Innovative methods for teaching English in a secondary school classroom
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Innovative methods for teaching English in a secondary school classroom
English is a notoriously difficult language to master,
meaning English teachers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to make
lessons fun and engaging.
Once pupils reach secondary school, they start to tackle some
of the more complex elements of English, but with the written word all around
them, there’s plenty of resources at a teacher’s disposal.
Here we take a look at some of the more innovative ways of
exploring the English language in a secondary school classroom, from role play
through to new ways of encouraging discussion…
Balance the use of technology
It may sound like a simple approach, but with the prevalent
use of phones and laptops, many youngsters rely on technology to correct
mistakes and to help them write.
By removing this technology, they can be forced to consider
why they are saying what they are and to put the methodology into practice.
Pupils will learn as they work and there’s plenty of
opportunities to provide feedback, enabling a constant process of development.
At the same time, some online learning platforms can provide
students with valuable support, especially if they are struggling to grasp
certain theory or reasoning.
In these instances, encourage pupils to take advantage of the
technology at their disposal, as the change of approach may enhance their
understanding.
Creative ways of starting discussion
As a language subject, a fantastic way of developing English
skills comes via discussion and debate in the classroom.
English teachers can facilitate these discussions in a wide
number of ways, from posing vast open-ended questions around world topics such
as sustainability or climate change, through to ‘what if…’ scenarios with a
range of outcomes.
This encourages pupils to express themselves and to apply
elements of English learning to real-life situations.
To take things a step further, pupils could be asked to act
out their answers or to deliver them via role play in front of the class – this
can help to bring to life what they are saying and to stimulate further
discussion.
An alternative is to invite speakers and guests into
classroom to encourage discussion through thought-provoking talks and
presentations.
Look to be authentic
From newspaper cuttings to digital news stories, there’s
plenty of information out there, and thanks to the internet more becomes
available by the day.
These authentic resources enable secondary school English
teachers to use topics of interest within daily classroom work, which tends to
boost pupil engagement.
Whether it is YouTube videos or news channels, pupils could
be asked to recreate what they see, to discuss it, or to analyse it against a
set of differing ideas or criteria.
By mixing up the resources used, English teachers can ensure
that no two lessons are the same and that there are numerous opportunities to
make the learning memorable.
Think about the classroom space
The learning environment makes a big difference to how pupils
learn and it’s important for it to be dynamic where possible.
Secondary school English teachers should give thought to how
their classroom is laid out, as ideally the set-up will enable space for
individual working at times, as well as for group work and collaborative
learning.
This might be achieved by simply moving a few tables, or you
might want to have certain spaces which are dedicated for certain tasks so that
pupils can easily concentrate.
By thinking outside-of-the-box, it should be possible to
create an environment which can enhance language teaching.
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