Methods of teaching English

Modern teaching methods

The modern method of teaching English is built on the basis of the classical method of learning foreign languages. However, the psychological aspect, foreign cinema, information technology had an impact on her. The methods of teaching English used 20 years ago were more of a reproductive nature. Learn the words, read the text, listen to the audio recording, write a letter - this is how the tasks that the tutor gave looked like. Perhaps for this reason, most adults who have studied the language for many years can read and write in English but have difficulty speaking.

Modern methods of teaching English have changed reproductive methods to interactive ones. Today, obtaining knowledge is an interaction between a student and a teacher. The curriculum is built, first of all, taking into account the age characteristics of students. For preschoolers and younger students, such a type of lesson as a game, travel, video, competition, and others is more suitable. An adult student prefers a classical lesson. For this age, traditional tasks are also suitable: compose a story, do an exercise, read the text, perform listening, and so on. Writing a story allows you to learn how to use active and passive vocabulary, expand vocabulary, and improve conversational speech. Doing exercises helps to learn grammatical material. Reading the text forms not only reading skills, but also immerses in the culture and traditions of the language being studied. Listening - improves understanding of oral speech.

Effective Methods for Learning English

But do not forget that the most effective methods of learning English are interactive. Therefore, the method of immersion in the language environment is now very popular. This technique teaches to "think" in English. The study of a foreign language takes place entirely in English. This is real not only in a bilingual family, but also in a regular class. It is enough for the teacher to fully conduct the lesson in English, to use visualization. To build a lesson in such a way that, despite the foreign language, students understand the teacher. The high level of training of the teacher will allow such a lesson to be held even for the smallest. If earlier parents of preschoolers and younger schoolchildren were frightened by this method, now, seeing the enthusiastic eyes of children and their progress, they recognized the effectiveness of this technique. After all, the best method of learning English is the one that arouses interest in learning.

Combination of teaching methods

Many teachers combine different methods, use both immersion in the language environment and a classical lesson in their work. Knowledge of the methodology of teaching English, psychology and pedagogy allows them to identify the peculiarities of perception and thinking, to select the necessary methods and forms of work. Indeed, along with the English lesson, other forms of organizing classes are also popular: a round table, a concert, a language club, a conference, olympiads and many others. This allows you to include a large number of students in the language environment.

As motivation increases, skills improve. If earlier the question of how to teach spoken English was open, now a person of any age can be taught to speak a foreign language. Of course, the older the person, the more work to be done. And here a lot depends not even on the age of the student, but on the initial level of knowledge, motivation and diligence. However, the immersion method will allow not only to learn the language, but also to organize leisure activities with benefit. Its peculiarity is that the teacher not only leads the lesson, but also controls the consolidation of the studied topic. The classic homework has been replaced by recommendations: watch a movie in English, talk to a native speaker, listen to a song, and complete tasks. Watching films in English is a task that not only teaches you to understand foreign speech, but can also become interesting entertainment. It improves pronunciation, helps to better express your thoughts in English. Communication with a native speaker helps to develop the skill of understanding oral speech. After such practice, any foreigner is not afraid! Listening to songs in English is no longer a new, but always an interesting form of listening. Recently, computer games in English have also become popular. They are used not only for teaching children, but also adults. And we are talking not only about educational games, but also story games, arcades, simulators, role-playing and others.

Of course, some students are more suited to the traditional way of learning. Its basis is the study of lexical and grammatical material with the subsequent completion of tasks. Knowledge of psychology will help the teacher improve the foreign language skills of any student using any method.

Sometimes it is difficult to choose between the immersion method and the traditional method. To choose which method is best to learn English, it is best to try learning the language in different ways. But there is not always time to attend many different courses and choose the best one. In this case, you should rely on the goal of learning a foreign language. For those who want to learn how to speak English, the communicative method is more suitable. It improves speech, thinking, creativity. It goes well with various forms of organizing classes. This technique is based on the principle of group interaction. The main forms of work: business games, project activities, group work, conferences. Thanks to communication with students with different levels of language proficiency, conversational speech improves, the so-called "language barrier" disappears.

The need to learn English leaves no chance for anyone. Some do not want to learn a language with a teacher and choose the self-learning method. This method has been around for a long time. When self-instruction books and phrasebooks appeared on sale. People began to make attempts to learn languages ​​themselves. But independent work is not just reading a textbook or listening to a CD. If a computer program can still correct mistakes, develop skills, then direct, pick up assignments for consolidation, support - this is only possible for a person. Therefore, those who try to learn the language on their own do not often succeed. This method is best used only at the initial stage, to obtain a base. Or to supplement classes with a teacher.

In addition to teaching methods, there are many disputes among teachers regarding the selection of particular methods. For example, learning to read may begin with the study of letters and sounds, which then make up words. Or maybe the method of the whole word. The latter is especially well applicable for creating a language environment. It helps to better memorize words, sentences, improves conversational speech. The choice of teaching aid also depends on the teaching methodology. In the modern world, this is not only a textbook, but also a workbook, CDs and DVDs, and training programs. A well-chosen learning tool is a help not only to the student, but also to the teacher. Ideally, the curriculum, textbook, teaching methods are selected individually for each student.

There are several levels of English that are described in this article .

What is the best way to learn a foreign language?

Also, many are concerned about another question: “What is the best way to learn a foreign language: in a pair, in a group or individually?”. Here, too, much depends on the individual characteristics, goals and objectives of the student. To improve your speaking skills, it is better to select group classes. They can be organized using the communicative method or immersion. To prepare for the exam, individual work with a teacher is well suited. It is usually built using the traditional technique or in combination with the immersion method.

Choosing a methodology for learning English can seem difficult, but for the right choice, you just need to rely on the criteria outlined above:

1. The purpose of the lessons.
2. Level of preparation.
3. Psychological comfort.
4. Motivation.

Teaching Methods for Preschoolers

Many parents become interested in learning a language from a very young age. However, a child under the age of 5 learns words automatically and does not yet understand the rules. Therefore, it is recommended that kids get acquainted with the alphabet, colors, names of toys, fruits, etc. in a playful way. It is better to leave more thorough training until school age.

The methodology for preschoolers includes the following rules:

• The main thing is not to memorize, but to interest. Therefore, it would be right to hire a tutor who is fluent in various forms of training children and has all the necessary didactic materials.
• Consistency is the key to success. It is advisable to work with one tutor who will determine the characteristics of the child and will gradually develop each of the important skills: writing, speaking, knowledge of grammar.
• The tutor should not only know English, but also be able to play. Games, cartoons, songs, dances - this is exactly what teaching methods for preschoolers are based on.
• The teacher for the kid should be chosen according to personal qualities. Quite often there is a situation when a teacher with a higher education cannot find an approach to the child, while a person with the same courses behind him knows how to console the baby, talk to him, and even learn a song in English in between. Therefore, pay attention not to education, but to the flexible skills of the tutor.

The classic methods for teaching in kindergarten are:

Methods of teaching at school

An important factor in the education of adolescents is the development of not only language skills, but also the ability to communicate with peers, build their own value system, and adhere to the chosen goals.

Thus, the teacher must present material that would simultaneously educate a whole, happy and educated person. Such methods include: