The Ideal Teaching Style:
As you prepare to create your own classroom with your own students, you may begin to stress, asking yourself, “Which method should I use??” The answer is… that there is no right answer! The perk of becoming familiar with multiple teaching methods and styles is that you can implement elements of all of them at different times! If you need your students to expand their vocabulary, perhaps it is time for a little of the Grammar-Translation method! Nothing expands vocab faster than handing students a sheet of words and translations and asking them to memorize it. Perhaps you feel that your students are not participating very much because they are embarrassed to speak up in front of their peers. Nothing like a bit of Suggestopedia to melt away the anxieties of your students! Perhaps take a few minutes to build trust between you and the students, and the students and one another. Play some get-to-know-you games and turn on some soothing music!
Of course, the danger with saying to go forward and use any method that pleases you is that you may be tempted to simply fill the class period with various elements of different methods with no rhyme or reason, and therefore, with no real benefits for your students. Rather than taking this eclectic approach, I suggest taking an informed eclectic approach by choosing which methods to employ from observing and considering the needs of your students. Another element that will guide your choice of methods is to consider how you believe language is learned in the first place!
Below is a list of theories regarding how we, as human beings, learn languages. As you study these, and as you gain experience, you may come to your own conclusion of how you believe human beings learn language:
Behaviorism: Language learning is a result of habit formation. We imitate, practice, and then cement language when we receive positive feedback (a good grade, candy…) Just like you can teach a dog to sit, lay down, and roll over, you can teach a person to speak another language.
Innatism: Ah. Our good friend Chomsky. Chomsky’s theory suggests that humans are born naturally wired to learn language. There is not much we can do to enhance or detract from this innate ability. Just, let it happen!
Critical Period Hypothesis: This idea says that a person can only really achieve native-like fluency if they learn a language as a child. It is much easier for a child to pick up a new language than an adult, especially since an adult cements their understanding of language around their native tongue. For instance, a native Chinese-speaking adult may struggle with English syntax since it does not easily translate from one language to the other, while a native Chinese-speaking child may quickly adapt to grammar rules of the English Language as their world view and world understanding is still malleable.
Input-Interaction-Output Hypothesis: This idea suggests that language learning is based on receiving understandable language input and having meaningful interactions with the language. How can someone learn a language if they do not hear or see examples of that language? As a teacher, speaking slowly, clearly, and correctly can help the student receive good input from which to learn. As they receive good input, the students can make sense of the language, notice patterns, and reproduce it. As they reproduce the language with others, they can practice, make errors, correct the errors, and learn rapidly from active communication.
Skill Acquisition Theory: This theory suggests that Language is a skill comparable to playing a musical instrument. Learners begin with the basics and then build upon their skills until it becomes automatic. Practice may not make perfect, but practice makes permanent! Like a playing a violin for a concert violinist, with practice, producing a language becomes automatic.
So, which belief do you hold as truth? Are humans naturally able to learn languages regardless of what we try to do to influence it? Are only children truly capable of mastering a language? Is teaching a person to communicate in a new language like training a dog to play dead? Does it simply take the right motivation and a treat or two? Is learning a language like learning piano or learning to drive a car? Your belief about what leads to language learning will mold what practices you bring to your classroom.
