TEFL Approaches: CLIL and PBL

Trending Approaches in TEFL: CLIL and PBL (2)

• Post-Method Era: A concept developed by Kumaravadivelu (1994).
• This era is characterized by efforts to redefine the relationship between language education theories and their practical application.
• It shifts from knowledge-oriented pedagogical theories to classroom-oriented pedagogical theories.
• The Post-Method Era signifies a rejection of the idea that one specific teaching method is universally superior to others.
• It recognizes that successful language education isn't solely dependent on a fixed method, but rather on the teacher's ability to adapt teaching to the student's needs.

What is Intelligence?

• Intelligence includes the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
• It also involves the capacity for understanding, learning, and forming judgments and opinions based on reason.
• It signifies the capacity to think, reason, and understand, rather than relying on instinct or automatic responses.

Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983)

• Gardner defines intelligence as the capacity to create solutions to life's problems, acquire knowledge linked to a topic, and develop skills useful to the community.
• This approach emphasizes the need to present learning materials in multiple ways.
• Teachers should "pluralize their teaching," varying their methods to enhance student understanding and demonstrate their own comprehension.

Types of Intelligences

• Verbal-linguistic: Well-developed verbal skills, sensitivity to the sounds, meanings, and rhythms of words.
• Logical-mathematical: Conceptual and abstract thinking, ability to discern logical and numerical patterns.
• Spatial-visual: Capacity to think in images and pictures, accurate visualization and abstract thinking.
• Bodily-kinesthetic: Control over body movements, skill in handling objects.
• Musical: Ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre.
• Interpersonal: Ability to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations, and desires of others.
• Intrapersonal: Self-awareness, understanding of inner feelings, beliefs, and thought processes.
• Naturalist: Ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals, and other natural objects.
• Existential: Sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions concerning human existence.

Characteristics of Multiple Intelligences

• All humans possess all nine intelligences in varying degrees.
• Individual intelligences are arranged uniquely in each person's brain.
• These intelligences may or may not work together collaboratively.
• Students often learn more effectively when learning tasks directly relate to their dominant intelligences.
• Intelligences can be developed, weakened, ignored, or strengthened with dedicated practice.

Application of Multiple Intelligences Theory in Education

• The theory informs curriculum development, instructional planning, course activity selection, and assessment strategies.

Principled-Eclectic Approach

• The eclectic approach is a problem-solving based approach to teaching that rejects rigid method adherence.
• It considers multiple principles to cater to student needs and language use problems.
• Selecting principles should integrate various methods strategically, not randomly, to efficiently address the identified problem.
• There needs to be a philosophical background and systematic relation between the selected concepts.

Theory of Language and Language Learning

• Language: Language is built on structures used to convey meaning. Functions are intrinsic to the process.
• Language Learning: Learning involves a combined structural and communicative experience. Effective learning stems from the consistent application of structure via communicative practice.

Advantages of the Eclectic Approach

• Safety: Incorporating different approaches increases the likelihood of successful learning.
• Interest: Engaging various teaching techniques can maintain learner attention.
• Diversity: Different learning contexts necessitate diverse methodologies.
• Flexibility: Adapting to various techniques allows addressing unexpected situations.

Disadvantages of the Eclectic Approach

• Lack of Guidance: The method doesn't specifically outline how or why different aspects of multiple methods are combined.
• Conflicting Elements: Frequently, teachers are combining differing method elements without a coherent approach, potentially leading to contradictions.

Modern Trends in Language Teaching

• Cognitive-Constructivist Approaches in Education
• Student-centered Approaches in Education
• Cooperative Learning
• Authenticity in Language Learning
• Participatory Approaches
• Competence-based Language Teaching
• Reflective Teaching
• Global Citizenship Training
• Teaching 21st Century Skills
• ICT in Language Learning
• Internet-based & Mobile Learning
• English as a Global Language (vs EFL)
• Intercultural Communication Competence
• Content-based Instruction
• Content and Language Integrated Learning
• Task-based Instruction
• Project-based (Language) Learning