You might think that the photo above is just a common Art class and it has nothing to do with English. But you are totally wrong! These are my Spanish pupils posing in front of a camera after our English class. It was our first class and we really enjoyed doing these wonderful Chinese lanterns and talking in English, learnig new vocabulary (by the way, each of us knows how to explain in English step by step how to make the lantern) and feeling much more fluent than an hour before. Can I be more satisfied with that class?
According to British Council: "The communicative approach is based on the idea that learning language successfully comes through having to communicate real meaning. When learners are involved in real communication, their natural strategies for language acquisition will be used, and this will allow them to learn to use the language. Classroom activities guided by the communicative approach are characterised by trying to produce meaningful and real communication, at all levels. As a result there may be more emphasis on skills than systems, lessons are more learner-centred, and there may be use of authentic materials."
These authentic materials can be even these Chinese lanterns, as you might have guessed. The children were so involved in the process and didn't even noticed as they started to talk in English spontaneously. A new generation is much more dynamic and they need a special approach in learning. And teacher should have a wide range of experience and creativity to deal with it.
Learning English can be such a wondeful journey with a bunch of surprises for pupils of any ages. Are you ready to feel the way we feel while learning English? Take this journey with me and you will figure it out.
Your teacher,
Lada
