Teachers

Interactive Methods and Forms to Teach Foreign Languages

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The use of interactive methods and forms when teaching a second language can be quite beneficial. These methods can provide many advantages when it comes to developing cognitive or creative abilities among students and will also help enhance interactions between students and teachers to offer an effective learning experience.

Interactive teaching can be used at all levels and will help to provide an enjoyable way to master new languages. Learning a new language is a challenge in itself, so with forms and methods that promote interactions with peers and teachers, students will have a better learning experience. Studies have shown that interactive teaching is much more effective and successful. With the use of modern technology, there are endless tools and resources available.

The Benefits of Interactive Teaching

In the past, traditional forms of teaching in a classroom consisted of lectures, note-taking, memorizing, and testing. With the many advances in technology, teachers are now able to take a different approach and use interactive methods for teaching an engaging and enjoyable lesson. For those studying a foreign language, this form of teaching has been very beneficial.

The methods of teaching when taking an interactive approach are different from traditional methods. With interactive teaching, students will benefit from situational training, role-playing, or other activities that will allow them to communicate in a foreign language.

Interactive Methods Without Technology

Today, innovative technology has allowed interactive teaching to soar to great heights, and it is one of the most popular forms of teaching. Even though technology plays a pivotal role in the world of modern education, there are some ways some super ways one can incorporate interactive teaching without having to rely on technology.

  • Role-playing – It is perhaps the most effective interactive method that can be used when teaching a foreign language. With this, students will interact with each other speaking the language and will have to conduct full conversations and communicate during the activity. This promotes vocabulary retention, use of accents, verb usage, and other aspects that are heavily involved in becoming a fluent speaker.
  • Out of Classroom Activities – While activities that take place in a class setting are very beneficial, a language cannot be mastered in just an hour of classroom time. It is important to encourage the use of a foreign language in outside activities. Teachers can assign students to visit a Chinese restaurant and order in that language. Another way to engage in activities is to visit local areas where locals speak the language being learned. This is quite easy in the US for those learning Spanish since it is spoken in many communities.

Technology Tools for Learning Languages

Technology plays a huge role in an educational experience, and there are many online tools and resources that can help to teach a foreign language. No student can learn a language from a textbook or from single classroom lessons, regardless of how interactive or communicative they are. Technology will come into play at some point during the learning experience, and it can be quite beneficial. Here, we take a look at some of the best tech tools that can be incorporated into lesson plans.

  • Audio – By accessing audio files or even watching videos online, you are able to hear languages being spoken. Just listening can be a great way to learn a foreign language, as you will be able to pick up phrases and grammar patterns. By listening to real-life conversations, students can find new ways to use what they already know and test their grasp of the language.
  • Foreign Language News Sites – Online news sources that are printed in foreign languages are a great way to promote vocabulary retention and to be able to view written words and phrases. New sites also provide video and audio clips that can be used to master a language while gaining information about other cultures at the same time. One great assignment would be to have a student access a news source and verbally explain the news at the next class while speaking the target language.
  • Skype – Skype is a powerful communication tool that can connect people around the world. It can be used for educational purposes, as well. By engaging in Skype conversations with a native speaker from another country, students will have to engage in the language but will have the benefit of interacting with people from other parts of the world.

Conclusion

Each instructor will have a different method of teaching, but when it comes to foreign languages, it is clear that interactive methods are the best approach. While students can learn words and grammar from a textbook, they will not be able to incorporate their learnings into being able to effectively communicate or fluently speak a new language. With great technological tools and classroom exercises, implementing interactive lessons will not only enhance the enjoyment of a class but will lead to better retention and the ability to communicate in written and oral forms.

Autor’s Bio

Annabelle Gratwick is one of the top bloggers on education and has published many online journals and essays. At Edusson, Annabelle continues to contribute publications that are useful for educators looking for the latest trends and ways to incorporate interactive methods into teaching lessons.

Positive Words Research – Interactive Methods and Forms to Teach Foreign Languages

Together, Technology and Teachers Can Revamp Schools

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In 1953 B.F. Skinner visited his daughter’s math’s class. Where they find that each students learning the same topic in the same way at the same speed. He developed his first machine after some days “teaching machine” that let children solve the same question at their own skills and steps.

