English language lectures and lessons are complex to design due to its diverse nature which involves several aspects of lesson planning. In fact, while learning English language we come across distinct features of English language including reading, writing, listening and speaking. Before planning an English language lecture we should be adamant about which aspect to focus on.
Once you set your target now you can structure your lesson plan using different methods and approaches related to the targeted skill. For instance; if you are planning a reading lesson you can make a list of action verbs from Greenopolis for your students to make it easier for them to understand instructions.
There are several methods that are designed to teach English as a foreign language that you can use effectively as per your convenience depending on the level of your students and the syllabus they are supposed to cover in the given time frame. However, generally modern teaching techniques are a blend of several traditional ways of teaching like audio lingual method or grammar translation method which is still widely popular in schools in the middle and Fareast.
But, the method that is proven to be most effective to improve spoken English Language is the communicative method. Let’s explore a few methods and ideas to include in our English language lesson plan.
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)
Communicative Language Teaching is the most recognized teaching model globally due to its practicality. In CLT classrooms students are given more relatable daily life situations aiming at their ability to communicate in the real world. Students in the CLT classroom are encouraged to communicate fluently rather than accurately. Moreover, collaborative tasks are performed such as; role plays. The key is to interact in English language and understanding situations rather than ideas.
Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT)
Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) consists of several tasks that are provided to the learners, the main objective is the completion of those tasks. Most of the task are preceded by a pre-task and succeeded by a post task. For instance; information gap tasks where students communicate for the sake of sharing information with each other. Similarly, there are reasoning gap tasks when students are provided with a problems to solve in order to grasp a concept. The problem may be related to a profession or technological advancement like digital marketing strategies.
Direct method:
The target of the direct method is to make the learner think in the target language, in English language classrooms learners do not use their native language at all. They are forced to communicate in English so they figure its structure out by themselves and develop their own understanding of English language. Moreover, self-assessment is the main feature of direct method.
Grammar Translation Method:
Grammar Translation Method traces the mother tongue and translates it in the target language to learn a language. In order to learn English through this method students have to memorize detailed grammar rules, formats and structures such as; subject-verb agreement and the correct use of helping verbs which implies that this approach favors accuracy over fluency. Moreover it focuses on reading and writing skills rather than spoken skills.
Audiolingual Method:
Audiolingual method was designed to focus on the English spoken and listening skills rather than reading and writing due to the fact that grammar translation method had proven to be less practical. It was a response to the difficulties soldiers face during wars because they couldn’t communicate with other soldiers with different native languages resulting in confusion. This method involves repetition of the teacher’s words until the learner doesn’t get the pronunciation right. Learners also use prerecorded audios for drilling words into their heads.
Total Physical Response:
It is teacher centered class where he instructs the students to perform certain simple tasks such as “stand up” or “sit down”. After students starts understanding action verbs the teacher gradually add more details to the instructions adding adverbs like “come here quickly” or “put the bottle on the table”.
The methods listed above can be your guide to create an effective lesson plan so that your students get their requirements fulfilled either they need to acquire or lean a language through the natural approach.
