Theories, Methods & Techniques of Teaching - ESA Methodology

Summary

Jeremy Harmer's ESA methodology, introduced in his 1998 book *How to Teach English*, presents a three-stage approach to language teaching: Engage, Study, and Activate. The Engage phase focuses on getting students talking and thinking in English through relaxing activities. The Study phase involves teaching new language concepts, followed by activities to check understanding. Finally, the Activate phase encourages students to use their knowledge in realistic scenarios. ESA is effective across all proficiency levels, fostering communication, though it can become predictable and noisy in some environments. It combines the best aspects of previous teaching methods for a balanced, practical approach.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jeremy Hmer developed the ESA methodology in 1998, which stands for Engage, Study, Activate.
• 😀 The ESA methodology combines positive elements from various teaching methods used over the last 300 years.
• 😀 The **Engage** phase aims to get students thinking and speaking in English through communicative activities, helping them relax and be ready to learn.
• 😀 The **Study** phase focuses on teaching the material, followed by comprehension checks to ensure students understand what has been taught.
• 😀 The **Activate** phase provides students with realistic contexts to apply their language knowledge, moving beyond simple memorization.
• 😀 ESA promotes communication as its core principle, with students encouraged to talk and interact with each other during lessons.
• 😀 The ESA methodology is flexible and works across different student levels, from beginners to advanced learners.
• 😀 One potential challenge of ESA is that the structure can become predictable, making it less engaging over time if not varied.
• 😀 In some classrooms, the Activate phase can lead to a noisy environment, which might be problematic in certain cultural contexts.
• 😀 The ESA approach has a clear, structured flow that helps both students and teachers follow the lesson effectively.
• 😀 ESA encourages a balance between student engagement, understanding of the material, and practical language use, creating a comprehensive learning experience.

Q & A

What is the EA methodology and who introduced it?

The EA methodology is a three-stage teaching approach introduced by Jeremy Hmer in 1998. It stands for Engage, Study, and Activate, and was developed by reviewing various language teaching methods over the past 300 years.

What is the purpose of the Engage phase in the EA methodology?

The purpose of the Engage phase is to get students talking and thinking in English to relax them and prepare them for learning. This phase helps lower the affective filter and encourages communication.

How does the Study phase function in the EA methodology?

In the Study phase, the teacher focuses on teaching the target language through board work, followed by activities to check student understanding. It is the phase where the core teaching of language content takes place.

What is the focus of the Activate phase in the EA methodology?

The Activate phase focuses on allowing students to use the language they have learned in realistic scenarios or situations, encouraging them to apply their knowledge in a communicative way.

Why is communication emphasized in the EA methodology?

Communication is emphasized because both the Engage and Activate phases involve students actively speaking and using the language. This approach helps build real-world language skills and promotes student interaction.

How does the EA methodology cater to different student levels?

The EA methodology is flexible and can be applied to all levels, from beginners to upper-intermediate students. The structure allows for scalability in teaching, ensuring that the methodology is effective at various stages of learning.

What potential drawback is associated with the EA methodology regarding lesson predictability?

A potential drawback of the EA methodology is that it can become predictable if the same structure is used in every lesson. Students may start to anticipate what comes next, reducing the novelty and engagement of the activities.

How does the EA methodology address the issue of noisy classrooms?

The EA methodology encourages interaction and communication, which can make classrooms noisy, especially during the Activate phase. In some countries or cultures, this may be a concern, but the methodology aims to balance communication with controlled classroom management.

What type of activities are typically used during the Engage phase?

In the Engage phase, activities typically involve communicative games or informal discussions. These activities aim to get students to relax, think in English, and start speaking with minimal pressure.

How does the EA methodology ensure students understand the material taught in the Study phase?

After the board work in the Study phase, the teacher checks students' understanding by having them complete targeted activities. These activities are specifically designed to assess if the students have grasped the material before moving on.