CC BY
59PEDAGOGICAL SCIENCES
TEACHING ENGLISH WITH INTERESTING ACTIVITIES
Haydarova S.
EFL teacher, Department of Foreign languages, Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Namangan, Uzbekistan
Abstract
English, the official language of the entire world is a very tricky language to teach. In fact every language varies to teach. English is a very old language and has undergone many forms changes from Proto English derived from the Latin and the German culture to the Modern English which was established after in the post Renaissance period. Each version was simpler than it's previous. Present day English is the simplest adaptation of a very old Language and yet it is still difficult to teach this language effectively especially to those who speak English as a second language. This paper analyses the innovative and quite interesting methods we have in teaching English language. We may have a number of teaching methods in between traditional and modern. Everybody has their own understanding and conclusions on teaching English language. But this paper portrays combining this two types how we can make our teaching very effective.
Keywords: games part of learning, teaching the alphabets, innovative methods, English as a second language, teaching process.
1. Introduction
In today's world English is taught in a very orthodox manner. The basic teaching is needed. Teaching the alphabets and the formation of the words is essential and a must. But there is something that is even more important. The children must be able to speak the words and understand their meaning before writing them down. The foundation to teach English can only be taught using the orthodox methods of teaching the alphabets and the words and the rules. But then teaching only the rules is found to be boring by most students and it is because of this that they lose interest in learning the language. Although there is no way other than the traditional one to teach the basics of the language these methods must be tweaked a bit so as to appeal to the students. When it comes to teaching English to students of higher classes who already know the basics the traditional methods generally tend to yield poorer results that innovative methods. This has already been proven by methods implemented like use of stories, poems, movies, books and newspapers etc. These methods help the students learn the language better without them actually realizing and also it keeps their interest. This paper will provide a few of such methods to teach English Language. Present day English is the simplest adaptation of a very old Language and yet it is still difficult to teach this language effectively especially to those who speak English as a second language.
2. Teaching through conversations
Conversations are by far the most useful ways of
teaching the language. When a child learns his or her mother tongue it is by the conversations that takes place between them and others or by listening to the conversations made by the others. The child is never taught the language but is still able to percept the meaning and learns it automatically to use it in day to day life. No one ever teaches the kid the characters of the language or how to make sentences or the grammar of that language. The conversations alone teach the children. Hence conversations form a very important part of the teaching process. The sentence construction and the grammar is not something that can be entirely taught by
rules. They have to be taught intuitively. That can only happen through a lot of reading and a lot of listening. This can be taken care of easily as every conversation needs a topic. The topic can be given to the students in form of written documents which they have to first read then form an opinion and then have a conversation about it or it can be spoken out and then they can listen, understand and also take part in the conversation.
The participation and other aspects of the conversation can always be evaluated through points which will also push the students to take part in the conversation. These conversations have to be general. They have to happen as if friends are talking to each other. This way the students are comfortable in expressing themselves in the best possible way. This process may take some time but in the end it would be the most efficient one in teaching the language.
3. Teaching through games
This is a very interesting method of teaching. Students and children generally tend to like games and want to play them more and more. Traditional methods dictated for study and games to be separate but the fact remains that the students tend to be more interested in playing games rather than sitting down to study. Any logical reasoning would dictate us to combine the two aspects to solve the problem. The games part of learning would help the students keep their interest as the desire to win is very strong. It keeps us going and when included with different aspects of learning the learning process would continue almost throughout the day without the children getting tired or bored of studying.
4. Word games
The most important part of any language is the vocabulary. To understand the meaning of the words and to use them in day to day life is a very difficult task and games can help the students overcome this difficulty. Games like scrabble, housie etc. have been designed for this specific purpose. These games are just based on words and help the students develop their vocabulary. In addition to these very simple games can be played to help improve the word database of the students such as simple dictation competitions, synonym
competitions, words puzzles, anagrams and hangman. All these games are very addictive and help a lot in improving our vocabulary as whenever the student hears a new word the first question that comes up is "what is its meaning?" and in this way the vocabulary improves and most of the times we don't even have to consult thedictionary.
5. Competitions
Most of the times competitions like debates and elocutions also help the help the students a lot in learning the language as the aspect of the competitions keep them at the best in conversations. It forces them to use the best possible construction of sentences to put forward their opinions and to use good vocabulary etc. This is a very important tool in helping them learn the language. Also these competitions help them address large crowds which is again is a very important part of personality development.
6. Creative assignments
Up till now most of the techniques that we discussed required a greater amount of effort on the student's part. This method requires effort on the teacher's part. Assignments help the students learn something on their own and most of the times they have to research on something then write something up on it. This method although effective is most of the times very tedious. This method of approach is very appropriate for sciences and engineering although when it comes to languages the students should be given assignments in which they have to modify something that already exists. If the students are just given assignments like „write a story or a poem or a report" then most of the students crack because not everyone can come up with a story or even if they come up with one they cannot write it down. In such case the students should be given the base knowledge and data and then ask them to modify the data for example the students can be given a base story and then ask them to modify a part of it. This engages their creativity and also helps them overcome their difficulty of writing. Above all it lifts the pressure of creating completely new. Invention is very difficult especially when we are being forced to do it. In this way the students are not forced to complete the assignment and then they can do it whole heartedly and hence complete the learning experience that can be gained from the assignment. The languages play a very important role in our lives. They help us express our emotions. They help us explain what we want. They help us to communicate and hence are the prime tools to express who we are. Thus the knowledge of a language and its proper utilization is very important as it defenses. If languages were not there to help us communicate there would be no difference in our communications and the way the animals communicate. Hence the ways the languages are taught play a very vital role in a person's life.
Since English is the official language of this world it is of utmost importance that this language has to be taught in such a way that it will help us not just to speak and write and listen but to communicate. That is the purpose of the language and that is what it must be used for. Hence innovative methods help in bringing a change and most of the times for the better. It helps the
students learn faster and in an efficient, interesting and an interactive manner and it is the teacher's responsibility to leave the traditional methods and make way for new and better methods for the students benefit.
Conclusion
The languages play a very important role in our lives. They help us express our emotions. They help us explain what we want. They help us to communicate and hence are the prime tools to express who we are. Thus the knowledge of a language and its proper utilization is very important as it defines us. If languages were not there to help us communicate there would be no difference in our communications and the way the animals communicate. Hence the ways the languages are taught play a very vital role in a person's life. Since English is the official language of this world it is of utmost importance that this language has to be taught in such a way that it will help us not just to speak and write and listen but to communicate. That is the purpose of the language and that is what it must be used for. Hence innovative methods help in bringing a change and most of the times for the better. It helps the students learn faster and in an efficient, interesting and an interactive manner and it is the teacher's responsibility to leave the traditional methods and make way for new and better methods for the students benefit.
References
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