Every English teacher is well aware, teaching a language is no small feat. Students can often be reluctant to learn, or at times simply be demotivated because of the mammoth effort required to master a foreign language. They may find the classes boring or monotonous, or at times find themselves unable to concentrate fully on the instructions. But this problem can be solved by looking at new and creative methods of teaching English:
1. Gamification
Language learning games can offer a fun alternative to the traditional teaching methods. They create a dynamic learning experience, can be adapted to the learner’s needs, and allow for longer-term retention of the material since the student engages with it in a deeper manner. The biggest advantage is that there is a range of language learning games available and the student can choose the one that meets their personal style and preference. From computer dames like ‘Digital Dialects’ and ‘Influent’ to classic board games like Scrabble, there are numerous games that can help learners get a grip on vocabulary, grammar and syntax.
2. Conversation Exchange
Being able to speak a foreign language fluently requires regular practice of the newly acquired linguistic skills. Students learning English as a foreign language can greatly benefit from engaging in conversation with their peers who speak the target language. There are various avenues that can facilitate such an exchange online. For instance, Bilingua connects language learners online to help them learn from each other. So with a simple click on the Bilingua app, your students could speak with someone sitting a thousand miles away and practice their English speaking skills!
3. Invite Native Speakers to the Class
Despite all efforts by the teacher, students can at times get too lost in the textbook exercises and not invest enough time in improving their verbal fluency. A great way to expose them to authentic conversations in their target language is to invite native English language speakers to the class. Speaking directly with a native speaker gives students the opportunity to learn the correct accent, improve comprehension and understand the colloquial usage of the words. It brings a different dimension to the students’ language learning experience by helping them understand the nuances that only a real, spontaneous conversation can involve.
4. Encourage Students to Join Local Language Learning Communities
Online forums or neighbourhood language clubs can serve as useful aids to gain further mastery over the language, especially for practicing speaking skills. There are various websites and local groups that have members with different levels of mastery over the language. Through conversations, exchange of tips and collective study efforts, these communities can allow your students to build confidence and gain proficiency in their target language. Moreover, it helps avoid the isolation that many foreign language learners otherwise experience, by connecting them with others who share similar challenges and motivations.
5. Plan a Class Tour to the Country of the Target Language
This is probably one of the most exciting methods of teaching English which brings lots of emotions both to students and teachers. This is also an ultimate experience that will help your students to assess how far they have come in their journey is to test their skills in the real world. Organizing a trip to the country of their target language will serve not only as a feedback opportunity while they communicate with native speakers, it can motivate them to do better when they experience the joy of being able to use their skills in real-life conversation exchanges. In fact, setting such a target at the beginning of the year will help you keep them on track as they ready themselves to impress the locals with their speaking skills!
As you can see, there can be many unconventional methods of teaching English and others foreign language. It pays to shake things up in the classroom so that your students stay engaged, motivated and challenged. So if you are a foreign language teacher wondering how to get your students pumped up, do try our tips and share your experiences with us!
