TFL 613: CLIL and PBL Trends in TEFL

TEFL Trends: CLIL and PBL

• Course title: TFL 613: Trending Approaches in TEFL: CLIL and PBL
• Instructor: Ph.D., Kymbat Smakoya

Past TEFL Trends (20th Century)

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

Approach, Method, Methodology, and Techniques

• Approach: The underlying philosophy or theory guiding language teaching. It provides the theoretical foundation and principles about language and language learning.
• Methodology: The study and analysis of different methods and practices informed by the approach. It is a system of practices and procedures that teachers use to teach.
• Method: A practical plan and techniques derived from the methodology and approach. It's a way of implementing the approach (e.g., syllabus, progression, materials).
• Techniques: Specific classroom tasks and activities used to implement the method.

Language Teaching Methodology

• The diagram illustrates a sequence beginning with theories of language and learning, flowing to instructional design features of the method, and finally culminating in observed teaching practices. This methodology is a system of practices and procedures for teaching.

Traditional Teaching Methods

• Teacher-centric: Teachers are the main source of knowledge and take responsibility for dispensing knowledge, not facilitating it.
• Chalk and talk methods are prominent.
• Regimented classrooms are common.
• Less emphasis on collaboration and group learning.
• Lectures are common.
• Primary focus is exam preparation rather than concept understanding.
• Poor alignment between objectives, activities, and assessments.

Other Methods

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

Chomskyan Revolution in Linguistics

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

Designer Methods

• The "designer methods," popular in the 1970s and 1980s (labelled as such by Nunan, 1989), included innovative approaches like Total Physical Response (TPR) and Community Language Learning.
• Emphasis on affective factors (feelings and respect for students and teachers)
• Increased student involvement and personal learning experience.
• Interactive procedures (pair and small-group work) are emphasized.
• Class atmosphere is considered more important than just materials or methods.

Traditional Language Class Features

• Traditional teacher beliefs and values.
• Primary language learning views.
• Theories of second/foreign language learning.
• Teacher-student relationships and roles.
• Materials and resources used.
• Classroom activities.

21st-Century TEFL/TESOL Trends

• Popular strategies, approaches, policies, values, principles, and techniques in foreign language learning & teaching.

Contemporary Language Class Features

• Changes in teacher-student relationships, roles, and competencies.
• Management and learning styles.
• Content to be learned and expectations of all stakeholders.
• Learning materials and equipment.
• Assessment of learning and teaching.

Suitable Methods

• Which methods have features that may still be appropriate for contemporary language teaching?

Why the Search for the Best Method Ended

• Reasons behind the decline in the search for the "best" language-teaching method after the 1990s.

Specific References and Examples

• Dead Poets Society (1989)

Problems With Past Methods

• Issues with methods like Grammar-Translation, Direct Method, Audio-lingual Method, Community Language Learning, The Silent Way, Suggestopedia, Total Physical Response, Natural Approach, Communicative Language Teaching.