Activation method of learning a foreign language
Activation method of learning a foreign language
Keywords: Activation of knowledge, question asking, story-telling, translation
Sima Shahidpour
Amin Higher Education Institute, Foolad Shahr, Iran
Bio
Sima Shahidpoor. Master of Arts in English translation. I have been an English teacher for 13 years. At the moment I am a lecturer in Amin higher education Institute in Fooladshar, Isfahan. My specialty is conversion courses and I have managed to make my students speak more fluently and accurately in a shorter time. Email: shahidisima1@gmail.com
Abstract
One of the obstacles which discourage the language learners is the long time it takes to be able to communicate in the target language. They almost have to spend a year to be fluent in the target language and most of them give up during this long period of time. This article introduces a new method which helps the learners to speak and communicate in the target language just in 30 sessions. In this method, choosing the text book is of high importance. The source chosen has to be a vocabulary book focusing on everyday words and more importantly on verbs. Participants have to be adults and have to have basic knowledge of the target language. The method does not focus on teaching but on application of the new words by students. The teacher teaches the new words and expressions applying pictures, definitions, antonyms, translation, etc. The most important part of this method is the activation which consists of three stages: asking questions, storytelling and translation. Students are requested to ask questions using the new words, tell a story with the new words and at last translate some sentences containing the new words. The focus is not on grammar and it is taught in the context and in the format of fixed expressions. The post-test revealed that all the 40 participants made great progress in speaking after these 30 sessions. The researcher worked on English but it is projected that this method can be used for teaching any language besides English.
See page: 34-43
Category: Monthly Editions