Technology educational system has changed. As we see computers also reshaped after every other part of life. One reason is the traditionalism of teachers and their unification. But another is that the brain-extending potential of educational technology is still unverified.

The idea of using new technologies to reshape the education system is not new

The amazing thing is found that there is no link in between what countries expenditure on IT in schools and students old skills and abilities in math’s, science and even readings.

But now the stasis is starting to shift, for two reasons. The first is that “education technology” is progressively able to communicate with students in refine ways. The second reason is the increasing number of schools which are not just securing education technology into the current way of doing things but try to implement the new software to change how students and teachers spend their time.

Technology is a powerful tool in every field or area. Technology has revolutionized the educational system in various ways.  It helps teachers to develop any material in a new way for student’s effective learning to teamwork. With the internet and smartphones, now students have no excuse regarding their assignments. Now it is the responsibility of the instructor to use educational technologies as much as they can to change the educational system and take the benefits of technology in education for productive learning.

Pencils down

The conservative model of schooling appeared in Prussia in the 18th century. Changes have failed to teach many children efficiently. Classrooms, graded year-groups, uniform curriculums and fixed timetables are still the custom of various schools in worldwide nearly 1.5bn students.

Many schools still do not reach an effective level. In poor countries, only a few students have to get the core founding of education. These students do not have even basic knowledge of science, math, and reading. Also in developing countries, nearly 30% of the teens have failed to reach the proficiency in any one of the subjects.

Although the system did not changed over the last 15 years, in that period billions were spent on the IT infrastructure in schools. From 2012, there was one computer for two students in many developing countries.

In India, are nearly 50% of children who leave primary school, which make students unable to read just a simple text. “Adaptive” software like Mindspark is used to find out what a child knows and stance questions accordingly. A current study found that students from India, using Mindspark after school, can improve in math and reading.

The educational technology can help learning by making schools more productive

Schools in California are using software to renovate the conservative model. Their students do not use textbook while learning. They use playlists in which they access to online lessons and also take tests. This software measure children’s progress, and reduce teachers efforts. It upload student’s marks and help them to clear their vision. Teachers will save this time to do other important tasks. In 2015 a study found that students who early adopted this model score, had high performance in tests than their other class fellow.

Pay attention at the back

Teachers and schools get the full advantage of educational technology by setting various things right. One is to implement personalized learning.

A myth is that by using technology children do not need a teacher for learning. They just have the internet to Google their query. The educational scholars go into depth to finding the ways of creative thinking. In 2015 a wide education study found that there are nearly 20 effective ways to boost learning, which totally depends on the craft of teaching.

The second authoritative is to make sure that education technology narrows, rather than broadens variations in education. There are grounds for cheerfulness. Some of the revolutionary schools are private ones. But much more schools are run by charter-school groups teaching mostly poor acolytes.

Third, the possibility for educational technology will be understood only if teachers hold it. They have the right to ask for indications that work.

In 1984 Skinner called hostility to technology the “shame” of education. But today with what educational technology was given, a closed-mindedness has no place in the classroom.

Author Bio

Shirley John is a content manager at a reputable firm. She helps people create successful Assignment writing service for all academic level students. She is writing many blog posts, where students may find helpful information on education and university life.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

Together, Technology and Teachers Can Revamp Schools

21 Tips For Teachers To Foster A Connection With A Child

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21 TIPS FOR TEACHERS TO FOSTER A CONNECTION WITH A CHILD

According to the National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, there are at least 21 ways to foster a connection with a child. These are:

  1. Ask questions.
  2. Give warm greetings and good-byes.
  3. Laugh together.
  4. Play.
  5. Listen.
  6. Validate feelings.
  7. Encourage effort.
  8. Give affection.
  9. Share in activities.
  10. Provide support.
  11. Remember what a child tells you.
  12. Let the child take the lead.
  13. Encourage friendships.
  14. Share personal stories.
  15. Create special handshakes.
  16. Listen to a child’s favorite music.
  17. Incorporate the child’s interest.
  18. Get on the floor.
  19. Give classroom jobs.
  20. Maintain eye contact.
  21. Call home for GOOD behavior.

Read further 50 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE A CHILD

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