Approaches, Methods and Techniques for Young Learners

Summary

This video discusses approaches, methods, and techniques for teaching, particularly for young learners. It covers different teaching theories, such as behaviorism, multiple intelligence theory, input hypothesis, and constructivism, and their application in education. The video also explains how these approaches shape methods and techniques, giving historical context to language teaching methodologies like audio-lingualism, total physical response, and communicative language teaching. Finally, it touches on the post-method era, emphasizing the role of teachers in crafting their own methodologies based on their unique teaching contexts and students' needs.

Takeaways

• 📚 Approaches, methods, and techniques are hierarchical, starting from broad theories of learning, which influence approaches, leading to specific methods and classroom techniques.
• 🧠 Behaviorism, a teaching approach based on structured repetition, rewards, and step-by-step instruction, focuses on conditioning learners to respond correctly.
• 🔍 Multiple Intelligence Theory suggests that learners have varied strengths and should be engaged with multimodal activities, though it lacks empirical evidence.
• 🎧 The Input Hypothesis by Krashen emphasizes that learners need sufficient input before producing language, supporting a silent period for language absorption.
• 🫶 The Humanist approach respects young learners' opinions, emotions, and individuality, contrasting with behaviorism's more mechanical methods.
• 🔨 Constructivism proposes that learners construct their own understanding through challenges and support from others, drawing from figures like Piaget and Vygotsky.
• 🗣️ Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) sees language as a tool for conveying meaning, with activities such as roleplay, discussion, and problem-solving.
• 🌍 EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and ESL (English as a Second Language) contexts require different methods, with EFL often focusing on more structured instruction and ESL on natural language acquisition.
• 🌀 The post-method era emphasizes personal methodology, where teachers mix various approaches and techniques based on their students’ needs and context.
• 🔧 Principled eclecticism encourages teachers to create their own mix of methods, acting as researchers and change agents in their classrooms, adapting based on practice and context.

Q & A

What is the difference between an approach, a method, and a technique in teaching?

An approach is a general assumption about how to engage learners, based on theories of learning. A method refers to the actions taken to engage learning, based on an approach. A technique is a specific classroom strategy or action used within a method to achieve learning outcomes.

How do learning theories influence teaching approaches?

Learning theories provide ideas about how learning happens. These ideas shape teaching approaches, as different views on learning (e.g., behaviorism, constructivism) influence the development of teaching methods and techniques.

What is behaviorism in the context of language teaching for young learners?

Behaviorism, developed by Skinner, views language learning as a process of structured repetition and rewards. It involves teaching language in manageable parts and reinforcing correct responses through positive reinforcement, treating learners similarly to how animals are conditioned.

What is multiple intelligence theory, and how is it applied in language teaching?

Multiple intelligence theory suggests that learners possess different kinds of intelligence, such as visual, auditory, or logical. While it lacks empirical evidence, it is used in teaching to create varied, multimodal lessons that address different types of learners, making lessons more engaging and adaptable.

What is Krashen’s input hypothesis and how does it relate to teaching?

Krashen’s input hypothesis states that learners need comprehensible input before producing language (output). It emphasizes the 'silent period,' where learners absorb language through exposure before being expected to produce it.

How does the humanist approach differ from behaviorism in teaching?

The humanist approach focuses on respecting learners as individuals with emotions, opinions, and reasons. It emphasizes personal growth and interaction, in contrast to behaviorism, which views learners more mechanically, focusing on conditioning through repetition and rewards.

What is the constructivist approach in teaching young learners?

The constructivist approach, influenced by Piaget and Vygotsky, posits that learners actively construct their understanding of the world through experiences and interactions. It emphasizes challenging learners to build their own knowledge, supported by social interaction.

What is Total Physical Response (TPR), and why is it effective for young learners?

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a teaching method that emphasizes learning through physical movement and listening, engaging the right brain hemisphere (creativity). It's effective for young learners because it reduces stress and makes learning more dynamic and engaging.

What is the difference between weak and strong versions of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)?

The weak version of CLT provides scaffolding through language-focused exercises to support learners in communication tasks. The strong version throws learners directly into communicative activities without explicit instruction, promoting more natural language use.

What is the 'post-method era' in language teaching, and what is its main idea?

The post-method era challenges the traditional top-down approach, where methods are dictated by experts. Instead, it emphasizes that teachers should develop their own personal methodologies based on their context and learners' needs. Teachers are seen as theorists who create their own mix of methods, termed 'principled eclecticism.'