5 SIMPLE RULES FOR THE LANGUAGE LEARNING CLASSROOM

5 SIMPLE RULES FOR THE LANGUAGE LEARNING CLASSROOM By Nicole Long

1. A safe environment It can be scary to use a new language in front of others so teachers should create a safe place. Teachers should; Keep trying. Use your q Provide You’re encouragement Yourdictionary answer. Your ‘th’ is alright butfind close. . You can pronunciation more q Give positive feedback it’s the answer. is great so try common to to practice use… q Share your own language mistakes. your ‘r’ now.

2. Students need to be active In a language class students should be actively practicing the language 70% of the time. Teachers should only be the focus of attention when; Presenting an activity or language point Answering student questions Correcting student errors Learning is best facilitated when students can actively participate in what they are learning.

3. Be structured Warmlearning up. Limited Example: Free Practice Example: A language class shouldexample: follow a set practice Practice structure which. Example: allows students to learn target Now we’re going to Today we’re going to language, practice the target language and then Here is an empty Now we’re going to look at a Warm up: 5 -10 minutes introduce interview our partners. or practice ‘past tense’. to produce it. calendar for last week. dialogue. review one – write five Let’s start. Step by Under the calendar are Step one – listen to the tape. target language questions about the past. reviewing some root Limited practice: Target language is questions using the Step two – fill in the missing Step two – interview your verbs. Each team in practiced past tense verbs, eat, words. partner has picture cards. a limited activity Practice: practice the target watch, Step do Students and go. Ask three - Check your answers Step three – change Take turns quizzing language as many classmates as with your partners and tell what you each other with the Free Practice: The target language is with more control and freedom possible and write their Step two – practice dialogue learned your first cards. How many about produce by the names on the with calendar. your partner caninyou get? students a task-based or contextual

FOUR: Keep it interesting Most students find a long class boring so here a few tips to keep things interesting. Prepare Get the students Keep activities handouts or moving around the shorter than 15 posters so classroom minutes students don’t have to Have students Create activities watch you change partners that are relevant to write on the frequently students board Use puzzles, games, cards, fun Use a variety of handouts or new materials to materials such as surprise them with something video, audio, new worksheets or realia

FIVE: Be Understood To participate in class, students must understand your instructions so…. Use short, clear sentences with familiar vocabulary when explaining. Use multiple forms of communication such as written, oral and demonstration to Instruct and explain. If an activity is complex, break your explanation into ‘steps’ or ‘numbers’.

Review 1. 2. 3. 4. Provide a safe environment Allow students to be active Be structured in your lessons Keep classes interesting