Post Method Era in Language Education

Trending Approaches in TEFL: CLIL and PBL (2)

• Post-Method Era: A concept developed by Kumaravadivelu (1994).
  • This era is characterized by efforts to reconstruct the relationship between language education theories and their practical application.
  • It moves from knowledge-oriented theories of pedagogy to classroom-oriented theories of pedagogical practice.

Post Method Era in English Language Teaching

• The post-method era rejects the idea that one specific method is universally superior for English language education.
• It shifts the focus from the method to the teacher, recognizing individual teacher expertise and adaptability as crucial.

What is Intelligence?

• The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
• Ability to understand, learn, and form judgments based on reason.
• The ability to think, reason, and understand, rather than relying solely on instinct.

Gardner (2013) Definition of Intelligence

• The capacity to create solutions to life's problems.
• The ability to acquire new knowledge and understanding on a topic.
• A skill set useful to the community, as either a product or a service.

Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983)

• Regardless of the subject (arts, sciences, history, math), present learning materials in diverse ways.
• "Pluralize your teaching" to help students learn, understand, and demonstrate understanding.

Types of Intelligence (Multiple Intelligences)

• Verbal-linguistic: Well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to sounds, meanings, and rhythms of words.
• Logical-mathematical: Conceptual and abstract thinking, along with understanding logical and numerical patterns.
• Spatial-visual: Thinking in images and pictures, accurate visualization and abstraction.
• Bodily-kinesthetic: Control over body movements and handling objects skillfully.
• Musical: Producing and appreciating rhythm, pitch, and timbre.
• Interpersonal: Detecting and responding appropriately to the moods, motivations, and desires of others.
• Intrapersonal: Self-awareness and understanding of inner feelings, values, beliefs, and thought processes.
• Naturalist: Recognizing and categorizing plants, animals, and other natural objects.
• Existential: Sensitivity and capacity to tackle questions about the meaning of life, death, and existence.

Characteristics of Multiple Intelligences

• All humans possess all nine intelligences, possibly more.
• Individuals have various strengths and levels of development within each intelligence.
• Intelligences can vary in their interplay within individual brains and may not work collaboratively.
• Learning can improve if tasks are tailored to specific intelligences.
• Intelligences can be developed, weakened, ignored, or strengthened with practice.

Applications of Multiple Intelligences Theory

• Used for curriculum development, planning instruction, selecting course activities, and assessments.

Principled-Eclectic Approach

• A reaction to the profusion and dogmatism of teaching methods in the 1970s and 1980s.
• It's a problem-based approach to teaching using principles from various methods.
• Focuses on addressing specific student learning challenges.

Understanding Eclecticism

• Deliberate combination of approaches, not random mixing.
• A philosophical background with a systematic relationship between activities and communicative language use are important.

Theory of Language and Language Learning

• Theory of Language: Language comprises structures used to convey meaning through functions.
• Theory of Language Learning: Learning involves structural and communicative activities, emphasizing language's structural basis that can be acquired through practice in communication and conversation.

Advantages of the Eclectic Approach

• Enhanced safety: variety of perspectives increases learning chances.
• Improved interest: diverse teaching techniques keep learners engaged.
• Adaptability to varying learning and teaching contexts.
• Increased flexibility: teachers can better use resources and adapt to unanticipated situations.

Disadvantages of the Eclectic Approach

• Lacks specific guidance on combining method aspects.
• Tendency to combine conflicting elements without organizing principles to direct instruction.

Modern Trends in Language Teaching

• Cognitive-Constructivist Approaches: Understanding how students build their learning.
• Student-Centered: Students actively participating in their learning.
• Cooperative Learning: Working together to boost learning.
• Authenticity in Language Learning: Teaching learners skills needed for real-life contexts.
• Participatory Approaches: Encouraging meaningful student participation.
• Competence-Based Language Teaching: Focuses on developing applicable language skills.
• Reflective Teaching: Promoting self-evaluation and learning.

Global Citizenship Training through ELT

• Developing 21st-century skills (critical thinking, self-regulation, communication, collaboration).
• Integrating ICT in language learning and using internet-based and mobile resources.
• Promoting intercultural communication competence.
• Utilizing content-based instruction.
• Applying Task-Based Instruction.
• Conducting project-based learning.