English Teaching - The ‘Best Method’

Abstract

Firstly let us look atour theme for today. English teaching - the ‘best’ method? There is a question mark? So is there a ‘best method?’ Let’s also look at the words ‘teaching’ and ‘method’. How about instead of teaching we look at what really matters -which is learning? I think we worry far too much about what we do, about our input rather than how and what the students learn. We can tell them everything in the curriculum but 1% is remembered because they weren’t involved. Better give 10% that they enjoy and remember-the rest they can do themselves IF they like it. As for method, well it’s a way of doing something, but it can also mean putting things in order; There are methods for making cakes, growing plants-some say water, some no water and so on; and bringing up children! Sometimes I think there are as many ways of bringing up children as there are families! Some parents care and worry, others take it easy-children fall and hurt themselves, they have to cry-that’s life and so it is! But the babies, the children, the adults-we all survive somehow and we all learn language! So let us look at some ‘methods’ for teaching language: Grammar/translation: Silent Way: Communicative Competence: Complete Immersion: Natural Way: Task-based: Situational learning