening comprehension	English speaking delayed until students are ready; meaning clarified through actions and visuals
Communicative Language Teaching	Interaction, authentic communication and negotiating meaning	Understanding of English through active student interaction; role play, games, information gaps
Content-based, Task-based, and Participatory Approaches	What is being communicated, not structure of English	Content based on relevance to students’ lives: topics, tasks, problem-solving
Learning Strategy Training, Cooperative Learning, and Multiple Intelligences	How to learn	Teach learning strategies, cooperation; activities  according to different intelligences

 

          It´s important to indicate that we can't use the same method for everyone and expect excellent results because each student is different. So we need to personalise how we teach based on factors such as the student's stage of life, objectives, motivation and aptitude for languages, their native language, personality or how much time they've spent learning English.

6 Rules to Break for Better, 

Deeper Learning Outcomes

            Monica Martinez wrote that article to give educators some teaching strategies.  At first she wonder why students tune in or tune out and tell us about the need to find a method in the way of making school relevant to more learners. According to Monica Martinez that method is called deeper learning and it is a set of learning outcomes for students that include:

•  Mastery of core academic content.
• Critical thinking and problem solving.
• Productive collaboration.
• Effective communication.
• An ability to direct their own learning and exhibit a strong academic mindset.

          Schools that develop these outcomes are more effective and benefit their students. In this point Monica Martinez give us six rules to help students break for better and they can direct their learning:

1.       Don´t learn from just the teacher. Teachers are only one source of knowledge.

2.       Learn what they want to learn.

3.       Use social media in school.

4.       Provide opportunities for students to turn their interests into learning endeavors as projects.

5.       Learn outside from school.

6.       Fail, then try, try, and try again. It´s important to remember that failure is a process for real learning and achievement.

           In my opinion we should break teaching traditional methods because they are ineffective at the present time and this article show us other method and some good ideas to help students in their learning process. It´s time to change and we need new ways to teach and motivate our students. 

Which linguistic program is the best to Valencian schools?

         There are several linguistic programs in Valencian Educational System that schools can apply depending on where they are placed and their characteristics (language of the environment, attitude of parents, the need of major vehicular use in Valencian or Spanish language and so on). These linguistic programs in Valencian speaking predominant area are:

-  -Teaching through Valencian Program (PEV).

-  -Linguistic Immersion Program (PIL).

-  -Progressive Incorporation Program (PIP).

       In this point we wonder which one is the best linguistic program to Valencian schools. In my opinion there isn´t one program better than other because there are a number of factors to take into account to choose one of them as I said above. For example, in my case I lived in a town when I was young where all people spoke Valencian. Therefore the school adopted the Progressive Incorporation Program, in which the basic language for learning is Spanish and now I speak perfectly Valencian and Spanish.

       On conclusion, I think all linguistic programs are good if they succeed in their purpose, because it is suitable to indicate that the main aim is that students have the same linguistic competence in Valencian and Spanish when finishing Primary School and each linguistic program give learners the necessary implements to achieve it.