TEFL Approaches and Methods (TFL 613)

TEFL Approaches and Methods

• The course is TFL 613: Trending Approaches in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language): CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and PBL (Project-Based Learning).
• Instructor is Ph.D. Kymbat Smakvoa.

Past TEFL Trends (20th Century)

• Grammar-Translation method
• Direct Method
• Audio-lingual Method
• Community Language Learning
• The Silent Way
• Suggestopedia
• Total Physical Response
• Natural Approach
• Communicative Language Teaching

Defining Language Teaching Terminology

• Approach: The underlying theory or philosophy guiding language teaching. It provides the theoretical foundation and principles about language and language learning.
• Methodology: The study and analysis of methods and practices informed by the approach.
• Method: A practical plan and techniques derived from the methodology and approach. It's how the approach is implemented (syllabus, progression, materials).
• Techniques: Practical classroom tasks and activities.

Components of a Language Teaching Method

• A method is an application of an approach in language teaching.
• Key decisions within a method involve:
  • Skills to be taught.
  • Teacher and learner roles.
  • Procedures and techniques.
  • Content to be taught.
  • Order of content presentation.
• Methodology is a system of practices and procedures used by a teacher, based on beliefs about language and learning.

Syllabus

• Syllabus: Organized content and objectives sequenced and taught using the methods.

Language Teaching Methodology Diagram

• A diagram shows the relationship between Language teaching methodology, instructional design & features and the observed teaching practices. This is displayed as an interconnected process with theories of language and learning (input) impacting the design of instructional features which ultimately define the classroom practice. (Rodgers, 2001).

Method as an Umbrella Term

• The method is the broader relationship between theory and practice, connecting theory with practice to give the learner a better grasp of the language.

Traditional Teaching Methods

• Traditional classrooms are teacher-centric: teachers are the main knowledge providers, not facilitators. The teaching methods rely heavily on chalk and talk.
• Regimented classrooms are common as students are given predetermined lectures. There is a lack of collaboration and group learning.
• The priority in traditional teaching is students' exam results, and there is not a clear connection between objectives, activities, and assessments in traditional teaching.

Newer Methods Mentioned

• Community Language Learning
• The Silent Way
• Suggestopedia
• Total Physical Response (TPR)

Chomskyan Revolution in Linguistics

• Linguists and language teachers focused on "deep structure" of language.
• Psychologists acknowledged the affective and interpersonal aspects of learning.

Designer Methods

• Designer methods emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, emphasizing (and being synonymous with) an affective-humanistic approach.
• These methods included innovation in language teaching such as TPR and Community Language Learning.

Contemporary Language Class Features

• Focus on student and teacher feelings and respect.
• Students' personal involvement in classroom communication.
• Use of interactive procedures (pair and group work).
• Class atmosphere is valued more than materials or methods.

Traditional Language Class Features

• Key beliefs and values of traditional language teachers about learning foreign languages.
• Description of the primary view of language.
• Explanations of how language is learned.
• Consideration of teacher and student roles.
• The elements of language learning materials and resources.
• Types of classroom activities favored in traditional language instruction.

21st Century TEFL/TESOL Trends

• Identifying popular and commonly used strategies, approaches, policies, values, principles and techniques, focusing on the developments over the last 25 years.

Contemporary Language Class Features

• How new TEFL/TESOL trends influenced teacher-student relationships and roles, competencies, management styles, and learning styles.
• How new trends altered expectations, instructional materials, and assessment processes for all stakeholders.

Suitable Methods

• Identifying methods with features still considered suitable.

Why the Search for "Best Methods" Ended

• Reasons for the questioning of a singular "best" foreign language teaching method. This was particularly pertinent in the 1990's on.

• Dead Poets Society (1989) and Общество мертвых поэтов (1989)

Problems With Existing Methods

• Evaluation of potential problems with existing language teaching methods.